LEE WILEY — West of the Moon (1956-2007) RM | MONO | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 Lee Wiley was still in prime form during the 1950s, although she was disappointed that she did not become a major commercial success. On this LP (all but two cuts have since been reissued on CD), Wiley is joined by three different orchestras arranged by Ralph Burns. Her renditions of "You're a Sweetheart," "Who Can I Turn to Now," "Can't Get Out of This Mood," "East of the Sun," and "Moonstruck" are particularly memorable. Despite the passing of time, Wiley's voice was still sensuous and haunting, lightly swinging and full of subtlety. With trumpeter Nick Travis, trombonist Urbie Green, trumpeter Billy Butterfield, trombonist Lou McGarity, and clarinetist Peanuts Hucko helping out with a few short solos, Wiley sounds inspired throughout this memorable set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     You're a Sweetheart    2:57
Harold Adamson / Jimmy McHugh
2     This Is New    2:59
Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill
3     You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby    3:02
Johnny Mercer / Harry Warren
4     Who Can I Turn to Now?    3:56
William Engvick / Alec Wilder
5     My Ideal    3:26
Newell Chase / Leo Robin / Richard A. Whiting / Alec Wilder
6     Can't Get out of This Mood    3:16
Frank Loesser / Jimmy McHugh
7     East of the Sun    3:34
Brooks Bowman
8     I Left My Sugar Standing in the Rain    3:48
Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal
9     Moonstruck    3:43
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston
10     Limehouse Blues    3:06
Philip Braham / Douglas Furber
11     As Time Goes By    3:16
Herman Hupfeld
12     Keepin' out of Mischief Now    2:45
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
- Bonus Tracks -
13     Stars Fell On Alabama    4:05
 Written-By – F. Perkins, M. Parish
14     Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?    4:06
Written-By – DeLange, Alter
Credits :
Arranged By – Deane Kincaide (tracks: 13, 14), Ralph Burns (tracks: 1 To 12)
Baritone Saxophone – Danny Bank (tracks: 2, 6, 9, 10), Deane Kincaide (tracks: 13, 14)
Bass – Bob Haggart (tracks: 13, 14), Milt Hinton (tracks: 1 To 12)
Clarinet – Peanuts Hucko (tracks: 1, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14)
Drums – Cliff Leeman (tracks: 13, 14), Don Lamond (tracks: 1 To 12)
Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Ray Beckenstein (tracks: 4, 5, 7, 11)
Flute, Oboe, English Horn – Romeo Penque (tracks: 4, 5, 7, 11)
Guitar – Barry Galbraith
Harp – Jane Putnam (tracks: 4, 5, 7, 11)
Piano – Lou Stein (tracks: 13, 14), Moe Wechsler (tracks: 1 To 12)
Reeds – Ray Beckenstein (tracks: 2, 6, 9, 10), Romeo Penque (tracks: 2, 6, 9, 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Al Epstein (tracks: 2, 6, 9, 10), Al Klink (tracks: 1, 3, 8, 12)
Trombone – Cutty Cutshall (tracks: 13, 14), Lou McGarity (tracks: 1, 3, 8, 12), Bob Alexander (tracks: 2, 6, 9, 10), Urbie Green (tracks: 2, 6, 9, 10)
Trumpet – Bernie Glow (tracks: 2, 6, 9, 10), Billy Butterfield (tracks: 1, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14), Nick Travis (tracks: 2, 6, 9, 10)
Viola – Dave Schwartz (tracks: 4, 5, 7, 11)
Violin – Leo Kruczek (tracks: 4, 5, 7, 11), Paul Winter (tracks: 4, 5, 7, 11)
Vocals – Lee Wiley

LEE WILEY - Night in Manhattan (1952-2007) RM / Mini LP / MONO / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Collectors' Choice Music presents a rare compilation featuring Lee Wiley's most prolific and oft-requested post-World War II extended-play platter, including three complete 10" discs that the vocalist cut for Columbia in the early '50s. When initially issued, Wiley had already experienced significant success as a traditional pop and torch singer circa the '30s. During this era she was supported by such notables as Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, and the Johnny Green-led Casa Loma Orchestra. Due to its thematic nature, this project could rightly be considered as an early Songbook or concept album. That said, it is Night in Manhattan that perhaps most accurately exemplifies the moods, sounds,and auras of The Big Apple after hours. Wiley's unmistakable voice yields a distinct, organic,and otherwise full-bodied timbre. She unleashes varying degrees of that charm, bringing to life the Great American Songbook classics "Any Time, Any Day, Anywhere" and "(I Don't Stand) A Ghost of a Chance (With You)" with her trademark sense of a distant and at times flawed vulnerability. Wiley is joined by Bobby Hackett and Joe Bushkin's Swinging Strings on Night in Manhattan. Comparatively, the Vincent Youmans and Irving Berlin anthologies offer collaborations with Stan Freeman and Cy Walter, who collectively continue building upon Wiley's considerable back catalog of similar "songbooks" cut throughout the '40s. These centered on the works of Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, and George & Ira Gershwin. The original decision to cover both high-profile and obscure titles alike -- such as the elegant "Tea for Two" compared to the equally engaging "Why Oh Why" -- was an inspired one to be sure. Yet it is unquestionably Sings Irving Berlin that serves up one of the finest examples of the magic that can occur when a performer is given access to songs that at times sound as if they were penned specifically for them. Supported by a single keyboard, the classics "I Got Lost in His Arms," "Fools Fall in Love" and "How Deep Is the Ocean (How High Is the Sky)" are haunting and ethereal -- much like Manhattan herself. by Lindsay Planer  
Tracklist :
1     I've Got a Crush on You
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2     I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You
Bing Crosby / Ned Washington / Victor Young
3     Oh! Look at Me Now
Joe Bushkin / John DeVries
4     Manhattan
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
5     How Deep Is the Ocean?
Irving Berlin
6     Time on My Hands
Harold Adamson / Mack Gordon / Vincent Youmans
7     Street of Dreams
Sam M. Lewis / Victor Young
8     A Woman's Intuition
Ned Washington / Victor Young
9     Sugar
Edna Alexander / Sidney Mitchell / Maceo Pinkard
10     Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere
Ned Washington / Lee Wiley / Victor Young
11     Soft Lights and Sweet Music
Irving Berlin
12     More Than You Know
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans
Credits :
Backing Band – Joe Bushkin and His Swinging Strings
Cornet – Bobby Hackett
Piano – Joe Bushkin
Solo Vocal – Lee Wiley

LEE WILEY - Back Home Again (1994) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Fourteen years after her last record, singer Lee Wiley came back for one final studio recording. Although she does a good job on "Indiana" and "I'm Coming, Virginia" and the backup band (which includes trumpeter Rusty Dedrick, clarinetist Johnny Mince, trombonist Buddy Morrow, and pianist Dick Hyman) is excellent, in general this is a disappointing LP. Wiley's voice was no longer in its prime and, although her distinctive phrasing was still intact, her earlier sessions are far superior while her final Carnegie Hall recording is much more emotional and historic. This album is only recommended to Lee Wiley completists. [The CD version released by Audiophile tacks on a 1965 demo session recorded with Joe Bushkin.] by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Moon River 3:32
Henry Mancini / Johnny Mercer
2    When I Fall In Love 3:12
Edward Heyman / Victor Young
3    You're Lucky To Me 3:39
Eubie Blake / Andy Razaf
4    A Woman's Intuition 2:26
Ned Washington / Victor Young
5    A Love Like This 3:48
Stan Lewis / Ferdinand Washington
6    I'll Be Home 2:59
Ned Washington / Victor Young
7    A Sleeping Bee 3:48
Harold Arlen / Truman Capote
8     (Back Home Again In) Indiana 3:37
James F. Hanley / Ballard MacDonald
9    Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year 3:43
Frank Loesser
10    I'm Coming Virginia 2:51
Will Marion Cook / Donald Heywood
11    If I Love Again 3:59
Jack Murray / Ben Oakland
12    Any Time Any Day Any Where 3:01
- Bonus Tracks -
13    When I Leave This World Behind (Rehearsal And Take 1) 3:30
Irving Berlin
14    When I Leave This World Behind (Take 5) 1:23
15    When I Leave This World Behind (Take 6) 2:25
16    Why Shouldn't I (Takes 1 & 2) 2:48
17    Why Shouldn't I (Take 3) 2:00
18    Why Shouldn't I (Take 4) 1:37
19    The Lonesome Road (Rehearsal And Take 1) 3:00
20    The Lonesome Road (Take 2) 2:09
21    The Lonesome Road (Take 3) 2:06
22    The Lonesome Road (Take 4) 2:08
23    The Lonesome Road (Take 6 With Overdubbed Trumpet) 2:05
Gene Austin / Nat Shilkret
24    Someday You'll Be Sorry (Take 1) 2:39
Louis Armstrong
25    I Left My Heart In San Francisco (Take 1) 2:52
26    Indiana (Take 3) 2:59
James F. Hanley / Ballard MacDonald
Credits :
Bass – George Duvivier
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Johnny Mince
Drums – Don Lamond
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli
Piano, Organ – Dick Hyman
Trombone – Buddy Morrow
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Leader, Arranged By – Rusty Dedrick
Vocals – Lee Wiley

LEE WILEY - Live on Stage : Town Hall, New York 1944~1945 (2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
1 A Ghost of a Chance 2:42
Bing Crosby / Ned Washington / Victor Young
2 Any Old Time I'm Feeling Blue 3:22
Fud Livingston
3 Don't Blame Me 4:42
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
4 Down with Love 3:03
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
5 How Long Has This Been Going On? 2:51
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6 I Can't Get Started 3:23
Vernon Duke / Ira Gershwin
7 I've Got a Crush on You 2:44
Ira Gershwin
8 Old Folks 3:21
Dedette Lee Hill / Willard Robison
9 On the Sunny Side of the Street 2:49
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
10 Somebody Loves Me 1:23
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
11 Someone to Watch Over Me 3:23
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
12 Sugar 3:24
Sidney Mitchell / Maceo Pinkard
13 Sweet and Lowdown 2:04
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
14 The Man I Love 2:26
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
15 When Your Lover Has Gone 3:11
16 Wherever There's Love 4:15
Eddie Condon / John DeVries
17 Why Shouldn't I? 2:41
Cole Porter
18 You're Lucky to Me 2:53
Eubie Blake / Andy Razaf
19 Wherever There's Love 3:12
Eddie Condon / John DeVries
20 On the Sunny Side of the Street 1:52
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
21 Interview 14:30