GEORGIA GIBBS THE KISS OF FIRE
Her 29 Finest 1942-1955
RETROSPECTIVE RTR 4375 [79:48]
1. The Kiss Of Fire (2:24)
2. Absent-Minded Moon (3:20)
3. If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d Have Baked A Cake (2:45)
4. I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine (2:46)
5. Play A Simple Melody (2:38)
6. Red Hot Mama (2:51)
7. While You Danced, Danced, Danced (2:59)
8. Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White (2:29)
9. Cry (2:49)
10. My Old Flame (2:59)
11. My Favourite Song (2:39)
12. The Photograph On The Piano (2:11)
13. Say It Isn’t So (2:56)
14. Seven Lonely Days (2:09)
15. He’s Funny That Way (3:23)
16. Baubles, Bangles And Beads (3:02)
17. Under Paris Skies (2:44)
18. I Love Paris (2:36)
19. Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell (2:23)
20. It’s The Talk Of The Town (4:14)
21. My Sin (2:07)
22. Whistle And I’ll Dance (2:30)
23. The Man That Got Away (2:51)
24. Ballin’ The Jack (2:53)
25. Tweedle Dee (2:27)
26. Dance With Me, Henry (2:17)
27. Sweet And Gentle (2:29)
28. I Want You To Be My Baby (2:28)
29. Kiss Me Another (2:14)
Georgia Gibbs (1918-2006) was an extremely versatile and talented singer
who began her career with the big bands in the 1930’s and successfully
adjusted with the changing music scene by switching to rock and roll, pop
numbers, ballads, rhythm and blues, and country-western tunes through the
1950’s. Born Frieda Lipschitz in Worcester, Massachusetts, Georgia was
raised in a Jewish orphanage and developing her singing talent in local
variety shows. She had a warm and beautiful alto voice and could easily
master any music style or song arrangement. In 1936 she was discovered by
song-writers Will Hudson and Eddie DeLange and soon joined their swing
band, the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra, touring the greater New York area.
Georgia performed under the pseudonym Fredda Gibson with Frankie
Trumbauer’s Orchestra in 1940 and also with Artie Shaw in 1942 when she
recorded the earliest song in this collection, Absent-Minded Moon, for the Victor label. Her big band experience
also included performing with Tommy Dorsey and Hal Kemp’s big band. In 1943
she changed her name to Georgia Gibbs and went on to a successful solo
career as a cross-over artist, singing covers of other performers as well
as her own hits. This disc from Retrospective showcases 29 of her
recordings between 1942 and 1955. Four of these songs were recorded in 1950
for Coral Records, including I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine,
featuring jazz bassist Bob Haggart and his Orchestra. After a slow and
bluesy introduction, Georgia and the band pick up the tempo and swing
through a fine arrangement of the Mack David number. The remaining tunes on
this disc were recorded for the Mercury label between 1951 and 1956.
Georgia recorded two of her biggest hits, The Kiss of Fire and Tweedle Dee, with Glenn Osser and his Orchestra. The two
songs demonstrate Georgia’s versatility; the first, an Argentinian tango,
and the second, a rock and roll novelty number. Both were million selling
hits, along with Dance With Me, Henry, recorded in 1955
with Hugo Peretti and his Orchestra. The song was previously a big R&B
hit for Etta James named The Wallflower. My favorite song in this
collection is I Want You To Be My Baby, written by Jon Hendricks
and recorded in 1955 with Hugo Peretti. Previously recorded by Louis Jordan
in 1953, Georgia really shines on this rock and roll number with her high
energy vocals and explosive scat singing.
A 12-page booklet is included with the disc, with interesting background
information and comments by Peter Dempsey. The music was compiled by Ray
Crick, and restored and remastered by Martin Haskell. The sound quality is
excellent.
Bruce McCollum
