If you have any comments, additional data or uptdates, please let me know.
EmArcy/Mercury Records
The Blue Stars of France: Lullaby of Birdland
and Other Famous Hits (1954) (with the Blue Stars vocal group).
I have been searching for this French version of Lullaby of Birdland for some year, no one knew what I was talking about. Now we can have it in MP3. Mandatory to buy at least just this music in MP3.and Other Famous Hits (1954) (with the Blue Stars vocal group).
2. Tout Bas (Speak Low)
3. Gina
4. Plus Je T'embrasse (Heart Of My Heart)
5. Toute Ma Joie (That's My Girl)
6. Les Lavandieres Du Portugal (The Portuguese Washerwoman)
7. Mister L'Amour (Mister Sandman)
8. En 1920 (In 1920)
9. Embrasse Moi Bien (Hold Me Close)
10. Lettre A Virginie (Letter To Virginia)
11. La Danse Du Baiser (The Kissing Dance)
12. Mambo Italiano
Barclay Records
2. Autumn In New York
3. Flamingo
4. There Will Never Be Another You
5. The Continental
6. The Boy Next Door
7. They Can't Take That Away From Me
8. Moonlight Saving Time
9. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
10. April In Paris
11. Blue Moon
12. Down The Depths Of The 90th Floor
French Barclay
I don't know why this record was recorded. But this record proves Dearie's talent as a pianist, and it also proves her origin as a supper club musician, not as a jazz musician.
This album, together with some tracks from Lullaby of Birdland (1954), is now available as The Pianist: Les Blue Stars
.Verve Records
1.'Deed I Do
2.Lover Man
3.Ev'rything I've Got
4.Comment Allez-Vous
5.More Than You Know
6.Thou Swell
7.It Might as Well Be Spring
8.Tout Doucement
9.You for Me
10.Now at Last
11.I Hear Music
12.Wait Till You See Her
13.I Won't Dance
14.A Fine Spring Morning
15.They Say It's Spring
16.Johnny One Note
17.Blossom's Blues
Produced by Norman Granz
From the website www2.odn.ne.jp:
"In 1956, Blossom Dearie came back to New York to contract with Verve records. This self-titled debut album may be the most famous record of Dearie for many people. While other records of Dearie sometimes get out of prints, I think this record has always been on the catalog.
Of course, this is the good album. But I think this is not a great record, especially when comparing with the great Verve albums that followed this. I am not sure why this record is so popular. It may be partly because of the impressive album cover. It may be because this album is somehow closer to usual jazz vocal album. (And the cover design fits to the conventional image of female jazz singer.) But as I argued above, she is not a jazz singer, but a supper club singer in a good sense of the word. From such a point of view, this album is somehow weak. So, I don't hear this record often, though I think it has its own charm.
When hearing this album as a continuation of Lullaby of Birdland (1954) and April in Paris (1956), we can find some similarity such as French chorus in Comment Allez-Vous, It Might as Well Be Spring and Tout Doucement , and piano instrumental track, More Than You Know. For me, these are the interesting parts of this record. And ordinary jazz vocal listeners might find other charms in other tracks of this record.
In short, it seems to me that she was still searching for her own style in this album. And the first peak of her musical career started from the next album in Verve."
Give Him the Ooh La La
(1957)
2.Like Someone in Love
3.Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
4.They Say It's Spring
5.Try Your Wings
6.Bang Goes the Drum (And You're in Love)
7.The Riviera
8.The Middle of Love
9.Plus Je T'Embrasse
10.Give Him the Ooh-La-La
11.Let Me Love You
12.I Walk a Little Faster
Produced by Norman Granz
"Starting from this album, Blossom Dearie shows the first peak of her career in 4 incredible Verve albums. I wrote that Blossom Dearie is not a jazz singer, but a supper club singer. But in these great albums, Dearie is also a great jazz singer in her own way. They are jazzy at the same time that they are pop. Jazzy groovy is mainly made by the wonderful bass played by Ray Brown. But, piano played by Dearie sounds groovier than the other albums of hers. These mixtures of jazz and pop are the appeal of the Verve albums of Dearie.
This album, Give Him the Ooh La La
may not be the best of 4 great albums, but very close to the best. And the upper mood moving toward the peak is fascinating.This album starts with very impressive track. Dearie sings only with bass of Ray Brown. This is very cool. There are cute songs like the title tracks. And there are more impressive songs.
A very joyous and pleasant record."
Once Upon a Summertime/My Gentleman Friend
(1958)
1.Tea for Two
2.The Surrey With the Fringe on Top
3.Moonlight Saving Time
4.It Amazes Me
5.If I Were a Bell
6.We're Together
7.Teach Me Tonight
8.Once upon a Summertime
9.Down With Love
10.Manhattan
11.Doop-Doo-De-Doop (A Doodlin' Song)
12.Our Love Is Here to Stay
Produced by Norman Granz
"This is standing even higher among the 4 great Verve records from 1957 to 1959. In this album, Blossom Dearie sings in her cutest way. Also, a very cute album cover. This should be the first album of Dearie that you should buy, if you've never heard her.
Among the jazzy albums in Verve, this is closer to the pop album. There are very charming songs in joyous arrangement. But it is also great as a a jazz album. The ensemble of piano, bass, guitar and drums is very groovy.
I guess this is the album that I heard Dearie for the first time. Actually I heard some of songs in this album on the radio without knowing who was singing. I'd been wondering who was singing for a long time. When I bought this record just because the cover art was cute, I was very happy to find the owner of the cute voice. And I've been fascinated by this voice since then. (Maybe for 20 years or so?)"
Blossom Dearie Sings Comden and Green
(1959) 
2.Just in Time
3.Some Other Time
4.Dance Only With Me
5.I Like Myself
6.The Party's Over
7.How Will He Know
8.It's Love
9.Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me
10.Lonely Town
Produced by Norman Granz
1959 was the very fruitful year for Blossom Dearie. Two albums were released this year and both of them are great. In these albums Dearie shows her best performance as a jazz singer and pianist. These are not very catchy albums, but they deserve more appreciation.
This album gathers the songs by lyricists Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
This is a very modest album, but it is also a very gentle and intimate one. Once I started to hear this album, time just stops running. Without knowing what songs I am listening to. I just have to realize the record has reached the end. Timeless pleasure of simple listening.
Now, this album is available on CD. (But album cover image is shrunken.. Too bad.)
My Gentleman Friend
(1959) 
2.Gentleman Friend
3.It's Too Good to Talk About Now
4.Chez Moi
5.You Fascinate Me So
6.You've Got Something I Want
7.Boum
8.L' Etang
9.Hello Love
10.Someone to Watch Over Me
Produced by Norman Granz
"A very quite and intimate album. The best album of Dearie as a jazz singer & pianist in her own way.
This is truly a flawless album. A beautiful cover photo. The most sincere singing of Dearie. The perfect ensemble of Dearie, Kenny Barrel (G), Ray Brown (B), and Ed Thigpen (D), with the guest appearance of Bobby Jasper (Fl). European tasted track such as three songs sung in French. Most of all, the last track, Someone to Watch over Me, is absolutely stunning. (It was also included in The Very Best of Gershwin (Decca, 1997).
This beautiful album, for the reason that I don't understand, is sometimes out of catalog. But, now it is available on CD. Get one while still it is."
Soubrette: Blossom Dearie Sings Broadway Hit Songs
(1960)
2.Confession
3.Rhode Island Is Famous for You
4.To Keep My Love Alive
5.Too Good for the Average Man
6.The Gentleman Is a Dope
7.Always True to You in My Fashion
8.Napoleon
9.Life upon the Wicked Stage
10.The Phisician
11.Love Is the Reason
Produced by Norman Granz
"The last album from Verve. Dearie sings with jazz orchestra, now with her piano. The closest album to the conventional female jazz vocal album. Dearie's voice is sweet and cute. When re-hearing this record, I understand her singing here is very good. But this orchestra doesn't fit to her vocal style well. A good album, but the last album to buy in the Verve years albums."
Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs (1963)
2. I Left my Heart in San Fransisco
3. I Wanna be Around
4. The Sweetest Sounds
5. The Good Life
6. Lazy, Crazy Days of Summer
7. Desafinado
8. Our Day Will Come
9. Fly Me To the Moon
10.I've Got Your Number
11.What Kind of Fool am I?
12.He Loves me
Produced by Ed Mahoney
"Blossom Dearie is usually categorized as a jazz singer. She debuted from Verve records in the 50s. Her records in Verve has a jazzy groove and can be heard as jazz vocal records. But actually she is not a jazz singer, she is a "supper club singer" or "lounge singer" and also a pop singer. Her records in the 60s shows clearly her pop and lounge singer approach to music in a stylish way.
The first album records after Dearie left Verve is a novelty record for Root Beer! In 1962, Blossom Dearie was asked to sing the radio commercial song for Root Beer and it was a very successful. (Though I haven't heard it, it is said that many Americans still remember this song). So, Root Beer company decided to make this novelty record as a bonus record for those who bought many of products. (By the way, Root Beer is not beer. It is a kind of non-alcohol soda like Dr. Pepper. If you don't know Dr. Pepper, I don't know how to describe its taste. Well, I don't like its flavor, but American people tend to like it.)
So, this records gathers 12 hit songs of 1963. There are many popular standard songs like Days of Wine and Roses, I Left my Heart in San Fransisco, Desafinado, Fly Me To the Moon etc.
In spite of its novelty feature, this record stands at the very important point of Dearie. It is a turning point from a jazz singer to a popular singer. As I already wrote above, the selection of songs is very pop orientated. There are Bossa Nova rhythms not only in Desafinado but also in some other songs. Considering "Getz/Gilberto", which caught the international attention to Bossa Nova, was released in 1963, Bossa Nova must have been an exotic fashion at that time. On the other hand, this is also a jazz record, too. In most of songs, the arrangement is jazz oriented. And the vocal of Dearie is close to the best singing in the jazzy albums in Verve records.
Original LP is very rare, but there is a CD reissue by minor Japanese label. (The sound quality is not very good. The rating is somehow effected by this sound quality.)"
Capitol/EMI Records
May I Come In?
(1964) 
2. (I'm) In love again
3. When Sunny gets blue
4. Quiets nights
5. Don't wait too long
6. I wish you love
7. Charade
8. May I come in?
9. I'm old fashioned
10.Love is a necessary evil
11.The best is yet to come
12.Put on a happy face
Produced by David Cavanaugh
"May I come in? was recorded in Hollywood and released from Capitol records in 1964. Yes, this is the pop oriented album. In this album, Dearie sings with fancy orchestra. She sings mostly without playing piano, standing up, just like ordinary pop singers. Gorgeously arranged sweet music like the cover image of the album. In spite of the gorgeous arrangement of songs, it does not spoil the sensitive, cute vocal of Dearie. Very well produced. Particularly, Charade is cool and catchy.
Asked about her dreams, Dearie answered, "I want to make a lot of money. I know I'm good but i want the money and the recognition that go with it. I want a mink coat and a little foreign car and I don't want to have worry about taking a cab uptown." I don't know how much her dreams came true. She is wearing mink coat in the cover photo, but it was not her coat; Capitol loaned it for photo shoot. Though this album was commercially successful and maybe brought her some money, she did not continue this American pop approach. Her contract with Capitol records was finished with only one album, she flew to Europe to play in small clubs."
Fontana Records
Blossom Time at Ronnie Scott's
(1966) (live)
2. When The World Was Young
3. When In Rome
4. The Shadow Of Your Smile
5. Everything I've Got Belongs To You
6. Once Upon A Summertime
7. I'm Hip
8. Mad About The Boy
9. The Shape Of Things
10. Satin Doll
"Blossom Time at Ronnie Scott's" was live recorded, live during her first visit, in 1966, to the famed London jazz club. Released by the British label Fontana, for which she would record three more albums.
Though she was born in the U.S., her music is full of European taste. Maybe because she was in Europe in the early 50s. After making some records on Verve and Capitol in America, she moved back to Europe. (I don't know exactly when she moved.) And she was staying in Europe in 60s. Mostly in "swinging" London, I guess."
During her stay in Europe, she released 4 albums from Fontana, and this is the first one. And also her first live album. In this album, Blossom Dearie sings and plays piano, with a bassist and a drummer. Dearie speaks with humor between songs, even she jokes. Ronnie Scott's is a small jazz club in London. The atmosphere of the album is relaxed and intimate. Her performing style as a supper club singer was firstly captured live here. Also, the song selection is pop oriented. She picks up my favorite song, On Broadway, which was written by Barry Mann et al. And one of her famous repertoires, I'm Hip, firstly appeared in this record. Audiences laugh when she sings a line of I'm Hip, "I even call my girlfriend Man, I'm so hip."
A little complaint about this album is the loud jazzy drum sound. The drummer Johnny Butts sometimes sounds too much. There is even a drum solo in On Broadway.
Anyway, in this album she seems not to care about the money that she used to dream of. She is simply enjoying playing music in front of nice audiences.
Sweet Blossom Dearie
(1967) (live)
2. You Turn Me On Baby
3. Sleeping Bee
4. Sweet Lover No More
5. Sweet Georgie Fame
6. That's No Joke
7. Peel Me a Grape
8. One Note Samba
9. On a Clear Day You can See Forever
10.I'll Only Miss Him When I Think of Him
11.Big Cities For Me
12.You're Gonna Hear From Me
Another live album at Ronnie Scott's. Blossom Dearie, playing herself piano, plays with Drum and Bass. Seemingly very similar to the former album. But this is even better than "Blossom Time" and is the best live album of Dearie.
More relaxed and less Jazzy. The drum and bass are quieter than the former one. She went one step away from a jazz singer and forward to the club singer. This contains the first version of one of her famous songs, Sweet George Fame.
Oh I heard him one night / quite by chance / now where I'm walkin', I dance / And London is not quite the same / 'Cos when he sings / The city swings / Sweet George Fame
London Bridge is falling down / Pop songs I hear with suspicion / But now at last I'm glad to meet / The sweet loving, real good musician / Oh from Broadway to Festival Hall / I have listened and I've heard them all / And they say I'm a real swinging dame / Yet I'm impressed, my ears are blessed / With George Fame
Live in London
This illustrates beautiful communications between Dearie and London pop musicians. Blossom Dearie was hip in London in the mid 60s!
2. I Wish you Love
3. Watch What Happens
4. Bright Lights, Big City
5. On Broadway
6. Sweet Lover no More
7. Satin Doll
8. The Great City
9. I Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him
10. Sweet Georgie Fame
11. That's No Joke
12. You're Gonna Hear From Me
13. One Note Samba
14. Peel Me a Grape
15. The Shadow of Your Smile
16. When in Rome (i Do as the Romans)
Live in London, Vol. 2
Recently, Live in London Volume 2, another live album at Ronnie Scott's recorded in 1966 was released. It was made of similar repertoires like Blossom Time and Sweet Blossom Dearie. Because Sweet Blossom Dearie gets relatively rare now, Live in London may become a substitute. But the sound quality is not very good. (It does not dis-enable enjoying, though.)
2. Put on a Happy Face
3. You Turn me On Baby
4. How do you say "auf Wiedersehn"
5. On The Street Where You Live
6. (ah, The Apples Tree) When the World was Young
7. The Best is Yet to Come
8. Wallflower Lonely, Cornflower Blue
9. Everything I've Got
10. Why Did I Choose You?
11. Quiet Nights (Corcovado)
12. Fine Spring Morning
13. I've Got a Lot of Livin' To Do
14. Once Uppon A Summertime
15. That's My Style
16. Mad About The Boy
17. You Fascinate Me So
18. Les Tomkins Interview With Blossom Dearie
Soon It's Gonna Rain (1967)
Side A
1. A Wonderful Guy
2. Trains and Boats and Planes
3. Alfie
4. Meditation
5. How Insensitive
6. Soon it's Gonna Rain
Side B
1. Sunny
2. Watch What Happens
3. I Was Looking for You
4.Dindi
5.Once I Loved
6.The Folks Who Live on the Hill
The first studio album from Fontana. 4 songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim, 2 songs of Bacharach & David, 1 song of Michael Legrand. As you might guess from these song selections, this is a light easy-listening pop album. Some kind of typical pop music in the 60 s. And it fits to the voice of Blossom Dearie.
This is a very rare record. It is sometimes on ebay, but usually traded over $200. So, I don't have this LP. This should be reissued on CD.
That's Just the Way I Want to Be
(1970) 
2. Long Daddy Green
3. Sweet Surprise
4. Hey John
5. Sweet Georgie Fame
6. Both Sides Now
7. Dusty Springfield
8. Will There Really be a Morning
9. I Know the Moon
10.Inside a Silent Tear
11.Yesterday When I Was Young
12.I Like London in the Rain
Produced by Peter King
The second and last studio album from Fontana. A very groovy record! Gorgeously arranged with orchestra and chorus in the late 60s pop/soft rock sound. One of the best records Blossom Dearie ever made. And certainly the best record in the pop oriented records of Dearie, and can be the best of the 60s soft rock records.
9 out of 12 songs are originally written by Blossom Dearie. This percentage may be next to Blossom Dearie Sings (1973), which was made only with her original songs.
There are three tribute songs, which are "Hey, John", "Sweet George Fame" and "Dusty Springfield". "Hey, John" is written for John Lennon, who was also a fan of Blossom Dearie. This song is frequently picked up in other albums, but this is the first version of it. Considering Lennon was making "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" (1970), I wonder how he heard this innocent sweet song. "Sweet George Fame" is the second appearance in the record. "Dusty Springfield" is also a cute song. Dearie sings;
"Dusty Springfield / That's the pretty name / It ever sounds like a game / In a green field / Happy horses play the dusty game / When it's May / Thick and paisley skies / Shining in green eyes / A magic in real / London flowers fair / Blooming in her hair"
Oh, we can say the same to her, "Blossom Dearie / That's the pretty name"!
"Long Daddy Green" is also her favorite song picked up often. It is often sung simply with piano, but this version had very groovy 60s pop sound arrangement. "I Like London in the Rain" is a surprising track with funky rhythm guitar, bass and drum. And the title track "That's just the way I want to be" has an acrobatic melody in very sophisticated Latin percussion arrangement and orchestra. A very cute version of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now. So many musical surprises and varieties of ideas in this record.
Whisper for You
1. That's Just the Way I Want to Be
2. Long Daddy Green
3. Sweet Surprise
4. Hey John
5. Sweet Georgie Fame
6. Both Sides Now
7. Dusty Springfield
8. Will There Really Be a Morning
9. I Know the Moon
10. Inside a Silent Tear
11. Yesterday, When I Was Young
12. I Like London in the Rain
13. Just One of Those Things
14. Like Someone in Love
15. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
16. Try Your Wings
17. Riviera
18. Middle of Love
19. Plus Je T'Embrasse
20. Give Him the Ooh-La-La
21. I Walk a Little Faster
This LP is also very rare, an original LP is sometimes traded about $200, but, unlike Soon it's gonna rain, it is easier to get on CD.
There was a CD reissue in an original format with a paper sleeve in Japan. This is a must for every Blossom Dearie fan.
There was, and still is, a Japanese CD called "Whisper for you". It is a strange compilation that combines That's just the way... and Give him the oh la-la (1957), 2 tracks of Give him... are cut. (There is also a paper sleeve CD issue of Give him...)
Daffodil Records
After several years stay in Europe, which resulted in marvelous "That's Just the Way I Want to be" (1970), Blossom Dearie moved back to New York, and established her own publishing company, Daffodil.
This is her first record from Daffodil.
Blossom Sings (1973)
1. I'm shadowing you
2. Saving my feeling for you
3. Sunday afternoon
4. Somebody new
5. I like you, you're nice
Side B
1. Baby, you're my kind
2. Home
3. Hey John
4. You have lived in autumn
5.Flame to fire
Produced by Bob Dorough
The early catalogs from Daffodil, including this album, are out of print now. But they are sometimes on ebay, and not very difficult to get at not-very-expensive price.
Later Daffodil issued a double CD with this same cover, 33 tracks.
This doube CD is called Sings Blossom's Own Treasures
Disc1
1. I'm shadowing you
2. Saving my feeling for you
3. Sunday afternoon
4. Somebody new
5. I like you, you're nice
6. Baby, you're my kind
7. Home
8. Hey John
9. You have lived in autumn
10.Flame to fire
11.Many's the Time
12.Isn't That the Thing to Do?
13.Sweet Georgie Fame
14.Pretty People
15.You'll Never Lose the Love
16.Who Knows All the Answers
17.Paris
Disc 2
1.Winchester in Apple Blossom Time
2.Touch the Hand of Love
3.Love Is an Elusive Celebration
4.Sweet Surprise
5.Summer is Gone
6.Bring All Your Love Along
7.I Never Say Goodbye
8.I Know My Lines
9.Bobby and Me
10.Stay and Love My Blues Away
11.For People Like You and Me
12.Lovin' in the Present Tense
13.You Taught Me Everything I Know
14.After Me
15.One Who Loves the Most
16.What Time Is It for Us My Love?
1975-from the Meticulous to the Sublime
1. I'm Hip
2. Saving My Feeling For You
3. Sweet George Fame
4. A Face Like Yours
5. Hey John
B
1. I'm Shadowing You
2. Many's The Time
3. Send In The Clowns
4. Isn't It The Thing to Do
5. Feelin' Groovy - The 59th St. Bridge Song
6. How Do You Say Auf wiedersehn?
Produced by Blossom Dearie
It is really Meticulous and Sublime.
This album, 1975, is the best record of Blossom Dearie, along with "My New Celebrity Is You" (1976). In these albums, Blossom Dearie reached the point that no word can describe her music. It surely can not be categorized in jazz vocal anymore, it is not a even pop/soft rock. It is Blossom Dearie music. So cute. So lovely. I am always feeling dreamingly happy when I hear this record.
Compared to the first album from Daffodil, the music is much more sophisticated. The cover art is fashionable. The song selection is not fresh for the listener who have liseten to the Dearies 's record in a chronological order. But the versions recorded here are the best versions of the songs. The first track "I'm Hip" was originally appeared in "Blossom Time" (1966), but this version is much sophisticatedly arranged and fashionable. So impressive. Also, "Saving My Feeling For You" and "I'm Shadowing You", that originally appeared on Blossom Dearie sings (1973), are smoothly here.
She covered Paul Simon's "Feelin' Groovy - The 59th St. Bridge Song". This is the highlight of this album, This version is ten times better than the original Simon & Garfunkel's version, which is also very good. Actually, it is a very groovy track. I can feel groovy in a fresh morning air on the bridge, looking at the New York skyline.
The last track is "How Do You Say Auf wiedersehn?", in which Dearie sings only with her piano. How can we say "Auf wiedersehn" to this album anyway. So, I sometimes repeat hearing this record from the A side, or start hearing My New Celebrity Is You (1976).
My New Celebrity Is You
1. My New Celebrity is You
2. Moonlight Saving Time
3. Smiling Feet
4. Pretty People
B
1. The Christmas Card
2. You'll Never Lose the Love You Give to Me
3. Killing Me Softly with his Song
4. Who Knows all the Answers
C
1. A Paris
2. Spring in Manhattan
3. Unless it's You
4. Inside a Silent Tear
D
1. Long Daddy Green
2. Peel me a Grape
3. A Song for You
4. The Pro Musiqua Antiqua
Produced by Blossom Dearie
The most fashionable record of Blossom Dearie. It is hard to decide which is better between 1975 and this album. In this album, Ron Carter plays Bass and Toots Thielemans plays Harmonica. Their professional performance adds more sophistication on this album.
This starts with "My New Celebrity is You", newly written for Blossom Dearie by Johnny Mercer.
I dig Modigliani Jolson doing Swanee...several Maharanee are my intimates too / I played with Mantovani and that's a lot of strings to get through/ but anyone can see My New Celebrity Is You
She keeps on singing the names of clebrities with an impressive bass line of Ron Carter. This is really a catchy tune. It is a great starting tune as "I'm Hip" in 1975, in which she sings, "Sammy Davis knows my friend. I'm so Hip!"
"Moonlight Saving Time" is also her famous repertoire, first appeared on "Once upon a Summertime" (1958). It is sweetly arranged with Harmonica of Toots Thielemans. The best track for me is "Pretty People". Oh, it is so pretty and cute. I lose my roads.
This album contains cover versions of "Killing Me Softly with his Song" and "A Song for You". Particularly, "Killing Me Softly with his Song" is wonderful. It is a famous song by Roberta Flack, and it is dedicated to Don McLean. Blossom Dearie has already sung songs dedicated to John Lennon, George Fame, and Dusty Springfield. She might be a good singer in these tribute songs. In this version, she sings in a light groovy arrangements.
While the first disc of this album is very gorgeous and groovy, the second disc is more intimate and quiet, mainly played only with her piano. I love the first disc better, but the second disc is also very good.
Winchester In Apple Blossom Time
1. Winchester In apple Blossom Time
2. Spring Can Really Hang you Up The Most
3. Sunday Afternoon
4. A Wonderful Guy
5. Touch The Hand Of Love
B
1. Sweet Surprise
2. You Are There
3. The Wheelers and Dealers
4. A Jazz Musician
5. Surrey With The Fringe
C
1. Love Is An Elusive
2. Lucky To Be Me
3. The Riviera
4. You're for Loving
5. The Ballad Of The shape Of Things
D
1. Summer Is Gone
2. Sammy
3. It Amazes Me
4. If I Were A Bell
5. Winchester In Apple blossom Time
Produced by Blossom Dearie
The fourth album from Daffodil. This is a quiet record mainly played only with Dearie's piano. So, this is a kind of a continuation of the second disc of My New Celebrity Is You (1976). Of course, there are beautiful songs, but this album seems to lack something. It may be just because it is too quiet and too long in the two LP length. So, I don't hear this record very often.
Needlepoint Magic (1979) (live)
A
1. The Ballad of the Shape of Things
2. Lushlife
3. When the World was Young
4. I'm Hip
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside
B
1. I Like You, You're Nice
2. Sweet Surprise
3. I'm Shadowing You
4. Sweet Georgie Fame
5.Peel Me a Grape
6.Two Sleepy People
The first live album from Daffodil. This album gathers typical repertoires of Dearie in the 70s. And this captures the humorous and intimate atmosphere of her live stage at the club, Reno Sweeney. She starts the stage with saying; "Good evening. Thank you very much. You are wondering why I am speaking into two microphones instead of one. Here I'll be singing into two because I'm doing a recording. Daffodil record, this will be vol.5. Is that exciting? Good." Very funny?
She sings mainly with her piano and occasionally with bass. So, it is as simple as Winchester in Apple Blossom Time (1977), but songs are much vivid here.
Bob Dorough, the composer of "I'm Hip", appears in "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and "Two Sleepy People". These duets are very humorous and lovely. They are highlights of this record.
Simply Blossom Dearie
1983A
1. I Never Say Goodbye
2. I Know My Lines
3. Sweet Kentucky Home
4. Bobby and Me
5. Answering Machine
B
1. Bye-Bye Country Boy
2. I Told You So
3. I Have the Feeling I've Been Here Before
4. Just the Way You Are
5.Bring All Your Love Along
Even though her most brilliant works are from the 50's to the 70's (it's a quite long time), her works after the 80's also have constant and stable quality. The designs of the covers are not so good, and they may discourage you to buy. Still, they are worth buying nor only for the collectors, though they are not the first or second albums to buy. And Simply is the must-buy for the fans. There is nothing new in this album. It is a same old Dearie. But what's wrong with it? Her electric piano is soft, gentle and groovy. And smooth backing of musicians. Mostly, cute voice of Dearie.
There are two duets with Bob Dorough, "Answering Machine" and "Bring All Your Love Along". They are good, particularly "Answering Machine" is superb. This one is taken from Rupert Holmes' "Partners in Crime" (1979), which is one of my most favorite adult contemporary albums. It sounds as if it were written for Dearie and Dorough. And there is also a cover of Billy Joel's Just the Way You are.
Positively Blossom Dearie
1983A
1. For People Like You and Me
2. Lovin' In The Present tense
3. Free Again
4. You Taught Me Everything I Know (Now Teach Me How to Let You Go)
5. After Me
B
1. Yardbird Suite/Medley
2. Over the Weekend
3. Sophisticated Lady
4. Stay and Love My Blues Away
5.Tell Me Softly
Released in the same year with Simply, Positively is also a good album. The electric piano is also gentle and groovy, and so are the backing musicians. Phil Woods appears as a guest in 4 tracks. His saxophone is nice, but sounds a little loud. I think he does not fit to the music of Dearie very well. This is the only problem of this record for me. (Other people may think the appearance of Woods is the charm of this record.)
Et Tu Bruce
1984A
1. Hey John
2. You Have Lived in Autumn
3. Alice in Wonderland
4. I Won't Dance
5. The Riviera
B
1. Someone's Been Sending Me Flowers
2. Winchester in Apple Blossom Time
3. Bruce
4. Inside a Silent Tear
5.Satin Doll
Et Tu Bruce was recorded live at The Ballroom in New York. This is a sequel to Needle Point Magic (1979). This starts with the same type of joke with Needle Point Magic (1979). "This is volume 8. Can you understand it?" Dearie's jokes are funny. And the audiences are very friendly and cheerful. Very enjoyable album.
So, this is as good as Needle Point Magic (1979), with many popular repertoires. It starts with Hey John, with the dedication to John Lennon. Alice in Wonderland is a new repertoire, and sounds charming.
Chez Wahlberg: Part One (1985)
A
1. Only Yesterday
2. Sad Song Lady
3. Are You Still in Love with Emily?
4. Good morning Darling (What's Your Name)
5. You Must Believe in Spring
6. Round About
7. Love Song
8. We Talked about Charlie
B
1. A Small Love Song
2.Both of Us
3.A Friend Like You
4.I Wish It Wasn't Spring
5.In Your Eyes
6.The One Who Loves the Most
7.Old Thyme Movie Love Affair
8.Just Being Here
This was recorded in the recording studio of Dick Wahlberg, who "is Swedish and lives with his family on the top of a hill in San Francisco." Dearie plays acoustic piano and sings. This is the same style with Et Tu Bruce, but I feel a little bit monotonous. Her piano doesn't sound groovy here, I don't know why. Though Dearie wrote "Part Two is in the works", it was not released after all.
This record is rare now, but I think this is a collector-only-record.
Songs of Chelsea
19871. My Attorney Bernie
2. Everything I've Got
3. C'est le Printemps
4. When in Rome
5. Let the Flowers Grow
6. My New Celebrity is You
7. What Time is it Now?
8. You Fascinate Me So
9. There Ought to be a Moonlight Saving Time
10.Chelsea Aire
Another charming album from the 80's. Dearie plays acoustic piano again. But it is much more groovy than Chez Wahlberg. Maybe it is partly because of the smooth playing of guitarist and bassist.
Dearie explains that "This is a selection of songs which is typical of my shows at The Ballroom, New York City - the Big Apple - currently my favorite boite de nuit (mais, surtout maintennant, boite de soirée!)." There are reinterpretations of famous repertoires such as My New Celebrity Is You and There Ought To Be A Moonlight Saving Time. They are very good, of course. And the best track is Bossa Nova flavored "What Time Is It Now?" A very gentle and tender album.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
1991(Two People Who Resemble Each Other, in this Case Musically) (with Mike Renzi)
1. I Don't Remember
2. Everybody Loves Jobim
3. I Thought I Heard a Hummingbird
4. The Quiet Time
5. My Love Went to London
6. I Did It All for You
7. Not You Again
8. Blossom
9. Love Is On the Way
10.Fred Astaire
11.A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square
Dearie should be the most enduring vocalist in the popular music history. It is a wonder how her cute, girlish voice has been well kept through years. Her albums of the 90's and 00's may not bring you anything new, but surely bring you a constant pleasure of listening. After all, there is no dull album in Blossom Dearie's discography.
So, this album released in 1991 is not an exception. The cover art is one of the worst of Dearie's albums. This has discouraged me to buy it for a long time. But it is a very enjoyable album with a lot of Brazilian tastes. The album starts with three straight Bossa Nova songs, and it ends with my favorite song, A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square.
By the way, the catalog number of this record is vol.15, while the former album, Songs of Chelea, is vol.10. Where did 11-14 go?
Christmas Spice So Very Nice
(1991) (with Mike Renzi) 1. Christmas
2. Christmas in the City
3. Our first Christmas
4. Liz and Raplph and Calvin
5. A Christmas Love Song
6. Once a Year Miracle
7. A Christmas Wish for You
8. Santa is Coming Tonight
9. Christmas Morning
10. It's Christmas
11. A Yellow Ribbon (and Love)
P.S. The closing Christmas Message
The cover art looks terrible. Very easy design with reusing the photo of "Et Tu Bruce (1984)". The worst design of Dearie's album. But, don't judge the inside from the outside. This is the superb Christmas album. There is no ordinary Christmas routine song. Songs sound fresh like a white Christmas morning. I strongly wish that this were in a more beautiful package.
1. I Won't Dance
2. Everything I've Got
3. Quiet Time
4. I'm Hip
5. I Don't Remember
6. My Attorney Bernie
7. Bye Bye Country boy
8. Someone's Been Sending Me Flower
9. Bruce
10.Liz, Ralph and Calvin
11.I'm Shadowing You
12.Blossom
13.Peel Me a Grape
14.Lush Life
15.If I Were a Bell
16.Sweet Georgie Fame
This was recorded live in Australia, and released in Australia. Not from Daffodil records.
I am not sure about the recording date. Guessing from her voice, it may be the recordings of the 80's. The photo looks like it is of the 70's. The song selection is a kind of "best of". This contains 16 songs, while her other live records contain 10-12 songs. The bass of Phil Scorgie is soft and groovy. And Dearie's voice is cute, of course. So, this is a very good buy though there is little surprise after having heard other live albums of Dearie.
Our Favorite Songs, Vol. 17
1996 (compilation)1. I'm Hip
2. I Like You, You're Nice
3. Peel Me a Grape
4. Winchester in Apple Blossom Time
5. Hey John
6. Ballad of the Shape of Things
7. Someone's Been Sending Me Flowers
8. Bruce
9. I'm Shadowing You
10. I Told You So
11. My Attorney Bernie
12. Bring All Your Love Along
13. Bye-Bye Country Boy
14. Answering Machine
15. Touch the Hand of Love
I'm Hip
1998 (compilation) 1. I'm Hip
2. Lush Life
3. Inside A Silent Tear
4. Satin Doll
5. Yardbird Suite/ Medley
6. Sophisticated Lady
7. Baby, It's Cold Outside
8. Olde Tyme Movie Love Affair
9. In Your Eyes
10. You Fascinate Me So
11. How Do You Say Auf Wiedersehen?
12. There Ought to Be a Moonlight Savings Time
13. I'm Shadowing You
14. Round About
15. You Have Lived In Autumn
Blossom's Planet
20001. Bye-Bye Country Boy
2. Bluesette
3. Lies Of Handsome Men
4. The Ladies Who Lunch
5. Love Dance
6. I'm Not Alone
7. La Belle Dame Sans Regrets
8. Go Away With Me
9. Make Some Magic
10.Wave
This is a beautiful album. The designs of her albums since the 80's had not been very good, but this is one has it. When this album was released, Dearie was 74 years old. Ahhh. How enduring and stable the charm of her voice is! There is no sign of decline, but there is only elegant sound of Dearie as always. Some taste of Brazilian music is comfortable. So, this album ends with Wave of Jobim.
It's All Right to Be Afraid 2003 (single)
1. It's Alright To Be Afraid
The Dearie's latest release is the single, dedicated to the victims and survivors of the 9/11 tragedy in New York City. It's a sad but soothing song with beautiful strings arrangement. She was singing in New York city, her beloved town, just after the tragedy. This is a limited issue of 1000 copies.
Japanese Edition
Blossom Dearie for Café Aprés-midi
2003 (compilation)1. Long Daddy Green
2. Dusty Springfield
3. I Know the Moon
4. Yesterday, When I Was Young
5. Will There Really Be a Morning
6. Inside a Silent Tear
7. Hey John
8. Sweet Georgie Fame
9. Sweet Surprise
10. I Like London in the Rain
11. Meditation
12. Dindi
13. Sweet Lover No More
14. One Note Samba
15. I'm Hip
16. Shape of Things
17. Tea for Two
18. Doop-Doo-De-Doop (A Doodlin' Song)
19. Moonlight Saving Time
20. Bang Goes the Drum (And You're in Love)
21. Middle of Love
22. Plus Je T'Embrasse
23. Give Him the Ooh la La
24. Guys and Dolls
25. Rhode Island Is Famous for You
26. Boum
27. Ev'rything I've Got
28. I Hear Music
29. Tout Doucement
New compilations issued by Brith Label EL (Cherry Red)
Adorable Blossom Dearie
2007 (compilation)
2. Lover Man
3. Everything I ve Got
4. Comment Allez-Vous?
5. More Than You Know
6. Thou Swell
7. It Might As Well Be Spring
8. Tout Doucement
9. You For Me
10. Now At Last
11. I Hear Music
12. Wait Till You See Her
13. I Won¹T Dance
14. A Fine Spring Morning
15. Move
16. Old Devil Moon
17. Autumn In New York
18. Flamingo
19. There Will Never Be Another You
20. The Continental
Compilations of sublime early recordings by Blossom Dearie; one of the most distinctive vocalists Jazz has ever produced. Americans know Blossom's voice, mostly through her unforgettable performances of 'Unpack Your Adjectives' and 'Figure 8' for "Schoolhouse Rock". The Japanese - who see her as pop rather than jazz -long ago succumbed to her charm and she has toured there regularly throughout her career.
Unlikely as it may sound, Kylie Minogue claims that it was Blossom Dearie who inspired her to sing! What is clear is that her emergence in the mid fifties was something shockingly different; a breath of fresh air for popular music.
Teach Me Tonight
2009 (compilation)
2. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
3. Moonlight Saving Time
4. It Amazes Me
5. If I Were A Bell
6. We're Together
7. Teach Me Tonight
8. Once Upon A Summertime
9. Down With Love
10. Manhattan
11. Doop-Doo-De-Doop (A Doodlin' Song)
12. Our Love Is Here To Stay
13. Just One Of Those Things
14. Like Someone In Love
15. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
16. They Say It's Spring
17. Try Your Wings
18. Bang Goes The Drum (And You're In Love)
19. The Riviera
20. The Middle Of Love
21. Plus Je T'embrasse
22. Give Him The Ooh-La-La
23. Let Me Love You
24. I Walk A Little Faster
25. I'm In The Mood For Love
Released 16th February 2009. When Blossom Dearie first emerged as a solo artist she was already unique in many ways. Straightaway there was that voice - kittenish, intimate, coquettish and understated where so many other jazz divas were straining to belt out every song.
With the fascinating 1957-58 albums Give Him the Ooh-la-la and Once Upon a Summertime Blossom finds a unique, light, refined niche on the pop side of jazz. Ray Brown remains for the 1958 set with Herb Ellis and Jo Jones replaced by Mundell Lowe and Ed Thigpen.
Little Jazz Bird
2010
2. Gentleman Friend
3. It's Too Goo to Talk About Now
4. Chez Moi
5. You Fascinate Me So
6. You've Got Something I Want
7. Boum
8. L'Etang
9. Hello Love
10. Someone To Watch Over Me
11. Lucky To Be Me
12. Just In Time
13. Some Other Time
14. Dance Only With Me
15. I Like Myself
16. The Party's Over
17. How Will He Know
18. It's Love
19. Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me
20. Lonely Town
21. Be Still TV
22. Short P, Not LP
23. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
Released on 22/02/10. Blossom Dearie was one of the unique jazz voices of the second half of the 20th century; one of the great interpreters of American song in the post-war era. She liked to describe herself as a songwriters singer. Blossom Dearie’s work blurred the line between jazz and cabaret. An interpretive minimalist with caviar taste in songs and musicians, she was a genre unto herself. Her preference was for small groups comprising the best jazz musicians available. In the late fifties (the period covered by Little Jazz Bird) these groups invariably featured the guitarists Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis and Mundell Lowe, the bassist Ray Brown and the drummers Jo Jones and Ed Thigpen, with Dearie’s own piano playing by no means outclassed by such stellar performers.
EMI Records
Me and Phil (1994)
With other artists
Alan Jay Lerner Revisited
Arthur Schwartz Revisited
Cole Porter Revisited Volume IV
DeSylva, Brown & Henderson Revisited Volume I
Frank Loesser Revisited
Harold Arlen Revisited
Harold Arlen & Vernon Duke Revisited Volume II
Ira Gershwin Revisited
Irving Berlin Revisited
Kurt Weill Revisited Volume II
Oscar Hammerstein Revisited
Rodgers & Hart Revisited Volume II
Rodgers & Hart Revisited Volume III
Rodgers & Hart Revisited Volume IV
Unpublished Cole Porter Volume II
Vernon Duke Revisited
Vincent Youmans Revisited
Hold On to Your Hats (Complete Score)
