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Black Coffee/Seashells

by: Peggy Lee

Release Date February 02, 2004
'Black Coffee' is one of the all-time great late night jazz vocal records: it paved the way for the best work of June Christie, Julie London and others; as good as Sheila Jordan's Blue Note 'Portrait' of 1962.

Recorded with her small band in 1953 it was one of the very first sessions to be more than just a random collection of songs--it sets a mood, it is all of a piece, it is thematically coherent. Love, regret, sensuality, loneliness (though also with bits of charm and joy--check that wonderful 'My heart Belongs To Daddy'or 'Under My Skin'!) Four bonus tracks extend the mood, finishing with a breath-taking Rogers/Hart 'There's a Small Hotel'.

But what a bonus with 'Sea Shells', recorded three years later; not a big ... Read More: