Anita O'Day Diva Series CD

Recorded between 1955 & 1962. Includes liner notes by Will Friedwald.

One of the best pairings of an artist with a label since Frank Sinatra swung into the Capitol offices, Anita O'Day's time under the Verve umbrella (also including Clef and Norgran) resulted in some of the best pop music of her era. O'Day's entry in 2003's The Diva Series is one of the better single-disc wrap-ups of her time on Verve, though the scarcity of hits while she was there and the near-uniform excellence of her '50s LPs still preclude anyone from recommending a compilation to any but newcomers. Still, this one is much longer than Verve's previous attempts; it also balances songs from her rarer early-'60s dates with her '50s prime, and ably compiles some of her best-known material ("What Is This Thing Called Love," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Tea for Two") as well as a few of her hardest-swingers ("Love Me or Leave Me," "I Get a Kick out of You," "Let's Face the Music and Dance"). Much better than Compact Jazz, but nowhere near as revelatory as her late-'50s classics Anita Sings the Most or Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porte

This is part of Verve's Diva Series.

Live Recording

Compilation producer: Bryan Koniarz.

Personnel: Anita O'Day (vocals); Herb Ellis, Howard Roberts , Al Hendrickson, Al Viola, Tommy Tedesco , Tony Rizzi, Barney Kessel, Barry Galbraith (guitar); Bud Shank (flute, alto saxophone); Walter Levinsky (clarinet, woodwinds, alto saxophone); Buddy Collette (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Jerome Richardson, Zoot Sims (woodwinds, tenor saxophone); Joe Maini (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Ronnie Lang (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Ted Nash, Benny Carter , Skeets Herfurt, Wilbur Schwartz, Charlie Kennedy (alto saxophone); Fred Falensby, Gene Cipriano, Richie Kamuca, Babe Russin, Ben Webster, Bill Perkins, Justin Gordon (tenor saxophone); Chuck Gentry, Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Manny Klein, Uan Rasey, Conrad Gozzo, Conte Candoli, Phil Gilbert, Bill Catalano, John Anderson Concert Orchestra , Doc Severinsen, Don Fagerquist, Frank Beach, Herb Pomeroy, Jack Sheldon, Jules Chaiken, Al Porcino, Pete Candoli, Ray Triscari, Roy Eldridge, Sam Noto, Bernie Glow, Lee Katzman (trumpet); Kenny Shroyer (trombone, bass trombone); Milt Bernhart, Dick Noel, Dicky Wells, Frank Rosolino, Harry Betts, Eddie Kusby, Joe Howard, Kent Larsen, Murray McEachern, Si Zentner, Willie Dennis , Tommy Pederson , Bill Schaeffer, Billy Byers, Bob Edmondson, Bob Enevoldsen, Archie LeCoque, Jim Amlotte, Lew McCreary, Dave Wells , Lloyd Ulyate (trombone); Stu Williamson , Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone); Gene Harris, Al Pelligrini, Joe Masters, Robert Corwin , Hank Jones , Geoff Clarkson, Jimmy Rowles, Joe Castro , Lonnie Hewitt, Lou Levy, Oscar Peterson, Paul Smith , Russ Freeman (piano); Larry Bunker (vibraphone, bongos); Cal Tjader (vibraphone); Bill Dowdy , John Poole , Johnny Rae, Mel Lewis, Alvin Stoller, Roy Haynes, Stan Levey, Irving Cottler (drums).

Liner Note Author: Will Friedwald.

Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA (12/08/1955-10/15/1962); Mr. Kelly's Restaurant, Chicago, IL (12/08/1955-10/15/1962); New York, NY (12/08/1955-10/15/1962); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (12/08/1955-10/15/1962); RCA Studios, Los Angeles, CA (12/08/1955-10/15/1962); United Recorders, Hollywood, CA (12/08/1955-10/15/1962); Universal Studios, Chicago, IL (12/08/1955-10/15/1962); Van Gelder Recording Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (12/08/1955-10/15/1962).

Editor: Alexander Gelfand.

Illustrator: Gary Kelley.

Photographer: Chuck Stewart.

Arrangers: Gary McFarland; Johnny Mandel; Russell Garcia; Bill Holman; Billy May; Buddy Bregman.

Personnel: Anita O'Day (vocals); Skeets Herfurt, Wilbur Schwartz (alto saxophone); Ben Webster (tenor saxophone); Chuck Gentry (baritone saxophone); Roy Haynes, Cal Tjader (vibraphone); Oscar Peterson, Al Pellegrini (piano); Herb Ellis, Tommy Tedesco (guitar); Ray Brown, JOe Mondragon (bass).

Producers: Buddy Bregman, Barney Kesse