Title: Complete Recordings: 1952-62
Artist: Dearie, Blossom
Label: Enlightenment
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 823564643823
Genre: Jazz

American jazz singer and pianist, Margrethe Blossom Dearie, was born April 28, 1924 in East Durham, New York. As a child she studied classical piano but switched to jazz in her teens. Often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her light and girlish voice, she was one of the last supper club performers, hosting regular engagements in London and New York City across many years. After high school Dearie moved to New York City to pursue a music career and began to sing in groups such as the Blue Flames (with the Woody Herman Orchestra) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey's band) before starting her solo career. She moved to Paris in 1952 and formed a vocal group, The Blue Stars of France, which included Michel Legrand's sister, Christiane Legrand, and Bob Dorough. In 1954 the group had a hit in France with a French-language version of "Lullaby of Birdland". The Blue Stars would later evolve into the Swingle Singers. While in Paris, Dearie met her future husband, Belgian flautist and saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. On her first solo album, released two years later, she played the piano but did not sing. One of her most famous songs from this period is "The Riviera", which was written and composed by Cy Coleman and Joseph McCarthy Jr. After returning from France, Dearie made her first six American albums as a solo singer and pianist for Verve Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s, mostly in a small trio or quartet setting. Dave Garroway, host of The Today Show and an early fan of Dearie, featured her on several occasions, increasing her exposure with the popular audience. In 1962, she recorded a radio commercial for Hires Root Beer. As it proved very popular, the LP Blossom Dearie Sings Rootin' Songs was released as a premium item that could be ordered for one dollar and a proof of purchase. This collection contains eight complete albums from this remarkable artist's most celebrated era, covering the years 1955 to 1962.

Tracks:
1.1 Moody's Mood for Love
1.2 Lullaby of Birdland
1.3 Tout Bas [Speak Low]
1.4 Gina
1.5 Plus Je T'emmbrasse [Heart of My Heart]
1.6 Toute Ma Joie [That's My Girl]
1.7 Les Lavandieres Du Portugal [The Portuguese Washerwomen]
1.8 Mister L'amour [Mister Sandman]
1.9 En 1920 [In 1920]
1.10 Embrasse Moi Bien [Hold Me Close]
1.11 Lettre a Virginie [Letter to Virginia]
1.12 Danse Du Baiser [The Kissing Dance]
1.13 Mambo Italiano
1.14 Old Devil Moon
1.15 Autumn in New York
1.16 Flamingo
1.17 There Will Never Be Another You
1.18 Continental
1.19 Boy Next Door
1.20 They Can't Take That Away from Me
1.21 Moonlight Saving Time
1.22 Surrey with the Fringe on Top
1.23 April in Paris
1.24 Blue Moon
1.25 Down in the Depths
2.1 Deed I Do
2.2 Loverman
2.3 Everything I've Got
2.4 Comment Allez Vous
2.5 More Than You Know
2.6 Thou Swell
2.7 It Might As Well Be Spring
2.8 Tout Doucement
2.9 You for Me
2.10 Now at Last
2.11 I Hear Music
2.12 Wait Till You See Her
2.13 I Won't Dance
2.14 Fine Spring Morning
2.15 Just One of Those Things
2.16 Like Someone in Love
2.17 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
2.18 They Say It's Spring
2.19 Try Your Wings
2.20 Bang Goes the Drum (And You're in Love)
2.21 Riviera
2.22 Middle of Love
2.23 Plus T'embrasse
2.24 Give Him the Ooh-La-La
2.25 Let Me Love You
2.26 I Walk a Little Faster
3.1 Tea for Two
3.2 Surrey with the Fringe on Top
3.3 Moonlight Saving Time
3.4 It Amazes Me
3.5 If I Were a Bell
3.6 We're Together
3.7 Teach Me Tonight
3.8 Once Upon a Summertime
3.9 Down with Love
3.10 Manhattan
3.11 Doop-Doo-De-Doop (A Doodlin' Song)
3.12 Our Love Is Here to Stay
3.13 Lucky to Be Me
3.14 Just in Time
3.15 Some Other Time
3.16 Dance Only with Me
3.17 I Like Myself
3.18 Party's Over
3.19 How Will He Know
3.20 It's Love
3.21 Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me
3.22 Lonely Town
4.1 Guys and Dolls
4.2 Confession
4.3 Rhode Island Is Famous for You
4.4 To Keep My Love Alive
4.5 Too Good for the Average Man
4.6 Gentleman Is a Dope
4.7 Always True to You in My Fashion
4.8 Napoleon
4.9 Life Upon the Wicked Stage
4.10 Physician
4.11 Love Is the Reason
4.12 Buckle Down, Winsocki
4.13 Little Jazz Bird
4.14 Gentleman Friend
4.15 It's Too Good to Talk About Now
4.16 Chez Moi
4.17 You Fascinate Me
4.18 You've Got Something I Want
4.19 Boum!
4.20 L'etang
4.21 Hello Love
4.22 Someone to Watch Over Me