Singles collections from postwar vocal artists aren't usually stocked with A-list material, since after the advent of the LP, the singles format increasingly became a venue for either stylistic experimentation or light
novelties
aimed at the charts.
Jo Stafford
was an exception to the rule, however, not only because she was a consummate artist but also because she worked closely with her husband, arranger/conductor
Paul Weston
, and exercised a large amount of quality control.
The Columbia Singles Collection, Vol. 1
, released by the family-founded
Corinthian
label (
Tim Weston
, the son of
Paul
and
Jo
, produced the record), reissues 25 tracks from obscure singles releases recorded by
Stafford
Weston
during the '50s. (Her biggest hits of the era, including
"You Belong to Me"
"Make Love to Me,"
obviously were released as singles, but don't appear here because they're widely available elsewhere.)
had matured greatly as a vocalist, after her success during the big-band era. Listening to her performance of the
Gershwin
classic
"Love Is Here to Stay,"
it's clear she retained the sweetness and warmth of her youth but exerted greater control over her voice. Many of the performances are
standards
, and even the few
are imbued with an energy that speaks to the great care they took with her material -- the delightfully risque yet slightly innocent
"Indoor Sport"
and the great-hearted
"Big D"
are among the best here, but also interesting are a sound-alike of
titled
"I'll Be There,"
's brush with
rock & roll
, a cover of the
Ray Charles
standard
(alternately titled
"I Got a Sweetie"
). ~ John Bush