Polly Bergen (5)

POLLY BERGEN - SING ONE, ACT TOO (1963)

1.The The Continental
2.They Can't Take That Away from Me
3.The The Way You Look Tonight
4.Through a Long and Sleepless Night
5.As Time Goes By
6.Cheek to Cheek
7.Easy to Love
8.For Every Man There's a Woman
9.Bye Bye Baby
10.You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
11.Hi-Lili-Hi-Lo
12.Aren't You Glad You're You

Polly Bergen's final Philips LP Act One-Sing, Too is also her most alluring. Arranger Jerry Fields channels inspiration from contemporary pop and jazz to create a hip, stylish atmosphere that perfectly complements her dusky voice. Fields introduces melancholy horns, vibes and other accents that underscore the session's after-hours atmosphere, while Bergen responds with a thoughtful performance that fully capitalizes on the world-weary sophistication of her distinctive approach. The material's a bit tame and predictable, but at least the forward-thinking arrangements compensate. And while it's inaccurate to suggest that Bergen reinvents chestnuts like "The Way You Look Tonight" and "As Time Goes By," she certainly approaches them from interesting angles. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

POLLY BERGEN - THE PARTY'S OVER (1957)

1.Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
2.You'll Never Know
3.I'm Thru With Love
4.Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
5.I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan
6.You Don't Know What Love Is
7.The Party's Over
8.It Never Entered My Mind
9.Where's The Boy I Saved For A Rainy Day
10.Make The Man Love Me
11.But Not For Me
12.My Melancholy Baby

VINYL LP! Polly Bergen: The Party's Over! Orchestra Conducted by Luther Henderson! 1957 Columbia Release!

POLLY BERGEN - FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (1960)

This one goes to Kimi.

1. Four Seasons
2. Canadian Sunset
3. Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year
4. Lazy Afternoon
5. September In The Rain
6. June In January
7. It Might As Well Be Spring
8. Moonlight In Vermont
9. Autumn In New York
10. The Things We Did Last Summer
11. Autumn Leaves
12. April In Paris

POLLY BERGEN - ALL ALONE BY THE TELEPHONE (1959)

1. All Alone
2. Something Wonderful
3. Glad to Be Unhappy
4. Too Late Now
5. He Didn't Call
6. Spring Is Here
7. By Myself
8. When the Wind Was Green
9. It's Easy to Remember
10. Not Like Me
11. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
12. I'm Glad There Is You

All Alone by the Telephone pairs Polly Bergen with arranger Luther Henderson to create a deeply melancholy song cycle that explores romantic estrangement and isolation from a refreshingly adult perspective. Bergen's dusky, world-weary vocals never resort to histrionics, finding their mode of expression in restraint, not release -- her thoughtful interpretations of material like "Glad to Be Unhappy," "Too Late Now," and "By Myself" strip the songs to their core, articulating their themes of loss with hard-fought maturity. Henderson's sympathetic, meticulous arrangements are no less essential to the album's uncommon sophistication. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

BOB CROSBY ORCHESTRA WITH GUESTS: JUNE CHRISTY & POLLY BERGEN (1990)

1. It Had To Be You
2. Lover Jack Teagarden
3. Ostrich Walk
4. My Baby Just Cares For Me
5. Over The Waves
6. Love Is Just Around The Corner
7. Song Of The Islands
8. Exactly Like You
9. Skater's Waltz
10. Willow Weep For Me
11. Aunt Haggar's Blues
12. Let's Fall In Love
13. She's Funny That Way
14. Tales From Hoffman
15. Wolverine Blues
16. Fidgety Feet

This 1990 CD has previously unreleased performances from two versions of the Bob Crosby Orchestra in the 1950's. Although not "the most popular orchestra of the 1950s" (as claimed on its back cover), the Crosby ensemble was still pretty strong, although no longer a full-time big band. The 16 performances often sound as if the applause was added later on. The leader has four OK vocals; Polly Bergen guests on a slow rendition of "Let's Fall in Love," and June Christy sings "Love Is Just Around the Corner" and "Willow Weep for Me." More important, though, are the many soloists, who include tenor saxophonist Eddie Miller, clarinetist Matty Matlock (who may be responsible for some of the arrangements), trumpeters Charlie Teagarden and Dick Catchart, and (on the earlier dates) trombonist Jack Teagarden, who has "Lover" as his showcase. Among the other selections recorded by the spirited Dixieland-oriented big band are "Ostrich Walk," "Over the Waves," "Wolverine Blues" and "Skater's Waltz." A rarity that Bob Crosby fans will want. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide