Helen Forrest – The Voice Of The Big Bands

Helen Forrest – The Voice Of The Big Bands

Discover the timeless sound of the swing era with The Voice Of The Big Bands, a collection celebrating the distinctive vocals of Helen Forrest alongside some of the most celebrated orchestras of the 1930s and 1940s. Renowned for her warm tone, clear diction and effortless phrasing, Forrest became one of the defining female vocalists of the big-band era, performing with the orchestras of Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Harry James.

This collection brings together an impressive selection of classic standards, moving from the elegant swing of Artie Shaw’s Deep In A Dream, Deep Purple and All The Things You Are to the lively sophistication of Benny Goodman’s Taking A Chance On Love, I'm Nobody's Baby and When The Sun Comes Out. Each performance captures the interplay between Forrest’s expressive voice and the rich arrangements of the big-band orchestra.

The Harry James selections include some of Forrest’s most memorable performances, with Skylark, I Had The Craziest Dream and I've Heard That Song Before showcasing the romantic, nostalgic character that made her such a beloved singer of the wartime years. The collection concludes with two standards alongside Dick Haymes, Long Ago And Far Away and It Had To Be You, adding another highlight to this celebration of classic vocal pop.

An appealing collection for fans of Helen Forrest, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James and Dick Haymes, this release is a fine introduction to the golden age of big-band singing and an enjoyable addition to any traditional jazz or swing collection.

Tracks 1–6 · Artie Shaw And His Orchestra

1. Deep In A Dream — 3:21

2. Deep Purple — 3:14

3. Comes Love — 3:17

4. Day In, Day Out — 3:37

5. All The Things You Are — 3:15

6. Moonray — 3:05

   
   

   Tracks 7–15 · Benny Goodman And His Orchestra

7. How High The Moon — 2:59

8. Shake Down The Stars — 2:52

9. It Never Entered My Mind — 3:01

10. I'm Nobody's Baby — 2:45

11. Taking A Chance On Love — 3:11

12. Yes, My Darling Daughter — 2:53

13. Bewitched — 3:29

14. I Found A Million Dollar Baby — 3:12

15. When The Sun Comes Out — 2:55

    
    

    Tracks 16–22 · Harry James And His Orchestra

16. The Devil Sat Down And Cried — 2:45

17. I Don't Want To Walk Without You — 2:53

18. Skylark — 3:26

19. He's My Guy — 3:21

20. I Had The Craziest Dream — 3:25

21. I've Heard That Song Before — 3:00

22. Close To You — 2:32

    
    

    Tracks 23–24 · Dick Haymes

23. Long Ago And Far Away — 3:28

24. It Had To Be You — 3:12