Peggy Lee / George Shearing – Beauty And The Beat!

Peggy Lee / George Shearing – Beauty And The Beat!

A classic meeting of two giants of mid-century jazz, Beauty And The Beat! brings together the sophisticated vocals of "Peggy Lee" and the elegant, unmistakable piano style of "George Shearing". Originally released by Capitol Records in 1959, the album pairs Lee with the George Shearing Quintet for a beautifully arranged collection of jazz standards, romantic ballads and swinging numbers.

The album is particularly notable for the chemistry between Lee's cool, understated vocal delivery and Shearing's sophisticated quintet arrangements. The programme moves effortlessly from Cole Porter's Do I Love You? and Always True To You In My Fashion to Duke Ellington's All Too Soon, the bluesy Blue Prelude and the lively You Came A Long Way From St. Louis. Three tracks — Mambo In Miami, Isn't It Romantic? and Satin Doll — are instrumental performances by members of the George Shearing Quintet, giving the album an appealing change of pace.

Interestingly, Beauty And The Beat! was originally presented as a live recording from a performance at the Americana Hotel in Miami in May 1959. However, technical problems with the concert recording meant that the material was subsequently recreated in the studio, with artificial audience reactions added to preserve the atmosphere of a live performance. The result is an album that has the polish of a carefully produced studio session while retaining the character and excitement of a live jazz collaboration.

For collectors of Peggy Lee vinyl, classic vocal jazz and sophisticated 1950s jazz, Beauty And The Beat! is an essential pairing of two outstanding artists. With its combination of swinging arrangements, intimate vocals, jazz standards and George Shearing's distinctive quintet sound, it remains one of the standout collaborations of the Capitol Records era.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Do I Love You?
2. I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City
3. If Dreams Come True
4. All Too Soon
5. Mambo In Miami
6. Isn't It Romantic?

Side B

1. Blue Prelude
2. You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
3. Always True To You In My Fashion
4. There'll Be Another Spring
5. Get Out Of Town
6. Satin Doll