Betty Carter - I Can't Help It (1958)

This single-CD reissues the second batch of Betty Carter recordings, her Peacock and ABC-Paramount dates which followed her Epic/Columbia titles by two years. Formerly available as a two-LP set (What a Little Moonlight Can Do), the 24 selections find the already-distinctive vocalist carving out her own sound from the bebop tradition; her more innovative work was in the future. Quite a few of the renditions are memorable including "I Can't Help It" (which is somewhat autobiographical), "You're Driving Me Crazy," "What a Little Moonlight Can Do," "Jazz (Ain't Nothin' but Soul)" and "Don't Weep for the Lady." While the second half of the CD has Carter accompnied by an orchestra arranged by Richard Wess, the first 12 numbers feature such top players as trumpeters Ray Copeland and Kenny Dorham, either Jerome Richardson or Benny Golson on tenor and pianist Wynton Kelly. Highly recommended.

Tracklist:

1. I Can't Help It
2. By The Bend Of The River
3. Babe's Blue
4. You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me
5. But Beautiful
6. All I've Got
7. You're Driving Me Crazy
8. Foul Play
9. On The Isle Of May
10. Make It Last
11. The Bluebird Of Happiness
12. Something Wonderful
13. For You
14. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
15. Remember
16. At Sundown
17. Mean To Me
18. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
19. On The Alamo
20. Jazz (Ain't Nothing But Soul)
21. There's No You
22. Stromy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All The Time
23. My Reverie
24. Don't Weep For The Lady