Sarah Vaughan - In Hi-Fi (1997)

Maybe "the Divine One" was an over-the-top description, but it sometimes seems that there is something out of this world about Vaughan's singing. Some people can't stomach her mannerisms, but if you are not one of them, you will find some of the best jazz singing ever under her name. But one has to be selective, for some of her more commercial work confines her inspired style. Not here, though. It is generally held that her work for Mercury was her best, but this Columbia set is rightly famed as one of her best ever jazz albums. Recorded between December 1949 and January 1953, the tracks have as their centrepiece eight titles by an octet done in 1950. The horns were trumpeter Miles Davis, the seldom heard but magnificent trombonist Benny Green, clarinettist Tony Scott and the tenor player Budd Johnson. This issue adds seven previously unissued takes by this group to the original. "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Mean To Me" are outstanding with good solos all round, whilst there is a fine version amongst the other tracks of "The Nearness Of You"

Tracklist:

01. East Of The Sun (West Of The Moon) (Album Version) 3:08
02. Nice Work If You Can Get It (Album Version) 2:37
03. Come Rain Or Come Shine (Album Version) 3:25
04. Mean To Me (Album Version) 2:54
05. It Might As Well Be Spring (Album Version) 3:13
06. Can't Get Out Of This Mood (Album Version) 2:51
07. Goodnight My Love (Album Version) 3:29
08. Ain't Misbehavin' (Album Version) 3:00
09. Pinky (Album Version) 2:45
10. The Nearness Of You (Album Version) 3:21
11. Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year (Album Version) 2:43
12. Ooh, What'cha Doin' To Me (Album Version) 1:57
13. It's All In Your Mind (Album Version) 3:24
14. The Nearness Of You (alternate take) 3:13
15. Ain't Misbehavin' (alternate take) 3:03
16. Goodnight My Love (alternate take) 3:46
17. Can't Get Out Of This Mood (alternate take) 2:52
18. It Might As Well Be Spring (alternate take) 3:28
19. Mean To Me (alternate take) 2:51
20. Come Rain Or Come Shine (alternate take) 3:34
21. East Of The Sun (West Of The Moon) (alternate take) 3:12