18. At Mister's Kelly's

At Mister's Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
1958

Amanda: Finally!!  A brilliant album that
a) isn't horribly depressing
b) has interesting, relatable songs
c) is sung by the best female vocalist I have ever heard in my life

I loved this album!  Sarah Vaughan has the most amazing voice.  It makes me feel so...full.  I am sorry if that sounds cliche or lame but that is the best way to describe it. I like her so much better than Ella Fitzgerald. She also cannot really remember lyrics to songs so a couple on this album are pretty much her just singing nonense ("Just a Gigolo" and "How High is the Moon").  My favorite track was "Thou Swell" but there is not a single song that I disliked.  I even want to get the ones that she messed up on for my iPod.  Would that be weird?

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Brie: J'adore live albums. Sarah's nickname was "Sassy"! Love that! From the beginning of the first track "September In The Rain" I fell in love. I know exactly what Amanda means about feeling full. Tears came to my eyes while listening to this. Sarah Vaughan is just that good. Sarah also took part in the formation of bebop music. She has a voice close to perfect and this album cannot get onto my ipod fast enough! Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald are pretty much the trifecta of perfect female vocalists. Why can't I find this album online? I like albums, not compilations! As I listen to this album, I can feel the atmosphere at Mister Kelly's and imagine that I am there! Do yourself a favor and listen to this.

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17. Jack Takes the Floor

Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack
1958

Amanda: Holy shit, that was just awful.

We are talking yodeling, crooning, and songs about bed bugs.  Add that to the fact that I am not a country fan (I couldn't even watch The Last Picture Show without feeling upset) and you have my least favorite album so far.  Any album that has the lyrics "bed bugs as big as a jackass will come out and bite you with a grin on the face" is not for me.  Thankfully, I could not relate to the songs at all and I found them incredibly obnoxious.

That was just horrible.

RATING: no album units!

Brie: I knew Amanda would hate this! :) Jack Elliott influenced so many people! Including Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards These songs are pure iconic folk songs. When he was playing Greenwich Village coffeehouses in the sixties he was known as the "Son of Woody". Woody, of course, being Woody Guthrie. And Bob Dylan was known as the "Son of Jack". I found it very difficult to find music by Ramblin' Jack, which disappoints me very much, as this could be described as one of the most important albums of all time. I was particularly happy to listen to Jack's version of "Dink's Song", although no one does it better than Dave Van Ronk!

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16. Lady In Satin

Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
1958

Amanda: Well, anyone who has ever seen Clueless (excellent movie by the way) knows that Billie Holiday is a woman.  Just wanted to clear that up for people.  Moving on...

This is one of the most depressing albums I have ever listened to.  It was even worst than In the Wee Small Hours. One of her songs is even called "Glad to be Unhappy."  Maybe I would have been happier with it if I just got out of a relationship but thankfully I am in a good mood today and was not prepared for the kick in the pants that this album was.

That being said, this is a really good album.  I think I have said this before, but I really like the interesting, different voice (even if the reason for it is kind of sad).  Still, I can't see listening to this album a lot since it has such a negative effect on my mood.  I have to go eat my feelings with some cookies now...

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P.S. Brie is right.  I am getting sick of the 50s.

Brie: Billie Holiday is one of my favorite vocalists of all time. Her voice is so raspy and raw because of the addictino to heroin that she was struggling with at the time. She died from a liver problem a year after this album was recorded. Even though the songs are very melancholy, as Amanda said, I still loved listening to this album. Billie puts so much emotion into her voice. The songs are perfect to listen to on a rainy day like today. The instrument arrangements in the background on some songs such as "You Don't Know What Love Is" was breezy and dreamy as they try to cover up Billie's struggles. If you are looking to hear more Billie Holiday sans depression her "Jazz At the Philharmonic" album is really good. Amazing version of "Strange Fruit" on there. Even if you hate the album, sit back and admire the moment this album captures in the life of one of the most important female vocalists ever.

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15. Dance Mania

Dance Mania
Tito Puente
1958

Amanda: This was very different than the other music we have listened to so far.  It is the kind of music that you tango or mumba to.  I, of course, can't do either (in high school gym class once I was pulled aside by the gym teacher because I couldn't spin).  Still, I enjoyed listening to this album, and if I had been wearing a puffy skirt, I would have probably tried to dance.

I liked this a lot better than some of the crap we have listened to lately.  Still, not my favorite genre nor will you find these tracks on my iPod.

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Brie: This is Tito Puente's best selling album. Dance Mania, Vol. 1 is comprised completely of, what else, dance music. Puente was a Puerto Rican-American, which shows on this album. You can also hear Afro-Cuban beats, and jazz styles.

I agree that this is better than a lot of the music we have been reviewing lately. The first track, "El Cayuco", made me want to have a dinner party. I found that I prefer the all instrumental tracks to the ones that have vocals on them. I just found the voice a bit annoying. Basically, all of the songs are fun to dance to, and that is as far into a review I can currently go. I cannot do the mambo, but maybe if I could I would have much more intelligent things to say about this. I liked it, but it's not my favorite.

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