Ella Mae Morse

My own favorite cover art of the 1950s encases this 10-inch LP of R&B classics by the outstanding swing era vocalist Ella Mae Morse.

The singer made her name in the 40s with a series of boogie-woogie records, first with bandleader Freddie Slack and then on her own. In late 1953, Capitol decided to see how she would do with some of the big R&B hits of the day, matching her up with producer-arranger Dave Cavanaugh and some notable jazz artists.

The results are convincing - least so when she enters Clyde McPhatter territory ("Money Honey"), most so when she and the inspired band smoke through "How Can You Leave a Man Like This," which extols the joys of a lover who beats, cheats, steals money but is good in bed. Morse has the cheery outlook of a Bettie Page as she proceeds through this degrading litany. The excellent guitarist is Jack Marshall, who appears as a bandleader on a number of later LPs (e.g., Blossom Dearie's May I Come In?). The vocal group on the LP is the Modernaires (of all people).

Ella Mae Morse

The cover artist is Harold N. Kramer. I haven't been able to trace much about him, other than he worked in Chicago in the 40s and has at least one movie poster to his credit. The style is somewhat reminiscent of other Capitol covers of the era, such as Sharkey Bonanno's Midnight on Bourbon Street, which depicts a French Quarter scene as observed by a prostitute. I haven't yet found other covers signed by Kramer, however.

The singer on the cover is apparently supposed to be Morse, who while an attractive woman, did not look like this. I'm not sure that anyone actually is shaped like this woman - Harold N. Kramer had a lively imagination.

A final note: the song "I Love You, Yes I Do" on this LP was originally a hit for Bull Moose Jackson, whose other hit, "Big 10-Inch Record," lent its title to this blog.