The great singer Chris Connor died earlier this week, and this is my small tribute to her. She's been an artist I've liked ever since the day I picked up a remaindered copy of her Atlantic LP Chris In Person almost 40 years ago. My admiration has only grown with preparing this post.
Connor was (as she acknowledged) in the Anita O'Day/June Christy mold - husky voiced and light on the vibrato. But she was nonetheless her own singer - intense, introspective, idiosyncratic, and a master of the art.
This LP is her first, and it is a wonderful example of that artistry, with Connor's approach contrasting beautifully with Ellis Larkins' bright and imaginative pianism. This is inspired work - and if the liner notes are to be believed, Larkins and Connor had never played together before these August 1954 sessions. She had in fact recently departed from the Kenton band and was pleased to leave the blaring brass behind for a trio setting.
Even though Connor and Larkins were not regular associates, that doesn't mean this date was unrehearsed. The songs are carefully worked out - much more so than on most recordings of this type.
I was surprised to see that this album is out of print (or seems to be, although it has been reissued on a number of occasions), so I made a copy of my well-worn original pressing. It's a little noisy, folks, but there is gold amidst the grunge.
If you want to learn more about Connor and read about these sessions in frightening detail, go to the online Chris Connor bio-discography.
Parenthetical note: Chris is singing into two classic microphones on the cover - a Neumann U 47 on the front and in the top photo on the back, and an RCA 44-BX in the lower back photo. You can learn more about these important instruments on the Microphone Home Page, which has a profusion of details and intimate photos that amount to microphone pornography. I can't recall who tipped me to this site, but thanks!
REMASTERED VERSION (JUNE 2014)
Microphone pornography? Like those old Capitol inner sleeves? This I gotta see...
ReplyDeleteHow come you never see these old Bethlehem LPs around? I think I have one in my entire collection.
Hi Ernie,
ReplyDeleteYes, those mics wantonly expose their inner workings in close-up detail!
Most Bethlehems are jazz and are avidly collected, so you won't see them very often. I do have quite a few of the vocal items, e.g., Mel Torme, as well as Connor.
Buster - just wanted to thank you for posting this. Chris Connor is one of those singers, like Anita O'Day, who I've only discovered recently because of blogs and now I'm addicted to.
ReplyDeleteI think I was kind of surprised she was still alive, but sad to hear of her passing. I'm surprised there haven't been more tributes on-line.
--- MindyB
Hi Mindy,
ReplyDeleteGlad you've discovered the classic vocalists - there are so many wonderful artists to explore.
As for Chris, her death perhaps would have been noticed more had she influenced somebody in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame (he said cynically).
Mr. Buster, your blog is amazing! And I love the cover art of this album! Thanks for posting here!
ReplyDeleteAs you wrote above... I agree about great Chris Connor. She was... "intense, introspective, idiosyncratic, and a master of the art"
Now and forever, all Gods of Music are with Chris Connor!
Tom Bom
from
Sao Paulo/SP, Brasil
Mr. Tom Bom,
ReplyDeleteI love the cover as well. Thanks for your comment!
This is the album that introduced me to Chris Connor, when I was a teenager. I've been an avid fan ever since. Her "All About Ronnie" and "Try a Little Tenderness" are absolutely stunning!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the music and thanks for the link to "Microphone Porn". Now I know why I read the notes from David Carroll on the back of all old Mercury albums.It's just filled with juicy details about what microphones were used.
ReplyDeleteThank you!...I love Chris Connor!
ReplyDeleteThanks once more, Buster. I heard Chris Connor live at Scullers in Cambridge, and then, after the show, my friend and I were so excited that we rushed at her when we saw her at the elevator, startling her, I think, who probably thought we were a little mad. But she did shake our hands and except our effusive comments about the show. I didn't want to wash my hand for a week! Somewhere there's a tape of that concert in the house, and it should be posted.
ReplyDeleteThat would be "accept our effusive comments", of course. In my desuetude, I find myself writing in homonyms with disturbing frequency.
ReplyDeleteLawrence,
ReplyDeleteI am very jealous because I never saw Chris live!
I remember that song - "In My Desuetude"...
I was saddened to hear of her passing last year. I was surprised when I read that she only lived a couple of towns down from me here in New Jersey.
ReplyDeleteThis one is an instant classic, as all her Bethlehem recordings as a matter of fact (that's my opinion)
ReplyDeleteThose albums had great covers, one day I want that LP just for the cover (as her other three for Bethlehem, or any Bethlehem Lp they are al great, covers and music!)
Anyway just before she died Fresh Sound issued here in Europe a double cd called 'The Complete Bethlehem Recordings' and that's still available.
As a student, for me that issue was a welcome gift,...
j.
@ Jeronimo - You are quite the student of the genre - I have seen some of your posts elsewhere!
ReplyDeleteAnd I take that as a compliment!
ReplyDeleteThankyouverymuchmisterBuster
Adios
j.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI recently discovered Chris Connor and really like her voice. I would appreciate it if you would reup this when you can. Thanks in advance.
OK, will do - usually takes me a while, though!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Whenever you can would be great.
ReplyDeleteRemastered version (Apple lossless):
ReplyDeletehttps://mega.co.nz/#!rJtwSDDY!J8_QBiaOqWnhEw9jWFfOAVFFZXontBnQ0ZqkFx16DJc
Thank you so much. I can't wait to listen to it.
ReplyDeleteIt is said that you can never have too much of a good thing and Chris Connor sure was a good thing. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCool sounds on a cool site - thanks, Buster.
ReplyDeleteThanks, styles - hope it sounds ok!
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to post link again? Thank you for preserving and sharing all the great music!
ReplyDeletewilliott - Thanks for your note! The links above seem to work. Make sure you get the complete string:
ReplyDeletehttps://mega.co.nz/#!rJtwSDDY!J8_QBiaOqWnhEw9jWFfOAVFFZXontBnQ0ZqkFx16DJc