One of this blog's first posts was devoted to The Song Is Paris, the first LP by the great vocalist Jackie Paris. Today we have 12 selections, including some of his first singles, most of which did not appear on his LPs.
We start with his first record, a 1947 78 released by M-G-M and coupling Your Red Wagon and Skylark (which he later remade for Coral).
After a few more sides for M-G-M, Paris moved on in 1949 to National, which announced his arrival with the ad below for his debut single, coupling The Old Master Painter and a "surprise rendition" of Goodbye Sue. I hope I am not spoiling things by telling you that the surprise is a spoken interlude in hipster lingo in which Paris tells Sue "I dig you the most!" among other entreaties for her to come back. Billboard dug this not, however, calling the spoken section "silly hip talking."
Paris cut a few more numbers for National, then turned up on Debut and, in 1953, on Brunswick. His Brunswick efforts are represented here by live versions with Terry Gibbs of If Love Is Good to Me and Cool Blues. In the latter, Paris indulges in scat singing, the worst vocal idea since singing in falsetto. (Makes me wonder - has anyone ever tried falsetto scat singing? If so, please don't send me the results.) Although these two tracks did appear on a single, I have transferred them from a various artists LP called Jazztime USA, Vol. 3.
In 1954, Paris did a one-off single for RCA Victor with a mannered singer named Tamara Hayes, who made some other records for RCA at the time. They did the old R&B hit I Miss You So, along with Chance of a Lifetime.
Also in 1954, Paris began making records for Coral. Here we have When I Lost You and Idle Gossip, his first Coral single, along with 1955's Love Is a King and I Need Your Love. (Idle Gossip actually appears on the Skylark LP, but I have included it for the sake of completeness, even though I had to fade it up shortly after the opening because of an edge chip on the 78.)
I hope this collection sheds some new light on Paris. He is a favorite of many people who have made his acquaintance already - if only there were more of us!
NEW LINK
7 comments:
Thanks for posting the Jackie Paris sides.
Just to see the MGM label on a 78 is like magic to me...
I can't wait to listen to these. Thanks a lot!
JohnnyUSA
I just returned hom from a LONG trip and what a delight to find this. You made my day, Buster!! BTW, I hear a few rare rare Paris' LP's will be reissued on CD (again, since the Japanese reissues are long OOP).
Buster, You continue to define and embody that definition of public service. Jackie Paris deserves all the attention you have lavished on him. Face it, it isn't easy to like a song like "That Old Master Painter" and I agree with you about scat. But he sure shines on "You Go to My Head," despite that atrociously out-of-tune piano and makes a great case for "When I Lost You." All in all, a great bouquet. Thanks. By the way, tell Scoredaddy that "Skylark" was recently reissued in France and is available from French Amazon. The Ira Gershwin tribute album was recently reissued in Japan for the 3rd time in ten years and SSJ has kept "The Jackie Paris Sound" in print. And they dare accuse us downloaders of being freeloaders! Let me show them my credit card bills the next time they heap calumnies on music buyers like us.
Hi again, David, and thanks. I do have all the Paris LPs on vinyl, I believe - good stuff.
Thank you so much for your amazing blog. I've just discovered you today via Jeroen at the new Green Eyed Lady/As Long As It Lasts group on Facebook. There's so much great stuff here that I feel like an ingrate asking for anything, but I think in the case of these Jackie Paris singles, you will understand. Is it possible for you to refresh the link? Again, apologies for asking but the possibility of hearing some unheard Paris drives me to extremes. Thanks again, Kevin
Buster, big thanks for rare Jackie Paris. And the re-linking.
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