Matt Dennis on Capitol 78s

These days, Matt Dennis is mostly known for his compositions - Angel Eyes, Violets for Your Furs, The Night We Called It a Day, Everything Happens to Me, all available in superb Sinatra renditions - but he also was one of the finest singers of the post-war era.

Dennis displayed his vocal talent throughout several LPs released in the 50s, all or almost all of which have been re-released. But before then he made a number of records with Paul Weston for Capitol, beginning in 1946. This post captures nine of those sides, as found in my collection of 78s.

None of these records contain Dennis' own compositions, although you will find contemporaries such as Hoagy Carmichael (above) and Johnny Mercer (below). Mercer, I believe, wrote the lyrics to (Love's Got Me in a) Lazy Mood, with the music by tenor saxophonist Eddie Miller, who plays on the record.

Dennis did not have the voice of many if not most pop singers - although anyone who once was a vocal coach for Jo Stafford and her sisters must have known something about singing - yet his style and sensitivity are very winning. He could handle songs of all types, including the A Trout, No Doubt, a nonsense song like Swinging on a Star, without the moral. The Trout is part of today's catch, and just to make sure you get its full effect, I have corrected its speed, which apparently was increased to get the song under three minutes.

Update: I've repitched and remastered all these sides.