Dori Anne Gray

Here's one I recently transferred for my pal Flyingfinger, who requested it.

There isn't much information available about the mid-50s singer Dori Anne Gray, so it's not possible to tell you who came up with that unfortunate nom de chanson - or even what her real name was or is. We do know that she made several singles for Mercury circa 1955-56, and then this LP for Roulette in 1957. She also was featured in Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Easter show in 1956, although she assuredly wasn't a rock 'n' roll singer. There is some bio material on the back cover, but since it doesn't match information in the Roulette ad below, who knows if it can be relied up.

What she was, was a very good pop singer, with great control, an excellent set of pipes and complete command of her material, both up tempo and ballad. Her vocal quality may remind you of Theresa Brewer or Kay Starr, although I for one certainly prefer her to Brewer at least.

There are a few songs that I absolutely cannot tolerate, among them "Bill Bailey", "Frankie and Johnny", and "Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me". But even that latter song, included here, did not put me off her.

In sum - despite the dumb name and dumber cover - Gray was a serious singer who is well worth your attention. Another attraction is the backing by Stu Phillips, then near the beginning of his career. You may know him from his Beatles covers with the Hollyridge Strings or his music for many American television shows. The arrangements are quite good.

A word of explanation about the cover - Gray was at the time a production singer at New York's Copacabana night club, and Roulette must have been trying to capitalize on the connection. She was not, as far as I can determine, a "Copa Girl," that is, a dancer in the production numbers themselves.

The sound here is fairly good, although there is too much reverb on the vocal microphone. Very worthwhile record - our man Flyingfinger has great taste.