Artist - Lucy Ann Polk
Album - Lucky Lucy Ann
Year - 1957
Here is a lady who had a knock out voice but mostly due to timing went mildly unnoticed by music fans. This album here is her one and only feature album, and wow right from the first line you get the presence of a powerful, intelligent and sweet voice that captures the excitement of youth, the arrangements are just big enough to match her power and light enough to let Lucy's voice shine. From end to end this album is a pure pleasure to hear. Sadly this is all we get in terms of Lucy at the lead, there are a few other compilations and some Dave Pell, Wess Brown albums that feature selections sung by Lucy but by 1960 she had walked away from recording.
Artist - Caterina Valente
Album - A Toast To The Girls
Year - 1958
This international super star packs a discography and filmography that is longer than my arm and you would think with such a huge list of accomplishments Caterina Valente would be better remembered. But as we all know it was the popularity of the USA that reigned supreme in the 60's and Caterina was doing most of her work during the Rock'n'Roll and British invasion eras. Out of all her work though this album stands out as astounding and puts to shame many other more popular vocalist of the time. Her power and her style is just jaw dropping fantastic.
Artist - Harry Belafonte
Album - Sings The Blues
Year - 1958
Yes, Mr. Calypso himself. Definitely not an unknown artist but an uncharacteristic twist on his song selections and vocal capabilities. Here the one and only Harry Belafonte sings blues songs with a jazzy twist and the rest is history, this album is usually overlooked, used and abused and can easily be found for no more than a $1 but I recommend looking for a nice clean disc to play loud. This is a quiet album and Balafonte's voice is as smooth as it can get.
Artist - June Christy
Album - Something Cool
Year - 1954
In 1949 while Miles Davis was defining cool jazz June Christy was step for step setting a precedent for cool jazz vocals with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. By 1954 June Christy was already known amongst her pears but she spent the most of her career with relatively minimal public attention. Her sweet, smooth vocals backed by Pete Rugolo and his band come together so well it is a pure pleasure to just sit back and listen. After her passing she was hailed as "one of the finest and most neglected singers of her time"