Truly the Voice of an Angel
Slickster | S. Florida | 04/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Janice Harper made a very modest impact on the music world through the '50s and into the '60s. For whatever reason, she never really got the the recognition her rich and soaring voice deserved.
In this album of old standards, a re-mastered disk of previously recorded material (the jacket never stated the source, unless it was in Japanese and I was unable to read it!). She once again displays what caught my ear so many years ago.
Ms. Harper has - or had - the ability to produce smoky and sultry torch songs while never losing the promise - and ability - to "let it all out" and soar to ranges and power that leave one gasping. She can sing in ranges that most "girl singers" of the era could not even visit, much less live in, as she did. More amazing yet was the sweetness of tone that accompanied even the highest notes. Nowhere was the vocal quality lost in favor of range. Each selection on this CD bears this out.
I have heard it said, in the scant information available about Ms. Harper, that her dream was to sing opera. From what I recall and now remember, thanks to this CD, that was absolutely possible.
At this time, there is so little information available about this singer that one wonders what happened to her. Is she still alive? Did she record more than what is available today? Did she have a personal life or just emerge occasionally to record?
I sincerely hope that someone can locate more of her work and create additional CDs of this type (hopefully, at a more realistic price). It would be a shame to let this magnificent voice fade into oblivion."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1