Search - Lee Morse :: Musical Portrait

You either love her or hate her...

jazzola1928 | CALIFORNIA, USA | 04/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lee Morse is virtually forgotten today, however in her time(1920's), she was extremely populer, although some wonder why. She was competing with the pop star Ruth Etting, and the extremely jazz oreinted Annette Hanshaw, who also were very popular, it seems today, people only remember Etting of the three. Lot's of people also tend to think of the terrible squeeky voiced Helen Kane, who also was a competetor. There's no doubt Morse's voice could be VERY appealing, she sang the hit(torch song) "If You Want The Rainbow, You Must Have The Rain," in an intimate relaxed and very appealing rich voice. Then she'd turn around and sing "Don't Be Like That" the awful Helen Kane's(boop-boop-a-doop girl) theme. Morse doesn't reduce herself to singing in a child like voice she sings it in a very swinging style and she is about to win you over to liking her, then she let's out a loud not very lady like YODEL. Morse is definately a requitred taste, however if you can put up with her yodels every now & then, this cd is very rewarding, especially for the 1920's collector. The sides on this cd from the 20's & 30's feature all Lee Morse & Her Bluegrass Boys(accept for the last track from 1952), well the Blues Grass Boys really are The Dorsey Brothers Orch, which features Eddie Lang, Joe Venuti, Bunny Barigan, Adrian Rollini and every other great white jazzmen of the era, and she let's them ALL solo, and they play in a dixieland-ish style, and Morse can swing ably along with them. Sometimes, especially in the later tracks her voice deepens so that she starts sounding a little too masculine, especially the last track from 1952.Morse sounds best on songs like "Swinging In a Hammock" and "When I'm Cooking breakfast For The One I Love" (not included here)." From this cd the highlight is "It's The Girl" and her biggest hit "'Taint No Sin To Take Off Your Skin and Dance Around In Your Bones." Perhaps that's why jazz collectors and music historians are about 50/50 decided on weather they like her. She wasn't consistant in her style half the time she's a joy to hear, and the other she'd yodel or sing too harshly. However these sides are her best, and her backup band was exellent. I do recommend this cd, weather you really like her or not, she was a good singer at least soem of the time and she hada great backup all the time.this cd overall is a lot of fun, and many love her yodeling, in fact sometimes she even scat sings, and her scatting will go into a yadel, she was truly unique and historically interseting, there are some great liner notes, and pictures(she was a KNOCKOUT), she truly was a great beauty from the cover aand inside pics, she didn't bob her hair like most flappers, she let it stay long, she was truly unique, and is worth remembering and listening to. Enjoy this fun cd. Theo nly cd by her that isn't a bootleg."

She's my yodelling babydoll...

Sexy Suzy | West Covina, CA | 12/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"she's great she's a yodelling jazz singing flapper with a deep sexy voice! I love to sip martinis and listen to Miss Morse all afternoon... This cd is also great for when I throw my famous cocktail parties, at my retro 1920's Californai bungalow. I love listening to this cd, with a bottle of brandy in my hand (...) while lounging gayly on my 1940's retro loveseat. This cd's great, just listen how Lee sings If I Could Be With You(she sings it so perfectly), and Cooking Breakfast, that's a classic track, she trows in yodels all over the place and the gal really swings, and so does her band, she's got Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Eddie Lang, Joe Venuti, bunny Barigan, and a load of other who's who of the kate 20's backin' her up, this cd will surely liven up your next cocktail party... it's a real kilelr diller baby..."