In 1952 Betty Hutton was a hot ticket and all the major movie studios competed to sign her to their roster. She turned the offers down and instead directed her attention toward the emerging world of television. Her first foray into T.V. was the 1954 colour production Satins And Spurs, the first ever made-for-television musical, which cast her as a rodeo queen in the Annie Oakley tradition. A single release of the title track is featured here alongside its flipside, the cowboy ballad Back Home.

As a prelude to Satins And Spurs, Hutton recorded two duets with country western star Tennessee Ernie Ford, This Must Be The Place and The Honeymoon's Over, which became a Top 20 selling single. Betty also recorded with her sister Marion Hutton Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So) and Heart Throb. Also included here are her 1956 single Sleepy Head backed with Hit The Road To Dreamland.

In 1958 Betty was asked to make a concept album that would personify a rocking, hand clapping saint one moment, and an equally fire and brimstone sinner the next. Betty loved the idea and embarked on a southern hiatus to New Orleans for material and inspiration for Betty Hutton at the Saints & Sinners Ball.

The stereo album was released as Hutton wrapped up a hectic decade of highs and lows. Saints & Sinners proved to be Betty's last outing as a recording artist, though she did spend the next 15 years appearing in Broadway shows, as well as in touring theatrical productions and concert performances before converting to Catholicism in 1974. She then only made sporadic appearances as an entertainer, and instead dedicated her life to religion and teaching. Betty was once quoted as saying, 'I'll go on forever with lots of noise.' This compilation certainly proves her right.

Additional Details

Label: Sepia Records

Genre: Adult Contemporary/MOR

Release Date: 07/14/09

UPC: 5055122111337