Roberta Sherwood - Lazy River: Singles & Albums Collection 1956-61 (CD)

Release Date: 09/22/23

It's a substantial and, we hope, nicely representative selection of her work

Roberta Sherwood was an unusual artist in that, having performed in hotel lounges and restaurants for many years, she finally got a recording contract at the age of 43, and had an immediate chart success with her version of Hoagy Carmichael's 'Lazy River'. Generally described as a torch singer, she was a distinctive interpreter of repertoire from the Great American Songbook in a style that was flashy, extrovert, unpretentious and unsubtle, but highly effective and individual. This great-value 52-track 2-CD collection comprises a significant proportion of her A&B sides on Decca from this era, on which she is accompanied by the orchestra of noted arranger/conductor Jack Pleis, plus selected titles from her studio albums from these years, 'Introducing Roberta Sherwood', 'Showstoppers', 'I Gotta Right To Sing', 'Country Songs For City People', 'Look For The Silver Lining', 'Clap Your Hands', 'Get Away From Those Swingin' Doors' and 'My Golden Favourites'. It naturally includes her1956 chart success with 'Lazy River'. It's a substantial and, we hope, nicely representative selection of her work, which offers an entertaining and enlightening showcase for the talents of an artist who has not received the attention she merits.