Saucy and Sassy

Something a bit different to start 2006.

Dinah Washington (left) is by far my favourite female Jazz singer, she's not as smooth as Ella or as heartbreaking as Billie, but there's a girlish charm to her voice that I find irresistable. Whether she's singing jazz, blues, R&B, pop - and she could do it all - her personality just shines through. "TV Is The Thing This Year" is a swinging, brillantly bawdy tune from 1953 loaded with more double entendres than a Carry On movie that's just perfect for Dinah's flirty voice. You don't have to be a mastermind to realize she's not actually singing about television. I love the organ at the start of this too, it sounds like something from a cheesy game show. Get it on "Dinah Washington's Finest Hour."

Annisteen Allen (real name Ernestine) was a big-voiced blues singer who made her name singing with the Lucky Millinder Orchestra in the 40s and 50s. Millinder's band were one of the pioneering jump blues acts who helped in the creation of R&B and included such luminaries as Bill Doggett, Wynonie Harris and Bull Moose Jackson in their lineup. Allen cut several solo records (with the Millinder Orchestra backing her up) on the Federal and King labels before signing with Capitol where she released the fabulous "Fujiyama Mama" in 1954. Her sassy vocal on this is the very definition of "attitude" as she reaches out of the speakers and grabs you by the throat (or the balls more like), literally threatening to go nuclear on your ass. This was a big hit and ended up being covered by rockabilly belle Wanda Jackson. "Classics 1945-1953" is a terrific album that collects the best of her King/Federal recordings but the only CD I can find "Fujiyama Mama" on is "1954: The Year That Rocked The World."

[Download]
TV Is The Thing This Year - Dinah Washington
Fujiyama Mama - Annisteen Allen