When I was a lad I was an avid reader of Spike Hughes’ writing every week as ‘Mike’ in Melody Maker; and one of his phrases that stuck in my mind was a description of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra as ‘lousy with violins’. First sight of the sleeve of this new Cleo Laine LP brought it vividly back to mind. It lists a whole plethora of not only violins but violas and cellos as well; and even the fact that this lot is co-led by the admirable Sidney Sax did not assuage me. But I had to admit that Miss Laine is in good company: such illustrious predecessors as Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Johnnie Hodges, plus others like Stan Getz, have disported themselves with string sections, apparently of their own free will, not to say their wilful intent.
As it turns out, though, I can’t complain too much, or even that much of the rhythmic business is strongly pop based. Not only is it admirably played, but Cleo Laine’s unique and brilliant artistry carries all before it, making virtues of anything that comes into view, or sound. This, in short, is a George Martin production, and shows that he has lost none of his skilled touch. I don’t go for everything; indeed I find some of the backings decidedly moderate. But Miss Laine, as I say, o’ertops all. The programme is varied, the songs mostly excellent, the singing superior. Maybe it isn’t all strict jazz; but then that acute categorisation has less and less real meaning nowadays; and in any case, a singer who can range from jazz to Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire is, as they say, capable de tout.
The programming is interesting too. Though there are scrolls between the individual numbers, there is musical continuity throughout, as sounds of music run across the scrolls, forming effective bridges. That between the hard blues Unlucky Woman and the folkish Streets Of London is a single held woodwind note (memories of Mendelssohn!). Indeed, the final sequence, Unlucky, Streets, Anywhere I Hang My Hat is extraordinarily telling, and beautifully done. But it is all finely done in its way, showing imagination in basic plan, the whole brought vividly to life by Miss Laine’s vocal virtuosity. John Dankworth contributes some excellent sax and clarinet work, including outstanding clarinet on Unlucky Woman, a notable track all round, appropriately since it provides the album title. Good modern stereo recording adds to the impact, whether in the hefty rock-pop style or the sensitive The Colours Ran.
Discography
Come Back To Me; The Colours Ran; Sunday; Do You Really Want Him; Birdsong (Sambalaya); Let Me Be The One – Living Is Easy; I Think It’s Going To Rain Today; Unlucky Woman (Born On A Friday); Streets Of London; Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home
Cleo Laine (vcl); string section; keyboards; guitars; bass guitars; drums and percussion section; Derek Watkins (tpt); David Horler (tbn); Ray Swinfield (as); Vic Ash (ts); Mike Page (bari); Johnny Dankworth (as/ss/cl-solos).
(RCA RS 1031 £2.99)
