Pearls: The Albums 1952-1957 [Import]

• Track Listing

Two CD set. One of the most beloved and highest profile American entertainers of the 20th Century, singer/actress/author Pearl Bailey spent over 50 years of her life on stage, in films, on TV and in record studios. Hers was the very definition of a prolific career, and one that brought her international fame in every area where she chose to leave her imprint. Even though her chart success was small, Pearl's vocal talent was large and she was never without a recording contract for the whole of the 1950s and beyond. Jasmine's set brings together as many of Pearls' recordings from the '50s as we could cram in - five complete albums, in fact, that show her larger than life personality off to the full. Pearl was never about hit records - although her biggest chart success 'Takes Two To Tango' inevitably features here - but she sold a lot of long players and her singing career was perpetually an extension of her brash and frequently bawdy personality, which spills cheerfully out of the grooves of every track here. A long overdue tribute to a genuine entertainment legend, Pearls is perhaps the definitive collection of 'Pearlie Mae' featuring, as it does, a great many tracks that are totally new to UK CD - all remastered, as always, from the finest available sources!