22.7.12

Lee Wiley's last studio album (1971)


I'm so sick and tired of people writing about artists over 40 being "past their prime" - you won't find any reference to this album without people expressing their opinion that Lee Wiley was fine but "past her prime" - well this is how she always sounded. Check her music from 1930s onwards and she always was this husky, seductive siren who didn't have much of the voice but clearly projected sophistication and night club singer's world-weariness - perhaps "cabaret singer" would describe her the best. If you had ever heard Lee Wiley before, you would notice how similar she was to Peggy Lee (whom she preceded chronologically)  there always was intimate feeling of after-hours late night music about her and she carefully selected her repertoire to suit this limited but effective voice. Wiley was never a belter - she always crooned and whispered to listener's ear making this somehow unforgettable experience and no wonder so many people were seriously obsessed with her. 

For her very last studio album she re-visits some old american songbook chestnuts ("Moon River", "A Sleeping Bee") and sing few other old favorites with Dixieland backing ("You're Lucky To Me") gently crooning and swinging as always. When it comes to this "past her prime" phenomenon, well 1971 studio recording shows more closely cracks in her pipes than recordings from five decades ago. Yes, she was in her 60s but it's nothing compared to lots of today's rock stars who are still working full time and they are much older,big deal. On the CD re-issue there is a beautiful song not released originally and its called "When I Leave The World Behind" - obviously Lee Wiley couldn't possibly know this would be her last recording but its a perfect end of a career, really beautiful and haunting lyrics.

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