Artist: Eartha KittYou can read about Eartha Kitt's incredible life and career [here] and find the New York Times obituary for the singer [here]. The song "La Dolce Vita" comes from the 1960 Fellini film, recorded by Eartha for her "Bad But Beautiful" LP, which was released in 1962. The orchestra on the album is conducted by Bill Loose, with song arrangements by Loose and Billy May. Here are some notes about the singer from the back of the LP:
Stars are born in trunks, on stages, in films, on television screens,
in hospitals and in assortetd, unclassifiable locales. Earthy Eartha Kitt
had her first significant moment of glory in Leonard Sillman's NEW FACES
OF 1952, a perking potpourri of sketches by Ronny Graham and Mel
Brooks and music by a string of pros including Sheldon Harnick. Clad
in a figure-hugging lounging outfit, the temptress from South Carolina
outlined the weary routine of an international sophisticate in a ditty
titled MONOTONOUS. Endowed with alluring curves and a voice that
penetrated the far reaches of the balcony, she turned sex into much
more than a three-letter word. During the decade since that smashing
victory, Miss Kitt sighed, cooed and shouted her way to fame as one
of the primary exponents of love appreciation expressed in song. Her
repertoire touches on most facets of the mating game, from pursuit to
profitable retreat. And as a former Katherine Dunham dancer, Miss
Kitt is more than able to sell a musical story on gestures and movement
alone. Ten years removed from the domain of NEW FACES, she's gone
on to take her place alongside other Sillman graduates, including Imogene
Coca, Henry Fonda, Van Johnson, Eve Arden, Richard Carlson and John
Lund. On records and concert stages, she's come to personify all knowing
seductresses, alternately lashing out at or loving the men depicted
in her enticing repertoire.
BAD BUT BEAUTIFUL best defines the sizzling point of view she sings
about. In this outing, she serves up an array of refrains all related to
the battles of the senses...
...Throughout, she sings with a flair for the sophisticated, an under-
standing of the subtleties of lyrics, a striking sense of wit and a vocal
strength that lends impact to her incisive messages. In her forceful singing
she reminds women of the power of sorcery and men of the wiles—and
rewards—of women. Few singers have so attractive a mission. And few
singers fulfil that mission so attractively.
--Notes by Don Gold
in hospitals and in assortetd, unclassifiable locales. Earthy Eartha Kitt
had her first significant moment of glory in Leonard Sillman's NEW FACES
OF 1952, a perking potpourri of sketches by Ronny Graham and Mel
Brooks and music by a string of pros including Sheldon Harnick. Clad
in a figure-hugging lounging outfit, the temptress from South Carolina
outlined the weary routine of an international sophisticate in a ditty
titled MONOTONOUS. Endowed with alluring curves and a voice that
penetrated the far reaches of the balcony, she turned sex into much
more than a three-letter word. During the decade since that smashing
victory, Miss Kitt sighed, cooed and shouted her way to fame as one
of the primary exponents of love appreciation expressed in song. Her
repertoire touches on most facets of the mating game, from pursuit to
profitable retreat. And as a former Katherine Dunham dancer, Miss
Kitt is more than able to sell a musical story on gestures and movement
alone. Ten years removed from the domain of NEW FACES, she's gone
on to take her place alongside other Sillman graduates, including Imogene
Coca, Henry Fonda, Van Johnson, Eve Arden, Richard Carlson and John
Lund. On records and concert stages, she's come to personify all knowing
seductresses, alternately lashing out at or loving the men depicted
in her enticing repertoire.
BAD BUT BEAUTIFUL best defines the sizzling point of view she sings
about. In this outing, she serves up an array of refrains all related to
the battles of the senses...
...Throughout, she sings with a flair for the sophisticated, an under-
standing of the subtleties of lyrics, a striking sense of wit and a vocal
strength that lends impact to her incisive messages. In her forceful singing
she reminds women of the power of sorcery and men of the wiles—and
rewards—of women. Few singers have so attractive a mission. And few
singers fulfil that mission so attractively.
--Notes by Don Gold
Eartha Kitt[January 17, 1927— December 25, 2008]
We will miss you, Eartha.
1 comment:
A beautiful woman. That b/w picture is lovely. She will be sorely missed. We seem to lose a true legend every christmas day of late..
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