Cora Lee Day & Debby Moore – My Crying Hour / My Kind Of Blues

The Best Voices Time Forgot - Collectible Albums by Top Female Vocalists
Collector’s Edition - 2 Original LPs on 1 CD - · Original Cover Art, Liner Notes

My Crying Hour
Cora Lee Day (1914-1996) was virtually unknown when she recorded 'My Crying Hour' in 1960, the only album in her brief singing career, before becoming an actress. She bore a striking vocal resemblance to another legendary “Day,” the immortal “Lady Day” —Billie Holiday— but her voice still has that certain intangible quality that singles her out as a rare-find on the jazz scene and is sure to catch your ear. Under the direction of pianist Jimmy Jones and with a number of skillful arrangements, Cora Lee gained the drive and confidence to sing an engaging repertoire of fragile, moving songs in the manner that came most natural to her —soft and intimate.

My Kind of Blues
Debby Moore (1925-2017), who once sang with Earl Hines, was a Fifties pop singer whose light, warmly caressing voice and ability to read a lyric and phrase well showed a frank jazz awareness. It’s no surprise, then, that she was able to get a quintet of this quality for this mix of blues and standards. Although the group is cast in a mainly accompanying role, it could call on Harry Sweets Edison’s swinging solos and delightful backing for the singer —who also contributes the novelty of whistling on a couple of tracks in a style not unlike the trumpeter’s— as well as Jimmy Jones’s elegant soloing and Barry Galbraith’s funky guitar. The result was 'My Kind of Blues,' a consistenly interesting debut album, with the singer generating her lithe, detached swing and getting her own groove going.

Track Listing:
Cora Lee Day: 1. My Crying Hour - 3:45   2. When Your Lover Has Gone - 2:50   3. Trouble Is a Man - 3:01   4. The Very Thought of You - 3:17   5. I See a Million People - 3:30   6. Ain't No Use - 3:08   7. It Isn't Fair - 2:37   8. You Taught Me How to Cry - 3:29   9. Weeping Willow - 3:03   10. Try a Little Tenderness - 3:20   11. I'm Gonna Laugh You Out of My Life - 3:26   12. The Masquerade Is Over - 3:16   Debby Moore: 13. Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days - 3:02   14. Come On Home to Me - 2:26   15. See See Rider - 2:25   16. Nothin' but Trouble on My Mind - 2:41   17. Sent for You Yesterday - 2:10   18. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home - 2:39   19. I'm Travelin' Light - 2:58   20. (I Know) My Baby Loves Me True - 2:57   21. Why Don’t You Do Right - 2:50   22. How Come You Do Me Like You Do Do Do? - 2:25   23. Hallelujah, I Love Him So - 2:56   24. No Love, No Nothin' - 2:46   25. I Get a Feeling - 2:12 *
(*) Bonus Track

Sources:
Tracks #1-12, from the Cora Lee Day album “My Crying Hour” (Roulette SR-52048)
Tracks #13-24, from the Debby Moore album “My Kind of Blues” (Top Rank ST12-301)
Track #25, from the Debby Moore single (Top Tank 45JAR-284)

Personnel:

Personnel on “My Crying Hour”:
Cora Lee Day, vocals
Accompanied by Sextet & Orchestra conducted by Jimmy Jones
Sextet (#2,3,6,7,9,10,12): Harry Edison, trumpet; Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax; Jimmy Jones, piano, Barry Galbraith, guitar; Eddie Jones, bass; Osie Johnson, drums.
Orchestra (#1,5,8,11): Arrangements by Jerry Valentine.
Recorded in New York City, June 1960

Personnel on “My Kind of Blues”:
Debby Moore, vocals & whistling
Accompanied by Harry Edison, trumpet; Jimmy Jones, piano; Barry Galbraith, guitar; George Duvivier, bass; Elvin Jones, drums.
Arrangements by Don Donaldson
Recorded in New York City, December 1959