Rose Hardaway & Ada Lee – It’s Time For Rose Hardaway / Comes On!

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

It's Time for Rose Hardaway
Born in Arkansas in 1931 and raised in Chicago, Rose Hardaway became a well-known shake dancer in ‘elite black entertainment’, traveling to New York, Paris and London. By the mid ‘50s she had grown tired of dancing, and made the transition to singing. Her exciting voice became an overnight sensation after she appeared on various network TV shows. Singing with deep feeling and sincerity, with a distinctive vocal quality and emphasis on personality, Miss Hardaway left us a memorable performance in her only album —IT’S TIME FOR ROSE HARDAWAY. She brought her rich, earthy voice to a group of standards and lesser known oldies, revealing herself as a fine, swinging performer, while in ballads, she delivers each lyric with sensitivity and a warm tone that blends beautifully with the orchestra arranged and conducted by her coach, Sammy Lowe.

Ada Lee Comes On!
Ada Lee was born in Springfield, Ohio where she grew in a musical family. Her real “discovery” came in 1960 when George Wein, organizer of —among others— the Newport jazz festival, heard her in Buffalo. He not only booked her for the Buffalo Jazz Festival that year, but he also became her personal manager. A year later she made her debut on record with the album ADA LEE COMES ON!, under the musical direction of the versatile and talented composer-arranger Dick Hyman. The material Ada chose was as moving as her voice and interpretation. Of the sessions, she said, “we sure had a lot of fun. It was like those old time after-hours jam sessions. The musicians enjoyed my letting my hair down.” That much is clear from the spontaneous feeling of this impressive set of recordings that launched Ada Lee’s career off to a beautiful start.

Track Listing:
Rose Hardaway: 1. But Not for Me - 2:27   2. Please Send Me Someone to Love - 2:20   3. Whatever Lola Wants - 2:08   4. Do I Worry? - 2:28   5. Just for a Thrill - 2:39   6. Someday Sweetheart - 2:44   7. How Long, How Long Blues - 2:20   8. I Don’t Want to Walk Without You - 2:09   9. It Had to Be You - 2:37   10. I Never Knew -2:40   11. Faraway Boy - 2:21   12. Dream Man - 2:30   13. The Lonesome Road - 2:20 *   14. Night and Day - 2:34 *   15. I Only Have Eyes for You - 2:23 *   16. Senor Blues - 2:22 *   17. That’s What We’re Here For - 2:35 *   18. What You Don’t Know Won’t Hurt You - 2:13 *   Ada Lee:19. Something Missing - 2:37   20. Night in Tunisia - 2:37   21. Romance in the Dark - 3:05   22. G’wan Train - 2:45
23. I’ll Never Smile Again - 3:14   24. It’s a Pity to Say Goodnight - 2:23   25. I Wish You Love - 2:52   26. If You Go - 2:20   27. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall - 2:53   28. Rain Is Such a Lonesome Sound - 2:50   29. Heartaches - 2:30   30. Domino -2:37
(*) 45rpm edit bonus tracks

Sources:
Tracks #1-12, from the album "It’s Time for Rose Hardaway" (Seeco CELP 4600)
Tracks #13 & 14, from Seeco 45-6048
Tracks #15 & 16, from Decca 9-30893
Tracks #17 & 18, from Decca 9-30959
Tracks #19-30, from the album “Ada Lee Comes On!” (ATCO SD 33-132)

Personnel:

Personnel on "It’s Time for Rose Hardaway":
Rose Hardaway, vocals with Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by Sammy Lowe
Recorded in New York City, 1960 (#1-14) and 1959 (#15-18)

Personnel on "Ada Lee Comes On!"
Ada Lee, vocals with Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by Dick Hyman
Tracks # 1,3,9,11: Jerome Richardson, flute, alto & baritone sax; Dick Hyman, piano; Joe Puma, guitar; Milt Hinton, bass; Bobby Rosengarden, drums. Plus string section (6 violins; 2 violas; 2 cellos; harp), and chorus.
Recorded in New York City, May 16, 1961
Tracks #5,8,10,12: Jerome Richardson, flute & soprano sax; Dick Hyman, piano, harpsichord; Joe Puma, guitar, Milt Hinton, bass; Ted Sommer, drums; Bob Rosengarden, percussion. Plus string section and chorus.
Recorded in New York City, June 6, 1961
Tracks #2,4,6,7: Phil Bodner, flute, alto & baritone sax; Dick Hyman, harpsichord; Joe Puma, guitar, George Duvivier, bass; Ted Sommer, drums. Plus string section; and chorus.
Recorded in New York City, June 6, 1961