Tragic Peggy Lee remembered

Not too much time now because I am under orders to get this pig sty  garret of mine cleared-up, tidied-up, cleaned-up, hoovered-up and polished despite my whining complaints that if I do all that I will never find anything ever again!

Anyway, whilst I slave away here I would like to urge you all to read an excellent essay on the subject of the late and very great Peggy Lee by Terry Teachout at Commentary.  He places her up alongside Sinatra and even though I don't know the difference between a crotchet and a quaver I would agree with him.  I particularly liked the way, according to Mr. Teachout's article, that she dealt with noisy audiences in the clubs she worked as a young singer.  Instead of trying to sing louder to get above the noise as most new singers did, she sang softer and gradually the audience quietened in order to listen to her.  Smart girl and it seemed to stay with her because her rendition of songs always seemed to have an intimate, one-on-one feel to them, as though she was just singing for you.

An excellent article and well worth reading.

 

Comments

[Andra]

After reading this article I have been playing Peggy Lee music all morning and I actually think this man is a bit harsh about her talents.
There weren't many better than Miss Lee.
She really could sing and was smart enough to use the best arrangers and musicians..... Sinatra himself conducted the orchestra on one of her recordings.
She was a very good lyricist and composer and don't forget her successful lawsuit against the Disney Corp. re "Lady and the Tramp."
That paved the way for ALL old actors and musicians to be paid royalties for new-fangled stuff like video-cassettes.
She had her style and it may get a bit monotonous sometimes but she also did some very good Blues and I've always liked her "Latin a la Lee" album.
She does a fine "Cee Cee Rider" and that's one of my favourites.
Miss Peggy Lee, as far as I'm concerned has left a great legacy that not many can surpass.
If you like Peggy Lee check out Anita O'Day. These ladies were probably the greatest 'white' jazz singing ladies of them all.

[David Duff]

I wouldn't describe the article as "harsh", Andra. He rightly places her up there alongside Sinatra - than whom etc, etc. But apparently she did have personality problems - not exactly unknown amongst 'stars'. Still, thank God we can still enjoy her singing about which you are obviously more knowledgeable than me.