Although only 38 at the time of this recording and still in her musical prime, singer
Lee Wiley was already thought of as a has-been, and was finding it increasingly difficult to locate work. Her sophisticated, gentle, yet sincere swing style was out of favor by the mid-'50s, but she still had something to say. This CD reissue features her haunting voice showcased on eight numbers with a quartet that includes trumpeter
Ruby Braff, pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Bill Pemberton and drummer
Jo Jones; the best are "My Heart Stood Still," "My Funny Valentine" and especially memorable versions of "It Never Entered My Mind" and "Glad to Be Unhappy." Although pianist
Ellis Larkins, who is heard on four unrelated unaccompanied solos, gets co-billing on the CD, he and
Wiley never actually meet. ~ Scott Yanow