Rating:
Genre:
Vocal Music
Release Date: 10/20/1998
Any compilation that properly anthologizes the chart history of
Miss Peggy Lee is forced to sprint through 24 years, including a pair of decades that were the most culturally tumultuous of the 20th century. Such is the peril of attempting to summarize
Lee's career by way of her hits, though for introductory purposes this disc is an excellent one (and her strong musical personality serves well to unify the material anyway). Beginning with
"Waiting for the Train to Come In," her 1946 solo chart debut with
Benny Goodman,
The Best of Miss Peggy Lee picks up nearly all of her big hits, all of which number among her best performances.
Lee excelled at sounding sunny (
"It's a Good Day") or sultry (
"I Don't Know Enough About You") or sizzling (
"Fever," "Big Spender"), she often wrote her own material, and always illustrated that both
novelties and
standards were putty in the hands of the best song sculptor ever heard in the world of
vocal jazz. Though it's a shame the compilers couldn't find room for early hits such as
"'Deed I Do" and
"Don't Smoke in Bed" or well-chosen later material like
"Let's Love" (the song
Paul McCartney wrote for her),
The Best of Miss Peggy Lee provides an efficient summary of the most commanding performing personality in
vocal jazz.
~John Bush, All Music Guide
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