Mercury Records Collection: MG-20231: Morgana King Sings The Blues

MG-20231: Morgana King Sings The Blues

Label Type :	black Mercury type A
Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	MG~~W_60007A~~ 20231A MSII A A1 I
	SIDE-B	MG~~W60007B~~ 202318B MS2 MSII B1 I

Comments

This title was originally intended for release as Wing MGW-60007. However, it was cancelled for a certain reason, and re-assigned as Mercury MG-20231. The matrix imprints on the dead wax may prove the fact.

Inside The Groove

Nice female vocalist Morgana King's 1st recording on Wing/Mercury/EmArcy.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Morgana King, also famous as an actress, started singings and recordings in the 1950s, although she continued to release as much as 30 LPs in her long career. Her voice's timbre may resemble Patti Page's voice, but Morgana King has more soulful way of expressions, since she was so familiar with the Blues.

This Mercury album, originally intended for release as Wing MGW-60007 (probably not released with the catalogue number). Being accompanied by a simple rhythm section, Morgana sings every song from the bottom of her heart. As a Jazz vocal album, her 2nd LP with gorgeous big combo (EmArcy MG-36079) may be more attractive to listen to, but this Mercury LP surely captures the artistry of her voice and the way of singing.

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

8 out of 10

Track Listing

SIDE-A
A-1	W376	More Than You Know (Rose - Eliscu - Youmans)	3:58
A-2	W374	Frankie And Johnnie (Leighton - Bunch)	2:35
A-3	W381	Mean To Me (Turk - Ahlert)	3:23
A-4	W375	When Your Lover Has Gone (Swan)	3:12
A-5	W373	Something To Remember You By (SSchwartz - Dietz)	3:41
A-6	W382	I See Two Lovers (Dixon - Wrubal)	3:50
SIDE-B
B-1	W377	Body And Soul (Heyman - Sour - Eyton - Green)	4:03
B-2	W384	Mad About The Boy (Noel Coward)	3:26
B-3	W383	It's Only A Paper Moon (Rose - Harburg - Arlen)	2:45
B-4	W378	Bill (Wodehouse - Hammerstein - Kern)	3:46
B-5	W379	Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Hammerstein - Kern)	3:52
B-6	W380	Why Was I Born (Hammerstein - Kern)	3:52

Personnel

Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

A-1, A-2, A-4, A-5, B-1, B-4, B-5, B-6:
Morgana King (vo) with:
Harvey Leonard (p, celeste), Barry Galbraith (g), Ernie Furtado (b), Ralph Pollack (ds).
Recorded probably in New York City on January 25, 1956.

A-3, A-6, B-2:
same personnel as A-1.
Recorded probably in New York City on January 26, 1956.

B-3:
same personnel/place/date as A-3, but add Terry Gibbs (vib).