Mercury Records Collection: EmArcy MG-36006: Helen Merrill

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MG-36006: Helen Merrill

Label Type :	blue EmArcy type A silver rim
Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	YMG36006A MF2 A1 I
	SIDE-B	YMG36006B MF1 A1 I


Buy Helen Merrill - Helen Merrill LPs at MusicStack.com

Comments

Not a mint copy indeed (tape residue on the seams, and several scuffs and scratches on both sides of the disc), but the disc surely delivers astounding power of sound which only the early pressing can reproduce.

All tunes also available on EP-1-6103, EP-1-6104 and EP-1-6105.

Inside The Groove

Helen Merrill's first (and the greatest) leader album on EmArcy, featuring EmArcy's shining star Clifford Brown.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Probably one of the best famous EmArcy albums - Helen Merrill's first 12-inch LP on EmArcy label. The arrangements by Quincy Jones are very accurate and appropriate for the players on this album. Her singing is also fascinating and awesome (as Sarah Vaughan did on her first 12-inch EmArcy LP), but unlike Sarah, Helen Merrill shows a very distinctive tone, a husky timbre and natural delivery that is unlike anyone else.

Also, the performances by Clifford Brown are also superb. But please remember that this album's highlight is (of course) Helen Merrill's awesome singing and Quincy Jones' appropriate arrangements. Although Clifford Brown contributed so many at the session, this great album couldn't be complete without her voice.

A superb album with no doubts. A masterpiece.

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

10000 (or even more) out of 10

Track Listing

SIDE-A
A-1	11087-5	Don't Explain (Holiday - Hertzog)	5:03
A-2	11089-6	You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (Porter)	3:55
A-3	11093-1	What's New (Carr - Connor)	5:10
A-4	11092-10	Falling In Love With Love (Rogers - Hart)	3:45
SIDE-B
B-1	11091-7	Yesterdays (Kern - Harback)	5:51
B-2	11088-3	Born To Be Blue (Hoffman - Silver)	5:03
B-3	11090-10	'S Wonderful (Gershwin)	3:11

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, B-2, B-3:
Helen Merrill (vo) with:
Clifford Brown (tp), Danny Bank (fl, bs),
Jimmy Jones (p), Barry Galbraith (g), Milt Hinton (b), Osie Johnson (ds).
Recorded at Fine Sound Studios, New York City on December 22, 1954.

A-3, A-4, B-1:
same personnel as above, except:
Oscar Pettiford (b) replaces Milt Hinton.
Bobby Donaldson (ds) replaces Osie Johnson.
Recorded at Fine Sound Studios, New York City on December 18, 1954.

Arranged and conducted by Quincy Jones.