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Ethel Ennis

In an era rich with exquisite voices, Ethel Ennis' was one of the finest. Praised by Sinatra as 'my kind of singer', and congratulated on the release of her debut album by fellow-Baltimorean Billie Holliday, she could have been a major star. Her recording career was, however, sporadic, and, after a stint touring Europe with Benny Goodman, she apparently took a dislike to life on the road, seldom performing outside her home city thereafter. This self-titled LP is a budget re-issue of her 1955 debut album Lullabies for Losers with the track-listing re-ordered, and with one song ('Love For Sale') omitted.

The songs on Lullabies for Losers were recorded in a single session with a four-piece band - uncredited here, but listed elsewhere as Hank Jones (piano), Eddie Briggs (guitar), Abie Baker (bass) and Kenny Clarke (drums). Despite the re-jigged running order, with the tracks all sharing a common nocturnal mood and the same air of necessary spontaneity, the re-issue still works very well as an album.

By rights, the wistful 'Lullaby for Losers' (the song) ought to have become a well-worn standard, but Ennis' version of it is still the only one I've heard. Other highlights for me are the limpid 'Dreamer-Dreamer'; 'Casually' and 'You'd Better Go Now'. It's a very lovely set of torch songs and ballads, ideal for late-night listening.

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