Helen Forrest

Helen Forrest was considered one of the top female singers of the swing era, but surprisingly she did not repeat her commercial successes after she went out on her own in 1943. This CD has 20 selections that are of unknown origin but probably taken from radio apperarances and transcriptions during the second half of the '40s. Forrest is joined by a few different orchestras (including ensembles led by Larry Clinton and Sy Oliver), with strings on two numbers and on six selections by the Stars of Swing. The personnel is unknown other than tenor saxophonist Babe Russin, who has a short solo on "Ain't Misbehavin'." But the main focus is on Forrest, who is heard in peak form on such songs as "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Secret Love," "Taking a Chance on Love," "From This Moment On," "You Turned the Tables on Me," and remakes of her earlier hits "I Had the Craziest Dream" and "I Don't Want to Walk Without You." One of the better Helen Forrest CDs currently available. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide