Fran Warren - Collection 1945-56 (2021)

Fran Warren was one of the coterie of female big band singers of the 1940s whose voices matched their striking good looks and who went on to enjoy solo careers as chart performers in the 1950s before turning to acting and the album market. Born Frances Wolff, she worked briefly with Art Mooney’s band and Billy Eckstine, who coined the name of Fran Warren, after which she recorded with Charlie Barnet’s orchestra and most notably with the innovative band of Claude Thornhill before she embarked on a solo career in 1949. This 48-track 2-CD set comprises recordings with the Charlie Barnet Orchestra and Claude Thornhill Orchestra from the 1940s, plus selected A & B sides from her singles on the RCA-Victor, MGM and Unique labels during this era, including duets with Tony Martin, Lisa Kirk and Woody Herman. It features all her career hits, both solo and with Tony Martin, including her No. 4 hit with him “I Said My Pajamas (And Put On My Prayers)”, and her Top 20 hits “A Wonderful Guy” and “Envy” , along with a chart entry with Claude Thornhill “A Sunday Kind Of Love”. It’s a varied and entertaining showcase for a talented and versatile song stylist whose work deserves wider appreciation.