Beauty Shop Beat - The Clark Sisters

 

Fly Kentucky Baby

Beauty Shop Beat

The Clark Sisters

Coral Records CRL 57290

1959

From the back cover: Clark Sisters. Hardly anything more can be said about these fabulous girls that hasn't been said before; – suffice it to say that they reached stardom with the great Tommy Dorsey orchestra as the Sentimentalists, and that their recordings of "CHICAGO" and "SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET" with Tommy are among the greatest vocal records ever made. Their stint with Tommy was unusually rewarding in that he, as one of the greatest instrumentalists of our time, taught them to control their breathing for tone, to phrase as he phrased, and to let the words tell the story. These added qualities were to become as invaluable to the girls as they have become to other great singers who came from the Dorsey band and went on to scale the heights on their own. Along with coaching from so eminent a teacher, they also had the opportunity to work with Si Oliver whose wonderful arrangements of "Chicago" and "Sunny Side" helped them get to the top.

The Clark Sisters are unique in that they are not only gifted singers, but creative singers as well, and they combine their extraordinary vocal talents with rare musicianship to achieve the style and the blending of voices for which they are so well-known.

Breathes there a man, woman or child who doesn't thrill to the sound of fine singers harmonizing the great nostalgic barber-shop ballads and songs? The Clark Sisters think not, for this latest album is indeed a veritable collector's item of some of the best-known of these perennial evergreens, all gussied up in their modern swing fashion, but retaining at all times the rich harmonies and the dignity of the songs themselves which are indeed a valuable part of our American musical heritage. These girls really come on, and the listener will be quick to note the many things which combine to make them the wonderful performers they are; – the warm blend, the perfect intonation, the incredible ensemble range, and the beat. Incidentally, in one of their numbers, "MOONLIGHT MEDLEY" the girls are joined by Papa Clark who got them all started singing, and, take it from an old kitchen basso who has pumped out many a low C to a "Sweet Adeline" or "Whiffenpoof Song," – 'Old Dad' makes it real good!

Bob Bain (and The Players), keen student of all types of popular songs and equally accomplished on all the guitars, was an invaluable member of the team whose talent, ideas and advice were important factors in making this an outstanding performance. Another valuable team-member was Charles Bud Dant – conductor-arranger and musical director.

And now, find an easy chair, grab yourself a barber-shop chord and have yourself a swinging ball as you hear the Clark Sisters romp away with "Beauty Shop Ballads" – They're all dressed up to go swinging and, Man, they're a gas! – Sonny Burke

Oh By Jingo (Oh By Gee, You're The Only Girl For Me)

Play That Barbershop Chord

Goodbye My Coney Island Baby (Arranged and Adapted by C, Dant)

That Old Gang Of Mine

Down By The Old Mill Stream

My Honey, Honey (Arranged and Adapted by Bob Bain)

You Tell Me Your Dream I'll Tell You Mine (Adapted and Arranged by Gus Call & Ann Clark)

Waiting For The Robert E. Lee

Fly, Kentucky Baby (Adaption by G. Call)

Sweet Adeline

Rockin' In The Cradle Of The Deep

Moon Medley: By The Light Of The Silvery Moon (Adaption by C. Dant), Oh Mr. Moon, In The Evening By The Moonlight (Adaption by C. Dant)