Tribute to Peggy

15. Linda Michelet, Big Band Peggy Lee CD/DVD set

Many thanks for the additions to the list of tributes! I actually knew -- and had forgotten -- about the Linda Michelet one (10,000 clips at YouTube), but I don't think I had heard about the one by Michelle Wallis.

I'd like to put an extra word for the tribute by Tish Oney, Dear Peg. Any such word should be prefaced with the caveat that, despite what some deaf critics might want you to believe, none of the singers paying tribute sound like Peggy -- none of the ones I've heard, at least. That's not an indictment on the singers themselves. On the contrary, I give greater credit to those for whom paying tribute does not include trying to sound like Peggy -- and Tish Oney is one of them.

Reasons why I highlight her album:

1. It's a tribute to Peggy the songwriter. (Some of those other so-called tributes contain, at most, one or two songs written by Peggy, and plenty of numbers that are not closely identified with her.) Peggy would have doubtlessly been very flattered by a tribute to her songwriting.

2. Tish made some rare song choices. You don't get just "He's a Tramp" and "I'm Gonna Go Fishin'" and "I Don't Know Enough About You"... I'm thrilled by her choice of "It Must Be So." There are also three songs from Peggy's 1990 songbook for MusicMasters.

3. An unpublished Peggy lyric which I greatly loved! The first chorus, especially:

Life is like a glass of wine
Crystal clear and very fine
Sip it slowly as you go
Life like wine must age,
you know...

Set to very nice Latin/bossa nova-oriented music by Tish herself. The song's title is "Burn It Slow."

4. Tish is backed by some of Peggy's own musicians, including John Chiodini.

5. She also met the approval of Holly (Peggy's grandaughter, and vice president of Peggy Lee Associates, whose word of encouragement are included in the CD's notes).

6. Tish is a music major who wrote her PhD thesis on the lyrics of Peggy. If that alone doesn't deserve recommendation, I don't know what does!

You can check Tish and her CD at her own website, www.tishoney.com. I see that there are copies at Amazon, too: [tinyurl.com].

Ivan

16. Paola Arnesano - Peggy! Paola Arnesano Sings Peggy Lee

17. Lisa Boray and the Harry Emmery Band - Miss Peggy Lee

1. Lezlie Anders - To Peggy, with Love
2. Paola Arnesano - Peggy!; Paola Arnesano Sings Peggy Lee
3. Heather Bishop - Tribute to Peggy Lee
4. Lisa Boray and the Harry Emmery Band - Miss Peggy Lee
5. Jeanie Bryson - Some Cats Know; The Songs of Peggy Lee
6. Meg Clifton and Mary Ellen Desmond - Peggy Lee and Rosemary Clooney Tribute
7. Kate Dimbleby - Ain't This Cosy; Peggy Lee
8. Alexis Donnelly - Sings Peggy Lee
9. Connie Evingson - Fever; A Tribute to Peggy Lee
10. Linda Michelet - Big Band Peggy Lee
11. Bette Midler - Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook
12. Jessica Molaskey - It's a Good Day
13. Maria Muldaur - A Woman Alone with the Blues
14. Tish Oney - Dear Peg
15. Janet Seidel - Don't Smoke in Bed
16. Mindy Simmons - Is That All There Is; A Tribute to Peggy Lee
17. Michelle Wallis - Peg; A Tribute to Peggy Lee

Latest additions to the list:

18. Laura Theodore and Joe Beck - Golden Earrings
19. Carol Welsman - I Like Men: Reflections of Miss Peggy Lee

(Number 18 is a vocal and guitar duet album that pays tribute to both Peggy Lee and Dave Barbour. Includes, among others, "My Small Señor," "You Was Right, Baby," "What More Can a Woman Do?" and "Everything Is Moving Too Fast."

(Carol Welsman's album includes "Angels on Your Pillow."

Hi All,

I've recently read that Canadian singer/pianist Carol Welsman is promoting her forthcoming CD of Peggy Lee songs I Like Men. When it's due to come out not sure.

Regards,

michael W

Hi all,

Today's Toronto Star has an interview with Carol Welsman about her new CD, I Like Men: Reflections of Miss Peggy Lee:

[www.thestar.com]

David

20. Mika Ohashi - Mint Jazz; Dedicated To Peggy Lee

[Yes, it's titled Mint Jazz, not Mink Jazz. Cover photo is mint-colored. Among Mika's choices are "La La Lu," "Johnny Guitar," "Where Can I Go Without You?" and "I Just Want To Dance All Night."

Ivan

Time to update the list of tributes: we have a brand new one coming up early next year. It's #1 below.

1. Beegie Adair - I Love Being Here With You; A Jazz Piano Tribute To Peggy Lee
2. Lezlie Anders - To Peggy, With Love
3. Paola Arnesano - Peggy!; Paola Arnesano Sings Peggy Lee
4. Heather Bishop - Tribute To Peggy Lee
5. Lisa Boray and the Harry Emmery Band - Miss Peggy Lee
6. Jeanie Bryson - Some Cats Know; The Songs Of Peggy Lee
7. Meg Clifton and Mary Ellen Desmond - Peggy Lee And Rosemary Clooney Tribute
8. Kate Dimbleby - Ain't This Cosy; Peggy Lee
9. Alexis Donnelly - Sings Peggy Lee
10. Connie Evingson - Fever; A Tribute To Peggy Lee
11. Linda Michelet - Big Band Peggy Lee
12. Bette Midler - Sings The Peggy Lee Songbook
13. Jessica Molaskey - It's A Good Day
14. Maria Muldaur - A Woman Alone With The Blues
15. Mika Ohashi - Mint Jazz; Dedicated To Peggy Lee
16. Tish Oney - Dear Peg
17. Janet Seidel - Don't Smoke In Bed
18. Mindy Simmons - Is That All There Is; A Tribute To Peggy Lee
19. Laura Theodore and Joe Beck - Golden Earrings
20. Michelle Wallis - Peg; A Tribute To Peggy Lee
21. Carol Welsman - I Like Men; Reflections Of Miss Peggy Lee

Thanks Ivan for updating the list. I recently heard a clip of Liza Minnelli singing "He's a Tramp" on her latest CD. It's great that such a prominent star records a Peggy Lee song, although I must admit that I didn't like her version very much.

Richard, Holland.

Oh, it's good to hear that Minnelli is singing a Peggy song, Richard. She just released a CD that has been getting good reviews. I have not listened to it, but from what I've read, I gather that fans and reviewers are impressed because she sings the disc's numbers in a quiet and jazzy style.

I think I've mentioned the following before, probably somewhere here in this board. Some years ago, Liza was the guest on the Oprah Winfrey show, and she closed the program with a rendition of "Some Cats Know." The audience seemed blissfully unaware of the lyrics' meaning, but Oprah clearly wasn't. I got a kick of the expression of shock in Oprah's face, as she listened to the lyrics.

Ivan

I'm so happy to see that Beegie Adair is doing this tribute. She is a wonderful player. I know her from my many years of living in Nashville. If you haven't heard her play, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. She currently plays at F. Scott's Restaurant and Jazz Club in Nashville one night per week (among the many other things she is involved in). This is a place where I played (in its early days) for five years. Go Beegie!

Ron

Regarding mentions of a new Liza Minnelli CD, "Confessions", I found it by chance in HMV recently, and was surprised to see it contains SIX songs well associated with Peggy Lee: He's A Tramp / I Got Lost In His Arms / Close Your Eyes / Moments Like This / Remind Me / You Fascinate Me So, the latter three all from PL's "Pretty Eyes" album of course. Maybe she's a PL fan like her late mother. Liza once said that PL and Tony Bennett were Judy's two favourites.

Happy New Year,
Bob N.

One more entry to add to the list (#19):

1. Beegie Adair - I Love Being Here With You; A Jazz Piano Tribute To Peggy Lee
2. Lezlie Anders - To Peggy, With Love
3. Paola Arnesano - Peggy!; Paola Arnesano Sings Peggy Lee
4. Heather Bishop - Tribute To Peggy Lee
5. Lisa Boray and the Harry Emmery Band - Miss Peggy Lee
6. Jeanie Bryson - Some Cats Know; The Songs Of Peggy Lee
7. Meg Clifton and Mary Ellen Desmond - Peggy Lee And Rosemary Clooney Tribute
8. Kate Dimbleby - Ain't This Cosy; Peggy Lee
9. Alexis Donnelly - Sings Peggy Lee
10. Connie Evingson - Fever; A Tribute To Peggy Lee
11. Linda Michelet - Big Band Peggy Lee
12. Bette Midler - Sings The Peggy Lee Songbook
13. Jessica Molaskey - It's A Good Day
14. Maria Muldaur - A Woman Alone With The Blues
15. Mika Ohashi - Mint Jazz; Dedicated To Peggy Lee
16. Tish Oney - Dear Peg
17. Janet Seidel - Don't Smoke In Bed
18. Mindy Simmons - Is That All There Is; A Tribute To Peggy Lee
19. Gilda Solve - Sings The Peggy Lee Songbook
20. Laura Theodore and Joe Beck - Golden Earrings
21. Michelle Wallis - Peg; A Tribute To Peggy Lee
22. Carol Welsman - I Like Men; Reflections Of Miss Peggy Lee

Details for item #19 at [www.jazz-music-shop.com]

Ivan

23. Kim Hoorweg and the Houdini's Remember Peggy Lee - Why Don't You Do Right?

[www.bol.com]

Richard

24. Jessica Pilnäs - Norma Deloris Egstrom: A Tribute to Peggy Lee

Rarely heard songs include: "Boston Beans," "I Wound It Up," "The Gold Wedding Ring" and "This Is A Very Special Day."