Peggy Lee - Miss Wonderful: Greatest Hits 1949-58 (LP)

This wonderful collection of Lee's early recordings showcases the talent and intelligence of this great artist Peggy Lee was a true artist, her professional motto sums her up powerfully: 'The eternal struggle of art is to leave out all but the essentials.' A talented actress also, Lee' stunning text-based improvisational style was intelligent, spare, and crackling with sensuous energy, when required. Lee often likened her sung performances to acting, stating: 'I regard singing much like acting. Each song is like playing a different role. I get very involved with my material. I feel a responsibility for the emotion it brings out in the listener.' Those influenced by Lee include Paul McCartney, Adele, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Costello, K.D. Lang, Norah Jones, and Madonna. Renowned jazz critic, Nat Hentoff said of Lee: 'Her main quality was a marvellous sense of subtlety. She overpowered you. You could hear her voice after it stopped.' Over a career spanning six decades, Lee was nominated for