Light Vicki Cobb

The American south isn't just Brent Cobb's home. It's his muse, too. A Georgia native, he fills his Grammy-nominated songwriting with the sounds and stories of an area that's been home to southern rockers, soul singers, country legends, and bluesmen. Cobb has a name for that rich tapestry of music — "southern eclectic" — and he offers up his own version of it with his newest album, Southern Star.

Vicky Brown's debut album, produced by Tom Parker, who previously worked with her in The New London Chorale. Vicki Brown was an English pop, rock and contemporary classical singer. She was a member of both The Vernons Girls and The Breakaways and was the first wife of fellow singer and musician Joe Brown and mother of the singer Sam Brown. In 1979 Brown began recording with The New London Chorale and the group's popularity with the Dutch people paved the way for Brown's solo success in the Netherlands. As a session and live vocalist, Vicki worked with Jon Lord, Roger Waters, Alvin Lee, Chris Farlowe, Steve Marriott, Cerrone, Gary Moore, Yvonne Keeley, Eric Burdon, Pink Floyd, Bryan Ferry, Olivia Newton-John, Robert Palmer, Elton John, amongst other artists.

French nightclub singer and Jazz standard recording artist, Vicki was born in Paris c.1930. Vicki sang on the cabaret circuit in Paris and London during the early 1950s. She married her manager Jack Elliott in 1964. She was also a Hollywood actress, including acting and singing 'Don't Go To Paris' in the Jerry Lewis 1961 movie "The Ladies Man'.
A much more solidly American album than some of Vicki Benet's other efforts of the time - which were usually more French-styled than this one! This time around, Vicki's got a great breathy style that's right up there with Julie London on Liberty - a late 50s sexiness that perfectly matches her ice blond look on the cover, and her slinky slinky dress! Arrangements are relatively gentle - strings, but never too lush - and Vicki hangs mostly in a ballad mode that's perfect for the breathiness of the recording.

Arnett Cobb's debut for Prestige and his first recording as a leader in three years (due to a serious car accident in 1956) is an explosive affair. Cobb is matched up with fellow tough tenor Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and there are plenty of sparks set off by their encounter. With organist Wild Bill Davis, bassist George Duvivier, and drummer Arthur Edgehill keeping the proceedings heated, Cobb and Davis tangle on a variety of basic material, alternating uptempo romps such as "Go Power" and "Go Red Go" with slightly more sober pieces highlighted by "When I Grow Too Old to Dream." This is a great matchup (reissued on CD through the OJC imprint) that lives up to its potential.