Eartha Kitt
The Essential Eartha Kitt
RCA/Legacy
www.sonymusic.com
By George W. Harris

They don’t make singers like Eartha Kitt any more, and I actually don’t
think they made them back then, either! She was a one-of-a-kind
entertainer, sort of black America’s answer to Marlene Dietrich. Sassy,
vampy and campy, with a voice and attitude that was immediately
identifiable. This 2 cd set includes her period from the early to late
50s, when she was toying with international music and fame. A lot of
the material is having her in front of Henri Rene and His Orchestra
singing a mix of chanson and pop jazz. Her voice goes into to a warble
that is a definitely acquired taste, but it somehow caught on with the
bohemian market. Even more kitschy, but better suited are here sessions
with old school latin band leader Perez Prado that included a fun
“Sweet And Gentle.” A duet with Hogans Hero actor Robert Clary on “Bal
Petit Bal” is quite cute, and Kitt can purr with the best of them on
“My Heart Belongs To Daddy.” A few sessions with Shorty Rogers gets
Kitt into the jazz/blues feel with “Careless Love” and “St. Louis
Blues,” showing Kitt could meow with the best of them. A time capsule
of a different era and attitude. More mischief than blatancy.