Joni James - Very Best of Joni James 1951-62: All Hits & More [2 CD]

Joni James was a hugely successful American recording artist of the 1950s and '60s, and was one of the few singers who were able to maintain the momentum of her career through from the middle-of-the-road pop era of the early '50s through into the post-rock 'n' roll era of the later decade and beyond. So popular was she in the early '50s that she twice had four records in the Top 10 simultaneously. She brought country material into the pop chart, making the Top 5 with "Your Cheatin' Heart" while it's composer, Hank Williams, was topping the country chart, and she helped introduce the "concept" album with her first LP "Let There Be Love". Indeed, she was one of the first artists to concentrate on the album market, successfully releasing at least four a year through the '50s, including her "100 Strings & Joni" series, recorded at London's Abbey Road studios. She suddenly retired from the business in the early '60s to look after her seriously ill husband, but has returned to performing in recent decades. This great value 54-track collection focuses on her singles, and includes all the 40 or more A and B sides which made one or other configuration of the charts, plus selected other A sides, including tracks which came from the then current album releases. It's a highly entertaining showcase for an artist who has perhaps not received the global recognition she merits.