Many audiophiles will have at least a passing familiarity with Peggy Lee (1920-2002), one of the best-known vocalists of her day and deservingly so. This is Lee at her best, a wonderful collection of “Her Greatest Hits,” at least up to the time of its release, that anyone with ears and any appreciation for female vocals should enjoy. A classic indeed. The album leads off with “Why Don’t You Do Right?”, one of her earliest hits, and also includes “Al-right, Okay, You Win,” “Hallelujah, I Love Him So,” and of course what was arguably her best-known song, “Fever.” Capitol Records, as many audiophiles will know, produced some of the finest-sounding popular music LPs of the 1950s, and as Peggy Lee was among the prized artists of that label this album reflects that.
There have been any number of Lee collections released, most of which will include notable songs she recorded after the release of this collection. I think especially of Ultimate Peggy Lee, a 2020 double LP by Capitol and Quality Record Pressings. Yes, that is also a quite fine collection and sounds good and all that, but compared to the original of this al-bum the sonics sound rather refined and – dare I say it – almost processed. I’m not saying they are, mind you – but the dynamics of the original vinyl still manage to impress.
Originally released in mono in 1962 (LP & CD, Capitol, 1962), Bewitching-Lee! has been remastered in stereo and has seen a number of reissues in both vinyl and CD. There was a 1996 version issued by DCC that was supposedly done by remastering maestro Steve Hoffman, but though it bears his name it was NOT by him (well, only one cut was) and it is to be avoided. (I know – I have it, and it’s truly wretched!) I have three versions, and the original mono LP pressing presents notably better dynamics and clarity on my system. I believe the most recent ver-sion of it is a 2003 remastered LP and CD from S&P Records with 3 bonus tracks. It gets good online reviews but I regrettably have not heard it.
Also Recommended: Black Coffee, Lee’s 1956 Decca album as remastered and pressed by Quality Record Pressings (in 2004?) and I Like Men, 1959, Capitol/Pure Pleasure version (2010?)