Anita Kerr Quartet

Anita Kerr Quartet – We Dig Mancini (1965/2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 23, 2022 · Comments off

We Dig Mancini! has a measure of notoriety unrelated to its musical merits because it won the Grammy for Best Performance by a Vocal Group over the Beatles’ Help! in 1965, making it a target of derision for those who see it as a symbol of the industry’s eagerness to embrace a square vocal group over an adventurous rock & roll act. The Anita Kerr Singers were not very square, though — they were ubiquitous session singers on countless hit records, and We Dig Mancini! was an adventurous effort to adapt some of Henry Mancini’s instrumental music to a vocal group format. The group includes several of Mancini’s compositions, such as “The Sweetheart Tree” and “Dear Heart,” that are straightforward songs performed in a conventional pop vocal quartet style with jazz shadings, similar to the Four Freshmen but sweeter. The group’s renditions of Mancini’s instrumental hits, such as “The Pink Panther Theme” and “Baby Elephant Walk,” are more unusual and carry the melodies with wordless vocals similar to the Swingle Singers or Ray Conniff. Kerr is one of the most important female artists of her era, and the vocal arrangements on We Dig Mancini! are performed with such precision that it only underscores her skill and professionalism.

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Anita Kerr Quartet – A Sunday Serenade (1965/2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · June 23, 2022 · Comments off

Anita Jean Grilli, known professionally as Anita Kerr, is an American singer, arranger, composer, conductor, pianist, and music producer. She recorded and performed successfully with her vocal harmony groups in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Europe. On this release, the beautiful pop sound of the Anita Kerr Quarter ventures into the gospel field with tremendously pleasant versions of “God Put a Rainbow in the Cloud”, “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”, “The Wayfaring Stranger” and others. All of these deserved the heavy air play on easy listening radio stations.

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