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The late Dolly Dawn is little known in UK. In fact I have only ever encountered one other person here who had even heard of her..and he was a radio presenter from Newcastle who years ago presented a weekly nostalgia/78s show. I first heard Dolly Dawn and her Dawn Patrol about 60 years ago when I was about 5 years old. My father had one recording of theirs. This was a UK 78 on the old Regal Zonophone label of 'I'm gonna clap my hands'. The other side was a different artist! I immediately fell under the spell of her voice.I still have this 78 and still enjoy it. I spent the next 60 years trying to find out more about her and find more recordings but without success. When the internet (bless it) came along, I was able to confirm what I had always suspected; that she was well known in the US but ignored in the UK. I was at last able to find things like a discography, her history, and more importantly the ability to buy recordings from the US. Even so there isn't that much available and there are still gaps to be filled. The old RCA double album of George Hall and the Taft Hotel Orchestra features her and the band's recordings between 1933 and 1937. This album now being reviewed features much of her best work from 1937 to 1940. There is one other CD around recorded much later in her career which shows yet another side to her skills. All these albums are good - this one is superb! Dolly Dawn was always described as a first rate singer fronting a second rate band. She shared a voice coach with Dinah Shore. Their recordings have a lot in common; certainly in quality and feeling. If you like 1930s swing and jazz you will love this album. The feel she has for the music is reflected in her enthusiasm and joy for the songs. I am now waiting for vol 2 of this album which might perhaps be released in UK as well as US (are you listening Collectors' Choice Music?) and which might bring us the missing gems from Dolly - including 'I'm gonna clap my hands' I give this album my full endoresement; it contains recordings which show quality of the highest order.Read full review
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