Torch Singers & Thrushes

There is no broader instrumental idiom than the human voice, and female singers outnumber male in population, if not also in pop. But there are not as many great female-vocal albums as could be expected. Partly the problem was limited, stale repertoire (standards beaten to death), and partly it was the unnatural selection of beauty over singing ability. "Torch singers" evolved out of the jazz bands' habit of letting a singer take a stab at a number, only perhaps to gain regular status. A single song would maintain interest at the start or close of a set, but a woman on tour presented other problems.

LPs allowed audiences to appreciate female voices in intimite high fidelity, quite apart from physical appearances. Such "blind" intimacy allowed great but less beauteous singers to flourish, while other records predictably furthered the extant popularity of such movie and television stars as Julie London. In any case, the langorous, bluesy "torch" style of Billie Holiday developed in the throats of thousands of "thrushes." The advent of the LP meant the atmosphere of the boudoir or empty nightclub could be simulated as easily as belting out a standard over the frenetic pound of the bongos.

Buying: Torch singers do standards; part of the appeal is discovering earlier versions. Californian labels are at their best with pop-jazz nightclub singers and screen stars. Singers identified with jazz are likely to more polished, if less sensational. Other than that it is strictly subjective.

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