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It\'s difficult to say when Cleo was at the height of her powers. Rather like Sinatra, her voice changed and developed over the years and folks have preferences for different stages of her career. Here Vocalion have generously given us two albums on a single CD, \'IF WE LIVED ON THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN\' and \'PORTRAIT\' - and a strong argument can be made that the period when she made them is hard to beat. The musical partnership with John was defined and the understanding between them complete. So that vocal and backing are intertwined in perhaps a unique way and John\'s arrangements complement her interpretations of the music to perfection. Such diversity.

They were always prepared to experiment and some would say, prepare to fail. All manner of songs are present on these albums - some standards and some virtually unknown numbers from what has become known as the Great American Songbook - the dust blown off and given new life - some of which, personally, I didn\'t know existed. And they dipped their toes into pop and rock/funk rhythms to the dismay of hardened swingers like myself, sometimes converting us - well, just a little. There are a number of these on \'PORTRAIT\'. And occasionally they would present songs which, in my opinion, seemed odd choices indeed. TEA FOR TWO. I mean, what the hell was that all about and why were so many singers enamoured of it? Never understood, yet Cleo\'s take on it is charming. They continually surprised.

Some examples from these two albums -

STANDARDS -
EASY STREET - a full blown swinger and my favourite version of the song
LADY BE GOOD - Ella? Nope, very different and of equal quality - which is saying something
THEY SAY IT\'S WONDERFUL - so lyrical and musically interesting
ON A CLEAR DAY - As bright as the title with a strange diversion

LESSER KNOWN -
WHO WALKS IN WHEN I WALK OUT - fabulous - witty, tuneful swinger - great riff
SURE AS YOU\'RE BORN - could have been written for her - superb arrangement
RIDIN\' HIGH - better known Porter song but not often covered - entire Cleo vocal range heard

STRANGE CHOICES -
TEA FOR TWO - Yuck! But it works.
PERDIDO - big bands did it to death - but Cleo breathes new life
CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO - Tex Beneke definitive? Maybe - but Cleo having fun and it rolls along well

POP -
IF WE LIVED ON THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN - supposed to be Cleo\'s \'African Waltz\' and dent the pop charts. It didn\'t but I bought it - along with the other guy! Has impact.
AQUARIUS - can\'t stand this song but Cleo gives it a little credibility and I enjoyed it
NIGHT OWL - a tuneless, cliched ditty which suits her not a jot
MODEL CITIES - certain sweetness to this and much to enjoy

You may not agree with much of this - but hopefully it will inspire thought. And if you enjoy just HALF the songs on this issue, you will be getting fantastic value for money. Each track, as always, has been lovingly remastered by the Dutton team with superb results so that every nuance of the music is captured. RECOMMENDED.