RADKA TONEFF Fairytales STEVE DOBROGOSZ ODIN Label RARE NORWAY Jazz

$

40

RADKA TONEFF, STEVE DOBROGOSZ Fairytales
VG+/EX Used Audiophile Vinyl Record

Record Label: ODIN LP 03

Very rare 1982 original Norwegian Odin label release.

Radka Toneff is still considered one of Norway's most outstanding jazz singers. "This is an exceptional album, and is certainly a jazz classic."

Condition: Cover is rough but vinyl is very nice. Light board, laminated sleeve has ring wear on the front and back cover. Creases and a fairly obvious water stain. Corners are dull and there is some shelf wear on the bottom. There are no spindle marks on the label. Vinyl looks like new and plays beautifully.

Side 1
1. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress (Jimmy Webb)
2. Come Down In Time (Elton John / Bernie Taupin)
3. Lost In The Stars (Kurt Weill / Maxwell Anderson)
4. Mystery Man (Steve Dobrogosz / Fran Landesman)
5. My Funny Valentine (Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart)

Side 2
6. Nature Boy (Eden Ahbez)
7. Long Daddy Green (Blossom Dearie / Dave Frishberg)
8. Wasted (Radka Toneff / Fran Landesman)
9. Before Love Went Out Of Style (Dudley Moore / Fran Landesman)
10. I Read My Sentence (Steve Dobrogosz / Emily Dickinson)

Review: Radka Toneff was a Norwegian jazz singer who died in 1982 at the tragically early age of 30. Her last studio recording was Fairytales with pianist Steve Dobrogosz. It is a mixture of standards and original compositions. The interpretations are quite straight, they remind me somewhat of Norma Winstone. But the singing (and piano accompaniment) are totally sublime. The producer was Norwegian bass legend Arild Andersen at an early stage of his career.

This is an exceptional album, and is certainly a jazz classic. But here is the sting, how do you get hold of it? Fairytales was recorded for the Norwegian label Odin and is deleted. It is only available from the Japanese specialist label Bomba who have remastered it.

Fairtytales is quite simply one of the most musical albums I have heard for a very long time – and that includes jazz and all other genres. Forget the price, another jazz fan sums Radka Toneff up beautifully: "Her musical work is beyond words. If you see one of her albums, and you are interested in jazz – get it quick!"