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In 1957, the first album by husband and wife piano/vocal lounge/cabaret duo Jonathan & Darlene Edwards insinuated itself into the consciousness of cognescenti in the music business. Inspired by the boldly hit-and-miss singing style of Florence Foster Jenkins, the Edwards' enthusiastic but musically off-colour treatment of popular standards had listeners looking at each other with raised eyebrows wondering if they were serious. The album became something of a cult phenomenon, and a follow-up in 1960 cemented their success. By that time, of course, the secret was out - J&D Edwards were, in fact, the hugely popular and brilliant singer Jo Stafford and her pianist/arranger husband Paul Weston, who had invented the Edwards as a private cabaret turn for friends. Jo's perfect pitch and Paul's technical brilliance enabled them to produce these hilariously not-quite-right renditions, their second album winning a Grammy for best comedy album. This collection includes the complete original albums - 'The Piano Artistry of Jonathan Edwards' and 'Jonathan & Darlene Edwards In Paris' - plus bonus tracks of the 'real' Jo Stafford and Paul Weston, brought together on CD for the first time.
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