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The American jazz and pop singer Sylvia Syms (not to be confused with the British movie star of the 50s and ‘60s of the same name) was a highly distinctive performer, who Frank Sinatra once said was “the world’s greatest saloon singer”, with a journalist noting that was “one of America’s most distinguished cabaret and jazz singers with a profound appreciation of lyrics”. Born in Brooklyn in 1917, and influenced by meeting Billie Holiday, she came to the fore in immediate post-war years, and made her first albums in the early ‘50s for Atlantic before signing to Decca, with whom she had hit singles in mid-decade. This 70-track 3-CD collection comprises singles for Decca from this era, plus the titles from her album on Atlantic “Songs By Sylvia Syms”, her Decca albums “Sylvia Syms Sings” and “Songs Of Love”, the Columbia album “Torch Song”, and the Kapp album “That Man (Love Letter To Frank Sintra)”, through to the early 1960s. It includes her US hit singles “I Could Have Danced All Night”, “English Muffins And Irish Stew” and “Dancing Chandelier”. Her work and talents have not enjoyed as high a profile over the years as they deserve, and this collection captures her during a key decade of her career, offering a fine showcase for a notable song stylist.
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