The Lass With the Delicate Airs

Evelyn Knight's winsome voice lived up to her nickname, "the Lass with the Delicate Air," and took her to the top of the pop charts in the late '40s with some of the breeziest, most economically arranged singles of the era.Collectors' Choice Music issued a greatest-hits anthology in 1998 that compiled all but one of Knight's chart hits, but the import collection The Lass with the Delicate Air mostly ignores the charts to compile an equally enjoyable set of recordings. Only three of its 28 Decca sides overlap with the earlier collection, and the mastering — from the original masters — is superb. The chart hit omitted from the earlier anthology, a duet with Red Foley on "My Heart Cries for You," is included, along with a number of songs known to British listeners from their airings on BBC programs. Listeners may recognize songs from other contexts as well, such as "The Lass with the Delicate Air," the melody of which was used for the Mission Bell wine jingle. The plethora of non-hits is a boon for Knight's fans, who will find among the rarities a mixture of sweet ballads and cheerful uptempo songs of the sort that brought Knight her greatest success. Songs like "Nobody's Tears Are Falling But Mine" exhibit the hallmarks of Knight's big hits — spare instrumental arrangements with a solid beat and the exquisite vocal interplay between Knight and a lush vocal chorus — while "Lovely Is the Evening" and "Love's a Precious Thing" are as lovely and precious as the sentiments they express. Duets and collaborations abound with labelmates Guy Lombardo, Russ Morgan, Dick Haymes, and Red Foley, none of whom overshadow Knight's unique contributions. Enough of Knight's Decca recordings remain for another anthology such as this, and here's hoping that Vocalion or some other benefactor compiles one.