We're Only In It for the Money

1961’s Ole Ala Lee was Peggy Lee’s second collection of Latin-themed material for Capitol. As a fair-haired North Dakota gal, Lee initially seemed like the last singer who should be attempting Latin American styles. On the other hand, her voice had something so inherently exotic that the combination worked wonders. The renditions of “You’re So Right for Me” and “Love and Marriage” are enjoyable, though they're little more than traditional American pop arrangements overlaid with conga percussion. Things get much more interesting when Lee slows down the tempo. It could be argued that no white American pop singer of this era better mastered the art of the Cuban bolero than Lee. The evidence is in “You Stepped Out of a Dream” and “Ole,” in which Lee achieves an atmosphere that's not only humid but nearly mystical. Even better is “By Myself,” which is so sexy and full of night that it barely seems accurate to call it a song. Its function is more like that of an ancient spell.