Personnel:

Rita Moss (vcl, p, org, perc), Sonny Dunham, Neal hefti, George Williams (arr, dir), Buck Clayton (tp), Kai Winding (tb), Artie Baker (as), George Berg, Al Klink, Boomie Richman (ts), Bernie Leighton, Teddy Napoleon (p), Art Ryerson, George Barnes, Sam Bruno (g), Irv Manning (b), Don Lamond, Sonny Igoe (d)

Although Rita Moss (1918-2015) took piano lessons as a child, she was mostly a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who could play piano, organ and drums. She later became a singer too, endowed with a unique sound.

In June 1952, Jet magazine said: “Yma Sumac has a rival in cute Rita Moss, who has a sensational four-octave range voice. She is due for a bigtime treatment.” Her voice was a finely tuned instrument, played with the passionate fever of an artist in search for perfection. This, paired with her captivating act as a live performer, earned her the appreciation of fans, and eventually the nickname “Queen Moss” for her zealous, almost cult-like following.

After her first album, a writer at Billboard mentioned she had a “breezy, whimsical style that does not obscure the solidity of her jazz conceptions,” qualities that would remain constant throughout her career.

TRACKLIST:

01. I Never Was So Surprised (Richard Criger) 2:56

02. I'll Be Waiting for You (Richard Criger) 2:56

03. Darlin' (Reckling-Millinder) 3:20

04. Love Me Or Please Let Me Be (Carrington-Glover) 3:11

05. You Never Had It So Good (Lawton) 3:16

06. When Day Is Done (DeSylva-Katscher) 2:38

07. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe (Arlen-Harburg) 2:43

08. Memories of You (Razaf-Blake) 3:18

09. Jungle Drums (Lecuona-Lombardo-O’Flynn) 2:39

10. One Hundred Years from Today (Young-Washington) 3:17

11. This Can't Be Love (Rodgers-Hart) 2:26

12. Did I Remember (Donaldson-Adamson) 4:28

13. Take the “A” Train (Billy Strayhorn) 2:18

14. I Got It Bad and that Ain’t Good (Ellington-Webster) 3:09

15. Bopligatto (Rita Moss) 2:27

16. Exactly Like You (McHugh-Fields) 3:42

17. My Romance (Rodgers-Hart) 5:05

18. I Only Have Eyes for You (Warren-Dubin) 2:33

19. Love Is Here to Stay (G. & I. Gershwin) 3:53

20. The Blue Room (Rodgers-Hart) 3:32

Sources:

Tracks #1 & 2, from 78 rpm, Glenn 1001

Tracks #3 & 4, from the 78 rpm, Decca 27873

Tracks #5 - 8, from the 45 rpm, Clef EP-256

Tracks #9 - 20, from the LP “Introducing Rita Moss” (Epic LN 3201)

Tracks #21 & 22, from the 45 rpm, Debonair D139/D137

Track #23, from the 45 rpm, Rozell K80H-1198

Personnel on #1 & 2: Rita Moss & The Satisfiers with Sonny Dunham's Orchestra

Recorded in New York City, Spring 1951

Personnel on #3 & 4: Rita Moss with Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by Neal Hefti

Buck Clayton, trumpet; Kai Winding, trombone; Artie Baker, alto sax; George Berg, tenor sax; Bernie Leighton, piano; Art Ryerson, George Barnes, guitar; Irv Manning, bass; Don Lamond, drums.

Recorded in New York City, September 12, 1951

Personnel on #5 to 8: Rita Moss with Orchestra Arranged and Conducted by George Williams

Al Klink, Boomie Richman, tenor saxes; Teddy Napoleon, piano; Sam Bruno, guitar; Sonny Igoe, drums; Barton Fish, Morris Starzek, Arnold Eidus, Harry Katzman, Julius Schachter, Milton Lomask, violins.

Recorded in New York City, December 1952

Personnel on #9 to 20: Rita Moss accompanied herself at piano, organ and bongos.

Recorded in New York City, December 1956

Personnel on #21 to 23: Rita Moss accompanied herself at organ & piano

Recorded in Los Angeles, October 1957 and 1959 (#23)

Epic photos: Bill Hughes

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

Mono · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered