Odd Couples: What Were They Thinking?

Liner Note Author: Billy Vera.
Recording information: Capitol Studio, Hollywood, CA (01/19/1966); Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, TN (01/19/1966); Columbia Studio, New York, NY (01/19/1966); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (01/19/1966); RCA Victor Studio 2, New York, NY (01/19/1966); RCA Victor Studio A, New York, NY (01/19/1966); RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN (01/19/1966); Republic Studios, Hollywood, CA (01/19/1966); Webster Hall, New York, NY (01/19/1966); Capitol Studio, Hollywood, CA (04/15/1959); Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, TN (04/15/1959); Columbia Studio, New York, NY (04/15/1959); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (04/15/1959); RCA Victor Studio 2, New York, NY (04/15/1959); RCA Victor Studio A, New York, NY (04/15/1959); RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN (04/15/1959); Republic Studios, Hollywood, CA (04/15/1959); Webster Hall, New York, NY (04/15/1959); Capitol Studio, Hollywood, CA (04/28/1955); Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, TN (04/28/1955); Columbia Studio, New York, NY (04/28/1955); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (04/28/1955); RCA Victor Studio 2, New York, NY (04/28/1955); RCA Victor Studio A, New York, NY (04/28/1955); RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN (04/28/1955); Republic Studios, Hollywood, CA (04/28/1955); Webster Hall, New York, NY (04/28/1955); Capitol Studio, Hollywood, CA (05/07/1951); Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, TN (05/07/1951); Columbia Studio, New York, NY (05/07/1951); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (05/07/1951); RCA Victor Studio 2, New York, NY (05/07/1951); RCA Victor Studio A, New York, NY (05/07/1951); RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN (05/07/1951); Republic Studios, Hollywood, CA (05/07/1951); Webster Hall, New York, NY (05/07/1951); Capitol Studio, Hollywood, CA (05/07/1951-02/26/1953); Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, TN (05/07/1951-02/26/1953); Columbia Studio, New York, NY (05/07/1951-02/26/1953); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (05/07/1951-02/26/1953); RCA Victor Studio 2, New York, NY (05/07/1951-02/26/1953); RCA Victor Studio A, New York, NY (05/07/1951-02/26/1953); RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN (05/07/1951-02/26/1953); Republic Studios, Hollywood, CA (05/07/1951-02/26/1953); Webster Hall, New York, NY (05/07/1951-02/26/1953); Capitol Studio, Hollywood, CA (09/28/1955); Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, TN (09/28/1955); Columbia Studio, New York, NY (09/28/1955); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (09/28/1955); RCA Victor Studio 2, New York, NY (09/28/1955); RCA Victor Studio A, New York, NY (09/28/1955); RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN (09/28/1955); Republic Studios, Hollywood, CA (09/28/1955); Webster Hall, New York, NY (09/28/1955); Capitol Studio, Hollywood, CA (11/07/1949); Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, TN (11/07/1949); Columbia Studio, New York, NY (11/07/1949); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (11/07/1949); RCA Victor Studio 2, New York, NY (11/07/1949); RCA Victor Studio A, New York, NY (11/07/1949); RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN (11/07/1949); Republic Studios, Hollywood, CA (11/07/1949); Webster Hall, New York, NY (11/07/1949); Capitol Studio, Hollywood, CA (11/28/1950-09/12/1952); Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, TN (11/28/1950-09/12/1952); Columbia Studio, New York, NY (11/28/1950-09/12/1952); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (11/28/1950-09/12/1952); RCA Victor Studio 2, New York, NY (11/28/1950-09/12/1952); RCA Victor Studio A, New York, NY (11/28/1950-09/12/1952); RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN (11/28/1950-09/12/1952); Republic Studios, Hollywood, CA (11/28/1950-09/12/1952); Webster Hall, New York, NY (11/28/1950-09/12/1952); Capitol Studio, Hollywood, CA (12/14/1950-12/18/1950); Castle Studio, Tulane Hotel, Nashville, TN (12/14/1950-12/18/1950); Columbia Studio, New York, NY (12/14/1950-12/18/1950); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (12/14/1950-12/18/1950); RCA Victor Studio 2, New York, NY (12/14/1950-12/18/1950); RCA Victor Studio A, New York, NY (12/14/1950-12/18/1950); RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN (12/14/1950-12/18/1950); Republic Studios, Hollywood, CA (12/14/1950-12/18/1950); Webster Hall, New York, NY (12/14/1950-12/18/1950).
Illustrators: Colin Escott; Michael Ochs; R.A. Andreas.
Photographers: Colin Escott; Michael Ochs; R.A. Andreas.
Odd Couples: What Were They Thinking? is a successor of sorts to the Golden Throats series of the '90s, compilations perfect for letting bemused hipsters laugh at the gyrations of various vocalists and performers coming to terms with (or enthusiastically jumping onboard) the Age of Aquarius. The big difference is that few of the performers here were slumming, or even embarrassed by the results of their rather odd combinations. Tennessee Ernie Ford was one of the kings of unlikely duets, and he's represented well here with the Dinning Sisters, Helen O'Connell, Kay Starr, and Ella Mae Morse all taking turns. (The compilers actually missed a great opportunity: Ford's duet with Betty Hutton on "This Must Be the Place" is a hilarious, uproarious performance.) The other major difference is that -- unlike hearing William Shatner perform "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" -- most of these don't prompt the question, "What were they thinking?" With a few major exceptions, these aritsts, whether country or R&B or blues or jazz, blended well, and many of the teamings are joyful and exciting (file the following under that heading: Red Foley with Cecil Gant, Rosemary Clooney with George Morgan, even Lotte Lenya and Louis Armstrong on "Mack the Knife"). The worst offender, and the only real contender for a future Golden Throats volume, is Italian basso Ezio Pinza's collaboration with the Sons of the Pioneers on "The Little Ol' State of Texas," a song which has never (and will never) lend itself well to an opera singer. If Bear Family had called this Intriguing Couples instead of Odd Couples, most listeners never would've batted an eye. Of course, for those expecting a Golden Throats-type of collection, they'll find music more passable than laughable. ~ John Bush