Kate Smith was a singer very much in the traditional mode, who had big hits soon after she began her career in the 1920s, and remained hugely popular long into the post-war decades. Known variously as “The First Lady of Radio” and “The Songbird of the South”, she commanded a large broadcast audience that continued into the TV era in the ‘50s – her signature greeting on her radio shows was “Hello Everybody!”. As a big-built homely-looking lady, she defied the norms of the business, which usually demanded its pop performers be glamorous and lissom, and her distinctive image became a factor in her success. She became especially famous for her hits with patriotic songs like “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America”, but also courted controversy early in her career with songs with potentially racial implications. This great-value 94-track 4-CD set comprises selected A & B sides from her releases on the Columbia, Velvet Tone, Clarion, Harmony, Brunswick, Decca, Victor, MGM and National labels during this era, and features her 25 chart entries from these years, including the No. 1s “River Stay 'Way From My Door” and “When the Moon Comes Over The Mountain”, plus inspiring Top 10 wartime hits like “White Cliffs Of Dover”, and versions of hot new songs of the moment like “The Woodpecker Song”. She was highly versatile, able to give any kind of repertoire her personal touch, and this collection offers an enjoyable and enlightening showcase for her distinctive talent.
