AMG Review of Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter with Billy May

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This LP was taken from sessions in April 1959 on which Anita O'Day interprets Cole Porter songs while accompanied by some rather rambunctious big-band arrangements from Billy May. While her emotional range is wider than Ella Fitzgerald's (who had previously recorded her much better-known Cole Porter Songbook), O'Day's voice strangely does not sound as strong on the Billy May set as it does on the six bonus tracks, which are Cole Porter songs she recorded on other occasions (from 1952-1960). Still, the program does have its moments, with highlights including "I Get a Kick Out of You," "All of You," "It's Delovely," "You're the Top" and two versions of "Love for Sale."