Voices In Modern

Album review

Although the Four Freshmen had been on the label's roster for five years, Voices in Modern (1955) was the quartet's first Capitol Records EP. As was standard operating procedure during the seminal days of the 10" EP -- which ultimately evolved into the 12" LP -- the contents of this album were gathered from material previously available on various 45s. So in a sense, their long-playing debut was a retrospective of sorts, spanning over two-and-a-half years. During that time the original lineup of Bob Flanigan, Ross Barbour, Don Barbour, and Hal Kratzsch underwent the first of many personnel adjustments as Kratzsch was replaced by Ken Errair in the late spring of 1953. Only the singles "It's a Blue World" and "Stormy Weather" from the premier incarnation can be found here. Otherwise the Errair era foursome are heard covering a fairly broad spectrum of typical Great American Songbook selections and a title or two that would become inextricably linked to the combo. The latter category includes the likes of Gene Roland's emphatic Caribbean-flavored "Holiday" as well as "After You" -- a holdover from the Pastels, a vocal group that worked with the Stan Kenton Band predating the Freshmen. While the remainder of the tunes may have been around the block a few times, what truly sets them in a class all their own are the fresh and yes, modern approaches given to the time-honored standards "My Heart Stood Still" and a pair of Harold Arlen co-penned entries, "Stormy Weather" and particularly "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." The stunning arrangement coupled with the palpable empathy combine for an indescribably moving interpretation. To similar effect, the Duke Ellington classic "Mood Indigo" has rarely evoked such a striking and singular blend. Collectors' Choice Music issued the dozen-song LP version of Voices in Modern with the mid-'60s Funny How Time Slips Away (1965) -- making both available after being out of print for decades.

© Lindsay Planer /TiVo