Helen O'Connell
Helen O'Connell, who had a fairly long career, will always be best remembered for her squeals on "Green Eyes" and her work with Jimmy Dorsey. She originally left her native Toledo with Jimmy Richards' nine-piece group, gigging and touring for a year and a half. O'Connell appeared on a regular radio show in St. Louis until she agreed to tour with Larry Funk's band (which was billed as "Band of a Thousand Melodies"). After the outfit started working in New York, she was discovered and quickly signed up by Jimmy Dorsey in 1938. O'Connell soon had a hit rendition of "All of Me," which was followed by popular recordings of "Embraceable You," "Brazil," "Jim." and "When the Sun Comes Out" (which she introduced). However, it was in December 1940, when she started sharing recordings with ballad singer Bob Eberly, that O'Connell for a time became a household name. Eberly generally took a slow chorus, Jimmy Dorsey would have a brief instrumental interlude, and then O'Connell would finish up the record with a swinging chorus. This combination worked very well on hit versions of "Amapola," "Yours," "Green Eyes" and "Tangerine." After appearing in the 1943 movie I Dood It with Dorsey (singing "Star Eyes"), O'Connell retired to get married; she would eventually have four daughters. In 1950 she began a successful solo career, making occasional records, appearing regularly on television (she spent a period as co-host of The Today Show), toured as part of Four Girls Four (which also included Kay Starr, Rosemary Clooney and Rose Marie) and made guest appearances with the Jimmy Dorsey ghost band, singing in an unchanged style. Although her voice was limited, she made her deficiencies into assets and carved out her own place in musical history. Helen O'Connell was active up until shortly before her death from cancer.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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The Sweetest Sounds
Vocal Jazz - Released by Hindsight Records on 1/01/1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best Of
Helen O'Connell, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Master Classics Records on 1/01/2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Woman's Prerogative
Helen O'Connell, Helaine Delys
Vocal Jazz - Released by Audiophile on 5/03/2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Long Last Look
Jazz - Released by Jasmine Records on 12/02/2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Great Girl Singers - 22 Original Hits - The Essential Series
Rosemary Clooney, June Christy, Helen O'Connell
Jazz - Released by Hindsight Records on 27/06/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Green Eyes (Bonus Track Version)
Vocal Jazz - Released by Fly Me to the Moon on 15/01/2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Circle on 5/12/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (Remastered)
Pop - Released by Master Tape Records on 17/07/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Bye Bye Blues
Pop - Released by Platin Classics Music on 26/05/2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
You Made Me Love You
Helen O'Connell, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Flare Records on 22/11/2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It's All Yours - 1939-1942
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Flare Records on 26/02/2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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An Era Reborn
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Margate Copyright on 1/01/2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of Helen O'Connell
Pop - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 13/04/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Bye Bye Blues
Jazz - Released by Black & Partner Licenses LLC on 26/05/2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Nearness Of You
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Past Classics Jazz on 6/06/2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo