Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
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
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Seger Ellis, Composer
℗ 1954 Capitol Records, LLC
Harold Arlen, Composer - Edgar "Yip" Harburg, Author - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 Capitol Records, LLC
Richard Rodgers, ComposerLyricist - Lorenz Hart, ComposerLyricist - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 Capitol Records, LLC
Ned Washington, Composer - HOAGY CARMICHAEL, Composer - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 Capitol Records, LLC
Gene Roland, Composer - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1955 Capitol Records, LLC
Harold Arlen, ComposerLyricist - Ted Koehler, ComposerLyricist - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1955 Capitol Records, LLC
Sam M. Lewis, ComposerLyricist - Victor P. Young, ComposerLyricist - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 Capitol Records, LLC
Carl Fischer, ComposerLyricist - Frankie Laine, ComposerLyricist - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 Capitol Records, LLC
Bob Russell, Composer - Louis Alter, Composer - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 Capitol Records, LLC
Duke Ellington, ComposerLyricist - Irving Mills, ComposerLyricist - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Albany Bigard, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1954 Capitol Records, LLC
Bobby Troup, Composer - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1955 Capitol Records, LLC
Chet Forrest, ComposerLyricist - Bob Wright, ComposerLyricist - The Four Freshmen, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1952 Capitol Records, LLC
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
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:30:59
- Main artists: The Four Freshmen
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92)
- Genre: Jazz
© 1955 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 1955 Capitol Records, LLC
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.