It seems as if each major city has its great jazz singers. Kansas City in the 1990s is blessed with at least three: Kevin Mahogany, Karrin Allyson and the least-known, Angela Hagenbach. On her debut CD, Hagenbach (who has an immediately appealing voice) goes out of her way to show off her versatility. Although all 13 songs she interprets are standards, the treatments are sometimes unusual. To name a few examples, "Tenderly" is mostly taken doubletime, "Lazy Afternoon" is made funky, "'Round Midnight" becomes a duet with bassist Bob Bowman, a sensitive but not predictable "Lush Life" finds Hagenbach just backed by Joe Cartwright's piano and two numbers feature her singing in Portuguese. There are other highlights (particularly the excellent solos of Kim Park on tenor, alto and flute) but the main quality that sticks in one's mind after hearing this recording is an appreciation of Angela Hagenbach's willingness to take chances. This is a strong beginning to what should be a very productive career. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Bob Bowman (Bass (Acoustic)), Bob Bowman (Musician), Joe Cartwright (Synthesizer), Joe Cartwright (Piano), Joe Cartwright (Producer), Joe Cartwright (Musician), Danny Embrey (Guitar), Danny Embrey (Producer), Danny Embrey (Musician), James Jeffley (Bass (Electric)), James Jeffley (Musician), Kim Park (Flute), Kim Park (Sax (Alto)), Kim Park (Sax (Tenor)), Kim Park (Musician), Todd Strait (Drums), Todd Strait (Musician), Ron Ubel (Engineer), Ron Ubel (Mixing), Russ Long (Piano), Russ Long (Musician), Gerald Spaits (Bass (Acoustic)), Gerald Spaits (Musician), Greg Whitfield (Bass (Electric)), Greg Whitfield (Musician), Angela Hagenbach (Percussion), Angela Hagenbach (Vocals), Angela Hagenbach (Main Performer), Angela Hagenbach (Musician), Doug Auwarter (Percussion), Doug Auwarter (Drums), Doug Auwarter (Musician), John Blank (Engineer), John Blank (Mixing), Dan White (Photography), Gary Helm (Percussion), Gary Helm (Musician), Ray DeMarchi (Drums), Ray DeMarchi (Musician)
Sinatra's first collaboration with arranger/conductor Billy May, Come Fly With Me was designed as a musical trip around the world. Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen wrote the title track at Sinatra's request[2].
In his autobiographyAll You Need is Ears, famed producer George Martin writes of having visited the Capitol Tower during the recording sessions for the album. According to Martin's book, Sinatra expressed intense dislike for the album cover upon being first shown a mock-up, suggesting it looked like an advertisement for TWA.
Though recorded in true stereo, "Come Fly With Me" was released to record stores in 1958 in monaural only; a standard practice by Capitol records at the time. The label finally released the stereo version in 1962. The differences between the 1958 monaural and subsequent 1962 stereo recording of "Come Fly With Me" are striking. The 1958 mono recording contains a depth and warmth, most especially in specific string and brass sections, which is lacking in the stereo remix of the album relased by Capitol as SW-920 in 1962. The original mono recording from 1958 is now all but lost to history, except for original Grey Capitol Label copies, labeled W-920, and some CD compilations. Capitol CD and remastered series (1992 and 1998 respectively) reproduce only the 1962 stereo version.
