Miss Bette Davis by Bette Davis (CD, Sep-2003, DRG USA)

Yes, this is the real Bette Davis who is singing! As any of her ardent fans know, Bette Davis wasn't a singer, even in the slightest. However, even she could talk-sing her way through terrifically exciting numbers. Most exceptionally, the 1st one on this CD: "They're either too young or too old."
A little history may help explain how she got away with talk-singing, so effectively well.

During WWII, Davis ran a nightclub for GI's on leave, where they could gather to mingle with Hollywood's bright stars, who were doing this for the war effort charity. Bette Davis was at the absolute height of her 60 year film career. Therefore, when the film about the Hollywood Canteen, "Thank Your Lucky Stars," was made, Davis was given the full star treatment. Her number is the sensation of the film. That number is "They're either too young or too old," which she is singing to the GIs overseas, while mingling in a faux bar scene with men who are either too young for her or to old. It was her way of saying to the soldiers away from home that she wasn't settling for anyone but them. It was a message many a GI needed to hear.

Davis didn't need to have a voice like Streisand to talk-sing her way through this number because she's acting out the sentiments of the song in such a way that, as usual, she steals the show. The rest of the 10 tracks don't have as much of a significant history, but look deeply and you'll find it in each number.

1) Overture & They're Either Too Young Or Too Old (from Warner Bros. film
"Thank You Lucky Stars")
2) Life is a Lonely Thing
3) Until it's Time to Go
4) Growing Older, Feeling Younger
5) It Can't Be Wrong (from Warner Bros. flim "Now, Voyager" starring Davis)
6) Loneliness
7) Mother of the Bride
8) Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (from 20th Century-Fox film "Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte" starring Davis & de Haviland)
9) As Margo Channing (Dialogue from the car scene in "All About Eve" 14 Oscar nominee starring Davis, Merrill, Sanders & Baxter)
10) More from 20th Century-Fox film "All About Eve"
11) I Wish You Love

All of the vocals are by Bette Davis (1908-1989). The arranger & conductor is Roger Webb. The album was recorded in 1976, in London, England. Any collector of Davis' work should find this a treasure~