Jazz singer Lee Wiley (1910-1975) pioneered the concept of recording albums of songs that shared a common composer or theme.
Those albums began appearing in the late 1930s as sets of four 10-inch 78 r.p.m. records. Wiley recorded sets devoted to the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, and Harold Arlen. In the '40s Wiley performed with the big band of pianist Jess Stacy (to whom she was married for a time) and with small groups organized by guitarist Eddie Condon.
In 1950, Wiley signed with Columbia, where she recorded what many consider to be her best album, Night in Manhattan, backed by a group that included trumpeter Bobby Hackett and pianist Joe Bushkin. The LP was first issued as a 10-incher with the cover pictured at the top of this post.
Four additional tracks were made available for the 12-inch release, which had this cover.
In 1995, Columbia Special Products reissued the LP on cassette and CD with the cover below.
Here's a track taken from the cassette version of the 1995 re-release.
I've Got a Crush on You
There are numerous options for obtaining on CD or via downloads the songs that Lee Wiley recorded for the Night in Manhattan sessions. Most of them are listed here.
And here's Wiley with the song that set the mood for Night in Manhattan.
The most memorable event I have found.
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