Little Miss Dynamite [Bear Family] [Box]

Performer: Brenda Lee
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Recorded between 1956 and March 1962. Five hours of pure gold on four CDs, covering the 127 songs that Brenda Lee recorded during the years 1956 through 1962, with the added allure of an 84-page hardcover book. What's more, there's hardly a second-rate song or performance here, and Lee's singing style evolved so far that there are surprises throughout. Her early rockabilly sides are among the best in the field, and Disc One covers her evolution from country-rockin' teen rockabilly queen to an astonishingly precocious pop star with rock roots. Even Lee's early sides, whether hot rockabilly or slow ballads, are all intense experiences -- there's just something eerily compelling about 12-year-old Brenda Lee delivering "Your Cheatin' Heart" and sounding like she means all of the yearning and torment behind it. By 1957, her voice and her style had evolved more toward mainstream pop, virtually paralleling Elvis Presley's musical moves of the same era, but, like Elvis, Lee occasionally burst out with hard-rocking sides as late as 1959. Disc Two shows off Lee's mid-teen years, when she was doing pop standards that shouldn't have worked with anyone less than 30, but making them pay off -- her hot, raspy voice made even her pop stuff work better than Elvis's and outclassed the work of any other female singer who made that same jump to mainstream music. Disc Three may be the best of the four here, her rock sides alternating with equally compelling pop performances. Much of Disc Four is on the softer side, but even here she comes up with exciting pop/rock songs. By this time, she was nearing 18 years old, and already had a catalog of recordings behind her that would have been the envy of any veteran. As usual with Bear Family, the book is as fascinating as the music. ~ Bruce Eder In the late '50s, rock & roll was growing desperate for fresh blood. Elvis was in the army, Little Richard had returned to the church, and both Jerry Lee and Chuck Berry had fallen from grace, replaced by such banal pop stars as Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka. One voice, however, rose above the dross to provide the world with a much-needed adrenaline infusion. That voice belonged to Little Miss Dynamite, the diminutive Brenda Lee. For much of the early '60s, Lee peppered the charts with a mix of high-octane rockers and epic ballads, all masterfully produced by Owen Bradley (best known for his work with Patsy Cline). Bear Family's four-disc LITTLE MISS DYNAMITE collects every Lee studio recording from this period (1957-1962). The size and thoroughness of this collection is aimed primarily at hardcore fans, and such fans will not be disappointed by this set. The music, from the 18 A-side hits to the B-sides and album tracks to unreleased throwaways, is consistently excellent, as is Bear Family's always-impeccable mastering and packaging. As an added bonus, the set comes with an 84-page hardcover book crammed with rare photos.

With over 100,000,000 records sold, Brenda Lee resides in the pantheon of most successful recording artists of all time, right up there with Elvis Presley, who was an early supporter. Her precocious talent, grown-up voice, and passionate stage performances earned her the nickname Little Miss Dynamite as a million-selling teenage recording artist. When the British Invasion of the early '60s put a halt to the careers of many performers of the previous decade, Lee made an ultimately successful return to her country roots.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25