Personnel: Nancy Wilson (vocals); Nancy Jo Wilson (vocals); Dick Garcia, Bobby Gibbons, Herb Ellis, Al Hendrickson (guitar); Ann Mason Stockton, Catherine Gotthoffer (harp); Gerald Vinci, Mischa Russell, James Getzoff, Thelma Beach, Felix Slatkin, Benny Gill, Jacques Gasselin, Lou Raderman, Ambrose Russo, Albert Steinberg, Edward Bergman, Dan Lube, Marshall Sosson, Israel Baker, Bonnie Douglas, Paul Shure, Eleanor Slatkin, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein, Samuel Boghossian (violin); Sanford Schonbach, Paul Robyn, Stanley Harris, Alvin Dinkin, Allan Harshman, Virginia Majewski (viola); George Poole, Ann Goodman, Nino Rosso, David Pratt, Armand Karpoff, Williams Vandenberg, Edgar Lustgarten (cello); Fred Haller, Bob Davis & Rhythm Jesters (clarinet, alto saxophone); Butch Stone (clarinet, baritone saxophone); Bill Green , Benny Carter (reeds, saxophone); Bob Richards, Jules Jacobs, Jules Jacob, Bill Ulyate, William McLeish Smith, William Calkins, Bill Perkins, Buddy Collette (reeds); Harry Klee, Plas Johnson , Willie Smith, Justin Gordon, Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt, Wilbur Schwartz (saxophone); Jimmy Woods, Joe Maini (alto saxophone); Harold Land, Abe Aaron, Teddy Edwards (tenor saxophone); Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Clyde Reasinger, Uan Rasey, Bobby Clark , Don Smith , Jules Vogel, Jules Chaikin, Freddie Hill, Harry "Sweets" Edison , Carmell Jones, Mickey McMahan, Jimmy Salko, Joe Graves, Al Porcino, Pete Candoli, Ray Triscari, John Audino, Tony Terran, Bobby Bryant (trumpet); James A. Decker, Arthur Frantz, Richard Perissi, Vincent DeRosa (French horn); Milt Bernhart, Chuck Cooper, Dick Noel, Richard Taylor "Dick" Nash , William Schaefer, Don Switzer, Lew McReary, Pullman Pederson, Eddie Kusby, Vern Friley, Ronald Smith , John Ewing , Miles Anderson, Kenny Shroyer, Bob Edmondson, Lester Robertson (trombone); Stumpy Brown (bass trombone, tuba); Jim E. Hill (bass trombone); Red Callender (tuba); Jack Wilson (piano, celesta); George Shearing, Jimmy Jones , Milt Raskin (piano); Eddie Costa (vibraphone); Chuck Berghofer, Jimmy Bond, Ralph Pena, Sam Jones (bass instrument); Carol Kaye (electric bass, bass guitar); Buster Williams (bass guitar); Nick Ceroli, Stan Levey, Walter Bolden (drums); John Collins, Howard Roberts , Joe Pass, Mundell Lowe, Bob Bain (guitar); Chuck Gentry (reeds, saxophone); Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone); Don Fagerquist (trumpet); Nat Adderley (cornet); Donn Trenner (piano, harpsichord); Joe Zawinul, Ronnell Bright (piano); Mike Melvoin (organ); Earl Palmer , Louis Hayes, Shelly Manne, Kenny Dennis (drums); Victor Feldman, Gene Estes, Larry Bunker (percussion).
Liner Note Author: Billy Vera.
Recording information: Capitol Studios, New York, NY (12/05/1959-05/15/1968); The Cocoanut Grove, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, CA (12/05/1959-05/15/1968).
Photographers: George Jerman; Ken Veeder.
Arrangers: Gerald Wilson; Jimmy Jones ; Billy May.
Heaps of gratitude should go to Capitol Jazz for putting together their line of 2005 Nancy Wilson compilations. SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR ME: NANCY WILSON SINGS GREAT BLUES BALLADS may be the finest of the lot, as Wilson's silky timbre and highly nuanced delivery are perfectly suited to the blues form. The selections presented here date from the late-'50s to the late-'60s, and find Wilson at the very height of her vocal prowess.
The title track, one of the singer's finest moments, features the Cannonball Adderley Quintet, with Cannonball and Nat Adderley in dialogue--on saxophone and cornet, respectively--and with Wilson's sultry phrasing throughout. There are a handful of other small combo dates (including one with George Shearing) interspersed with more orchestral settings, but even in the largest ensembles Wilson's subtlety and sense of intimacy never waver (the string-sweetened "Don't Go To Strangers" is a case in point). In short, this is quintessential Nancy Wilson, and a sure-fire winner for even the most casual fan.
Professional Reviews
Mojo (Publisher) (p.122) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "This superb compilation makes it clear that Nancy was everything the love child of Jimmy Scott and Dinah Washington should have been, and more."
