That Bad Eartha
Encyclopedia
That Bad Eartha is a 1954 studio album
by Eartha Kitt
, her debut 12" vinyl album issued on the RCA Victor label. The album was recorded in four sessions between March and October 1953 with Henri Rene and His Orchestra.
Long-playing records
were newly introduced in the mid-1950s and the 10" album was briefly introduced as an album format. Within a few years the 12" album was the format offered to the record buying public, remaining so until the late-1980s when the Compact Disc became the favoured format. In May 1953 RCA had released a 10" vinyl album RCA Victor Introduces Eartha Kitt which featured 8 songs issued on this album. With the successful introduction of the 12" LP in the early 1950s RCA Victor expanded and re-issued the album with 12 tracks.
Several singles were issued from this album, "Under the Bridges of Paris" charted in the UK singles chart
in 1955 at #7.
Many of the songs recorded for this album, such as "C'est si bon", "Uska Dara" and "I Want to Be Evil" became closely associated with Eartha Kitt and were performed live by Eartha Kitt up until her one of her last concerts at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival
, shortly before her death in December 2008.
The complete album was re-issued on CD in 1994 as part of the Bear Family Records
five CD boxset Eartha - Quake, this included "Santa Baby
" and several other tracks from the same recording session not included in this album.
Side Two:
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt
Eartha Mae Kitt was an American singer, actress, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 hit recordings of "C'est Si Bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby." Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the...
, her debut 12" vinyl album issued on the RCA Victor label. The album was recorded in four sessions between March and October 1953 with Henri Rene and His Orchestra.
Long-playing records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
were newly introduced in the mid-1950s and the 10" album was briefly introduced as an album format. Within a few years the 12" album was the format offered to the record buying public, remaining so until the late-1980s when the Compact Disc became the favoured format. In May 1953 RCA had released a 10" vinyl album RCA Victor Introduces Eartha Kitt which featured 8 songs issued on this album. With the successful introduction of the 12" LP in the early 1950s RCA Victor expanded and re-issued the album with 12 tracks.
Several singles were issued from this album, "Under the Bridges of Paris" charted in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1955 at #7.
Many of the songs recorded for this album, such as "C'est si bon", "Uska Dara" and "I Want to Be Evil" became closely associated with Eartha Kitt and were performed live by Eartha Kitt up until her one of her last concerts at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Cheltenham Jazz Festival is one of the UK’s leading jazz festivals, and is part of Cheltenham Festivals: also responsible for the Science, Music and Literature Festivals that run every year.]-Introduction and history:...
, shortly before her death in December 2008.
The complete album was re-issued on CD in 1994 as part of the Bear Family Records
Bear Family Records
Bear Family Records is a Germany-based independent record label that specializes in reissues of archival material ranging from country music to 1950s rock and roll to old German movie soundtracks.-History:...
five CD boxset Eartha - Quake, this included "Santa Baby
Santa Baby
"Santa Baby" is a 1953 Christmas song written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer. Although Tony Springer is listed as co-writer, he was a legal fiction created for purposes of membership in the performing rights organization BMI.The song is a tongue-in-cheek look at a Christmas list sung by a...
" and several other tracks from the same recording session not included in this album.
Track listing
Side One:- "I Want to Be Evil" (Lester Judson, Raymond Taylor) - 3:31
- "C'est si bonC'est si bon"C'est si bon" is a popular song, sometimes also referred to by the English translation of the title, "It's So Good". The music was written in 1947 by Henri Betti, the French lyrics by André Hornez, and the English lyrics by Jerry Seelen...
" (Henri Betti, André Hornez, Jerry Seelen) - 2:58 - "Angelitos Negros" (Andrés Eloy BlancoAndrés Eloy BlancoAndrés Eloy Blanco Meaño was an important Venezuelan poet, politician, member of the Generación del 28, and one of the founders of Acción Democrática ....
, Manuel Alvarez Maciste) - 3:27 - "Avril au PortugalApril in Portugal (song)"April in Portugal" is a popular song, also named "The Whisp'ring Serenade." The music and lyrics were written by Raul Ferrão as a fado named "Coimbra", about the city of that name. In 1947. English lyrics written by Jimmy Kennedy were set to the music, though many of the most popular versions of...
(The Whispering Serenade)" (Raul Ferrão, Jimmy Kennedy) - 2:53 - "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love"Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love" is a popular song written in 1928 by Cole Porter. It was introduced in Porter's first Broadway success, the musical Paris by French chanteuse Irène Bordoni for whom Porter had written the musical as a starring vehicle...
" (Cole PorterCole PorterCole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
) - 3:04 - "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" (Cole Porter) - 3:01
Side Two:
- "Uska DaraUska DaraUska Dara is a 1953 song by Eartha Kitt. It is based on the Turkish folk song Kâtibim about a woman and her secretary traveling to Üsküdar. Eartha Kitt recorded it with Henri René and his orchestra at Manhattan Center, New York City, on March 13, 1953...
(A Turkish Tale)" (Traditional) - 3:08 - "African Lullaby" (William Greaves) - 2:52
- "Mountain High, Valley Low" (Bernie Hanighen, Raymond Scott) - 2:36
- "Lilac WineLilac Wine"Lilac Wine" is a song written by James Shelton in 1950. It was introduced by Hope Foye in the short-lived theater musical revue, "Dance Me a Song." It was covered by Eartha Kitt , by Judy Henske on her first, self-named album , by Nina Simone on her album Wild Is The Wind , was a solo hit by...
" (James Shelton) - 3:45 - "Under the Bridges of ParisUnder the Bridges of Paris"Under the Bridges of Paris" is a 1931 popular song with music written by Vincent Scotto, the original French lyrics by Jean Rodor, and English lyrics by Dorcas Cochran....
" (Vincent Scotto, Jean Rodor, Dorcas CochranDorcas CochranDorcas Cochran was an American lyricist and screenwriter. She is also referenced by her married name, Dorcas Cochran Jewell.-Biography:...
) - 2:41 - "Smoke Gets in Your EyesSmoke Gets in Your Eyes"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is a show tune written by American composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Otto Harbach for their 1933 operetta Roberta. It was originally recorded by Gertrude Niesen, on 13 October 1933 on the Victor label 24454. It was performed by Irene Dunne for the 1935 film adaptation,...
" (Jerome KernJerome KernJerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
, Otto HarbachOtto HarbachOtto Abels Harbach, born Otto Abels Hauerbach was an American lyricist and librettist of about 50 musical comedies...
) - 3:05