Morgana King - Higher Ground (1980) [vinyl>flac]

Morgana King (born June 4, 1930) is an American jazz singer and actress. King was born Maria Grazia Morgana Messina in Pleasantville, New York. Her parents were from Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, Province of Catania, Sicily, Italy. She grew up in New York City. At age 16 she developed a love for big bands and as a result of her exposure she began a professional singing career along with receiving a scholarship to the Metropolitan School of Music. Historically when she sang in a Greenwich Village nightclub in 1953, a record label executive took interest after being impressed with the unique phrasing and multi-octave range. Three years later in 1956, her first album, For You, For Me, For Evermore, was released. In 1977 she signed up with Muse Records producing nine albums in all. Higher Ground is Morgana's third LP on Muse. As with her previous LP's King surrounds herself with a bunch of fine musicians and sets about interpreting a broad range of tunes of both pop and jazz standard derivation. Overall a fine outing for a great songstress, Enjoy!

Muse Records, MR 5224, 1980

Recorded 16^th May, 1979 At CI Recording Studio, New York City

Personnel:

Morgana King - Vocals

Ben Aronov - Piano

Jack Wilkins - Guitar

Art Koenig - Bass

Eddie Caccavale - Drums

Ray Mantilla - Percussion

Tracks:

A1. Feel Like Flying {Gino Vanelli} (4:04)

Medley (5:01)

A2a. The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else {Isham Jones, Gus Kahn}

A2b. You're Driving Me Crazy {Walter Donaldson}

A3. What Is This Thing Called Love {Cole Porter} (3:53)

A4. You Can't Hide Love {Skip Scarborough} (3:33)

B1. Higher Ground {Stevie Wonder} (3:50)

B2. The Long And Winding Road, Golden Slumbers {Paul McCartney, John Lennon} (3:20)

B3. You Stepped Out Of A Dream {Gus Kahn, Nacio Herb Brown} (4:42)

Medley (5:12)

B4a. When I Fall In Love {Victor Young, Edward Heyman}

B4b. Teach Me Tonight {Gene DePaul, Sammy Cahn}

Credits:

Producer - Mitch Farber

Recording Engineer - Chuck Irwin

Mastering Engineer - Joe Brescio (The Master Cutting Room, NYC)

Photography, Cover Design - Bobi Pierce

Liner Notes - Joe Fields