Personnel: Manny Klein (trumpet); Buddy Cole (piano, organ).

Audio Remasterer: Simon Haram.

Recording information: Los Angeles, CA (1950-1953).

Unknown Contributor Roles: Bill Loose & His Orchestra; Artie Beck & His Orchestra; Ray Sinatra & His Orchestra; Johnny Burt & His Orchestra; Dave Cavanaugh & His Orchestra; Jerry Gray & His Orchestra; Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra; Billy May & His Orchestra; Buddy Cole & His Orchestra.

Arrangers: Nelson Riddle; Billy May; Paul Weston; Buddy Kaye.

Gisele MacKenzie was a prominent radio star in Toronto during the late '40s, and her sweet, empathizing vocals did for Canadian audiences what Jo Stafford did for the Americans and what Kate Smith did for the Brits. Hired by Bob Crosby in 1951 for her first American gig, she soon began recording in Hollywood with Billy May, Dave Cavanaugh, and Nelson Riddle, charting several hits during 1952-1953. The Living Era collection Canada's First Lady of Song begins with four unreleased performances from her Toronto days before hitting the American recordings -- though she occasionally continued to record the type of material ("Jolie Jacqueline," "The Toorie on His Bonnet") capable of attracting Canadian audiences more than American. Her closest competitor was indeed Jo Stafford, but although she never flourished with uptempo or novelty material, fortunately this disc includes two of her best performances: a pair of duets with Helen O'Connell that rank alongside "Orange-Colored Sky" and "Music! Music! Music!" as the most sparkling sides of the immediate postwar era. Also included are MacKenzie's hits up to 1952, including her version of "Adios" (assisted by Buddy Cole), a rather wooden performance of "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" (her biggest hit), and the O'Connell duet "Water Can't Quench the Fire of Love." ~ John Bush