The Peggy Lee Bio-Discography And Videography:
Decca Anthologies And Hits Packages
by Iván Santiago-Mercado

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Scope And Contents

This page focuses on Peggy Lee anthologies which meet the following criteria: (a) they contain primarily Decca masters and (b) they qualify as either official or licensed releases. An official issue is one made by the company that owns the masters, or by a branch of that company. In this case (and taking into account name changes over the years or across continents), the official companies are Decca, MCA, Universal, Brunswick, Ariel, and Vocalion. Also qualifying as legitimate releases are those by record labels that have paid a fee (to either MCA or Universal) for the right to use Decca tracks. Two such licensing labels are Jazz Heritage and Laserlight. Other labels walk a thinner line. In their earlier years, companies such as Blue Moon, Castle, and Music Club did license tracks from MCA and Universal, but in later years some of them opted to take the "Public Domain" route.

As for my organization of this page, I begin by recommending the anthologies that strike me as above average (section I). The rest of the page is organized by the anthologies' country or origin, starting with the United States (sections II to IV) and proceeding to the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Australasia, and Japan (sections V to IX). I should also mention that my goal is to make the present gallery of album covers as complete as possible. Currently, tracking down Japanese anthologies is proving particularly difficult. I would appreciate receiving missing album scans from fellow fans and kind souls. (Clicking my name -- above, in blue -- will give you access to my email address.)

I. RECOMMENDATIONS





Artwork Shown:

1. Title: Black Coffee And Other Delights; The Decca Anthology / Format: CS & CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: 2 11122 / Rel. Year: 1994 / Discs: 2 / Tracks: 46 / Note: One of two Decca anthologies that are indispensable for Peggy Lee completists, Black Coffee And Other Delights samples extensively from Peggy Lee's entire five-year tenure with Decca Records (1952-1956). Includes many album cuts, the main hit singles, some less well-known singles, and even one previously unissued cut ("I Still Get A Thrill"). Produced by Andy McKaie. Compiled by Tony Natelli. Digitally remastered by Erick Labson. Liner notes by Jim Lowe. The other indispensable compilation is discussed immediately below.

2. Title: Classics & Collectibles / Format: CD / Label: Universal Music Group / Cat. Num.: (England) 1130342 / Rel. Year: 2003 / Discs: 2 / Tracks: 52 / Note: One of two Decca anthologies that are indispensable for Peggy Lee completists, Classics And Collectibles concentrates on singles and rarities. The set contains all of Peggy Lee's Decca numbers that had never digitized before 2003, including one previously unissued track ("It's Because We're In Love") and excepting one track that is now deemed permanently lost). Also included in this set is the master -- and superior -- take of "Johnny Guitar." (As fate would have it, this "Johnny Guitar" master has rarely been issued on CD. Most compact discs have used an alternate take instead.) Although Classics & Collectibles officially contains 52 tracks, some of its early pressings mistakenly feature only 50. Missing are "Bella Notte" and the medley of "Peace On Earth/Silent Night." Prospective buyers are thus advised to ask vendors about the number of tracks in any copy for sale. It should also be noted that grievous errors were made in the case of two masters that feature doubletracked vocals: "The Siamese Cat Song" and "Sisters." Peggy Lee overdubbed her voice, singing two characters, for both of those tracks, yet only one of the two voices is heard in this set's transfer. Furthermore, the set's new mix for the song "How Strange" is vastly inferior to the one heard in the original vinyl. Leaving those three engineering flaws aside, the set is excellent. With its inclusion of just about every rarity from the singer's Decca contract, it filled what used to be a huge gap in Peggy Lee's CD catalogue. Compiled by Jim Pierson. Mastered by Gary Moore at the Universal Digital Mastering Studio. Lines notes by David Torresen. As for duplication between this set and item #1, about a dozen songs are heard in both sets -- thus leaving over 30 numbers that are exclusive to each set.





Artwork Shown:

3. Title: A Woman Alone With The Blues / Format: CD / Label: Blue Moon / Cat. Num.: (Spain) Bmcd 3034 / Rel. Year: 1997 / Tracks: 18 / Note: Releases from the Spanish label Blue Moon generally have very good sound quality, and this one is no exception. All 18 tracks date back to Peggy Lee's first two years with Decca Records (1952-1954). Includes all four masters from her debut Decca session, along with two of her best-known self-penned numbers ("Johnny Guitar," "Where Can I Go Without You?"), a couple of seldom released treats ("Bouquet Of Blues," "That's Him Over There"), and six of the eight numbers from the 10" LP edition of Black Coffee.

4. Title: Love Songs / Format: CD / Label: Universal Music Group / Cat. Num.: 0881131002 / Rel. Year: 2003 / Tracks: 14 / Note: This topical collection has above-average sound quality and a track listing noteworthy for its variety. Each of the years that Lee spent at Decca (1952-1956) is represented. Some of the selections are among her rarer Decca masters ("Love You So," "The Night Holds No Fear"), and most of her original Decca albums are sampled, too.

II. THE SEMINAL DECCA ANTHOLOGY





Artwork Shown:

1 & 2. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee / Format: LP / Label: Decca / Cat. Num.: Dxb 164 (4024-4025) / Rel. Year: 1960 / Pieces: 2 / Tracks: 24 / Note: This gatefold album was the original edition of a much reissued album. Due to its extensive reissue history in and outside of the United States, this Best Of Peggy Lee was probably the introduction to Peggy Lee's catalogue for many casual listeners from the LP era. Includes lengthy notes by Leonard Feather and various small color photos of Peggy Lee in performance.

3. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee / Format: LP / Label: Decca / Cat. Num.: Dxsb 7 164 (4024-4025); also Dl 7 4024 / Rel. Year: 1966 / Pieces: 2 / Tracks: 24 / Note: Stereo "enhanced" (electronically channelled) LP. The 1966 date is taken from music guides and discographical sources. Notice that the stereo album's cover differs from the 1960 mono one in the addition of an horizontal blue stripe at the top. That blue stripe recurs in the subsequent editions of the album that are discussed below.





Artwork Shown:

4. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee / Format: LP & CS / Label: Mca / Cat. Num.: 2 4049 / Rel. Year: 1980; also 1982 / Pieces: 2 / Tracks: 24 / Note: Mca reissue of the original 1960 album. I own a copy of of 2-4049 in the cassette format. The cassette itself has a 1989 copyright date, whereas the front cover bears a 1982 copyright date. Presumably, the dual dating means that MCA first reissued this album edition, identified as 2-4049, in 1989, and then re-pressed it again in 1982. There is reason to cast doubt about the accuracy of both dates; one owner of the LP edition reports that it bears a 1980 date but that he remembers buying it in the 1970s. If his recollection is correct, we would need to assume that MCA made a couple numerical typos in their printed 1980 and 1982 dates.

5. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee / Format: LP / Label: Mca / Cat. Num.: unknown / Rel. Year: unknown / Tracks: 24 / Pieces: 2 / Tracks: 24 / Note: Unlike the earlier editions of the album, this is not a gatefold LP. Instead, the 2 LPs are encased inside the same album jacket. Feather's liner notes and the aforementioned photos are missing.

6. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee / Format: LP / Label: Ariel / Cat. Num.: (Argentina) 4012 / Pieces: 2 / Rel. Year: unknown / Tracks: unknown

7. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee / Format: LP / Label: Brunswick / Cat. Num.: (Germany) 87056 Lpbm / Rel. Year: 1961 / Tracks: 12 / Note: Abbreviated German edition of the American Decca LP. Ten of the twelve songs are among the 24 found in the original LP. This German album adds "Let Me Go, Lover!" and "Johnny Guitar."





Artwork Shown:

8. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee, Volume 1 / Format: LP / Label: Brunswick / Cat. Num.: (England) Lat 8355 / Rel. Year: 1961 / Tracks: 10 / Note: In England, the album under discussion was originally released in two separate volumes. Moreover, it was abbreviated, featuring 10 instead of 12 songs per LP. Still further, there were alterations to the track listing. Of the 10 songs included, only 8 were also found in the American edition of the album; the other 2 were new additions ("He's A Tramp," "I've Got You Under My Skin").

9. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee, Volume 2 / Format: LP / Label: Brunswick / Cat. Num.: (England) Lat 8356 / Rel. Year: 1961 / Tracks: 10 / Note: Every single comment found in the note to Brunswick's first volume (item #8) applies to volume 2, including the substitution of a couple of songs. The added songs were "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and "Just One Of Those Things."

10. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee, Volume 1 / Format: LP / Label: Coral / Cat. Num.: (England) Cp 25 and Cps 25 / Rel. Year: 1970 / Tracks: 12 / Note: Just as Brunswick had done earlier, Coral split the original album into two separately sold volumes. Curiously, however, Coral did not use Brunswick's track listing, but reverted instead to the 24 numbers found in the American version. These Coral albums were released in both mono (catalogue number Cp) and fake stereo (catalogue number Cps). Seen in this page is volume one (cat. num. 37) only. I have not included a picture for volume 2 (cat. num. 27) herein because, aside from the volume identification, the two front covers are identical. (In the image above, the identification "volume 1" can be seen in very small lettering right under the title of the album.)

11. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee, Volume 1 / Format: LP / Label: Coral / Cat. Num.: (England) Cp 1075 and Cps 1075 / Rel. Year: 1974 / Tracks: 12 / Note: Every single point made in the note to the 1970 Coral edition (#10) applies to this Coral reissue, too. (The catalogue number for volume 2 is 1084.) Notice that the two editions are dated only 4 years apart. If those release dates (obstained from music guides) are correct, such a short span between issue and reissue could be an indication of healthy sales.





Artwork Shown:

12 & 13. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee / Format: LP & CS / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (England) Mcml 1632 & Mclc 1632 / Tracks: 16 / Rel. Year: 1981 / Note: This issue combines 11 tracks from the original 24-song The Best Of Peggy Lee American LP with the 4 tracks that were added to the Brunswick LPs. For good measure, there is also one track that is brand new to the collection, "Easy Living."

14. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee ("Golden Greats" Series) / Format: LP & CS / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (England) Mcm 5010 & Mclc 5010 / Tracks: 16 / Rel. Year: 1985 / Note: Reissue of items #12 & #13.

15. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee ("Golden Greats" Series) / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (England) Mcld 19123 / Tracks: 16 / Rel. Year: 1991 / Note: CD reissue of item #14.





Artwork Shown:

16. Title: Lover ("Golden Aces" Series) / Format: LP / Label: Brunswick / Cat. Num.: (The Netherlands) Dz 177 001 / Rel. Year: unknown / Tracks: 12 / Note: Contains 10 of the 12 tracks from the first of the two LPs in the original American release (item #1 above). The newly added tracks are "He's A Tramp" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" (just as in tiem #8).

III. LP COMPILATIONS FROM DECCA'S BRANCHES





Artwork Shown:

1. Title: Crazy In The Heart / Format: LP / Label: Vocalion / Cat. Num.: Vl 7 3903 / Rel. Year: 1970 / Tracks: 10 / Note: Half of the tracks are from the album Black Coffee, the other half from the album Miss Wonderful -- a fact that is not acknowledged anywhere in this compilation from Decca's budget branch Vocalion. Simulated stereo.

2. Title: Then And Now / Format: LP / Label: MCA Special Markets & Kapp / Cat. Num.: 734728 / Rel. Year: 1970 / Tracks: 10 / Note: This compilaton contains five Peggy Lee tracks on one side, five Jack Jones tracks on the other side. It is one of 3 LPs similarly devised by MCA Special Markets, in cooperation with other record labels. (One of the other LPs feature The Supremes and Neil Diamond, another Roger Williams and Bert Kaempfert.) Though they often ended up at used record stores, all three albums were originally intended as in-store promotional items for the Colgate-Palmolive company. After accumulating 4 of the coupons found in the boxes and containers of the company's products, a customer could exchange the coupons for a LP of their choice (out of those three) at participating supermarkets and drug chains.

IV. CDS RELEASED IN THE USA





Artwork Shown:

1. Title: Black Coffee And Other Delights; The Decca Anthology / Format: CS & CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: 2 11122 / Rel. Year: 1994 / Discs: 2 / Tracks: 46 / Note: Recommended issue, see note in this page's section I.

2 & 3. Title: Black Coffee And Other Delights; The Decca Anthology / Format: CD & CS / Label: Jazz Heritage Society / Cat. Num.: 524865 M / Rel. Year: 1997 Pieces: 2 / Tracks: 46





Artwork Shown:

4. Title: The Best Of The Decca Years / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: Mcad 11571 / Rel. Year: 1997 / Tracks: 16 / Note: Produced by Andy Mckaie. Compilation and track-by-track credits by Jim Pierson. Digitally remastered by Paul Elmore. Liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo. First CD release of "It Must Be So." First release of the duet "The Possibilitiy's There" on a CD by Lee (it had previously appeared only on a couple of Crosby issues).

5. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee; The Millenium Collection ("20th Century Masters" Series) / Format: CD / Label: Universal Music Group / Cat. Num.: 112866 / Rel. Year: 2002 / Tracks: 12 / Note: Compiled and produced by Andy McKaie. Production coordination by Beth Stempel. Digital remastered by Erick Labson. Liner notes by David Torresen. Includes all the best-known recordings from Lee's Decca years, from "Lover" and "Mr. Wonderful" to "Black Coffee" and "Johnny Guitar."

6. Title: Love Songs / Format: CD / Label: Universal Music Group / Cat. Num.: 0881131002 / Rel. Year: 2003 / Tracks: 14 / Note: Above-average sound quality and a track listing noteworthy for its variety. Each of the years that Lee spent at Decca (1952-1956) is represented. Some of the selections are among her rarer Decca masters ("Love You So," "The Night Holds No Fear"), and most of her original Decca albums are sampled. Recommended CD.





Artwork Shown:

7. Title: Miss Peggy Lee ("Some Of The Best" Series) / Format: CD / Label: LaserLight / Cat. Num.: 12641 / Rel. Year: 1996 / Tracks: 13 / Note: Seven of the 13 tracks in this anthology were licensed from Decca. Also included are 6 non-Decca tracks, two from her big band years with The Benny Goodman Orchestra, one a MacGregor transcription recording, and the other three Lee renditions from episodes of Bing Crosby's radio show,

8. Title: Miss Peggy Lee ("More Of The Best" Series) / Format: CD / Label: LaserLight / Cat. Num.: 12642 / Rel. Year: 1996 / Tracks: 12 / Note: Half of the 12 tracks in this anthology were licensed from Decca. Of the non-Decca tracks, three are transcription recordings, one is a Capitol master, and two are Lee renditions from episodes of Bing Crosby's radio show.

V. UK RELEASES





Artwork Shown:

1. Title: 'perfect-lee' / Format: CS & LP & CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (England) Mclc 1794 & Mcl 1794 & Dmcl 1794 / Rel. Year: 1984 & 1989 [CD] / Tracks: 16

2. Title: Classics & Collectibles / Format: CD / Label: Universal Music Group / Cat. Num.: (England) 1130342 / Rel. Year: 2003 / Discs: 2 / Tracks: 52 / Note: Recommended issue, see note in this page's section I.





Artwork Shown:

3. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee, 1952-1956 / Format: CS & CD / Label: Music Club / Cat. Num.: (England) Mctc 157 & Mccd 157 / Rel. Year: 1994 / Tracks: 18 / Note: Licensed from MCA.

4. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee, 1952-1956 [Collectors' Edition] / Format: CD / Label: Music Club / Cat. Num.: (Germany?) Mccdse 157 04 998 / Rel. Year: 1994 or later / Tracks: 18 / Note: This collectors' edition is identical to the regular edition except for the details that follow. It is boxed, it comes with three Peggy Lee cards, and it has a different catalogue number. Furthermore, my collectors' edition identifies itself as manufactured in Germany instead of England.

5. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee, 1952-1956 / Format: CD / Label: Music Club / Cat. Num.: (England) Mccd 501479729 426 4 / Rel. Year: 2000 / Tracks: 18 / Note: Reissue of item #3.





Artwork Shown:

6. Title: Black Coffee; Best Of The Decca Years / Format: CS & CD / Label: Half Moon / Cat. Num.: (England) Hmncd 023 / Rel. Year: 1998 / Tracks: 24 / Note: Licensed collection.

7. Title: Black Coffee; The Best Of Peggy Lee / Format: CD / Label: Music Club / Cat. Num.: (England) Mccd 619 / Rel. Year: 2007 / Volumes: 2 / Tracks: 50 / Actually contains masters from various labels. There are 18 Decca tracks, 16 Capitol tracks, 7 Columbia tracks (from Lee's big band years with The Benny Goodman Orchestra), and 9 radio transcriptions (including a few from Capitol's transcription service). Whereas Music Club releases from earlier years had been licensed, this one seems to have been a Public Domain collection.





Artwork Shown:

8. Title: Unforgettable ("15/16 Golden Classics" Series) / Format: CS & LP& CD / Label: Castle Cat. Num.: (England) Unlp 27 & Unmc 27 & Uncd 27 / Rel. Year: 1987 / Tracks: 15 / Note: Appears to be a licensed compilations; song copyright credits are give in the back cover. My thanks to Jarl Ingves for kindly supplying this image.

9. Title: Perfect-Lee / Format: MP3 / Label: Hallamrk / Cat. Num.: (England) __ / Rel. Year: 2011 / Tracks: 12 / Note: An abbreviated Public Domain reissue of item #1. Prospective buyers should beware of Hallmark releases, whose sound quality has proven to be reprehensibly poor in quite a few cases. (I havw not listened to this particular MP3 item.)

VI. GERMAN RELEASES





Artwork Shown:

1. Title: My Greatest Songs / Format: LP / Label: Brunswick / Cat. Num.: (Germany) 87092 / Rel. Year: 1963 / Tracks: 14

2. Title: My Greatest Songs / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Germany) Mcd 18346 / Rel. Year: 1991 / Tracks: 14 / Note: CD issue of the LP of the same name (#1).

3. Title: Peggy Lee ("Star Portrait" Series) / Format: CD / Label: Universal Music Group / Cat. Num.: (Germany) unknown / Rel. Year: 2005 / Tracks: 14 / Note: Reissue of the previously listed items.


Related Issues, Not Shown Above:

4. Title: My Greatest Songs ("Gema American" Series) / Format: LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Germany) Blk 86 024P / Rel. Year: unknown / Tracks: 14 / Note: Reissue of item #1. Uses the same artwork.

VII. SPANISH RELEASES





Artwork Shown:

1. Title: A Woman Alone With The Blues / Format: CD / Label: Blue Moon / Cat. Num.: (Spain) Bmcd 3034 / Rel. Year: 1997 / Tracks: 18 / Note: Releases from the Spanish label Blue Moon generally have very good sound quality, and this one is no exception. Includes two of Peggy Lee's best-known lyrics ("Johnny Guitar," "Where Can I Go Without You?"), a couple of seldom released treats ("Bouquet Of Blues," "That's Him Over There"), all four masters from Lee's debut Decca session, and six of the eight numbers from the 10" LP edition of Black Coffee. All 18 tracks are from first two years with Decca (1952-1954). Recommended issue; see also note in this page's section I.

2. Title: A Woman Alone With The Blues / Format: CD / Label: EMI / Cat. Num.: (Korea) unknown / Rel. Year: unknown / Tracks: 18 / Note: Asian edition of item #1.

VIII. AUSTRALASIAN RELEASES





Artwork Shown:

1. Title: Very Special ("Premium Masters" Series) / Format: CD / Label: Castle / Cat. Num.: (Australasia) Pcd 10016 / Rel. Year: 1994 / Tracks: 16 / Note: Licensed from MCA.

General Note
See also above, under Spanish issues, item #2.

IX. JAPANESE RELEASES





Artwork Shown:

1 & 2. Title: Peggy Lee ("Best 22 Songs" Series) / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Japan) 35 Xd 510 (reissued as Mvcm 28009) / Rel. Year: 1986 (original issue) & 1991 (reissue) / Tracks: 22 / Note: Image #2 shows the 1986 edition, image #3 the 1991 reissue.

3. Title: Peggy Lee ("Super Deluxe" Series) / Format: LP / Label: MCA Victor / Cat. Num.: (Japan) Mca 10016 / Rel. Year: 1973 / Tracks: 14





Artwork Shown:

4 & 5. Title: The Very Best Of Peggy Lee ("Twin Deluxe" Series) / Format: LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Japan) 9056-9057 / Pieces: 2 / Rel. Year: unknown / Tracks: 24





Artwork Shown:

6 & 7. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee ("Golden Disc" Series) / Format: LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Japan) Vim 10013 / Rel. Year: 1973 / Tracks: 14





Artwork Shown:

8. Title: Peggy Lee / Format: CD / Label: MCA Victor / Cat. Num.: (Japan) Uicy 1534 / Rel. Year: 1991

9. Title: Peggy Lee ("New Best One" Series) / Format: CD / Label: MCA Victor / Cat. Num.: (Japan) unknown / Rel. Year: unknown / Note: Reissue of item #5.

10. Title: Peggy Lee ("Very Best" Series) / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Japan) unknown / Rel. Year: unknown / Tracks: 16





Artwork Shown:

11. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee ("Excel One" Series) / Format: LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Japan) Vim 7514 / Tracks: 14 Rel. Year: 1982 / Note: Reissue of item #9.

12. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee; Johnny Guitar / Format: LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Japan) 7023 / Tracks: 14 / Rel. Year: unknown / Note: Of the 14 tracks in this compilation, 10 are the same as those in items #9 and #11, but the remaining 4 are indeed different.

13. Title: Peggy Lee ("Deluxe" Series) / Format: LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Japan) P 11456 / Rel. Year: 1985 / Tracks: 15





Artwork Shown:

14. Title: Black Coffee / Format: CD / Label: Spectrum - Karussell / Cat. Num.: (Japan) A 2580 / Tracks: 12 / Rel. Year: unknown

15. Title: Peggy Lee ("Super Selection" Series) / Format: CD / Label: Echo Industries / Tracks: 18 / Cat. Num.: (Japan) Evc 327 / Rel. Year: unknown / Note: A reissue of Vc 3035, entitled Peggy Lee ("Best Selection" Series). (I am currently missing image for Vc 3035.) Since I am not familiar with the label that released this CD, I do not know if the item is licensed or Public Domain. Judging from the combination of tracks from Capitol (4) and Decca (14), chances are that it is Public Domain compilation.

16. Title: The Best Of Peggy Lee ("A Thousand Yen Jazz" Series) / Format: CD / Label: Universal Music Group / Tracks: 10 / Cat. Num.: (Japan) Uccu 9176 / Rel. Year: 2006

Additional Items, Not Listed Above:
There are actually many other Japanese Decca compilations that I have not listed above because I am missing images for them. I hope to be able to retrieve them gradually, as time goes by.

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