Years after her affiliations with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Harry James, Helen Forrest recorded these transcriptions with the Carmen Dragon string orchestra. Although Forrest was only in her early thirties when these covers of popular pop and jazz tunes were made in 1949-1950, she was past her commercial prime (but at the peak of her vocal abilities). These economical arrangements emphasize Forrest’s vocals much more than many of her earlier recordings with big bands, which is wonderful for fans interested in the singer more than the band. Forrest sounds great as always, and The Complete World Transcriptions, a two-CD set with all 50 of her recordings for the transcription service, is both a complete package for collectors and an enjoyable collection of standards sung by one of the greatest vocalists of the swing era. – Greg Adams
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