This comprehensive two-disc set from Britain's
Acrobat label features 55 tracks from guitar pioneer
Les Paul and his wife, vocalist
Mary Ford.
Paul got his start as a jazz guitarist in the 1940s and can be heard here accompanying both
Bing Crosby ("It's Been a Long Long Time") and
the Andrews Sisters ("Rumors Are Flying") before moving on to the more experimental sounds that earned him acclaim throughout the latter part of the decade and the '50s. His groundbreaking use of multi-tracking and tape manipulation inspired the otherworldly sound of instrumental solo tracks like "Brazil" and "Nola." Beginning in 1948, the duo of
Les Paul & Mary Ford were a major force on the pop charts, with
Ford's dulcet voice often stacked in impressive multi-tracked harmonies while
Paul handled all of the accompaniment with a multitude of cascading guitar parts and tones.
The Complete US & UK Hits 1945-1961 features their best-known hits, like "Tennessee Waltz," "How High the Moon," and "Mockingbird Hill," along with a host of other duet and instrumental tracks from their prime years together. ~ Timothy Monger
