Happy Hits: 1949-1957

Doris Day fans have reason to celebrate Collectables' simultaneously issued trio of releases of lesser-known Day material: Ballads and Love Songs From the Early Years: 1947 to 1951, The 1960s Singles, and this one, which presents up-tempo and novelty songs. While compilations often serve the needs of casual fans who just want the hits, bigger fans often despair that the same popular songs get anthologized over and over, while obscure tunes languish on out-of-print LPs and singles. Such has been the case with some of the recordings here. The word "hits" appears in the title, and half of these tracks did reach the charts, but none got into the Top Ten. Day was an accomplished singer of just about anything that Columbia A&R directors like Mitch Miller could throw at her, but she remains better remembered for her ballad performances than for the sort of songs she performs here. Miller scored hits on Rosemary Clooney with ethnic novelties like "Kay-Muleta," but Day handles it as well as Clooney might have, and she is equally uninhibited about taking on an onomatopoeic effort like "Ooh Bang Jiggly Jang." She also does fine with country and even polka tunes. By the mid-'50s, Miller has her trying numbers like "Two Hearts, Two Kisses (Make One Love)" and "Walk a Chalk Line" that, while not exactly rock & roll, certainly display an R&B influence. And she proves willing to share the spotlight with a variety of duet partners, including Johnnie Ray, Donald O'Connor, Buddy Clark, and even orchestra leader Ray Noble on "Save a Little Sunbeam (For a Rainy, Rainy Day)." This is not the best of Doris Day, by any means, but it shows off a different side of her talent (actually, several different sides) and is worth hearing to appreciate her fully.