Stormy Weather is a studio album by American singer, actress and activist, Lena Horne. It was released by RCA Victor in September 1957 and was the third studio collection of her career. It originally contained a total of 11 tracks performed in a pop style, including a remake of "Stormy Weather". The album originally received positive reception from publications like Billboard and the Ottawa Citizen. A re-released version in 2002 featured ten additional recordings.
Background, recording and content Lena Horne began her career in the 1940s as a film actress MGM, an RCA recording artist and nightclub entertainer. After being blacklisted by the American entertainment industry, she was resigned to RCA in 1954 and a US top 20 hit with "Love Me or Leave Me". RCA then began releasing a series of LP's during the decade, notably Lena Horne at the Waldorf Astoria. It would be followed by 1957's Stormy Weather. The project was recorded at Webster Hall in New York City and was originally produced by E.O. Walker. It featured arrangements and orchestra conducted by Horne's second husband, Lennie Hayton. Stormy Weather originally consisted of 11 tracks in total, including a re-recording of Horne's signature tune (the title track). The remaining tunes were sung in pop style such as "Just One of Those Things" and "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home".
Release and critical reception Stormy Weather was released in September 1957 by RCA Victor and was her third album. It was originally offered as a vinyl LP with six tracks on Side A and five tracks on side B. In 2002, it was re-released onto a compact disc (CD) that featured ten additional tracks, including an alternate version of "Stormy Weather". The album received a positive reception. This included Billboard, which described it as a "powerful package" and found Horne to demonstrate a "smartly, sexy delivery" in the material. Canadian newspaper, the Ottawa Citizen, named it one of RCA's "impressive" album collections released in the fall of 1957. AllMusic's Scott Yanow rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars, concluding, "Lena Horne is heard throughout in top form, and this set is easily recommended to her fans."
Track listing Details taken from the original 1957 liner notes may differ from other sources. Song length was not included in the original liner notes, therefore song lengths are taken from the 2002 compact disc (CD) reissue. In addition, the CD reissue features the original track listing with ten additional tracks added on following the original set.
Personnel All credits are adapted from the 2002 CD reissue of Stormy Weather.
Lennie Hayton – Arranger, Conductor Marty Paich – Conductor Tracks 20 and 21 Lena Horne – vocals Gene DiNovi – piano George Duvivier – bass guitar Don Arnone, Kenny Burrell, Bill Pitman, Howard Roberts, Al Viola – guitar Maurice Wilk, Max Chan, Julius Brand, Gene Orloff, Arnold Eidus – violin Maurice Brown – cello John Cresi, Gus Johnson, Shelly Manne, Joe Marshall Jr. – drums Jimmy Maxwell, Charlie Shavers, Harold "Shorty" Baker, Carl "Doc" Severinsen – trumpet Jimmy Cleveland, Robert Byrne, Bart Varsolona – trombone Danny Bank, Eddie J. Wasserman, Bernard Kaufman, Abraham Richman, Emanual Gershman – saxophone
Release history + Release history and formats for Stormy Weather Region Date Format Label Ref. Various September 1957 LP mono RCA Victor 1958 RCA Records Japan 1974–1977 Australia 1982 Stanyan Records Japan 1989–1997 Compact disc (CD) RCA Records Various 2002 circa 2020 BMG
References