Holly Cole brings her own dimension to the tradition of cabaret, a strong voice that's still capable of nuance, an ear for quirky repertoire, and a light touch that keeps some of these performances floating just at the edge of irony. On her second album, 1993's Don't Smoke In Bed, Cole explores varied musical styles, adding pop, blues, country and a French ballad to her seducing, low-key jazz.

• Limited Edition
• LP 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings, QRP USA
• Plating & Pressing by Gary Salstrom
• Mastered from the Original Master Tapes 
• Cut by Bernie Grundman
• Gatefold tip-on cover by Stoughton Printing

There is an intelligence and sophistication to Holly Cole's singing that sets her apart from her peers. She can imbue well-worn standards and eclectic songs with an uncanny combination of sensuality, innocence, originality and sheer musicality. Cole takes tunes everybody thinks they know and discovers new undercurrents in the venerable anthems of contemporary composers, wrapping her honesty, compassion and sardonic wit around their sometimes-fragile creations. The results are sexy, provocative, spellbinding, sometimes dangerous and never, ever dull.

Along with Cassandra Wilson and Patricia Barber, the Canadian songstress has helped redefine the world of the female jazz vocalist. In Cole's case, this can be directly linked to her ability to defy genre categorization and her ambitious musical choices. "I look at the essence of a song," muses Cole. "If it's a great lyric I often love to slow it down, explore it, dissect it and deconstruct it. I love to take it apart and then put it back together and look at it in an entirely different way. In the process, it often becomes more evocative. That's a huge part of my art form, that's a huge part of what I do."

On her critically acclaimed 1993 album Don't Smoke In Bed, Holly augments her understated jazz repertoire with nuanced interpretations of pop classics and blues and country standards not to mention a French ballad. What's even more impressive is she pulls it all off flawlessly with a refined elegance that has become her signature. In addition to sublime takes on Cole Porter's "Get Out of Town" and Kurt Weill's "Je Ne T'Aime Pas," the stunning 12-song set also includes her crossover hit of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now."

Holly's delivery of more traditional fare shines on Cole Porter's witty "Get Out of Town" and Kurt Weill's torchy "Je Ne T'aime Pas," while she brings clarity, power, and anthemic passion to the surprising treatment of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now." She's generally well supported in this intimate set by pianist Aaron Davis and bassist Davd Piltch, while there's sparing and effective use of strings. There are fine guest spots by tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, on "Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday," and David Lindley, whose steel guitar contributes to the strange country music of "Don't Let the Teardrops Rust Your Shining Heart."

This definitive 180g vinyl reissue from Analogue Productions was mastered from the original master tapes by the great Bernie Grundman, plated and pressed by Gary Salstrom and crew at Quality Record Pressings, and comes packaged in a premium Old-style tip-on gatefold jacket by Stoughton Printing.

Musicians:

Holly Cole, vocals
David Piltch, bass & percussion
Aaron Davis, piano
Howard Levy, harmonica

Track Listing:

Side A
1. I Can See Clearly Now
2. Don't Let The Teardrops Rust Your Shining Heart
3. Get Out Of Town
4. So And So
5. The Tennessee Waltz

Side B
1. Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday
2. Blame It On My Youth
3. Ev'rything I've Got
4. Je Ne T'Aime Pas
5. Cry (If you Want To)
6. Que Sera Sera
7. Don't Smoke In Bed

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫