Doris Day

Real Gone Music celebrates the Doris Day centennial with Early Day: Rare Songs from the Radio 1939-1950, collecting on CD two dozen painstakingly-restored rarities from the first decade of Doris Day's extraordinary career.  The collection opens with a moving 1944 rendition of her first signature song, "Sentimental Journey," with The Les Brown Orchestra before journeying back to 1939 and two songs with Barney Rapp's big band performed by 17-year-old Doris on their very first nationwide broadcast.  The set continues with more mid-1940s appearances with Les Brown and His Orchestra including performances a treasure trove from The Bob Hope Show circa 1948-1950.  Hope himself duets with Doris on "Sunshine Cake" while singing cowboy Jimmy Wakely shares the microphone on "Slippin' Around."  This collection was curated with Doris' full knowledge and consent, and the 16-page booklet designed by John Sellards is chockablock with rare photos from the period.  TSD's Joe Marchese provides the liner notes tracing Day's career on the radio during this prolific time. Mike Milchner at SonicVision has remastered all tracks on this essential anthology.