a discovery

[kip_w]

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WFMU's Bob Purse has been on the trail of a mystery singer, first found on an acetate at a jumbo record sale in the early 90s. With a name and a record and little else, he featured Merigail Moreland in the first "365 Days" project, and as a result, he learned more and found more records. In the intriguing tale here, Purse tells of his discovery and increasing infatuation with the voice of this "born singer," who passed away too young at 43 in 1990, a year or so before he found that first disk.

I have put a half dozen of her cuts onto my iPod. If I may recommend it, click the link above and hear for yourself -- the last four cuts are from two 45 releases and have the highest production values. Purse's comments will probably lead you to find what you'll like the most. You might enjoy hearing how her talent progresses from age 11 to 16.

I'm off to listen to my iPod now.
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Comments

[asimovberlioz.livejournal.com]

A teenage girl who sings. Great. And we know that that sort of thing is always wonderful, don't we?

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Pretty reductionist view, that. "Teenage jew who plays the violin." "Five-year-old kid who plays the piano." What does such a description tell us?

I listened to her singing. She wasn't trying to essay "die holle Rach," she was singing contemporary pop songs, and rather well. She was also getting instruction as she went, rather than deciding that she was perfect at the age of 14 or something. She went on to a modest career in night clubs. Any comparison to Charlotte Church would rest on the shaky basis that they were both female and dared open their mouths before they were 29.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

"Merigail," poor thing. Had to have been worse than Marilee. I'm marking this post in case I ever get DSL back.