Hollywood's Blonde Bombshell

Vocalist and actress Betty Hutton was a star of stage, screen and -- as this collection exemplifies -- radio. Her stunning good looks also led to Hutton becoming a popular pin-up girls for G.I.'s during World War II. She made numerous appearances on the Armed Forces Radio Service as well, where overseas troops could hear Hollywood's Blonde Bombshell (2004) on a number of variety shows, most notably Command Performance. It is that program off of which a majority of the material on this 11-song anthology is drawn. Her repertoire includes cinematic contributions such as the opener "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry" (The Fleet's In) and plenty of tunes Hutton had significant success with on her own. There are two readings of "Murder, He Says" with the June 2, 1942 version featuring accompaniment by the Billy Artzt Orchestra. The November 13, 1943 take is backed by Meredith Wilson and company. The Johnny Burkecomposition "My Rocking Horse Ran Away" was a Hit Parade smash for Hutton and an obvious crowd-pleaser chosen for a special broadcast edition celebrating the Sixth Anniversary of Command Performance. "Parody on the Peanut Vendor" displays her vivacious humor as the Dinning Sisters and Dennis Day join forces with Hutton. Once again she is instrumentally supported by Wilson who also provides the score on her best-known side of the era, "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief." Hollywood's Blonde Bombshell concludes with another huge number that Hutton shared with Perry Como on the doodle-happy "Bushel and a Peck." ~ Lindsay Planer|