For over 30 years, Jo Stafford was one of America's top middle-of-the-road pop singers, admired for her ability to always sing in tune and to uplift every lyric she interpreted while actually singing very straight. This three-CD retrospective, which was released in 1994, has 76 selections covering a 40-year period, with most of the numbers dating from the 1940s and '50s. On the minus side, the music is not programmed in chronological order, and the complete personnel is not given, but since Stafford's style was unchanged through the years and she tended to be the main star of her records (except when sharing vocals with the likes of Frankie Laine, Vic Damone, Gordon McRae, Nelson Eddy, Gene Autry and even Liberace), these are minor faults. It is unfortunate that Stafford's odd hillbilly hit "Tim-tay-shun" was not included, but all of her other big sellers are here. As an extra "bonus" at the end of each CD are one or two selections from the Jo Stafford/Paul Weston alter-egos Darlene and Jonathan Edwards, which features satirical cocktail piano from Weston and remarkable singing by Stafford that is consistently just a little bit out of tune -- pretty painful stuff!
CD1
01. Little Man with a Candy Cigar {Tommy Dorsey & his orchestra, vocal by Jo Stafford} - 3:09
02. Haunted Heart - 2:46
03. If - 3:20
04. In a Little Spanish Town ('Twas on a Night Like This) {The Pied Pipers, orchestra unknown} - 2:58
05. April and You {Jo Stafford & Liberace} - 3:13
06. Where Are You? - 2:28
07. The Trolley Song {with The Pied Pipers} - 3:01
08. I'll Remember April - 2:57
09. Blues in the Night {with The Starlighters} - 3:17
10. Floatin' Down to Cotton Town {Jo Stafford & Frankie Laine, Carl Fischer at the piano} - 2:28
11. Every Night When the Sun Goes In {with The Starlighters} - 3:04
12. The Night We Called It a Day {arranged & conducted by Billy May} - 3:35
13. The Gentleman Is a Dope - 2:51
14. My Darling, My Darling {Jo Stafford & Gordon MacRae with The Starlighters} - 2:35
15. Young and Foolish - 2:56
16. Tomorrow Mountain - 2:43
17. (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me) {with The Norman Luboff Choir} - 2:56
18. Teardrops from My Eyes {Jo Stafford & Gene Autry, orchestra under the direction of Carl Cotner} - 3:08
19. Dancing in the Dark {with The Starlighters} - 2:41
20. Love Is Here to Stay - 3:41
21. The Gypsy in My Soul {Jo Stafford & The Art Van Damme Quintet} - 3:29
22. Imagination {arranged & conducted by Johnny Mandel} - 3:50
23. If I Were a Bell - 2:46
24. No Other Love {with George Greeley on piano} - 3:03
25. You're Blase {Jonathan & Darlene Edwards} - 4:05
CD2
01. You and Your Love {The Pied Pipers} - 2:34
02. As I Love You - 2:57
03. Teach Me Tonight - 2:48
04. When April Comes Again - 3:16
05. St. Louis Blues - 2:39
06. Good Nite {Jo Stafford & Vic Damone with The Mellowmen} - 2:41
07. Make the Man Love Me {with The Norman Luboff Choir} - 3:04
08. Warm All Over - 2:31
09. The Best Things in Life Are Free - 2:25
10. One - 2:34
11. These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) {Jo Stafford & The Art Van Damme Quintet} - 3:26
12. In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening {Jo Stafford & Frankie Laine, Carl Fischer at the piano} - 2:38
13. The Nearness of You - 3:12
14. Smoking My Sad Cigarette - 3:13
15. The Party's Over {featuring Warren Covington on trombone} - 2:56
16. The Folks Who Live on the Hill {arranged & conducted by Johnny Mandel} - 3:34
17. A Thought in My Heart {Jo Stafford & Gordon MacRae} - 3:04
18. Yes, Indeed! {Tommy Dorsey & his orchestra, vocals by Jo Stafford & Sy Oliver} - 3:33
19. I'm Your Girl - 2:57
20. When I'm Not Near the Boy I Love - 2:18
21. Whispering Hope {Jo Stafford & Any Weston} - 3:39
22. Shenandoah - 3:37
23. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry? {arranged & conducted by Johnny Mandel} - 3:10
24. I'll Be Seeing You - 3:31
25. Candy {orchestra conducted by Billy May} - 2:41
26. The Last Time I Saw Paris {Jonathan & Darlene Edwards} - 2:52
CD3
01. All the Things You Are - 3:08
02. If I Loved You - 3:00
03. What Is This Thing Called Love? {The Pied Pipers} - 3:11
04. Come Rain or Come Shine - 3:15
05. With These Hands - 2:50
06. Use Your Imagination - 2:40
07. Three-Cornered Tune - 2:58
08. It Happened in Sun Valley {with The Starlighters} - 2:20
09. Don't Get Atound Much Anymore - 3:16
10. Oh! Look at Me Now {arranged & conducted by Benny Carter} - 2:28
11. (I Don't Stand A) Ghost of a Chance (With You) {featuring Warren Covington on trombone} - 3:53
12. My Heart's in the Highlands {featuring Mitch Miller on oboe & English horn} - 3:08
13. My One and Only Highland Fling {Jo Stafford & Gordon MacRae} - 2:58
14. I Didn't Know About You {with The Pied Pipers} - 3:11
15. Indiscretion {Jo Stafford & Liberace} - 3:17
16. Old Devil Moon - 2:33
17. For You {Tommy Dorsey & his orchestra, vocal by Jo Stafford} - 4:39
18. Silence Is Golden {Jo Stafford & Vic Damone} - 2:51
19. The King of Paris {with The Norman Luboff Choir} - 3:13
20. I Should Care - 3:41
21. Stardust - 3:17
22. I See Your Face Before Me - 2:15
23. Your Belong to Me - 3:09
24. Stayin' Alive {Jonathan & Darlene Edwards} - 2:23
25. I Am Woman {Jonathan & Darlene Edwards} - 2:45
