That Bad Eartha - Eartha Kitt (1954) (1LP Vinyl) - Very Good Plus (VG+)

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)

That Bad Eartha by Eartha Kitt.

Few voices in the twentieth century carried the sly, feline charm of Eartha Kitt, and "That Bad Eartha" captures her in a moment of pure command. Recorded on January 13, 1953, this RCA release presents Kitt across eight tracks, backed by the lush and knowing arrangements of Henri René and His Orchestra, with René himself on the conductor's podium. It is a compact and potent showcase for a performer who could be tender, teasing, and dangerous, sometimes all within a single phrase.

Side A opens with "Under The Bridges Of Paris," a nod to the continental sophistication that became part of Kitt's signature, before sliding into the winking mischief of "Let's Do It." From there the mood deepens with "The Blues," where her phrasing turns smoky and unhurried, and closes with "My Heart Belongs To Daddy," a song that seems tailor made for her particular blend of innocence and calculation.

Side B widens the palette. "Sandy's Tune" and "Señor" carry the exotic, worldly flavor that Kitt cultivated throughout her career, while "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" gives her room to stretch into gorgeous, aching balladry. The closer, "Salanga Dou," leans into the rhythmic and linguistic adventurousness that set her apart from her contemporaries, an artist unwilling to stay in any single lane.

Behind all of it stands Henri René, whose orchestra frames Kitt with cinematic sweep and impeccable restraint. The playing never crowds her; instead it drapes around the vocals, giving each track the polish of a High Fidelity RCA production while leaving space for the personality that made Kitt a star. The result is a record that feels intimate and grand at the same time.

This particular pressing is worth noting for collectors. It shares the same cover art as the later 12 inch LP, yet it holds only eight tracks, of which just four carry over to that fuller album. That makes this edition a distinct artifact rather than a simple duplicate, a snapshot of how these performances were first offered to the public. The catalog number appears as LPM-3187 on the front cover and as LPM 3187 on the labels, spine, and back cover, with the familiar RCA imprint and the note that it was printed in the U.S.A.

For anyone drawn to the golden age of vocal jazz and the singular art of Eartha Kitt, "That Bad Eartha" is an essential entry. It is early, it is sultry, and it documents an unmistakable talent supported by first rate orchestral craft. A record to be played, savored, and returned to often.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Under The Bridges Of Paris
A2. Let's Do It
A3. The Blues
A4. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
B1. Sandy's Tune
B2. Señor
B3. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
B4. Salanga Dou

Credits:
Henri René - Conductor
Henri René And His Orchestra - Orchestra
Eartha Kitt - Vocals

Notes:
Recorded January 13, 1953. Same cover art as later 12" LP, but 8 tracks only. 4 of these tracks are on the 12 inch album.

Catalog # on front cover: LPM-3187
Catalog # on labels, spine & back cover: LPM 3187
Durations not printed on release.

Info on front cover:
A High Fidelity Recording
© RCA Printed in U.S.A.

Artist: Eartha Kitt

Supporting Artists: Henri René And His Orchestra

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: RCA Victor

Catalog Number: LPM-3187

Release Year: 1954

Country: United States