Genie Pace - Round and Round She Goes

Here's another in the long-running series devoted to obscure vocalists.

This LP, from about 1957, showcases probably the only person who made a living both as a lounge singer and roller derby competitor.

This is Genie Pace's first LP, beginning a brief recording career that encompassed one other album, which appears to be from a few years later, and singles on three labels, including one outing on Capitol.

This record was the first on the small Jade label, which also had her inscribe a quasi-rock single, which can be heard here. There is none of that new-fangled rock-n-roll rhythm on this disc, however. As the title says, Genie is "in a midnight mood" for the most part, although she adopts a bolero approach for "I'll Remember April" (a good idea) and a cha-cha backing for "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" (a bad idea). For the most part, Frank Metis' charts are accomplished. He did manage to borrow the swirling harp arpeggios from Peggy Lee's "Street of Dreams" record for Genie's "One for My Baby."

Ira Gitler's notes mention that Pace's early influence was Kay Starr, and the Starr style is readily apparent on the LP. But Genie is accomplished in her own right. She has a good voice with an attractive, rapid vibrato, and the songs come off well. I particularly enjoyed "In the Wee Small Hours," where she takes the verse, which is absent from the famous Sinatra rendition.

Genie Pace in 2010

Gitler discusses Pace's roller derby career, giving the impression that she left it behind to become a singer. I'm not sure that's the case - Genie has a "player tribute" page on a site called Banked Track Memories, and she was photographed at a roller derby reunion as recently as 2010 (photo at right).

The sound is reasonably good. Unfortunately I don't have Pace's second LP, which has backings by Mat Mathews, a musician I admire.