I Wish You Love is one example of her very best singing. She is so confident that her interpretation reveals the true no-regrets attitude of the song's lyric. The philosophical 'Ev'rytime' is perfectly realized, so easy-riding and unembittered. In 'Skylark' she has an intoxicating abandon which demonstrates her security. Although it may spoil your pleasure of discovery, comment must be made about 'I'm Glad There Is You'. The song itself is a miniature classic with intelligent lyrics and music. Joyce's interpretation highlights the literacy of the song and again she is perfectly poised. 'Yesterday' becomes folk-like and 'Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry' is of heavenly length and beauty. Like memories of the moon when the midnight has passed, these are some of the beautiful moments.

The ideal way for Joyce Carr to display her talent has always been on a mini-concert basis, without proscenium. Most of the rooms in which she appeared over a period of eighteen years in Washington, DC, were especially designed and built for her. It was definitely a showcase atmosphere in which the chanteuse would mix her material, doing "up" tunes, Broadway's comedy songs, and her beloved ballads. She does not consider herself a jazz singer although she swings when occasion warrants. Her choice of material for this album reveals her love of ballads, good ballads. Joyce got from where she was (a college kid from Montana) to where she was not (reigning vocal artist in Washington, D. C.) by a path of ecstasy. With breathtaking ease she found herself established as a local star. Convincing her mother she was becoming senile at 19, she left home with a one-way ticket and $30 for New York and musical comedy theatre.

She stopped enroute to visit a sorority sister in Washington and has remained in the area ever since. Initially she took an office job and about four months later began singing in a neighborhood bar frequented by jazz musicians. The owner was "into" music and employed some good ones. Her reputation spread due to the acclaim she received from the guests, who promoted her. She never had to audition for an engagement and one led effortlessly to another. Always very lucky, she seemed to be in the right place at the right time, only working in four rooms in 18 years. She suddenly found herself engaged to sing in the King Cole Room, the IN place at that time, and which was noted for its great atmosphere and staging of good singers. During this time she appeared on the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout show, which she won, and despite a schedule to sign with MCA, decided instead to be married.

Her stint at the King Cole Room lasted about six years until it was sold. She had become famous among the citizens and the local and foreign dignitaries. In 1959, a room was designed for her in the Lafayette Hotel. She was given the luxury of choosing the musicians, the piano, and the acoustical equipment. She stayed there two years and followed that by two years in yet another room built for her, this one in the Lincoln Inn Restaurant.

In 1963 the owner of The Fireplace, a new restaurant in Georgetown, approached her for an engagement which lasted five years. In her "Chimney Room," holding a slim hand mike, she would sing sitting on a stool or nestling in the curve of the piano. Between 9:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. she would intermittently sing sets of 3 or 4 songs. Members of the press praised here highly while complaining about the parsimonious number of songs she sang in the course of an evening. During all these years of club work she was active in other areas such as singing with the Army Band, in the White House, with the Air Force Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. She appeared frequently on television shows, guesting and doing benefits and telethons. She worked with some of the best musicians in town, as you will discover on this LP.

A few years ago she remarried and voluntarily put heself in semi-retirement. She put herself through business school and became and still is a top drawer professional court reporter. She reluctantly resisted all attempts by the local disc jockeys to coax her back into regularly performing, but she is now appearing on and off at Charlie Byrd's "Charlies" in Georgetown, and the place is jammed with admirers old and new. It is good news, for here is a singer to admire, surrounded as she is on this record by Dick Thomas, on solo piano, and Bob Vigoda and his trio - impeccable musicians who know how and what should be said. To quote Paul Madiera's lyric, "In this world of underrated treasures I'm glad ther is you."

- Jay McGahee