In a similar fashion to Judy Garland, Alice Faye was clearly an actress even while making records, selling every performance and exhibiting that pure exuberance that Hollywood demanded during the golden era of the "30s. Born in 1915, Faye survived a childhood spent in Hell"s Kitchen and debuted in a chorus line just before the great crash of 1929; within two years, she had risen through the ranks to appear in George White"s Scandals of 1931. She nimbly stepped into a lead role for the movie version when it followed in 1934, and delivered "Nasty Man" with an ease and confidence that belied the fact she was still only 19. The Complete Arc & Brunswick Sides, a Collectors" Choice disc, ranges across only three short years in the career of Alice Faye, but does include her Scandals debut and 18 other sides from mid-"30s shows. With the exception of "This Year"s Kisses" and "I"ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" (two Irving Berlin songs from 1937"s On the Avenue), nearly all of these failed the test of time, but Faye delivers each of them with an ebullient grace that dates well. ~ John Bush, Rovi