1938
MEAN TO ME * UNA MAE CARLISLE AND HER JAM BAND * VOCALION 198 * UK
Born on Boxing Day in 1918, Una Mae Carlisle began her professional career singing on The Fats Waller Rhythm Club Show when she was just fourteen. After which, in 1936, she toured Europe and where she appeared in films, while in London she made her debut on record. On May 28th she recorded six sides for Vocalion, and Mean To Me was the B side of her second release.
Sung at an up-tempo pace which bounces along, the lyrics are seemingly at odds with the 'Hot' rhythm, but is carried off perfectly by Una Mae Carlisle's delicate inflections.
First recorded by Ruth Etting in 1929 Mean To Me is usually sang as a ballad and has become an evergreen, a Jazz standard, having been recorded such luminaries as Billie Holiday, Etta Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, The Platters and Lester Young.