A1 	In The Still Of The Night 	2:38
A2 	Paradise 	2:50
A3 	'Round Midnight 	3:35
A4 	The Meaning Of The Blues 	3:11
A5 	Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night In The Week) 	2:56
A6 	Night After Night 	3:03
B1 	Just Go 	2:45
B2 	A Sleepin' Bee 	2:39
B3 	My Ship 	3:17
B4 	You And The Night And The Music 	2:06
B5 	Petals On The Pond 	2:52
B6 	Where Flamingos Fly 	3:13

Toni Harper - vocals
Bud Shank - Sax
Art Pepper - Sax
Jimmy Rowles - Piano
Mel Lewis - Drums 
Marty Paich and his Orchestra
Marty Paich - arranger, conductor

Toni Harper's final RCA session pairs the singer with arranger Marty Paich to create the richly atmospheric after-hours album that she was born to make. By alternating between pop standards and jazz originals, Night Mood underscores the complete breadth of Harper's talents. Even better than her sophisticated and poignant interpretations of chestnuts like "Round Midnight" and "My Ship" is a swinging rendition of "Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night of the Week" that deserves serious consideration as the song's definitive treatment. Paich's soulful arrangements further enhance the dusky beauty of Harper's vocals, even making room for some lovely alto saxophone solos courtesy of the great Art Pepper. ---Jason Ankeny, AllMusic Review

Toni Harper studied dance under the tutelage of the great Maceo Anderson. In 1945, she auditioned with hundreds of others kids for a part in dancer/choreographer, Nick Castle's production of Christmas Follies. Toni won a part in the stage show, but it wasn't her dancing that won her a part--it was her singing.

Toni Harper received enthusiastic reviews for her role in Christmas Follies and she soon became one of America's biggest "little" superstars. She performed onstage with entertainers like Cab Calloway and Herb Jeffries, and even recorded a few songs, including her platinum-selling hit, "Candy Store Blues".

Toni Harper also made several big and small screen appearances throughout her adolescent years, and as an adult, she recorded three albums: Toni (1956), Lady Lonely (1959), and Night Mood (1960). However, after being in the music industry for over twenty years, Toni Harper (now Toni Dunlap) retired in 1966 at the age of 29. ---pocinclassicfilm.blogspot.com

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With The Oscar Peterson Quartet
01. Can't We Be Friends (3:30)
02. I Could Write a Book (2:39)
03. Gone with the Wind (2:24)
04. Singin' in the Rain (2:54)
05. Love for Sale (5:37)
06. Just a-Sittin' and a-Rockin' (3:25)
07. A Foggy Day (3:05)
08. You Don't Know What Love Is (2:38)
09. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (4:22)
10. Little Girl Blue (3:27)
11. You Took Advantage of Me (2:41)
12. Like Someone in Love (4:26)

Oscar Peterson (piano)
Herb Ellis (guitar)
Ray Brown (b)
Alvin Stoller (d).
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, December 29, 1955, and January 6, 1956

With Dizzy Gliespie and His Orchestra
13. Taking a Chance on Love (2:13)
14. Play Me the Blues (2:55)

Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Edison (trumpet)
Melba Liston (trombone)
Willie Smith (alto saxophone)
Curtis Amy (tenor saxophone)
Clyde Dunn (baritone saxophone)
Eddie Beal (piano)
George Bledsoe (bass)
Albert Bartee (drums).
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, November 8, 1955

With The Buddy Bregman Orchestra
15. Love Is a Wonderful Thing (2:47)
16. I Telephoned, I Telegraphed (2:46)
17. We've Got to Live, Got to Grow (2:45)
18. My Memory Book (3:01)

Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, Lloyd Ulyate, Si Zentner (trombone)
Wilbur Schwartz, Maurice Stein, Ted Nash, Bob Cooper, Dale Issenhuth (saxes & woodwinds)
Paul Smith (piano)
Barney Kessel (guitar)
Joe Mondragon (bass)
Alvin Stoller (drums) 
Plus string section (8 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, harp) added on tracks #15 and 18.
Recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, February 23, 1956

With Eddie Beal Trio
19. Them There Eyes (1:43)
20. Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered) (2:19)

Eddie Beal (piano)
Red Mitchell (bass)
Frank Capp (drums, percussion).
Recorded at ABC Studios, Stars of Jazz TV show, February 18, 1957

With Marty Paich Orchestra
21. Petals on the Pond (2:57)

Dominick Fera, Lurie Mitchell, Bud Shank (clarinet)
Jimmy Rowles (piano, celeste)
Bill Pitman (guitar)
Joe Mondragon (bass)
Mel Lewis (d)
10 violins; 4 violas; 4 cellos, 
Kathryn Julye, harp.
Recorded at R.C.A. Victor Studios, Hollywood, April 29, 1960

In 1956, when Toni Harper was just eighteen years old, she made her first album for Norman Granzs Verve, the label he had started earlier that year.

For her debut Harper, who had already made an impact as an almostbaby singer, was backed by none other than Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Alvin Stoller. On display were all the traits that had made her a success: a good voice, a knack for swing, and brilliant intonation. She had traces of Sarah Vaughan in her singing, without ever becoming derivative or getting stuck in any one style.

All I want now, she said, is to become a good, versatile singer. To underline that, this fine release also includes two recordings she did with Dizzy Gillespie, four tunes issued on two singles with an orchestra under the direction of Buddy Bregman; two tracks from her appearance on the TV show Stars of Jazz, and one last song arranged and conducted by Marty Paich - a handful of great performances by an outstanding singer. ---freshsoundrecords.com

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