What Do You Know About Love? is a studio album by American singer Della Reese. It was released in December 1959 by Jubilee Records and contained a total of 12 tracks. The songs on the album focused on stories about love and mixed two new tracks with ten standards conducted by Reg Owens. The album was given reviews by music magazines and websites following its release. One single was included as well: "I'm Nobody's Baby".
Background, recording and content
Della Reese found success as both a television actress and as a singer. She began her career singing in the fields of gospel, blues and pop. Her first recording contract was with Jubilee Records, where she remained through 1959. During this period, Reese had commercial success with the single "And That Reminds Me".[2] Among her studio recordings from Jubilee was 1959's What Do You Know About Love?.[3] The album was recorded in Brussels, Belgium while Reese was performing overseas. The album had orchestra arrangements conducted by Reg Owens with production from Morty Palitz.[4]What Do You Know About Love? consisted of 12 tracks.[1] The album's title and the story lines of its songs were all centered on love. Ten of its tracks were covers of standards while two were new recordings.[4] Among its covers were Duke Ellington's "I Got It Bad".[1]
Release, critical reception and singles
What Do You Know About Love? was originally released in December 1959 on the Jubilee label.[5] It was distributed as a vinyl LP, with six tracks on each side of the disc. It was offered in both mono and stereo formats.[4] The album was Reese's final with Jubilee before she transitioned to RCA Victor.[3]Billboard found the album had "moving vocal performances"[6] while Cash Box found that it "presents Miss Reese in a program of superior love ballads."[7]AllMusic's Lindsay Planer gave the album four out of five stars, praising Reese's readings of material, but also found that some tracks lacked some of the individuality found inside her recordings.[1] The album included one single release: "I'm Nobody's Baby". It was issued by Jubilee in August 1959.[8]
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