Upon coming of age in the mid-1950s, Allyn began to pursue a career as a singer, initially performing with local groups in the Waco area.

[2][3] While working at the Cloister Inn, she met singer Tony Bennett for a breakfast date, and discussed her then-accompanist, Ralph Sharon, with him.

The recording engineer was Bones Howe, and the players included conductor Marty Paich, guitarist Al Viola, bassist Red Mitchell, drummer Mel Lewis, trumpeter Don Fagerquist, and the members of the Hollywood String Quartet.

[10][11] At AllMusic, Scott Yanow gave the album four and a half out of five stars, stating, "her choice of notes is excellent and she draws listeners into the music.

"[14] Paul Clatworthy described the album as "captivating" in the Robert Farnon Society's Journal Into Melody, adding, "Laurie's bell-like diction fits the songs so well they could have all been written just for her.

[3] Paradise was reissued in 2007 for Japan by the record label Muzak and received favorable reviews in the magazines Swing Journal and Jazz Life.