The Jumpin' Jive

Cab Calloway had so many great tunes during his career that it is hard to pick the "best of" much less narrow it down to 16 representative tunes. But this compilation jumps with his 1942 version of Minnie the Moocher, a great cover of Ellington's Take The 'A' Train, Dinah, and of course Reefer Man. A nice intro for people who don't know much of Cab Calloway's music. Enjoy. +

Now, can't you hear those hepcats call,
(Yeah!)
Come on, boys, let's have a ball!
The jim, jam, jump on the jumpin' jive
Makes you dig your jive on the mellow side,
Hep! Hep!

Tracks

1. Minnie The Moocher
2. Beale Street Mama
3. Angeline
4. Bye Bye Blues
5. Minnie The Moocher's Weddin' Day
6. Dinah
7. Wake Up And Live
8. Pickin' The Cabbage
9. You Gotta Ho-Di-Ho
10. Reefer Man
11. The Jumpin' Jive
12. Manhattan Jam
13. I Gotta Go Places And Do Things
14. Eadie Was A Lady
15. Take The 'A' Train
16. F.D.R. Jones

Sweet Bands of the 30s (Record 4)

Here's record number 4 of the Sweet Bands of the 30s. Along with Casa Loma, there are some tunes from Ozzie and Harriet, Leo Reisman and a couple of Chick Bullock vocals. The fifth and final record will be posted soon as well. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. That's Love - Casa Loma Orchestra
2. Mr. Magician (Won't You Bring My Baby Back To Me?) - Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra
3. What's Good For The Goose (Is Good For The Gander) - Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra
4. Why Not? - Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
5. A Thousand Goodnights - Paul Small and His Orchestra
6. Waitin' At The Gate For Katy - Paul Small and His Orchestra
7. Ill Wind (You're Blowin' Me No Good) - Leo Reisman and His Orchestra
8. As Long As You Live - Leo Reisman and His Orchestra
9. Easy Come, Easy Go - Eddie Elkins and His Orchestra (v. Chick Bullock)
10. I Ain't Lazy-I'm Just Dreamin' - Eddie Elkins and His Orchestra (v. Chick Bullock)
11. Don't Let Your Love Go Wrong - Gene Kardos and His Orchestra
12. Do I Love You? - Leo Reisman and His Orchestra
13. Hot Dogs and Sarsaparilla - Ted FioRito and His Orchestra
14. You're A Builder-Upper - Leo Reisman and His Orchestra

Sweet Bands of the 30s (Record 3)

Here is record three from the set. Look for the final two records soon (it's a lot of typing to fill the idtags!). This disc takes us from September 20, 1933 to February 3, 1934 and includes Chick Bullock with Gene Kardos and His Orchestra, as well as some more Casa Loma, Leo Reisman and Gus Arnheim with their respective orchestras. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. I'm Dancin' on a Rainbow - Freddie Martin and His Orchestra
2. When You Were The Girl On the Scooter (And I Was the Boy On The Bike) - Abe Lyman and His California Orchestra
3. Doin' The Uptown - Abe Lyman and His California Orchestra
4. Heaven Only Knows - Abe Lyman and His California Orchestra
5. Did You Ever See A Dream Walking? - Gene Kardos and His Orchestra
6. After Sundown - Richard Himber and His Essex House Orchestra
7. Our Big Love Scene - Richard Himber and His Essex House Orchestra
8. (When Your Heart's On Fire) Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Leo Reisman and His Orchestra
9. Like Me A Little Bit Less (Love Me A Little Bit More) - Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra
10. Let's Fall In Love - Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra
11. Goin' To Heaven On A Mule - Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra
12. The Touch Of Your Hand - Leo Reisman and His Orchestra
13. Shadows Of Love - Casa Loma Orchestra
14. Lullaby In Blue - Casa Loma Orchestra

Fine And Mellow

This is the remaining offering I have from Andy Kirk in my 'Classics' collection and it's probably my favorite. There are some nice Mary Lou Williams arrangements and tunes here, but I really like the vocals from June Richmond, who was one of two - count them, two - guest vocalists to ever appear on record with Cab Calloway (1938's Tee-Um, Tee-Um, Tee-I, Tahiti and Angels With Dirty Faces). She was one of the first black vocalists to be regularly featured with a white band (Jimmy Dorsey's), and it's a pity she didn't have a longer career.

The other Calloway guest vocalist? None other than Chick Bullock (a duet on the 1932 Git Along). I know there are more knowledgeable persons than I who read this, so please correct me if I'm wrong. So - no Chick Bullock on this offering, yet I worked him into the post nonetheless. Clever, ain't I?

The other vocalist here with Andy Kirk is Pha (pronounced "fay") Terrell. I thought Bullock at times was stretching the limits of his range and talents, but ..... well, I'll leave the verdict on Terrell to others.

Regarding this cd, here is a bit from Allmusic and Scott Yanow: Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy was a top-notch Kansas City swing band that, by 1939, featured the pop vocals of Pha Terrell, the more blues-oriented singing of June Richmond, creative arrangements by Mary Lou Williams, and some excellent soloing from pianist Williams and Dick Wilson on tenor. Most memorable in this entry in Classics' "complete" Andy Kirk CD series are "Floyd's Guitar Blues" (an odd but pioneering electric guitar feature for Floyd Smith), "Wham" and "Scratching In the Gravel." Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. You Set Me On Fire
2. (I Guess) I'll Never Learn
3. Close To Five
4. Floyd's Guitar Blues
5. "I Wanna" Go Where You Go - Do What You Do Then I'll Be Happy
6. S'posin'
7. I'll Never Fail You
8. Why Don't I Get Wise To Myself
9. I'm Getting Nowhere With You
10. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With YouJoy
11. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
12. Big Jim Blues
13. Wham (Wham, Re, Bop, Boom, Bam)
14. Love Is The Thing
15. Why Go On Pretending
16. It Always Will Be You
17. Fine And Mellow
18. Scratchin' In The Gravel
19. Fifteen Minute Intermission
20. Take Those Blues Away
21. Now I Lay Me Down To Dream
22. There Is No Greater Love

Out of Nowhere

This four-CD set does a superb job of summing up Bing Crosby's years with Decca. After nine titles from 1931 (which were acquired by Decca later on), the program concentrates on the 1934-1957 period and, in addition to the expected hits, all aspects of his career are covered. Despite a few Dixieland-flavored selections, Crosby had largely abandoned jazz by the late '30s, but his phrasing (which was influenced by Louis Armstrong) and appealing voice should be of interest to jazz listeners. His ballads grew in stature in later years, while the up-tempo performances tended to be less memorable novelties. Although it should be augmented by collections that focus on his recordings of the '20s and early '30s, this is the definitive Bing Crosby set. (Scott Yanow)

Several duets are included, among them Dixie Lee, Jimmy Durante, Al Jolson, Louis Armstrong, Connie Boswell and others. For more of Crosby's jazz recordings, check out other postings on this site. Enjoy. + + + +

Tracks

Disc One

1. Where The Blue Of The Night (Meets The Gold Of The Day) (1932 Single Version)
2. Out Of Nowhere
3. Just One More Chance
4. I'm Through With Love
5. I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store)
6. At Your Command
7. I Apologize
8. Dancing In The Dark
9. Stardust
10. The Moon Was Yellow (And The Night Was Young)
11. Two Cigarettes In The Dark
12. With Every Breath I Take
13. June In January
14. Love Is Just Around The Corner
15. Soon
16. Down By The River
17. It's Easy To Remember
18. Red Sails In The Sunset
19. Silent Night, Holy Night
20. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
21. I'm An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)
22. Pennies From Heaven
23. A Fine Romance
24. Sweet Leilani

Disc Two

1. Blue Hawaii
2. Too Marvelous For Words
3. It's The Natural Thing To Do
4. The Moon Got In My Eyes
5. Remember Me?
6. Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)
7. Don't Be That Way
8. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
9. Small Fry
10. I've Got A Pocketful Of Dreams
11. Mexicali Rose
12. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby
13. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away)
14. Somebody Loves Me
15. What's New?
16. Sierra Sue
17. Trade Winds
18. Only Forever
19. New San Antonio Rose
20. Humpty Dumpty Heart
21. Deep In The Heart Of Texas
22. Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie
23. When My Dream Boat Comes Home
24. White Christmas
25. Easter Parade

Disc Three

1. Be Careful, It's My Heart
2. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
3. Moonlight Becomes You
4. Sunday, Monday Or Always
5. Mississippi Mud / I Left My Sugar Standing In The Rain
6. Pistol Packin' Mama
7. I'll Be Home For Christmas
8. San Fernando Valley
9. Close The Door Joe, We're Making A Disc!
10. Swinging On A Star
11. I Love You
12. I'll Be Seeing You (Rehearsal Glimpse)
13. I'll Be Seeing You (1993 Box Set Version)
14. On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe
15. Song Of The Fifth Marines
16. (There'll Be A) Hot Time In The Town Of Berlin (When The Yanks Go Marching In)
17. Don't Fence Me In
18. (Yip Yip De Hootie) My Baby Said Yes
19. Mine
20. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive
21. The Road To Morocco
22. You Belong To My Heart
23. It's Been A Long, Long Time
24. Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's An Irish Lullaby)
25. I Can't Begin To Tell You
26. Day By Day
27. MacNamara's Band
28. South America, Take It Away

Disc Four

1. Alexander's Ragtime Band
2. The Spaniard That Blighted My Life
3. Whiffenpoof Song
4. Now Is The Hour (Maori Farewell Song)
5. But Beautiful
6. Galway Bay
7. Far Away Places
8. Sing Soft, Sing Sweet, Sing Gentle
9. Dear Hearts And Gentle People
10. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
11. Play A Simple Melody
12. Sam's Song (The Happy Tune)
13. Harbor Lights
14. Autumn Leaves
15. Silver Bells
16. Getting To Know You
17. Gone Fishin'
18. In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening
19. Watermelon Weather
20. Thanks For The Memory
21. Around The World (In Eighty Days)
22. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
23. Gigi
24. Where The Blue Of The Night (Meets The Gold Of The Day) (1948 Single Version)

My Song

Only one Chick Bullock song to be found here, but it is one I still haven't found on 78 yet. One of the reasons I like ASV's various artists collections is that they include songs which were not necessarily the biggest hits for these performers, so you get a broader feel for the music of the era. This set features 18 tunes from 1929 to 1932. The scans are now included in the re-uploaded file. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day) - Bing Crosby
2. Cheerful Little Earful - Seger Ellis
3. My Song - Chick Bullock
4. She's a New Kind of Old Fashioned Girl - Whispering Jack Smith
5. Got a Date With an Angel - Pat O'Malley
6. Living in Dreams - Russ Columbo
7. Orange Blossom Time - Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards
8. She's Wonderful - Harry Shalson
9. Am I Blue - Smith Ballew
10. Here Lies Love - Sam Browne
11. Thrill Is Gone - Rudy Vallée
12. Ain't Misbehavin' - Gene Austin
13. My Sweet Virginia - Al Bowlly
14. Please - Val Rosing
15. Little by Little - Johnny Marvin
16. You're a Real Sweetheart - Sam Coslow
17. Sweet Sue, Just You - George Metaxa
18. Thank Your Father - Harry Richman

Sweet Madness - Sweet Bands (Record 2)

Here is the second record from this 5-LP set (see April 22). Full info is in the idtags, but you can hear more tunes from Hal Kemp and his Orchestra, as well as Abe Lyman, Richard Hember and his Essex House Orchestra (which features Artie Shaw and Jerry Colonna), Anson Weeks (Bob Crosby vocal), another Casa Loma side and one from Freddie Martin and his Orchestra. I hope to get the rest of this set up a little quicker. Recording dates for these are from May 4, 1933 to September 20, 1933. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Living In Doubt - Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
2. Heart of Stone - Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
3. I Cover The Waterfront - Abe Lyman and His California Orchestra
4. Lying In the Hay - Abe Lyman and His California Orchestra
5. To Be Or Not To Be In Love - Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
6. It Might Have Been a Diff'rent Story - Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
7. Shadows On the Swanee - Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
8. Love Is The Thing - Richard Himber and His Essex House Orchestra
9. Love Is The Sweetest Thing - Richard Himber and His Essex House Orchestra
10. If You Lived In The Mountains - Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
11. Ain'tcha Glad? - Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
12. You've Got Everything - Anson Weeks and His Orchestra
13. Sweet Madness - Casa Loma Orchestra
14. Beatiful Girl - Freddie Martin and His Orchestra

Moten Swing

Another nice set from Classics which concludes with Moten's famous December 13, 1932 recordings. Pianist and bandleader, Bennie Moten helped to establish what is called the Kansas City Jazz style. In 1922 he formed the B. B. & D. Trio (Beenie, Bailey and Dude, although they were popularly referred to as Big, Black and Dirty) and made his recording debut in 1923, when his band accompanied Blues singer Ada Brown on the song "Evil Mama Blues". In 1926, Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra began recording for Victor. Moten had several bands touring under his name in the 1920s. Moten started "raiding" another Kansas City band, The Blue Devils for musicians. Count Basie left the Blue Devils in 1929 and was followed by Jimmy Rushing, Hot Lips Page, Eddie Durham and Ben Webster, thus forming the nucleus of the future Count Basie Orchestra. When Moten died in 1935 from a botched tonsillectomy, Basie took over the band. Under his leadership the band emerged as one of the greatest of all Jazz bands. (from Redhotjazz.com) Some hi-res scans are here. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Count
2. Liza Lee
3. Get Goin' (Get Ready to Love)
4. Professor Hot Stuff
5. When I'm Alone
6. New Moten Stomp
7. As Long as I Love You
8. Somebody Stole My Gal
9. Now That I Need You
10. Bouncin' Round
11. Ya Got Love
12. I Wanna Be Around My Baby All the Time
13. Toby
14. Moten Swing
15. Blue Room
16. Imagination
17. New Orleans
18. Only Girl I Ever Loved
19. Milenberg Joys
20. Lafayette
21. Prince of Wails
22. Two Times

In The Groove

The third Andy Kirk CD put out by the Classics label (reissuing all of Kirk's swing-era recordings) is primarily for completists, for the then-popular but rather dated singer Pha Terrell is on the majority of the songs. There are some good moments from pianist Mary Lou Williams and tenor saxophonist Dick Wilson (particularly on the instrumentals), with the most memorable numbers being "A Mellow Bit of Rhythm," "Twinklin'," and "The Big Dipper," but Terrell is often difficult to sit through. (from Scott Yannow) Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Downstream
2. In the Groove
3. Worried over You
4. Foolin' Myself
5. I'm Glad for Your Sake (But I'm Sorry for Mine)
6. I'll Get Along Somehow
7. A Mellow Bit of Rhythm
8. In My Wildest Dreams
9. Better Luck Next Time
10. With Love in My Heart
11. What's Mine Is Yours
12. Why Can't We Do It Again?
13. The Key to My Heart
14. I Went to a Gypsy
15. Lover, Come Back to Me
16. Poor Butterfly
17. The Big Dipper
18. Bear Down
19. I Surrender, Dear
20. Twinklin'
21. It Must Be True (You Are Mine, All Mine)
22. I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)
23. Little Joe from Chicago