Have You Ever Met That Funny Reefer Man?

This cd is one of my all-time favorites. It includes Cab's first recording of Reefer Man as well as Angeline, Old Man of the Mountain, and Eadie Was a Lady. It also includes Git Along with a very rare guest vocalist, this time a duet with Chick Bullock. I much prefer the older Cab Calloway recordings before his music became more polished in the 1940s, though Calloway himself expressed a preference for the opposite. I've got several more to come from this series. Enjoy, and Happy New Year. +

*** I forgot to mention something I just discovered today while searching for the cover image. Note the "chronogical" at the top of the label. Apparently it was misspelled for years before Classics corrected the error - and it only took me 13 years to notice!

Tracks

1. How Come You Do Me Like You Do
2. Old Yazoo
3. Angeline
4. I'm Now Prepared To Tell The World It's You
5. Swanee Lullaby
6. Reefer Man
7. Old Man Of The Mountain
8. You Gotta Ho-De-Ho (To Get Along With Me)
9. Strange As It Seems
10. This Time It's Love
11. Git Along
12. Hot Toddy
13. I've Got The World On A String
14. Harlem Holiday
15. Dixie Doorway
16. Wah-Dee-Dah
17. Sweet Rhythm
18. Beale Street Mama
19. That's What I Hate About Love
20. The Man From Harlem
21. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
22. My Sunday Gal
23. Eadie Was A Lady
24. Gotta Go Places And Do Things

The Little Things In Life

Another one I picked up merely because I liked other cds from their catalog. From All Music Guide Pianist/arranger Fred Rich led a first-class hot dance band during the second half of the 1920s and the first half of the '30s. He employed some of the most technically skilled white jazz players around in those segregated days, including clarinetist Benny Goodman, altoist/clarinetist Jimmy Dorsey, trombonist Tommy Dorsey, trumpeter Leo McConville, violinist Joe Venuti and guitarist Eddie Lang, among others. The overall result was melodic jazz-flavored dance music that often contained short bursts of all-out jazz. This initial CD from the TOM label has 22 strong examples of Rich's dance music; even the vocals (by Smith Ballew, Paul Small, possibly Dick Robertson and a Rhythm Boys-inspired group called the Rollickers) are good for the period. Highlights of the set include "Wishing and Waiting for Love," "Revolutionary Rhythm," "You're Lucky to Me," two versions of "I Got Rhythm," "Cheerful Little Earful" and "I'm Tickled Pink with a Blue-Eyed Baby." Some of the lyrics of the songs might be a bit insipid, but the music, which is easily recommended to vintage jazz collectors, is consistently enjoyable. ~ Scott Yanow
Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Why Can't You
2. Nobody But You
3. Wishing and Waiting for Love
4. Revolutionary Rhythm
5. Dixie Jamboree [#1]
6. He's So Unusual [#1]
7. Dixie Jamboree [#2]
8. He's So Unusual [#2]
9. You're Lucky to Me
10. Body and Soul
11. I Got Rhythm #1
12. I'll Be Blue Just Thinking of You
13. I Got Rhythm #2
14. Ukulele Moon
15. My Love for You
16. A Peach of a Pair
17. Someone Sang a Sweeter Song to Mary
18. Cheerful Little Earful
19. Baby's Birthday Party
20. Wedding of the Birds
21. The Little Things in Life
22. I'm Tickled Pink With a Blue-Eyed Baby

The Music Goes 'Round & Around

Recordings from the famous BBC Dance Orchestra directed by Henry Hall, 1933-1936. I don't know much about Hall except that he recorded some fine music after taking over when Jack Payne suddenly resigned. Enjoy. +

Tracks

01 Five-Fifteen
02 I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket
03 Love Is In The Air Again
04 June In January
05 Who Made Little Boy Blue?
06 Sidewalks Of Cuba
07 April In Paris
08 The Music Goes 'Round And Around
09 Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart
10 Honey Coloured Moon
11 Song Without Words
12 Thank You Mister Bach
13 All I Do Is Dream Of You
14 Radio Times
15 Moon Over Miami
16 Anything Goes
17 There Was An Old Woman
18 Buffoon
19 Red Sails In The Sunset
20 Curly Head
21 We Saw The Sea
22 Play To Me Gypsy
23 You'Re The Top
24 I Get A Kick Out Of You
25 The Teddy'S Bear'S Picnic
26 Here'S To The Next Time

Berlin By Night

Sometimes I pick music purely out of historical curiosity, as was the case with this interesting cd. From All Music Guide: This volume of songs, Berlin by Night, which marks German nightlife before and during Hitler's reign of horror, is one that showcases the desperate love of the people of Berlin for nocturnal enjoyment. Much of the music here was performed on State radio as well as in cabarets and in revues. The package features 20 tracks from the years listed as well as copious notes on each and every selection: author, arranger, performer, vocalist; and a paragraph or so surrounding the history of each track. Along with the "classics" of the era, such as Lale Andersen's "Lili Marlene" and Comedy Harmonists' "Wochenend und Sonnenschein," there is at least one cut that was a favorite of der Fuhrer's: Willi Forst's "Sag Biem Abschied Leise 'Servus." But it's not all dark and gloomy to be sure. There are bona fide German "jazz" hits such as Lilian Harvey and Willie Fritsch's "Ich Tanze Mit Dir In Den Himmel Hinen," and glorious vocalizing numbers like the Ludwig Ruth Orchestra and Metropol Vocalists on "Regentroffen." In all, this is a solid historical volume that tells its own story of a traversal, from sweet decadence to an attempt at cultural denial, and it's all assembled beautifully here by the historical department at EMI with fine sound. If historical music is your trip, this one is bound to grab you. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Ungarwein (Gipsy Wine)
2. Ich Tanze Mit Dir in Den Himmel Hinein by Lilian Harvey
3. Gruss und Kuss Veronika by Weintraub's Syncopators
4. Regentropfen (Raindrops) by Ludwig Rüth Orchestra
5. Musik! Musik! Musik!
6. Arpanetta
7. Abends in Der Taverne by Wilhelm Strienz
8. Du Hast Glück Bei Den Frau'n Bel Ami by Lizzy Waldmüller
9. Wochenend' und Sonnenschein (Happy Days Are Here Again) by The Comedian Harmonists
10. Liebling, Mein Herz Lässt Dich Grüssen (Darling) by Lilian Harvey
11. Rosamunde [Polka] by Will Glahe
12. Liebe Ist Ein Geheimnis [Love Is a Secret]
13. O Mia Bella Napoli by Rudi Schuricke
14. Lili Marlene by Lale Anderson
15. Schönes Wetter Heute (Fine Weather Today) by Helmut Zacharias
16. Sing "Nachtigall, Sing" by Evelyn Künneke
17. Liebe, Kleine Schaffnerin by Rudolf Carl
18. Es Geht Alles Vorüber, Es Geht Alles Vorbei by Lale Anderson
19. Das Alte Spinnrad by Herbert Ernst Groh
20. Sag' Beim Abschied Leise "Servus" by Willi Forst

East St. Louis Toodle-Oo

This set begins with the very first of Duke's recordings (as the Washingtonians) in chronological order. I think I have everything up through the mid-late thirties in this series, so look for those in the future. The file includes hi-res scans of the covers and booklet info. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Choo Choo
2. Rainy Nights
3. I'm Gonna Hang Around My Sugar
4. Trombone Blues
5. Georgia Grind
6. Parlor Social Stomp
7. Wanna-Go-Back-Again Blues
8. If You Can't Hold The Man You Love
9. Animal Crackers
10. Li'l Farina
11. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
12. Birmingham Breakdown
13. Immigration Blues
14. The Creeper
15. New Orleans Low-Down
16. Song Of The Cotton Field
17. Birmingham Breakdown
18. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
19. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
20. Hop Head
21. Down In Our Alley Blues
22. Black And Tan Fantasy
23. Soliloquy

Let's Have Another Cup Of Coffee

Another collection of Depression-era tunes, this one includes my favorite version of Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? by Charlie Palloy as well as this post's title by Chick Bullock. The back cover is some sort of Depression-era cartoon, but is extremely difficult to make out due to all of the track information. The cover seems to have nothing to do with the cd at all, and looks sort of like the cover from J.J. Cale's Shades. Sometimes I wonder what goes through the minds of record company marketing people... Enjoy. +

Tracks

01 Happy Days are Here Again - Leo Reisman & His Orchestra
02 I'm in the Market For You - George Olsen & His Orchestra
03 Ten Cents a Dance - High Hatters
04 Cheer Up! Good Times are Comin' - Phil Spitalny's Music
05 Cheer Up! Smile! Nertz! - Eddie Cantor with Phil Spitalny's Music
06 I'm an Unemployed Sweetheart - Ted Campus & His Campus Boys
07 Cigarettes, Cigars - Florence Desmond
08 (We've Got To) Put That Sun Back in That Sky - Roane's Pennsylvanians
09 Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee - Waring's Pennsylvanians (with Chick Bullock)
10 Riddle Me This - Abe Lyman & His Orchestra
11 The Clouds Will Soon Roll By - Leo Reisman & His Orchestra
12 Brother Can You Spare a Dime - Charlie Palloy
13 There's a New Day Comin' - Sam Ross Silvertown Orchestra
14 If I Ever Get a Job Again - Dick Robertson
15 Remember My Forgotten Man - Hal Kemp & His Orchestra
16 When the Morning Rolls Around - Henry Hall & The BBC Dance Orchestra
17 Are You Makin' Any Money? - Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
18 I Gotta Get Up and Go To Work - Irving Aaronson & HIs Commanders
19 We're in the Money - Benny Morton & His Orchestra
20 Repeal the Blues - Ray Noble & The New Mayfair Orchestra
21 We're Out of the Red - Dave Harman & His Orchestra
22 Gotta Go To Work Again - The California Ramblers
23 Dusty Road - Nelson Eddy
24 Long As You've Got Your Health - Ray Noble & His Orchestra

Are You Making Any Money?

This is a very nice collection though I've yet to see the PBS documentary for which it was the soundtrack. Urban legend has it that Gloomy Sunday by Billie Holiday inspired hundreds of suicides, though this has never been substantiated. The Chick Bullock tune here was the impetus for beginning my collection, I now have roughly 350 of Bullock's known 740 or so recordings. Also included is an example of Henry Ford's attempts to instill "culture" in his poor, uncultured, poorly educated and (often) immigrant workforce. As if they had no culture of their own! Enjoy. +

Tracks

01 Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? - Rudy Vallee
02 All Of Me - Louis Armstrong
03 It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
04 Hungarian Varsovienne - Henry Ford's Old Fashioned Dance Orchestra
05 Detroit Moan - Victoria Spivey and Her Chicago Four
06 We Sure Got Hard Times Now - Barbecue Bob
07 Dark Was The Night (Cold Was The Ground) - Blind willie Johnson
08 I'm Slappin' Seventh Avenue - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
09 Mean Low Blues - Blues Birdhead (James Simons)
10 Happy Days Are Here Again - Casa Loma Orchestra
11 There's A New Day Comin' - Ted Lewis & His Band
12 I Surrender, Dear - Red Norvo & His Swing Septet
13 Creole Love Call - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
14 Gloomy Sunday - Billie Holiday
15 Headin' For Better Times - Ted Lewis & His Band
16 NRA Blues - Bill Cox
17 Are You Makin' Any Money? - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers
18 He's In The Ring (Doin' The Same Old Thing) - Memphis Minnie McCoy
19 With Plenty Of Money And You - Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
20 Dawn Of A New Day (Official Song of the New York World's Fair) - Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights
21 Whistle While You Work - Artie Shaw and His New Music

Wizard of the Strings

When I picked this up the only thing I knew about Roy Smeck was that some Chick Bullock recordings were issued under his name. This set is rather short (only 41 minutes) but it's more than enough to hear what a musician he was. You can also see footage of Smeck showcasing his amazing talents in some short films on youtube. And you can get the album (including covers, booklet) here. +

Tracks


01. 12th Street Rag
02. Frettin' Blues
03. Shuffle Off To Buffalo
04. Limehouse Blues
05. Nifty Pickin'
06. Tough Pickin'
07. Slippery Fingers
08. Steel Guitar Rag
09. Tiger Rag
10. Guitarese
11. Farewell Blues
12. Ukulele Bounce
13. Bugle Call Rag
14. Laughing Rag

Swingin' Down The Lane

I had picked up a Billboard collection of 1920s hits and heard Swingin' Down the Lane, like it, and found this. Session info can be found in a hi-res scan of the back cover (see the link).

(from All Music Guide) At its best, the Isham Jones Orchestra was capable of playing real jazz. The strongest and hottest instrumental tracks woven into this Memphis Archives compilation emanate a substantiality approaching that of early Fletcher Henderson or very early Duke Ellington. "Farewell Blues" and "Memphis Blues," recorded in January 1923, swing a little on the strength of the melodies. Even "I'm Sitting on Top of the World" (not to be confused with the blues tune by Howlin' Wolf) cooks with inspired precision. "It's the Blues" and "Three Thirty Blues" are among the best recordings this band ever made. Most satisfying was the expressive cornet playing of Louis Panico, an element that was missing after September 1924. Panico's contribution to this band was roughly comparable to what Louis Metcalf, Arthur Whetsol, and Bubber Miley accomplished on some of Ellington's earliest recordings. Another aspect of Isham Jones is also documented here: it was essentially that of a pit orchestra accustomed to backing up pop vocalists and vaudeville entertainers. Bearing in mind the fact that this orchestra worked regularly with Al Jolson, the selections featuring singers -- particularly Billy Jones and Ernest Hare, usually billed as the Happiness Boys -- illustrate this important function most effectively. Even quite a number of the instrumental performances are noticeably reined in by shuffle rhythms that hardly manage to break free of the vaudevillian pop mode. This might explain why many jazz historians have concentrated on Isham Jones the composer of great melodies destined to become jazz standards rather than on Isham Jones the leader of an all-purpose popular dance band that periodically incorporated real jazz into its performing itinerary. +

Tracks

1. Farewell Blues
2. Memphis Blues
3. Nobodys Sweetheart
4. Blue Evening Blues
5. It Had To Be You
6. My Best Girl
7. Why Couldn't It Be Poor Little Me
8. I'll See You In My Dreams
9. Danger
10. Headin' For Home
11. Paddelin' Madeline Home
12. That Certain Party
13. I'm Sittin On The Top Of The World
14. I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight
15. It's The Blues
16. Three-Thirty Blues
17. What's The Use?
18. Swinging Down The Lane

With Plenty of Money and You

I admit this doesn't really fit in with the jazz I usually post, but sometimes I just like a good melody. Besides, it was Chick Bullock's version of "With Plenty of Money and You" that led me to pick this up. Unfortunately I grabbed the wrong one and many of his better hits are on the Art Deco series issue (which I will post at some point). Still, there are some good tunes to be heard. +

Tracks (covers)

1. Hollywood Hotel: I'm Like A Fish Out Of Water

2. Gold Diggers Of 1937: With Plenty Of Money And You

3. On The Avenue: I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

4. Gold Diggers Of 1937: Let's Put Our Heads Together

5. The Singing Marine: 'Cause My Baby Says It's So

6. The Varsity Show: You've Got Something There

7. Hearts Divided: Two Hearts Divided

8. There's Two Sides To Every Story

9. Gold Diggers Of 1937: Speaking Of The Weather

10. You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming

11. Hollywood Hotel: I've Hitched My Wagon To A Star

12. On The Avenue: This Year's Kisses

13. The Gold Diggers Of 1937: All's Fair In Love And War

14. The Varsity Show: Moonlight On The Campus

15. The Singing Marine: You Can't Run Away From Love Tonight

16. Stage Struck: In Your Own Quiet Way

17. Shipmates Forever: Don't Give Up The Ship

18. Life Of The Party: Roses In December

19. On The Avenue: You're Laughing At Me

20. The Singing Marine: Song Of The Marines

Sensational Mood

Oops - I forgot the link. It's there now.

Another hard to find disc, though there are probably similar collections on other labels. While getting the house ready for the holidays and guests I located some cds of scans of many of my cds. Unfortunately I don't have a better cover for this (2 cds remain unreadable), but I also had scanned the info pages which are often useful. For instance, track 4 is an instrumental version which was rejected for some reason (sounds fine to me). Enjoy. +


Tracks

01 Oh! You Sweet Thing
02 Blue Drag
03 I Love You Because I Love You (Vocal William Franklin)
04 I Love You Because I Love You (Instrumental) (rejected)
05 Sensational Mood
06 Love Me Tonight
07 Down Among The Sheltering Palms
08 Rosetta
09 Why Must We Part?
10 Maybe I'm To Blame
11 Cavernism
12 Take It Easy
13 Harlem Lament
14 Bubbling Over
15 I Want A Lot Of Love
16 Just To Be In Caroline
17 We Found Romance
18 Blue
19 Madhouse
20 Julia
21 Darkness
22 You're The One Of My Dreams
23 Swingin' Down

Drop A Nickel In The Slot

Dick Robertson was one of the busiest singers in the business from the late 1920s until the late 1940s. Like Chick Bullock and others, he used numerous pseudonyms to get around the various contracts and avoid glutting the market with records under his own name. He recorded with many of the best musicians and bands of the day, though he's been ridiculed by some critics. In my opinion, he's got a great vocal range yet like many singers probably had to sing what was put in front of him. Often that was premium grade crapola. I've got this collection here, and then at least six other cds of music from 78s that I picked up in a trade. As soon as I can find the text files to them I'll start posting them. In the meantime, enjoy these. +

Tracks

1. Too Marvellous For Words
2. Toodle-Oo
3. It Looks Like Rain In Cherry Blossom Lane
4. The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down
5. Gone With The Wind
6. You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming
7. Blossoms On Broadway
8. Roses In December
9. Getting Some Fun Out Of Life
10. That Old Gang Of Mine
11. My Gal Sal
12. The Rhythm Of The Snowflakes
13. Bob White (Watcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)
14. You're A Sweetheart
15. You Started Something
16. I Wonder What's Become Of Sally
17. Somebody's Thinking Of You Tonight
18. Goodnight Angel
19. Let's Sail To Dreamland
20. Drop A Nickel In The Slot
21. You Went To My Head
22. Cry Baby, Cry
23. Chinese Laundry Blues (Mr. Wu)
24. I Only Want A Buddy, Not A Sweetheart

Froggy Bottom

By the time I picked this up I figured that any cd on this label would be a good bet. This one remains one of my favorites. (I can't believe this is selling for $45 used!) (review from Amazon.com) Most of this CD consists of recordings made by Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy, including Mary Lou Williams on the piano. Instrumentals include Lotta Sax Appeal, Mess-a-Stomp, Blue Clarinet Stomp, Cloudy, Somepin' Slow and Low, Snag It, Sweet and Hot, Mary's Idea, Corky Stomp, Gettin' Off a Mess, and best of all, Froggy Bottom. Mary Lou Williams also does Margie as a piano solo. We also get some really fine songs, the best of which have Billy Massey doing the vocals: I Lost My Gal From Memphis, Loose Ankles, Honey Just For You, Once or Twice, and You Rascal You. Once or Twice is a fun song, written in response to the song, Four or Five Times, performed by Earl Hines. Later, Cab Calloway recorded an answer to both songs, called Six or Seven Times. The rendition on this album of You Rascal You is in the hokum style and makes an interesting contrast to the way it's done by Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway. Toward the end of the album, we are treated to the dynamic Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys. Blanche, Cab's big sister, was the first woman to lead an all-male band. She sings I Need Lovin' and There's Rhythm in the River. Both bands perform Casey Jones Special. +

Tracks

01 Mess-A-Stomp (1929)
02 Blue Clarinet Stomp (1929)
03 Cloudy (1929)
04 Casey Jones Special (1929)
05 Somepin' Slow And Low (1929)
06 Lotta Sax Appeal (1929)
07 Corky Stomp (1929)
08 Froggy Bottom (1929)
09 I Lost My Gal From Memphis (1930)
10 Loose Ankles (1930)
11 Snag It (1930)
12 Sweet And Hot (1930)
13 Mary's Idea (1930)
14 Once Or Twice (1930)
15 Gettin' Off A Mess (1930)
16 Dallas Blues (1930)
17 Travellin' That Rocky Road (1930)
18 Honey, Just For You (1930)
19 You Rascal You (1930)
20 Saturday (1930)
21 Sophomore (1930)
22 Casey Jones Blues (1931)
23 There's Rhythm In The River (1931)
24 I Need Lovin' (1931)
25 Margie (1939)

Poor Man's Blues

It's all about packaging, isn't it? This "box set" was simply two cds and a simple booklet - and is called "volume 4." Hmph! This set includes "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out." I'll post the second disc in the near future. (from Amazon.com) These recordings reaching from the height of Bessie Smith's fame into her decline in popularity are required listening, covering the years 1928 through 1931. Not only was her voice stronger than ever, but her control over the material was topnotch; she balanced on the fine line between seductive charm and overt sexuality with apparent ease. Some of her best material ever appears on volume 4 of this 5-volume set, including "Standin' in the Rain Blues," "Empty Bed Blues" (speaking of overtness...), "Devil's Gonna Git You," "I'm Wild About That Thing," "Blue Spirit Blues"... but it's useless to even try to list favorites. Smith's voice is so rich and expressive despite the primitive recording technology of the day, one can only imagine what it must have been like to hear her live. And trombonist Charlie Green and pianist James P. Johnson are featured prominently here as well. --Genevieve Williams +
Tracks

1-01 Standin' In The Rain Blues
1-02 It Won't Be You
1-03 Spider Man Blues
1-04 Empty Red Blues (Part 1)
1-05 Empty Bed Blues (Part 2)
1-06 Put It Right Here (Or Keep It Out There)
1-07 Yes Indeed He Do!
1-08 Devil's Gonna Git You
1-09 You Ought To Be Ashamed
1-10 Washwoman's Blues
1-11 Slow And Easy Man
1-12 Poor Man's Blues
1-13 Please Help Me Get Him Out Of Mind
1-14 Me And My Gin
1-15 I'm Wild About That Thing
1-16 You've Got To Give Me Some
1-17 Kitchen Man
1-18 I've Got What It Takes, But It Breaks My Heart To Give It Away
1-19 Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
1-20 Take It Right Back ('Cause I Don't Want It Here)

King Porter Stomp

Not being very knowledgeable on jazz, sometimes I took a chance in the hopes that a Chick Bullock vocal just might not be listed on the back. This series is usually pretty good at highlighting some vocalists and key musicians on both the front and back covers but sometimes they didn't have room for everyone, so what the heck right? Well, no soap on this one. However it became the first of a half dozen or so Fletcher Henderson cds that I picked up because the music is just that fantastic. Enjoy another "[This] item has been discontinued by the manufacturer" selection.

From All Music Guide: With its high musicianship and many talented soloists (including trumpeters Rex Stewart and Bobby Stark, trombonist Jimmy Harrison, Coleman Hawkins on tenor and altoist Benny Carter), the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra should have prospered during this period, but unaccountably its leader (never a strong businessman) seemed to be losing interest in the band's fortunes and made several bad decisions. The result is that by 1931 Henderson's orchestra was struggling while Duke Ellington's was becoming a household name. This Classics CD, in covering over three years, demonstrates how few recordings this band made (only four songs apiece in both 1929 and 1930), although the quality largely makes up for the quantity. The original band version of "King Porter Stomp" and an explosive "Oh Baby" are the highpoints of this satisfying collection. - Scott Yanow, All Music Guide Session info scan included. Enjoy. +

Tracks 

1. Dear, on a Night Like This
2. There's a Rickety Rackety Shack (By a Rickety Rockety Road)
3. Sorry
4. King Porter Stomp
5. D-Natural Blues
6. Oh Baby
7. Feelin' Good
8. I'm Feelin' Devilish (Oh by Golly Oh)
9. Hop Off
10. Old Black Joe's Blues
11. Come on Baby
12. Easy Money
13. Freeze and Melt
14. Raisin' the Roof
15. Blazin'
16. The Wang Wang Blues
17. Chinatown, My Chinatown
18. Somebody Loves Me
19. Keep a Song in Your Soul
20. What Good Am I Without You?
21. I've Found What I Wanted in You
22. My Gal Sal
23. My Pretty Girl

Melody From The Sky

I picked this up years ago solely for the Chick Bullock track, but was pleasantly surprised with the rest of this third volume of the first crooners. I would add a better image of the cover but I don't have a scanner and this is all I could find. Enjoy. +

Tracks

01 Melody From The Sky - Lee Bennett
02 Music Maestro Please - Al Bowlly
03 While A Cigareete Was Burning - Carl Brisson
04 Two Sleepy People - Chick Bullock
05 You Are Too Beautiful - Buddy Clark
06 I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now - Perry Como
07 Don't Let That Moon Get Away - Bing Crosby
08 Blue Moon - Bob Crosby
09 This Year's Kisses - Skinnay Ennis
10 Easy To Love - Eddy Howard
11 We Can't Go On This Way - Nick Lucas
12 You're Slightly Terrific - Tony Martin
13 I Can't Get Started With You - Red McKenzie
14 In The Still Of The Night - Vaughn Monroe
15 Midnight Blue - Russ Morgan
16 September In The Rain - Dick Robertson
17 I'll Be Seeing You - Dick Todd
18 Soon (There'll Just Be Two Of Us) - Arthur Tracy
19 Everything You Said Came True - Dick Webster
20 Harbor Lights - Rudy Vallee

Time On My Hands

From the first note I heard Lee Wiley sing, I was completely hooked. As one reviewer noted, she had a way of singing that made it sound so personal - that she was singing directly to you. I agree. When I met my wife and made some cd mixes for her, I included Time On My Hands and now it is 'our' song. But my favorite is really Take It From Me which she recorded with Leo Reisman's Orchestra. I love the way the song sways gently, then builds in intensity. A perfect song, in my opinion. But judge for yourselves. This collection is from Wiley's "pop" period before she became known more for her great jazz sides. +

Tracks

1. Take It from Me
2. Time on My Hands
3. Got the South in My Soul
4. You're an Old Smoothie
5. A Tree Was a Tree
6. You've Got Me Crying Again #1
7. You've Got Me Crying Again #2
8. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues
9. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues [Take 2]
10. Let's Call It a Day
11. Let's Call It a Day
12. A Hundred Years from Today
13. Easy Come, Easy Go
14. Repeal the Blues
15. Careless Love
16. Motherless Child
17. Hands Across the Table
18. I'll Follow My Secret Heart
19. What Is Love?
20. I've Got You Under My Skin
21. Let's Call It a Day [Take B]
22. Let's Call It a Day [Take D]

Happy Feet

I thought this was a good series, even if sometimes the tunes are not the most popular or well-known versions. The tunes were usually recorded by numerous artists, and I don't think there are any disappointments here. There are a couple of tunes from Annette Hanshaw (always a good choice), as well as Ruth Etting's most famous tune. My favorite here is Three Little Words from the Rhythm Boys (Bing Crosby, Al Rinker, Harry Barris) with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Trivia time: Harry Barris was the uncle of Chuck Barris (the Gong Show), and Al Rinker was the brother of the great jazz vocalist Mildred Bailey. +

Tracks

01. Happy Days Are Here Again - Jack Hylton and His Orchestra With Vocal Trio
02. With A Song In My Heart - Hutch
03. Puttin' On The Ritz - Fred Astaire
04. Little White Lies - Annette Hanshaw with Her Sizzling Syncopators
05. Falling In Love Again - Marlene Dietrich with Freidrich Hollander und sein Jazz Symphoniker
06. Happy Feet - Paul Whiteman with The Rhythm Boys - Joe Venuti - violin
07. Georgia On My Mind - Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra
08. When You're Smiling - Louis Armstrong Orchestra
09. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes - Layton & Johnstone with Layton Turner - piano
10. You Brought A New Kind Of Love To - Maruice Chevalier with orchestra conducted by Leonard Joy)
11. Exactly Like You - Elsie Carlisle with instrumental accompaniement directed by Jay Wilber
12. It Happened In Monterey - John Boles - tenor with Leroy Shields
13. Ten Cents A Dance - Ruth Etting
14. Let Me Sing And I'm Happy - Al Jolson
15. Three Little Words - The Rhythm Boys with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
16. Beyond The Blue Horizon - Jeanette MacDonald
17. I'm Confessing That I Love You - Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
18. My Baby Just Cares For Me - Jack Payne
19. If I Had A Talking Picture Of You - Jacky Hylton & His Orchestra - Sam Browne - vocal
20. Oh! Donna Carla! - George Metaxa with New Mayfair Orchestra conducted by Ray Noble
21. You're Driving Me Crazy - Rudy Vallee and His Connecticut Yankees
22. Without A Song - Lawrence Tibbett
23. Body And Soul - Annette Hanshaw

Pistol Packin' Mama

I recall reading something about how the Andrews Sisters were fighting with each other (not even on speaking terms) during some of these recordings, but I sure can't tell from listening to the great music. They and Bing put out some of the best sides. Today's offering is the first cd (of a 2 cd set) from their complete recordings together. +

Tracks

1-01 Ciribiribin
1-02 Yodelin' Jive
1-03 Pistol Packin' Mama
1-04 Vict'ry Polka
1-05 Jingle Bells
1-06 Santa Claus is Coming to Town
1-07 (There'll Be a) Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
1-08 Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby)
1-09 Don't Fence Me In
1-10 The Three Caballeros
1-11 There's a Fella Waitin' in Poughkeepsie
1-12 Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive
1-13 Along the Navajo Trail
1-14 Good, Good, Good
1-15 Happy, Happy, Happy Wedding Day
1-16 Betsy
1-17 (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
1-18 South America, Take It Away
1-19 Anything You Can Do
1-20 There's No Business Like Show Business
1-21 Go West, Young Man!
1-22 Tallahassee
1-23 The Freedom Train
1-24 Apalachicola, FLA.
1-25 You Don't Have to Know the Language
1-26 A Hundred and Sixty Acres
1-27 At the Flying W

Shivery Stomp

It's cold and wet outside today, and getting colder with a chance for snow tomorrow. But Tram plays it hot. (from Wikipedia) Frankie (Tram) Trumbauer (30 May 1901–11 June 1956) was one of the leading jazz saxophonists of the 1920s and 1930s. Trumbauer is, more than anything, remembered for being the musical companion of Bix Beiderbecke, a companionship that produced some of the finest and most innovative jazz records of the late 1920s. He recruited Beiderbecke for Jean Goldkette's Victor Recording Orchestra, of which he became musical director. In the late 1920s he cut several popular sides with Beiderbecke, including the legendary "Singin' the Blues." After leaving Goldkette, he and Beiderbecke worked briefly for Adrian Rollini, then joined Paul Whiteman's band in 1927. He played with Whiteman for eight of the following nine years. This cd features his recordings from 1923-1929. Enjoy. +

Tracks


1. I Never Miss the Sunshine (I'm So Used to the Rain)
2. San
3. Red Hot
4. Jimtown Blues
5. Tessie! (Stop Teasin' Me)
6. Mishawaka Blues
7. Red Hot Henry Brown
8. Make My Cot Where the Cot-Cot-Cotton Grows
9. Sugar
10. My Heart Stood Still
11. Dancing Shadows
12. Do I Hear You Saying "I Love You"?
13. The Man I Love
14. Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)
15. Don't Leave Me Daddy
16. Singin' the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home)
17. How About Me?
18. Alabammy Snow
19. What a Day!
20. Nobody But You
21. Gotta Feelin' for You
22. Shivery Stomp
23. Reaching for Someone

Wang Wang Blues

(from RedHotJazz.com) Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra was the most popular band of the 1920s and represented the apex of jazz to the general public. Over the years, critics and some musicians like Eddie Condon, have not had kind words to say about the band and have tended to represent Whiteman as a bad influence on the music in his attempts to "Make a lady out of Jazz". Whiteman also "discovered" Bing Crosby, one of many of his famous band hires. +

Tracks

1. Wang Wang Blues
2. Whispering
3. Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
4. Footloose
5. Charlestonette
6. St. Louis Blues
7. Muddy Water
8. I'm Coming Virginia
9. Whiteman Stomp
10. Sensation Stomp
11. Lonely Melody
12. Mississippi Mud
13. Sugar
14. 'Tain't So, Honey, 'Tain't So
15. That's My Weakness Now
16. Felix the Cat
17. Because My Baby Don't Mean "Maybe" Now
18. China Boy
19. Oh, Miss Hannah
20. Rockin' Chair
21. Itchola
22. Farewell Blues

Sister Honky Tonk

(1996) Mae West's career relied entirely on double-entendres and her sexuality, however she gives a pretty good vocal performance on My Old Flame recorded with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1934. The rest .... well, you'll just have to listen. Scans are included (as .tifs). +

As an added bonus I've included the December 12, 1937 radio broadcast of the Chase & Sanborn Hour in which Mae West performed the infamous "Adam and Eve" skit with Don Ameche. The resulting fury of the "moralists" caused NBC to ban her from radio and she wasn't heard on the air again until 1950. Note - Don Ameche's career continued unabated. Look for the full one-hour broadcast with the music in the link above.

Tracks

01 I Like A Guy What Takes His Time
02 Easy Rider
03 I'm No Angel
04 I Found A New Way To Go To Town
05 I Want You, I Need You
06 They Call Me Sister Honky Tonk
07 Willie Of The Valley
08 I Like A Guy What Takes His Time
09 Easy Rider
10 Frankie and Johnny
11 They Call Me sister Honky Tonk
12 That Dallas Man
13 I Found A New Way To Go To Town
14 I Want You, I Need You
15 I'm No Angel
16 When A St. Louis Woman Comes Down to New Orleans
17 My old Flame
18 Memphis blues
19 Troubled Waters
20 He's A Bad, Bad Man
21 Mon Coeur S'ouvre A Ta Voix (Softly Awakes My Heart)
22 I'm An Occidental Woman In An Oriental Mood For Love
23 Mister Deep Blue Sea
24 Little Bar Butterfly
25 On A Typical Tropical Night
26 I Was Saying To The Moon
27 Fifi
28 Now I'm A Lady (Goin' To Town)

Perfidia

Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra (1992) Liner notes are sometimes a rare commodity with rereleases of older music, such is the case with this one. Just over 32 minutes, but you get what you pay for. In this case, I found it in the bargain bin a few years ago. Still, there is some nice music. Perfidia is one of my favorite tunes and Jimmy Dorsey gives it a different treatment. +


Tracks

01 In A Little Spanish Town
02 You Taught Me To Love Again
03 Pet Me Poppa
04 Perfidia
05 The Tender Trap
06 Bula Beige
07 Love For Sale
08 End Of A Love Affair
09 How Little We Know
10 Manhattan
11 Moten Swing
12 Hip Hop
13 Oh! What A Beautiful Morning
14 Open Up That Door

I'll Be Seeing You

This collection was a 1994 sampler for the larger collection of the complete recordings of Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra called The Song Is You. Only 11 tunes, but if you like the earlier Sinatra material then I think it would whet your appetite for more. +

Tracks

01 I'll Be Seeing You
02 Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread)
03 It's A Lovely Day Tomorrow
04 The World Is In My Arms
05 We Three (My Echo, My Shadow & Me)
06 Dolores
07 Everything Happens To Me
08 Let's Get Away From It All
09 Blue Skies
10 Daybreak
11 You're Part Of My Heart

The Roaring Twenties

Another out of print collection, The Golden Years: The Roaring Twenties. When I originally posted this I couldn't find the booklet, but since then have found it and the scans are included in the file. This is a pretty good compilation with a few tracks that show up in many sets, but it does have some lesser common entries such as ODJB, the Revelers, Eddie Walters, and Charlie Straight. I really like Sunny Side Up here because it's such a breezy melody, but the whole cd is good listening. Enjoy. +

Tracks

01 Tiger Rag - Charles Dornberger & His Orchestra
02 Jazz Me Blues - Original Dixie Land Jazz Band
03 Doo Wacka Doo - Isham Jones & His Orchestra
04 I'm Gonna Charleston Back To Charleston - The Revelers
05 Ukulele Lady - Harry Reser's Syncopators
06 Hi-Diddle-Diddle - Charlie Straight & His Orchestra
07 When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along - Al Jolson
08 There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder - Johnny Marvin
09 H'lo Baby - Eddie Walters
10 Changes - Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
11 The Varsity Drag - Sam Lanin & His Famous Players
12 Plenty Of Sunshine - Fred “Sugar” Hall and His Sugar Babies
13 That's My Weakness Now - Helen Kane
14 Makin' Whoopee! - Eddie Cantor
15 Singin' In The Rain - Cliff Edwards
16 Happy Days Are Here Again - Johnny Marvin
17 Sunny Side Up - Chick Endor
18 Red Hot Chicago - Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians

Is Everybody Happy?

During the 1920s, only Paul Whiteman's band was more popular. This set comes mostly from the cd shown below, the final four tracks are from other sources. +

Tracks

1. Is Everybody Happy Now?
2. Frankie and Johnny
3. When My Baby Smiles at Me
4. Darktown Strutter' Ball
5. Aunt Hagar's Blues
6. You've Got That Thing
7. Lonesome Road
8. Egyptian Ella
9. Home Made Sunshine
10. San
11. I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby
12. Sobbin' Blues
13. I'm All Dressed up with a Broken Heart
14. Royal Garden Blues
15. Someday, Sweetheart
16. Dip Your Brush in the Sunshine
17. I'm Sure of Everything but You
18. Somebody Loves You
19. Ev'ning in Caroline
20. Old Playmate
21. Singing a Vagabond Song
22. Buy America!
23. Headin' For Better Times
24. There's A New Day Comin'

Music of Prohibition

Enjoy some great music from the age of Prohibition. Today marks the 75th anniversary of the repeal of the Volstead Act, otherwise known as the 18th Amendment. + (256)

Tracks (covers)

1. Minnie The Moocher (Theme Song) (78rpm Version) - Cab Calloway & His Orchestra
2. Chicago Breakdown - Louis Armstrong
3. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - Duke Ellington & his Orchestra
4. Sugar Foot Stomp - Fletcher Henderson
5. I Got Rhythm - Don Redman
6. Shim Sham Shimmy - The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
7. Stompin' At The Savoy (78rpm Version) - Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra
8. Kater Street Rag - Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra
9. The Mooche - Duke Ellington
10. You Drink Too Much - State Street Swingers
11. Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington
12. Chicago Stomp Down - Duke Ellington
13. Take The A Train (78rpm Version) - Cab Calloway
14. Black And Tan Fantasy - Duke Ellington
15. St. Louis Blues - The Mills Brothers
16. Bootlegger Blues - Mississippi Sheiks
17. Rockin' In Rhythm - Duke Ellington
18. Diga Diga Do - The Mills Brothers
19. Sweet Georgia Brown - California Ramblers
20. When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine - Bert Williams
21. Charleston - California Ramblers
22. Happy Days Are Here Again - Casa Loma Orchestra

Happy Repeal Day!

Aw, hooey! Happy Repeal Day! This day, 75 years ago, the United States Congress repealed the 18th Amendment - known as the Volstead Act - when Utah became the 36th state to ratify what is now the 21st Amendment to the US Constitution. This restored control of alcohol to the states. Although Andrew Volstead sponsored the bill, the 18th Amendment was the work of the Anti-Saloon League's Wayne Wheeler who conceived and drafted the bill.

Unfortunately I still have not digitized my copy of Bob Miller's "Page Mr. Volstead" (the flip side is "Five Cent Glass of Beer") but hope to do that soon. I'm still saving up for the really good turntable. Lacking any specific tunes related to Repeal Day, and seeing that the ranks of the unemployed continue to swell, I offer two tunes. Charlie Palloy's version of Brother, Can You Spare A Dime, and Chick Bullock's Levee Loungers with Are You Making Any Money?

When I get home I'll try to upload some songs of Prohibition. But for the moment, as the minutes in the work day dwindle, I think I'll go home and have a pint. Or two. Enjoy, just don't drink and drive.




(photo of a bartender 75 years ago today, serving the first two legal beers at a bar in Minneapolis, MN)

Ec-Stacy!

A great jazz pianist who got his big break with Benny Goodman's band in 1935, he performed the now famous improvised solo in Sing, Sing, Sing at the very first jazz concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938. Stacy played with the likes of Bix Beiderbecke, Eddie Condon, Bud Freeman, George Gershwin, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Gene Krupa, Jack Teagarden and many others. This collection features Bob Crosby, Goodman, Hampton, Lee Wiley, Muggsy Spanier, The Bud Freeman Trio, Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four, Eddie Condon and the Windy City Seven, George Wettling and the Chicago Rhythm Kings. +

Tracks

1.Barrelhouse
2.Rhythm, Rhythm (I Got Rhythm)
3.Take Me To The Land Of Jazz
4.Rose Of Washington Square
5.Got Rhythm
6.Blue Room
7.Carnegie Jump
8.Darktown Strutters' Ball
9.Madhouse
10.Roll 'Em
11.Big John Special
12.Opus ¾
13.Vultee Special
14.Ec-Stacy
15.Spain
16.Down To Steamboat Tennessee
17.Daybreak Serenade
18.It's Only A Paper Moon
19.In A Mist
20.Candlelights
21.In The Dark/ Flashes
22.I Ain't Got Nobody
23.Blue Fives
24.Ridin' Easy
25.Sing, Sing, Sing (excerpt)

Got The Jitters

Another (out of print) nice find in my quest for Chick Bullock tunes was the music of Don Redman. Redman played mostly clarinet or saxophones, and is known for arranging the charts for Fletcher Henderson in the 1920s, and many of his arrangements became hits for other such as Paul Whiteman, Bing Crosby, Isham Jones, Jimmy Dorsey, Count Basie and Harry James. After leaving Henderson's band in 1927, Don Redman took over McKinney's Cotton Pickers which rivaled the bands of Ellington and Henderson, ultimately leaving in 1931 to form his own band. The Cotton Pickers lasted three more years before disbanding, while Redman continued with success. This collection includes six vocals by Chick Bullock (noted below by an asterisk), but also has some fine vocals by Harlan Lattimore. Redman is the great-uncle of saxophonist Joshua Redman. +

Tracks

1. Mommy, I Don't Want to Go to Bed
2. How Can I Hi-De-Hi (When I Feel So Low-De-Low)
3. Shuffle Your Feet/Bandanna Babies
4. Sophisticated Lady
5. I Won't Tell
6. That Blue-Eyed Baby from Memphis
7. It's All Your Fault
8. Lazy Bones
9. Watching the Knife and Fork Spoon
10. I Found a New Way to Go to Town
11. You Told Me But Half the Story
12. Lonely Cabin
13. She's Not Bad
14. No One Loves Me Like That Dallas Man
15. Our Big Love Scene *
16. After Sundown *
17. Puddin' Head Jones *
18. My Old Man *
19. Tired of It All *
20. Keep on Doin' What You're Doin' *
21. I Wanna Be Loved
22. Got the Jitters
23. Christopher Columbus
24. A Little Bit Later On
25. Lazy Weather

'Tain'T Nobody'S Business If I Do

Clarence Williams was a musician, composer, manager, entrepreneur, producer and worked with many of the jazz greats including Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, James P. Johnson, Don Redman, King Oliver, Coleman Hawkins, and Bessie Smith among others. Many of his compositions are now classics, including "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" and "T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do". In this collection, the latter is sung by Chick Bullock (who also sings tracks 2 and 3). An interesting bit of trivia, Williams' grandson, Clarence Williams III is the actor who played Linc in the Mod Squad. +

Tracks

1. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do
2. I Can't Think of Anything But You
3. Sugar Blues - Clarence Williams
4. Jungle Crawl
5. I Can See You All Over the Place
6. Savin' Up My Baby
7. Milk Cow Blues
8. Black Gal
9. Foolish Little Girl Like You
10. There's Gonna Be the Devil to Pay
11. This Is My Sunday Off
12. Yama Yama Blues
13. Let Every Day Be Mother's Day
14. Lady Luck Blues
15. Cryin' Mood
16. Top of the Town - Clarence Williams' Washboard Band
17. Turn off the Moon - Clarence Williams' Washboard Band
18. More Than That - Clarence Williams' Washboard Band
19. Jammin' - Clarence Williams' Washboard Band
20. Wanted - Clarence Williams' Washboard Band

A higher-res image of the cover can be found here.