Last Doller

During his career Selvin recorded more sides than any other person, according to Guinness Book of World Records. This is estimated to be between 13,000 and 20,000 titles. Selvin accomplished this by being talented, but also by recording for dozens of different labels under even more numerous pseudonyms. I seriously doubt that any collection would be all inclusive, but here is Volume 1 from his Columbia period. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Last Doller
2. I Wanna Sing About You
3. You're My Everything
4. You Can't Stop Me from Loving You
5. Makin' Faces at the Man in the Moon
6. Lucille
7. Hot-Cha Medley: You Can Make My Life a Bed of Roses/Say & There I Go, Dreaming Again
8. Was That the Human Thing to Do?
9. You Try Somebody Else
10. When We're Alone
11. Happy Days Are Here Again
12. Whe Yuba Plays the Rumba on the Tuba
13. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
14. It's the Darndest Thing
15. Little Mary Brown
16. She Didn't Say Yes
17. My Sweet Tooth Says I Wanna
18. Take It from Me
19. Who Am I?
20. You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)
21. When the Rest of the Crowd Goes Home

The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away

How can you not like a song called The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away? Crumit came up through Vaudeville and recorded some sides in 1919. His popularity rose with the advent of the microphone which could record his rich tenor tones.

Note: I've taken this down and replaced it with a link to where you can purchase the cd. This was posted long before I learned of a connection I now have with those responsible for issuing this excellent series. I firmly support sharing this great music, but also supporting those who continue to take the time to reissue what otherwise might be lost to posterity. This is why certain labels do not appear here. So kick out a few dollars and buy the cd. It's worth it. Really. Enjoy. +



Tracks

1. Down by the Railroad Track
2. Ukulele Lady
3. Sonya (Yup Alay Yup!)
4. Palesteena
5. Pretty Little Dear
6. Little Brown Jug
7. Jack Is Every Inch a Sailor
8. The Three Trees
9. My Lady
10. The Return of Abdul Abulbul Amir
11. And Then He Took Up Golf
12. Granny's Old Arm Chair
13. Riding Down from Bangor
14. Gum Tree Canoe
15. I Don't Work for a Living
16. I Can't Stand Sittin' in a Cell
17. Would You Like to Take a Walk?
18. Rhymes
19. The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away
20. The Dashing Marine

Don't Be Like That

This cd contains Helen Kane's complete recordings from 1928-1930, she only recorded 5 more sides between 1931-1950. It would be interesting to hear what she might have done without the coquettish voice, but perhaps that's why we have Annette Hanshaw? Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Get Out and Get Under the Moon
2. That's My Weakness Now
3. I Wanna Be Loved by You
4. Is There Anything Wrong in That?
5. Don't Be Like That
6. Me and the Man in the Moon
7. Button up Your Overcoat
8. I Want to Be Bad
9. Do Something
10. That's Why I'm Happy
11. I'd Do Anything for You
12. He's So Unusual
13. Ain'tcha
14. I Have to Have You
15. I'd Go Barefoot All Winter Long (If You'd Fall for Me in the Spring)
16. Dangerous Nan McGrew
17. Thank Your Father
18. I Owe You
19. Readin', Ritin', Rhythm
20. I've Got "It" (But It Don't Do Me No Good)
21. My Man Is on the Make
22. If I Knew You Better

Les Années Folles

A slight change of pace today, here's a three-pack that I picked up in France. I think it could have included more Django, but with 43 artists performing 54 songs it's a decent collection. My favorite here is Barnaby by Fernandel. Edith Piaf alert! (there are three tunes). Enjoy. + + +

Tracks

Chansons de Ces Années-là

1. Heure exquise - Ray Ventura, René Doria, Daniel Marty
2. Paris sera toujours Paris - Maurice Chevalier
3. Le chaland qui passe - Tino Rossi
4. L'accordéonniste - Edith Piaf
5. Fleur de Paris - Maurice Chevalier
6. La jarretière - Arletty
7. J'attendrai - Rina Ketty
8. Ah! ce qu'on s'ai,ait - André Claveau
9. Félicie aussi - Fernandel
10. Sous les becs de gaz - Mistinguett
11. Nuages - Django Reinhardt
12. Une brune ... une blonde - Maurice Chevalier, Ray Ventura
13. La môme frotte toujours - Arletty
14. Du fond du cœur - Tino Rossi
15. Elle fréauentait la rue Pigalle - Edith Piaf
16. Bonsoir, jolie madame - Charles Trenet
17. Les deux moitiés du monde - Maurice Chevalier
18. Lili Marlène - Marlène Dietrich

Les Grandes Dames

1. Les roses blanches - Berthe Sylva
2. Chantez - Mistinguett
3. La femme est faite pour l'homme - Arletty
4. Le chapelle au clair de lune - Léo Marjanne
5. Le fiacre - Yvette Guilbert
6. Heure exquise - Renée Doria
7. La fiancée du pirate - Florelle
8. Le chaland qui passe - Lys Gauty
9. Pars - Yvonne George
10. C'est la saison d'amour - Yvonne Printemps
11. Johnny Palmer - Damia
12. Il ne faut pas briser un rêve - Eva Busch
13. Tout est permis quand on rêve - Liliane Harvey
14. Un jour mon prince viendra - Elyane Celis
15. Si Petite - Lucienne Boyer
16. La java bleue - Frehel
17. La java de cezigue - Edith Piaf
18. J'ai deux amours - Josephine Baker

Les Séducteurs

1. Marinella - Tino Rossi
2. Vous qui passez sans me voir - Jean Sablon
3. Dans la vie; faut pas s'en faire - Albert Préjean
4. La ronde des heures - André Baugé
5. Viens poupoule - Mayol
6. Les gars de la marine - Jean Cyrano
7. Barnabé - Fernandel
8. Si tu reviens - Reda Caire
9. Je t'aime, c'est tout - Jean Lumière
10. Ici, l'on pêche - Jean Tranchant
11. C'est suffisant pour des amants - Jean Sorbier
12. J'ai rêvé d'une fleur - Alibert
13. Le logis du rêve - Georges Thill
14. Le temps des cerises - Marjal
15. Ramona - Saint Granier
16. Avoir un bon copain - Henri Garat
17. La romance de Paris - Charles Trenet
18. Quand on se promène au bord de l'eau - Jean Gabin

Swingy Little Thingy

Allmusic.com suggests that Joe Robichaux's band may have been the only New Orleans-based jazz band to record more than a handful of sides during the Depression. I'll leave it to others to decide if recording an innocuous side with Chick Bullock is a measure of their success or not. Either way, the band plays hot. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Ring dem Bells
2. St. Louis Blues
3. Zola
4. Foot Scuffle
5. King Kong Stomp
6. Stormy Weather
7. Saturday Night Fish Fry Drag
8. Every Tub
9. The Riff
10. After Me the Sun Goes DownRhythm Boys
11. Jig Music
12. You Keep Me Always Living in Sin
13. Sleep, Come on and Take Me
14. Just Like a Falling Star
15. I Would Do Anything for You
16. She Don't Love Me
17. Lazy Bones
18. Forty Second Street
19. Why Should I Cry for You?
20. Shake It and Break It [Take 1]
21. Shake It and Break It [Take 2]
22. That's How Rhythm Was Born
23. Swing Little Thingy [Take 1]
24. Swing Little Thingy [Take 2 or 3]

I've Got A Hundred And Sixty Acres

As requested, here's the second disc from the set. I meant to do this with the post following the first disc but forgot. Click the labels for that. For me, the parody of the post title is worth the price of both discs. This includes some blowups and an alternate take or two. Scans of the booklet insides are included. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Weddin' Day
2. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
3. Here Comes Santa Claus
4. Quicksilver
5. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
6. Lock, Stock And Barrel
7. Ask Me No Questions (And I'll Tell You No Lies)
8. Life Is So Peculiar
9. High On The List
10. Poppa Santa Claus
11. Mele Kalikimaka
12. Black Ball Ferry Line
13. The Yodeling Ghost
14. Forsaking All Others
15. Sparrow In The Tree Top
16. I'll Si-Si Ya In Bahia
17. The Live Oak Tree
18. South Rampart Street Parade
19. Cool Water
20. Jingle Bells (blow-up)
21. Don't Fence Me In (blow-up)
22. The Three Caballeros (blow-up)
23. There's A Fella Waitin' In Poughkeepsie (alternate take)
24. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive (blow-up)
25. The Freedom Train (blow-up)
26. A Hundred And Sixty Acres (parody)

Slippin' Around

The quest for Chick Bullock vocals leads in many directions. Years ago I bought my first Bullock 78s and a discography from a collector in Australia (who edited the 1983 discography), and neither version of I Can't Break the Habit of You was listed. So this was a fun find for me, even if someone else discovered the original 78 (I have since, however, discovered two other 78s that weren't listed). Miff Mole was one of the greatest jazz trombonists and played with the best. His band backed Sophie Tucker for a while, and he later played with Paul Whiteman and Benny Goodman bands. Scans are here. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Delirium (test)
2. Davenport Blues (test)
3. Slippin' Around (test)
4. Harlem Twist (test)
5. Fine Pennies (test)
6. Fine Pennies (test)
7. Crazy Rhythm
8. You Took Advantage of Me
9. You're the Cream in My Coffee
10. Wild Oat Joe
11. I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling
12. That's a Plenty
13. That's a Plenty
14. Birmingham Bertha
15. Moanin' Low
16. You Made Me Love You
17. After You've Gone
18. Navy Blues
19. Lucky Little Devil
20. Navy Blues
21. Lucky Little Devil
22. Slippin' Around
23. Old Cown Hand
24. I Can't Break the Habit of You
25. I Can't Break the Habit of You (test)
26. Love and Learn

Lights Out

This is another one I picked up solely for the four Chick Bullock sides, and the rest makes up one of the best 'surprise' cd's I've ever picked up. With the help of people like Benny Carter, Alex Hill, Gene Krupa, Chick Webb, Bud Freeman, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Teddy Wilson and Eddie Condon this music really swings. Enjoy. +

Tracks


1. There'll Be Some Changes Made
2. I've Found A New Baby
3. Friars Point Shuffle
4. Darktown Strutters Ball
5. Jazz Me Blues
6. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?
7. Free Love
8. Dissonance
9. Swingin' With Mez
10. Love, You're Not The One For Me
11. Old Fashioned Love
12. Apologies
13. Sendin' The Vipers
14. 35th And Calumet
15. Moon Over Miami
16. I Feel Like A Feather In The Breeze
17. Suzannah
18. Lights Out
19. A Melody From The Sky
20. Lost

Biscuit Roller

Two Chick Bullock vocals in this collection of jazz & blues featuring Roy Palmer's trombone work in the Memphis Night Hawks and the Chicago Rhythm Kings. Also, the first two tracks on the Mezz Mezzrow cd is with the Chicago Rhythm Kings. Enjoy. +

Tracks

Memphis Night Hawks
1. Georgia Grind
2. Shanghai Honeymoon
3. Beedle-Um-Bum
4. Biscuit Roller
5. Rukus Juice Shuffle
6. Dirty Dozens Cousins
7. Nancy Jane
8. Jockey Stomp
9. Wild Man Stomp

Big Bill and His Jug Busters
10. M and O Blues

Black Diamond Twins
11. Block and Tackle

Memphis Night Hawks
12. Come on in, Baby
13. Stomp That Thing
14. Endurance Stomp

Bob and Roy
15. The Trombone Slide

Big Bill (Broonzy) and his Jug Busters
16. Rukus Juice Blues

Memphis Night Hawks
17. Sweet Feet

Chick Bullock
18. My Gal Sal
19. Darktown Strutters' Ball

Chicago Rhythm Kings
20. You Battle-Head Beetle-Head
21. It's Too Bad (When the Sisters Start Truckin' Around) -1
22. It's Too Bad (When the Sisters Start Truckin' Around) -2

Bumble Bee Slim
23. When the Music Sounds Good - Memphis Nighthawks -1
24. When the Music Sounds Good - Memphis Nighthawks -2

Chicago Rhythm Kings
25. Shanghai Honeymoon
26. Little Sandwich Wagon

I Got It Bad

Here's an extra today for those who don't like St. Valentine's Day either. Or, for those who just like good singing. Either way, don't forget to at least buy a nice card tomorrow. +

Tracks

1. Am I Blue? - Billie Holiday
2. He's Gone Blues - Bessie Smith
3. You've Got Me Crying Again - Lee Wiley
4. Tears in My Heart - Mildred Bailey
5. Love Me or Leave Me - Teddy Grace
6. I'm up a Tree - Ella Fitzgerald
7. Cry You Out of My Heart - Ella Fitzgerald
8. Stormy Weather - Ivie Anderson
9. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - Ivie Anderson
10. It's Torture - Helen Humes
11. Somebody Else Is Taking My Place - Peggy Lee
12. You Took My Love - Jo Stafford
13. Friend of Yours - Jo Stafford
14. Good-For-Nothin' Joe - Lena Horne
15. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) - Lena Horne
16. There Must Be a Way - Connee Boswell
17. There Will Never Be Another You - Evelyn Knight
18. My Old Flame - Billie Holiday

Swingin' in E Flat

From Allmusic.com, this fine big band was originally formed by drummer Willie Lynch as the Blue Rhythm Band in 1930 and as the Coconut Grove Orchestra, provided backup to Louis Armstrong on some records. In 1931, Irving Mills became their manager and the group was renamed the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. Lynch's departure later that year resulted in Baron Lee fronting the band until Lucky Millinder took over in 1934. They were also the Cotton Club backup band while Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington toured. Scans of the booklet are included. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Ridin' in Rhythm
2. Weary Traveller
3. Buddy's Wednesday Outing
4. Harlem After Midnight
5. Jazz Martini
6. Feelin' Gay
7. Break It Down
8. Kokey Joe
9. Love's Serenade
10. Harlem After Midnight
11. Drop Me off in Harlem
12. Reaching for the Cotton Moon
13. Stuff Is Here (And It's Mellow)
14. Growl
15. Swingin' in E Flat
16. Let's Have a Jubilee
17. Out of a Dream
18. African Lullaby
19. Solitude
20. Dancing Dogs
21. Love's Serenade
22. Keep the Rhythm Going
23. Like a Bolt from the Blue

Savage Rhythm

Here's some fine music from a band that doesn't really have any 'names' involved, except for some arrangements by Benny Carter and a couple of Billy Banks vocals. I listened all the way through on this and it sounds real good. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Savage Rhythm
2. I'm Sorry I Made You Blue
3. Everytime I Look at You
4. Snake Hips
5. The Scat Song
6. Heat Waves
7. Doin' the Shake
8. The Scat Song
9. Cabin in the Cotton
10. Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day
11. The Growl
12. Mighty Sweet
13. Rhythm Spasm
14. Swanee Lullaby
15. White Lightning
16. Wild Waves
17. Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia
18. You Gave Me Everything But Love
19. Old Yazoo
20. Reefer Man
21. Jazz Cocktail
22. Smoke Rings

Aw You Dawg

The Cab Calloway set is probably my favorite from this series. I took both the original and the rips out for a spin today, kicked the tires, etc., so there shouldn't be any data corruption problems. There is however some surface noise from the original transfers which is out of my control and which shouldn't detract from listening to some great music. Calloway said that his band in the 40s was the sound he always tried to achieve, but I prefer the rawer sound of his earlier bands. This is some great stuff. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. It Looks Like Susie
2. Sweet Georgia Brown
3. Basin Street Blues
4. Bugle Call Rag
5. You Rascal, You
6. Stardust
7. You Can't Stop Me From Lovin' You
8. You Dog
9. Somebody Stole My Gal
10. Ain't No Gal In This Town
11. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
12. Trickeration
13. Kickin' The Going Around
14. Down-Hearted Blues
15. Without Rhythm
16. Corinne Corinna
17. Stack-O'Lee Blues
18. The Scat Song
19. Cabin In The Cotton
20. Strictly Cullud Affair
21. Aw You Dawg
22. Minnie The Moocher's Wedding Day
23. Dinah

Zonky

William McKinney scored a coup when he hired Don Redman away from Fletcher Henderson in 1927, and his band was strong competition to those of Henderson and Ellington. But when Redman left in 1931 to form his own hugely successful band, the writing was on the wall and the Cotton Pickers folded in 1934. This set gives a hint of what's to come from Don Redman, with help from Benny Carter, Fats Waller and Coleman Hawkins on some classic tunes. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Plain Dirt
2. Gee, Ain't I Good To You?
3. I'd Love It
4. The Way I Feel Today
5. Miss Hannah
6. Peggy
7. Wherever There's A Will, Baby
8. I'll Make Fun For You
9. Words Can't Express The Way I Feel
10. If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight
11. Then Someone's In Love
12. Honeysuckle Rose
13. Zonky
14. Travelin' All Alone
15. Just A Shade Corn
16. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?
17. Okay, Baby
18. Blues Sure Have Got Me
19. Hullabaloo
20. I Want A Little Girl
21. Cotton Picker's Scat
22. Talk To Me
23. Rocky Road
24. Laughing At Life

Ballin' The Jack

As one reviewer said, no jazz collection is complete without at least a healthy sampling of Eddie Condon. -- Unfortunately, my only Condon disc has joined my Chick Webb in the trash pile! Sorry to those who downloaded it, but I listened to the disc just now while in the car and the noise was horrible. I hadn't listened to most of these for years now so it could possibly be a storage issue, and I'll have to listen to every cd first before ripping I guess. That's not a bad thing, just time consuming. Sorry again.

Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train

You can't go wrong with Louis Armstrong. Here's the review from Allmusic.com: During the long cold winter of 1931-1932, Louis Armstrong stationed himself in Chicago, where he spun out the last of his OKeh recordings. This volume of vintage jazz opens with 16 of these marvelous sides. Backed by nine resilient players, the trumpeter sings on each and every track, handling light novelties and romantic ballads with relative ease. He makes "Lazy River" sound like he wrote it himself. "Chinatown" has a magnificent spoken intro and vocal by the leader, followed by what he describes as "a little argument between the saxophones and the trumpet," culminating of course in a dazzling display of Armstrong's unsurpassed virtuosity. Brimming with humorous commentary and theatrical patter, "The Lonesome Road" represents a special subgenre of sanctified church burlesques. After Armstrong asks aloud "What kind of church is this?," someone can't resist interjecting a flippant salute to "you vipers." Apparently limbered up and in the mood for conversation, Armstrong introduces his musicians with relish all throughout a fine version of "I Got Rhythm." His handling of "Kickin' the Gong Around" is less theatrical but swings more solidly than Cab Calloway's hyperventilated version. Always ready to outdo even himself, Armstrong recorded a sequel to his "Tiger Rag" with someone loudly counting off the number of choruses as he blew them. What appears to have been his last OKeh record, "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" backed with "Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long," was recorded in Chicago on March 11, 1932, and given the serial number 41560. His next opportunity to record in front of his own band occurred in Camden, NJ, on December 8th. Armstrong was now officially working for the Victor record company. His 11-piece band included trombone legend Big Charlie Green, reedman and composer Edgar Sampson, and percussion wizard Chick Webb, who provided amazing locomotive effects on his snare drum on "Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train." Mezz Mezzrow is said to have been responsible for ringing the bells on this track. This excellent segment of the Louis Armstrong chronology ends with a four-and-a-half-minute "Medley of Armstrong Hits," with a nine-piece Victor studio band backing him every step of the way. Enjoy. +
(Thanks to Guy Fawkes for contributing this one!)

Tracks

1. Lazy River
2. Chinatown, My Chinatown
3. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away)
4. Stardust
5. You Can Depend on Me
6. Georgia on My Mind
7. The Lonesome Road
8. I Got Rhythm
9. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
10. Kickin' the Gong Around
11. Home (When Shadows Fall)
12. All of Me
13. Love, You Funny Thing
14. The New Tiger Rag
15. Keepin' Out of Mischief Now
16. Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long
17. That's My Home
18. Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train
19. I Hate to Leave You Now
20. You'll Wish You'd Never Been Born
21. Medley of Armstrong Hits, Pt. 2: When You're Smiling/St. James Infirmary/Dinah

Stormy Weather

Another from this out-of-print series (Volume 11), this one includes Lena Horne's work from 1936-1941. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. That's What Love Did to Me?
2. I Take to You
3. Good-For-Nothin' Joe
4. The Captain and His Men
5. You're My Thrill
6. Haunted Town
7. St. Louis Blues
8. Careless Love
9. Aunt Hagar's Blues
10. Beale Street Blues
11. Love Me a Little Little
12. Don't Take Your Love from Me
13. Out of Nowhere
14. Prisoner of Love
15. Stormy Weather
16. What Is This Thing Called Love?
17. Ill Wind
18. The Man I Love
19. Where or When
20. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues
21. Mad About the Boy
22. Moanin' Low