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