Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933-1944
Encyclopedia
Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933–1944 is a box set ten-disc
compilation of the complete known studio master recording
s, plus alternate takes
, of Billie Holiday
during the time period indicated, released in 2001 on Columbia/Legacy
, CXK 85470. Designed like an album
of 78s, the medium in which these recordings initially appeared, the 10.5" × 12" box includes 230 tracks, a 116 page booklet with extensive photos
, a song list, discography
, essays by Michael Brooks, Gary Giddins
, and Farah Jasmine Griffin, and an insert of appreciations for Holiday from a diversity of figures including Tony Bennett
, Elvis Costello
, Marianne Faithfull
, B.B. King, Abbey Lincoln
, Jill Scott
, and Lucinda Williams
. At the 44th Grammy Awards on February 27, 2002, the box set won the Grammy Award for Best Historical Album
of the previous year.
, introduced by Columbia Records in 1948. Starting at approximately the turn of the 19th century into the 20th, recorded music arrived on the market in the form of a ten-inch gramophone record
that played at 78 revolutions per minute, two songs of generally no more than four minutes duration per side. The advent of radio increased demand for recorded music played in the home through the 1920s. However, during the Great Depression
, home record sales decreased dramatically, but a relatively viable market still existed for the inexpensive play of records in jukebox
es, which had proliferated during the 1920s and 1930s. Initially, these records featuring Billie Holiday were made with that market in mind.
John Hammond, who had discovered Holiday singing in a Harlem
jazz club
in 1933, arranged for her first recording session that same year on November 27. In the company of Jack Teagarden
, Gene Krupa
, and Hammond's future brother-in-law Benny Goodman
, the two sides with Holiday would be released under Goodman's name. A little over nineteen months later, Holiday would be in another New York studio for her second session in association with Goodman again, as well as Ben Webster
and Cozy Cole
, under the leadership of Teddy Wilson
. From July 2, 1935, through August 7, 1941, Holiday would regularly record, for commercial issue, 78s credited to herself or to Wilson.
With a few exceptions, these records were originally released on labels
other than Columbia which catered to an African American
market, then referred to as race records. The labels Brunswick Records
and Vocalion Records
became fellow companies to Columbia when it was purchased in 1934 by the American Record Corporation
, which had owned Brunswick and Vocalion since late 1931. Records credited to Wilson were released on Brunswick; those to Holiday on Vocalion. With the purchase of ARC in 1939 by CBS
, the corporation re-organized its record labels under the aegis of Columbia as the parent company. Starting in 1940, the Holiday releases were issued on the Okeh Records
imprint, reactivated by CBS to handle its product for the "race record" market.
to the movie short
Symphony in Black by Paramount Pictures
in 1935. Disc eight, tracks three through five, contain aircheck
s with the Count Basie Orchestra
from 1937, the only documentation of Holiday's year-long tenure as Basie's band singer. Disc nine, tracks seven and eight, feature recordings broadcast on the Camel Caravan
radio variety program of January 17, 1939; with backing by the Benny Goodman Orchestra, Billie sings alongside Johnny Mercer
, Martha Tilton
, and Leo Watson
on the second song, Mercer's "Jeepers Creepers
."
The final two tracks of the set, numbers 22 and 23 of disc ten, are from the Esquire
Award Winners Concert at the Metropolitan Opera, broadcast and recorded on V-Discs for distribution to servicemen
fighting overseas during World War II
. Holiday had won top female jazz vocalist for 1943, and became the first African-American woman to sing at the Met. "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me" and "Billie's Blues
," under a different title, are performed accompanied by other Esquire poll winners, Roy Eldridge
, Barney Bigard
, Art Tatum
, Al Casey, Oscar Pettiford
, and Sidney Catlett. This recording took place more than two years after the final studio session in 1941, and during the Petrillo recording ban; the AFM
waived the strike terms for the recording of V-discs.
Original recording sessions took place at the following locations in New York City
: at the 55 Fifth Avenue Studio on November 27, 1933; at the 1776 Broadway Studio from 1935 through January 1939; at the 711 Fifth Avenue Studio from March 1939 through June 1940; at Liederkranz Hall on East 58th Street in September and October 1940; and at Columbia Studios
in their new headquarters at 799 Seventh Avenue in 1941. Known producers
for the original recordings are John Hammond
and Bernie Hanighen
.
of Louis Armstrong
, the collated set by Fletcher Henderson
later called A Study In Frustration, the early Basie band on Decca
, Duke Ellington's
records with Ben Webster
and Jimmy Blanton
for RCA Victor, the Charlie Parker
bebop
sides for Savoy
and Dial
, and the Atlantic
LPs
by Ornette Coleman
, not to mention the expanse of albums by Miles Davis
and John Coltrane
, together and separately.
The sessions coincide with the rise of the swing era
on its way to becoming the popular music of the United States
during the late Depression and war years
. Chosen by Hammond, Hanighen, Holiday, or Wilson, many of the musicians present derived from the top swing bands of the day, such as those by Ellington, Basie, Goodman, Artie Shaw
, Jimmie Lunceford
, and Cab Calloway
, among others. Of special note are the records cut with members of the Basie band, Holiday herself hired by Basie in 1937, including his fabulous rhythm section of Freddie Green
, Walter Page
, and Jo Jones
, along with key soloists Buck Clayton
and Holiday's musical soul-mate, Lester Young
. The roster of Holiday and Wilson sidemen
reads like a who's who of jazz soloists from the 1930s, many of whom would be of great influence to later styles of bebop, cool jazz
, third stream
, virtually every aspect of jazz through the 1960s.
Like Armstrong's Hot Five aggregations and The Beatles
after 1966, the various bands assembled were purely creatures of the studio, although some sessions featured principally members of Basie's touring band, accustomed to playing together regularly on the road. The sessions acted as a workshop, allowing musicians who usually did not intermix professionally outside of cutting contest
s to exchange ideas. As has been remarked upon by numerous critics and jazz scholars, the special appeal of Holiday in this setting derived from her fitting in with the other musicians as a musician, taking her solo with the rest of them. General practice of the day dictated that the song be paramount, musicians subservient to the band arrangement
or the singing star. Producers Hammond and Hanighen, both aligned more to the artistic than the business of end of jazz, encouraged the musicians rather to play as they wished. The results over six years offered a textbook in swing jazz played by small groups in a relaxed yet committed fashion.
As a singer, Holiday had influence on defining the style of a big band vocalist after that of Bing Crosby
and her role model, Louis Armstrong. Her records appeared just as the swing era was getting underway; subsequently, singers such as Ella Fitzgerald
, Frank Sinatra
, Anita O'Day
, Peggy Lee
, and Doris Day
, for instance, starting out with the bands of Chick Webb
, Tommy Dorsey
, Gene Krupa
, Benny Goodman
, and Les Brown
, all found inspiration in the Holiday records on Brunswick and Vocalion. Her manipulation of rhythm and length of musical phrases, allied to her ability to find emotional resonance in songs, was acknowledged publicly as a template by singers from her own era, Sinatra, Lee, Bennett, and others, and by myriad singers in later eras. As stated by Gary Giddins in the liner notes
to the box set:
That Sony
would lavish such an expensive box for recordings originally designed for the inexpensive medium of jukebox play from six to seven decades previously stands as testament to the staying power of this body of work.
* live recordings
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
compilation of the complete known studio master recording
Master recording
A multitrack recording master tape, disk or computer files on which productions are developed for later mixing, is known as the multi-track master, while the tape, disk or computer files holding a mix is called a mixed master.It is standard practice to make a copy of a master recording, known as...
s, plus alternate takes
Take
A take is a single continuous recorded performance. The term is used in film and music to denote and track the stages of production.-Film:In cinematography, a take refers to each filmed "version" of a particular shot or "setup"...
, of Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
during the time period indicated, released in 2001 on Columbia/Legacy
Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings is Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division. It was founded in 1990 by CBS Records under the leadership of Jerry Shulman, Richard Bauer, Gary Pacheco and Amy Herot to handle reissues of recordings from the vast catalogues of Columbia Records, Epic Records and associated...
, CXK 85470. Designed like an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
of 78s, the medium in which these recordings initially appeared, the 10.5" × 12" box includes 230 tracks, a 116 page booklet with extensive photos
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
, a song list, discography
Discography
Discography is the study and listing of the details concerning sound recordings, often by specified artists or within identified musical genres...
, essays by Michael Brooks, Gary Giddins
Gary Giddins
Gary Giddins is an American jazz critic, author, and director, best known for his longtime work with The Village Voice. Born in Brooklyn, and raised on Long Island, Giddins graduated from Grinnell College, Iowa, in 1970...
, and Farah Jasmine Griffin, and an insert of appreciations for Holiday from a diversity of figures including Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Evelyn Faithfull is an award-winning English singer, songwriter and actress whose career has spanned five decades....
, B.B. King, Abbey Lincoln
Abbey Lincoln
Anna Marie Wooldridge , better known by her stage name Abbey Lincoln, was a jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress. Lincoln was unusual in that she wrote and performed her own compositions, expanding the expectations of jazz audiences.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, she was one of many...
, Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
, and Lucinda Williams
Lucinda Williams
Lucinda Williams is an American rock, folk, blues and country music singer and songwriter. She recorded her first albums in 1978 and 1980 in a traditional country and blues style and received very little attention from radio, the media, or the public. In 1988, she released her self-titled album,...
. At the 44th Grammy Awards on February 27, 2002, the box set won the Grammy Award for Best Historical Album
Grammy Award for Best Historical Album
The Grammy Award for Best Historical Album has been presented since 1979. During this time the award had several minor name changes:*In 1979 the award was known as Best Historical Repackage Album*In 1980 it was awarded as Best Historical Reissue...
of the previous year.
History
These recordings were made in a time before the LP albumLP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, introduced by Columbia Records in 1948. Starting at approximately the turn of the 19th century into the 20th, recorded music arrived on the market in the form of a ten-inch gramophone record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
that played at 78 revolutions per minute, two songs of generally no more than four minutes duration per side. The advent of radio increased demand for recorded music played in the home through the 1920s. However, during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, home record sales decreased dramatically, but a relatively viable market still existed for the inexpensive play of records in jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
es, which had proliferated during the 1920s and 1930s. Initially, these records featuring Billie Holiday were made with that market in mind.
John Hammond, who had discovered Holiday singing in a Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
jazz club
Jazz club
A jazz club is a venue where the primary entertainment is the performance of live jazz music. Jazz clubs have been in large rooms in the eras of Orchestral jazz and big band jazz and when its popularity as a dance music was common...
in 1933, arranged for her first recording session that same year on November 27. In the company of Jack Teagarden
Jack Teagarden
Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden , known as "Big T" and "The Swingin' Gate", was an influential jazz trombonist, bandleader, composer, and vocalist, regarded as the "Father of Jazz Trombone".-Early life:...
, Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
, and Hammond's future brother-in-law Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, the two sides with Holiday would be released under Goodman's name. A little over nineteen months later, Holiday would be in another New York studio for her second session in association with Goodman again, as well as Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Benjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
and Cozy Cole
Cozy Cole
Cozy Cole was an American jazz drummer who scored a #1 Cashbox magazine hit with the record "Topsy Part 2". "Topsy" peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 100, and at number one on the R&B chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The track peaked at #29 in the UK...
, under the leadership of Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson
Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.-Biography:Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in...
. From July 2, 1935, through August 7, 1941, Holiday would regularly record, for commercial issue, 78s credited to herself or to Wilson.
With a few exceptions, these records were originally released on labels
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
other than Columbia which catered to an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
market, then referred to as race records. The labels Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
and Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
became fellow companies to Columbia when it was purchased in 1934 by the American Record Corporation
American Record Corporation
ARC, the American Record Company, also referred to as American Record Corporation, or as ARC Records, was a United States based record company...
, which had owned Brunswick and Vocalion since late 1931. Records credited to Wilson were released on Brunswick; those to Holiday on Vocalion. With the purchase of ARC in 1939 by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, the corporation re-organized its record labels under the aegis of Columbia as the parent company. Starting in 1940, the Holiday releases were issued on the Okeh Records
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
imprint, reactivated by CBS to handle its product for the "race record" market.
Content
Discs one through six, and disc seven tracks one through fourteen present the master takes in chronological recorded order. The remainder of disc seven, and discs eight through ten, present the alternate takes and other items, also in chronological recorded order. The other items consist of eight tracks not part of the general body of Wilson/Holiday recordings from 1935 to 1941. The first, track 15 of disc seven "Saddest Tale" with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, was taken from the soundtrackSoundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to the movie short
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
Symphony in Black by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
in 1935. Disc eight, tracks three through five, contain aircheck
Aircheck
In the radio industry, an aircheck is generally a demonstration recording, often intended to show off the talent of an announcer or programmer to a prospective employer, but mainly intended for legal archiving purposes...
s with the Count Basie Orchestra
Count Basie Orchestra
The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie. The band survived the late '40s decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella...
from 1937, the only documentation of Holiday's year-long tenure as Basie's band singer. Disc nine, tracks seven and eight, feature recordings broadcast on the Camel Caravan
Camel Caravan
Camel Caravan was a musical variety radio program, sponsored by Camel cigarettes, that aired on NBC Radio and CBS Radio from 1933 to 1954...
radio variety program of January 17, 1939; with backing by the Benny Goodman Orchestra, Billie sings alongside Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
, Martha Tilton
Martha Tilton
Martha Tilton was an American popular singer, best-known for her 1939 recording of "And the Angels Sing" with Benny Goodman. She was sometimes introduced as The Liltin' Miss Tilton.Tilton and her family lived in Texas and Kansas, relocating to Los Angeles when she was seven years old...
, and Leo Watson
Leo Watson
Leo Watson was an American jazz vocalese singer, drummer, trombonist and tiple player born in Kansas City, Missouri, perhaps best known as a band member of The Spirits of Rhythm which included guitarist Teddy Bunn...
on the second song, Mercer's "Jeepers Creepers
Jeepers Creepers (song)
Jeepers Creepers is a popular 1938 song and jazz standard. The music was written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the movie Going Places. It was premiered by Louis Armstrong and has since been covered by many other artists.-Overview:...
."
The final two tracks of the set, numbers 22 and 23 of disc ten, are from the Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
Award Winners Concert at the Metropolitan Opera, broadcast and recorded on V-Discs for distribution to servicemen
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
fighting overseas during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Holiday had won top female jazz vocalist for 1943, and became the first African-American woman to sing at the Met. "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me" and "Billie's Blues
Billie's Blues (song)
"Billie's Blues" is a blues song written by jazz singer Billie Holiday, composing it just before being recorded in a session in 1936.According to the article in Melody Maker, 1 August 1936:-Recording Session:*Did I Remember?*Summertime*No Regrets...
," under a different title, are performed accompanied by other Esquire poll winners, Roy Eldridge
Roy Eldridge
Roy David Eldridge , nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American jazz trumpet player. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos and his strong influence on Dizzy Gillespie mark him as one of the most exciting musicians of the swing era and a...
, Barney Bigard
Barney Bigard
Albany Leon Bigard, aka Barney Bigard, was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, though primarily known for the clarinet....
, Art Tatum
Art Tatum
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
, Al Casey, Oscar Pettiford
Oscar Pettiford
Oscar Pettiford was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer known particularly for his pioneering work in bebop.-Biography:...
, and Sidney Catlett. This recording took place more than two years after the final studio session in 1941, and during the Petrillo recording ban; the AFM
American Federation of Musicians
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada is a labor union of professional musicians in the United States and Canada...
waived the strike terms for the recording of V-discs.
Original recording sessions took place at the following locations in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
: at the 55 Fifth Avenue Studio on November 27, 1933; at the 1776 Broadway Studio from 1935 through January 1939; at the 711 Fifth Avenue Studio from March 1939 through June 1940; at Liederkranz Hall on East 58th Street in September and October 1940; and at Columbia Studios
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in their new headquarters at 799 Seventh Avenue in 1941. Known producers
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for the original recordings are John Hammond
John H. Hammond
John Henry Hammond II was an American record producer, musician and music critic from the 1930s to the early 1980s...
and Bernie Hanighen
Bernie Hanighen
Bernard D. Hanighen was an American songwriter best known for co-writing "'Round Midnight" and "When a Woman Loves a Man"...
.
Significance
In terms of a collected body of work combining both influence and quality of achievement, these recordings are some of the most important in jazz history. Ranking jazz records always presents an exercise in both controversy and consternation, but certainly the Wilson/Holiday sides belong in the company of the Hot Five and Hot SevensLouis Armstrong and his Hot Five
The Hot Five was Louis Armstrong's first jazz recording band led under his own name.It was a typical New Orleans jazz band in instrumentation, consisting of trumpet, clarinet, and trombone backed by a rhythm section...
of Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, the collated set by Fletcher Henderson
Fletcher Henderson
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. His was one of the most prolific black orchestras and his influence was vast...
later called A Study In Frustration, the early Basie band on Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, Duke Ellington's
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
records with Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Benjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
and Jimmy Blanton
Jimmy Blanton
Jimmie Blanton was an influential American jazz double bassist. Blanton is credited with being the originator of pizzicato and bowed bass solos....
for RCA Victor, the Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
sides for Savoy
Savoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
and Dial
Dial Records (1946)
Dial Records was a United States based record label specializing in bebop jazz. Dial was founded by Ross Russell in 1946, who operated the label for about a decade. Notable artists who recorded for Dial included Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach, and Milt Jackson...
, and the Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
LPs
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman is an American saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter and composer. He was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s....
, not to mention the expanse of albums by Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
and John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, together and separately.
The sessions coincide with the rise of the swing era
Swing Era
The Swing era was the period of time when big band swing music was the most popular music in the United States. Though the music had been around since the late 1920s and early 1930s, being played by black bands led by such artists as Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Moten, Ella Fitzgerald,...
on its way to becoming the popular music of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the late Depression and war years
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Chosen by Hammond, Hanighen, Holiday, or Wilson, many of the musicians present derived from the top swing bands of the day, such as those by Ellington, Basie, Goodman, Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
, Jimmie Lunceford
Jimmie Lunceford
James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era.-Biography:...
, and Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
, among others. Of special note are the records cut with members of the Basie band, Holiday herself hired by Basie in 1937, including his fabulous rhythm section of Freddie Green
Freddie Green
Frederick William "Freddie" Green was an American swing jazz guitarist. He was especially noted for his sophisticated rhythm guitar in big band settings, particularly for the Count Basie orchestra, where he was part of the "All-American Rhythm Section" with Basie on piano, Jo Jones on drums, and...
, Walter Page
Walter Page
Walter Sylvester Page , nicknamed "Hoss," was an African American jazz bassist and leader of the Oklahoma City Blue Devils jazz orchestra from 1925–1931...
, and Jo Jones
Jo Jones
Jo Jones was an American jazz drummer.Known as Papa Jo Jones in his later years, he was sometimes confused with another influential jazz drummer, Philly Joe Jones...
, along with key soloists Buck Clayton
Buck Clayton
Buck Clayton was an American jazz trumpet player who was a leading member of Count Basie’s "Old Testament" orchestra and a leader of mainstream-oriented jam session recordings in the 1950s. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong...
and Holiday's musical soul-mate, Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
. The roster of Holiday and Wilson sidemen
Sideman
A sideman is a professional musician who is hired to perform or record with a group of which he or she is not a regular member. They often tour with solo acts as well as bands and jazz ensembles. Sidemen are generally required to be adaptable to many different styles of music, and so able to fit...
reads like a who's who of jazz soloists from the 1930s, many of whom would be of great influence to later styles of bebop, cool jazz
Cool jazz
Cool is a style of modern jazz music that arose following the Second World War. It is characterized by its relaxed tempos and lighter tone, in contrast to the bebop style that preceded it...
, third stream
Third stream
Third Stream is a term coined in 1957 by composer Gunther Schuller, within a lecture at Brandeis University, to describe a musical genre which is a synthesis of classical music and jazz...
, virtually every aspect of jazz through the 1960s.
Like Armstrong's Hot Five aggregations and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
after 1966, the various bands assembled were purely creatures of the studio, although some sessions featured principally members of Basie's touring band, accustomed to playing together regularly on the road. The sessions acted as a workshop, allowing musicians who usually did not intermix professionally outside of cutting contest
Cutting contest
Cutting contests were a form of musical battles between various stride piano players between the 1920s and 1940s, and to a lesser extent in improvisatory competition on other jazz instruments during the swing era...
s to exchange ideas. As has been remarked upon by numerous critics and jazz scholars, the special appeal of Holiday in this setting derived from her fitting in with the other musicians as a musician, taking her solo with the rest of them. General practice of the day dictated that the song be paramount, musicians subservient to the band arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
or the singing star. Producers Hammond and Hanighen, both aligned more to the artistic than the business of end of jazz, encouraged the musicians rather to play as they wished. The results over six years offered a textbook in swing jazz played by small groups in a relaxed yet committed fashion.
As a singer, Holiday had influence on defining the style of a big band vocalist after that of Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
and her role model, Louis Armstrong. Her records appeared just as the swing era was getting underway; subsequently, singers such as Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day was an American jazz singer.Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day was admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer"...
, Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
, and Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
, for instance, starting out with the bands of Chick Webb
Chick Webb
William Henry Webb, usually known as Chick Webb was an American jazz and swing music drummer as well as a band leader.-Biography:...
, Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
, Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
, Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, and Les Brown
Les Brown (bandleader)
Les Brown, Sr. and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the late 1930s, initially as the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils that Brown led while a student at Duke University. He was the first president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences...
, all found inspiration in the Holiday records on Brunswick and Vocalion. Her manipulation of rhythm and length of musical phrases, allied to her ability to find emotional resonance in songs, was acknowledged publicly as a template by singers from her own era, Sinatra, Lee, Bennett, and others, and by myriad singers in later eras. As stated by Gary Giddins in the liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
to the box set:
- "When I first got to know ["A Sailboat in the Moonlight"], I thought it a fine melody with pretty chord changes and words that might be corny but didn't seem to be so bad when Lady Day delivered them. Then I chanced to find the sheet music at a Midwestern bazaar; at home, I picked out the melody with one finger and was astonished at how different it was from what Holiday sang. Until that moment, I had not fully gauged how freely imaginative her embellishments could be. By ironing out a phrase here, retarding another there, raising this note, slurring that, she transformed a hopelessly banal and predictable melody into something personal, real, meaningful."
That Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
would lavish such an expensive box for recordings originally designed for the inexpensive medium of jukebox play from six to seven decades previously stands as testament to the staying power of this body of work.
Select Collective Personnel
- Billie HolidayBillie HolidayBillie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
– vocal - Teddy WilsonTeddy WilsonTheodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.-Biography:Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Bobby HackettBobby HackettRobert Leo "Bobby" Hackett was an US jazz musician who played trumpet, cornet and guitar with the bands of Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman in the late thirties and early forties.-Biography:...
- cornetCornetThe cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was... - Henry "Red" Allen - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Bunny BeriganBunny BeriganRowland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan was an American jazz trumpeter who rose to fame during the swing era, but whose virtuosity and influence were shortened by a losing battle with alcoholism that ended in his early death at age 33. He composed the jazz instrumentals "Chicken and Waffles" and "Blues"...
- trumpet - Buck ClaytonBuck ClaytonBuck Clayton was an American jazz trumpet player who was a leading member of Count Basie’s "Old Testament" orchestra and a leader of mainstream-oriented jam session recordings in the 1950s. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong...
- trumpet - Harry "Sweets" Edison - trumpet
- Roy EldridgeRoy EldridgeRoy David Eldridge , nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American jazz trumpet player. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos and his strong influence on Dizzy Gillespie mark him as one of the most exciting musicians of the swing era and a...
- trumpet - Chris Griffin - trumpet
- Harry JamesHarry JamesHenry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
- trumpet - Jonah JonesJonah JonesJonah Jones was a jazz trumpeter who is perhaps best known for creating concise versions of jazz and swing standards that appealed to a mass audience. In jazz, he might be best appreciated for his work with Stuff Smith. He was sometimes referred to as "King Louis II," a reference to Louis Armstrong...
- trumpet - Hot Lips Page - trumpet
- Charlie ShaversCharlie ShaversCharles James Shavers , known as Charlie Shavers, was an American swing era jazz trumpet player who played at one time or another with Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Dodds, Jimmy Noone, Sidney Bechet, Midge Williams and Billie Holiday...
- trumpet - Cootie WilliamsCootie WilliamsCharles Melvin "Cootie" Williams was an American jazz, jump blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter.-Biography:...
- trumpet - Benny MortonBenny MortonBenny Morton , born in New York City, was a jazz trombonist most associated with the swing genre. He was praised by fellow trombonist Bill Watrous among others. One of his first jobs was working with Clarence Holiday, and he appeared with Clarence's daughter Billie Holiday towards the end of her...
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate... - Dicky WellsDicky WellsWilliam Wells, , more famous under the name of Dicky Wells , was an American jazz trombonist....
- trombone - Trummy YoungTrummy YoungJames "Trummy" Young was a trombonist in the swing era. Although he was never really a star or a bandleader himself, he did have one hit with his version of "Margie," which he played and sang with Jimmie Lunceford's Time-Life Orchestra.-Biography:Growing up in Savannah, GA and Richmond, VA, Young...
- trombone - Buster BaileyBuster BaileyWilliam C. "Buster" Bailey was a jazz musician specializing in the clarinet, but also well versed on saxophone...
- clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed... - Benny GoodmanBenny GoodmanBenjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
- clarinet - Vido MussoVido MussoVido William Musso was an Italian-born jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist and bandleader born in Carini, Sicily, best-known for his many contributions to the big bands of Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman.His family moved to the United States in...
- clarinet - Edgar SampsonEdgar SampsonEdgar Melvin Sampson was a composer, arranger, saxophonist, and violinist...
- clarinet, alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions... - Artie ShawArtie ShawArthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
- clarinet - Tab SmithTab SmithTalmadge "Tab" Smith , was an American swing and rhythm and blues alto saxophonist. He is best known for the tracks, "Because Of You" and "Pretend". He variously worked with Count Basie, the Mills Rhythm Boys and Lucky Millinder.-Biography:Smith was born in Kinston, North Carolina, United States...
- soprano saxophoneSoprano saxophoneThe soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
, alto saxophone - Benny CarterBenny CarterBennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
- alto saxophone, tenor saxophone - Johnny HodgesJohnny HodgesJohn Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges was an American alto saxophonist, best known for his solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years, except the period between 1932–1946 when Otto Hardwick generally played first chair...
- alto saxophone - Don RedmanDon RedmanDonald Matthew Redman was an American jazz musician, arranger, bandleader and composer.Redman was announced as a member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame on May 6, 2009....
- alto saxophone
- Chu Berry - tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
- Don ByasDon ByasCarlos Wesley "Don" Byas was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, long-resident in Europe.- Oklahoma and Los Angeles :...
- tenor saxophone - Herschel EvansHerschel EvansHerschel "Tex" Evans , was a tenor saxophonist who worked in the Count Basie Orchestra. He had also worked with Lionel Hampton and Buck Clayton...
- tenor saxophone - Babe RussinBabe RussinIrving "Babe" Russin was a tenor saxophone player.Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Russin played with some of the best known jazz bands of the 1930s and 1940s, including Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. He led his own band briefly in the early 1940s...
- tenor saxophone - Ben WebsterBen WebsterBenjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
- tenor saxophone - Lester YoungLester YoungLester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
- tenor saxophone, clarinet - Harry CarneyHarry CarneyHarry Howell Carney was an American swing baritone saxophonist, clarinetist, and bass clarinetist mainly known for his 45-year tenure in Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Carney started off as an alto player with Ellington, but soon switched to the baritone. His strong, steady saxophone often served as...
- baritone saxophoneBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
, clarinet - Margaret "Countess" JohnsonMargaret JohnsonMargaret Johnson was an American blues and early jazz vocalist and pianist.Johnson's primary era of recording activity as a vocalist was 1925-1927. Prior to this, she had worked in vaudeville...
- piano - Billy KyleBilly KyleWilliam Osborne "Billy" Kyle was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Kyle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began playing the piano in school and by the early 1930s worked with Lucky Millinder, and later the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. In 1938, he joined John Kirby's band, but was drafted in...
- piano - Joe SullivanJoe SullivanMichael Joseph "Joe" O'Sullivan was an American jazz pianist.Sullivan was the ninth child of Irish immigrant parents. He studied classical piano for 12 years and at age 17, he began to play popular music in a club where he was exposed to jazz...
- piano - Claude ThornhillClaude ThornhillClaude Thornhill was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader...
- piano - Sonny WhiteSonny WhiteEllerton Oswald, better known as Sonny White was a jazz pianist who spend most of his life in America....
- piano - Dave BarbourDave BarbourDave Barbour was an American musician. He was a jazz banjoist and guitarist, a pop songwriter, an actor, and the husband of Peggy Lee for nine years....
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Al Casey - guitar
- Freddie GreenFreddie GreenFrederick William "Freddie" Green was an American swing jazz guitarist. He was especially noted for his sophisticated rhythm guitar in big band settings, particularly for the Count Basie orchestra, where he was part of the "All-American Rhythm Section" with Basie on piano, Jo Jones on drums, and...
- guitar - Carmen MastrenCarmen MastrenCarmen Mastren was an American jazz guitarist, banjoist and violinist born in Cohoes, New York. Mastren is best remembered for his work from 1936-1941 with the Tommy Dorsey orchestra as a guitarist....
- guitar - Dick McDonoughDick McDonoughDick McDonough was an influential American jazz guitarist and composer. His major recordings included "Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jibe" with the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra with Johnny Mercer, "Stage Fright" with Carl Kress, "Chasin' a Buck", "Feelin' No Pain", recorded in 1927 with Red Nichols, and...
- guitar - Allan ReussAllan ReussAllan Reuss was an American jazz guitarist.Reuss was born New York City, he began playing professionally as a banjoist at age 12. He learned guitar from George Van Eps. In the middle of the 1930s, Reuss began playing in Benny Goodman's orchestra, playing with him on and off until 1943...
- guitar - Milt HintonMilt HintonMilton John "Milt" Hinton , "the dean of jazz bass players," was an American jazz double bassist and photographer. He was nicknamed "The Judge".-Biography:...
- bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - John KirbyJohn Kirby (musician)John Kirby , was a jazz double-bassist who also played trombone and tuba.-Background:Kirby may have been born in Winchester, Virginia, although other sources say he was born in Baltimore, Maryland, orphaned, and adopted. Kirby hit New York at 17, but after his trombone got stolen, he switched to...
- bass - Grachan Moncur - bass
- Walter PageWalter PageWalter Sylvester Page , nicknamed "Hoss," was an African American jazz bassist and leader of the Oklahoma City Blue Devils jazz orchestra from 1925–1931...
– bass - Kenny ClarkeKenny ClarkeKenny Clarke , born Kenneth Spearman Clarke, nicknamed "Klook" and later known as Liaqat Ali Salaam, was a jazz drummer and an early innovator of the bebop style of drumming...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Cozy ColeCozy ColeCozy Cole was an American jazz drummer who scored a #1 Cashbox magazine hit with the record "Topsy Part 2". "Topsy" peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 100, and at number one on the R&B chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The track peaked at #29 in the UK...
– drums - J.C. Heard - drums
- Jo JonesJo JonesJo Jones was an American jazz drummer.Known as Papa Jo Jones in his later years, he was sometimes confused with another influential jazz drummer, Philly Joe Jones...
- drums - Gene KrupaGene KrupaGene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
- drums
Reissue Personnel
- Michael BrooksMichael Brooks (music archivist and consultant)Michael Brooks is a music historian, archivist, consultant, and producer.-Biography:Brooks began his music career in 1971, assisting and producing records with John Hammond, noted Columbia Records scout whose discoveries include amongst others, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Bob Dylan and Bruce...
- producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Michael CuscunaMichael CuscunaMichael Cuscuna is an American jazz record producer and writer. He is a leading discographer of Blue Note Records....
- producer - Steve Berkowitz - co-producer
- Seth Rothstein - co-producer
- Mark Wilder - digital remastering
- Seth Foster - digital remastering
- Phil SchaapPhil SchaapPhil Schaap is an American jazz disc jockey, historian, archivist and producer. He hosts a daily morning radio program on 89.9 FM New York, WKCR, the radio station of Columbia University, his alma mater, in New York City. The show, called Bird Flight, is broadcast from 8:20 am–9:30 am on weekdays...
- consultant - Ron Jaramillo - art direction, design
- Adam Owett - art direction
Disc One
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12/18/33 | Columbia 2856D | 1933 | Your Mother's Son-In-Law | Alberta Nichols Alberta Nichols Alberta Nichols was a popular songwriter of the 1930s and 40s. Together with her husband, lyricist Mann Holiner, they composed over 100 songs, of which their most famous were "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" and "A Love Like Ours".-Biography :Nichols was born in Lincoln, Illinois on December 3,... and Mann Holiner |
2:45 |
| 2. | 12/18/33 | Columbia 2867D | 1933 | Riffin' the Scotch | Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others... , Dick McDonough Dick McDonough Dick McDonough was an influential American jazz guitarist and composer. His major recordings included "Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jibe" with the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra with Johnny Mercer, "Stage Fright" with Carl Kress, "Chasin' a Buck", "Feelin' No Pain", recorded in 1927 with Red Nichols, and... , Benny Goodman Benny Goodman Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America... , Fordlee Buck |
2:31 |
| 3. | 7/2/35 | Brunswick 7501 | 1935 | I Wished on the Moon I Wished on the Moon "I Wished on the Moon" is a song composed by Ralph Rainger, with lyrics by Dorothy Parker, for the The Big Broadcast of 1936. It was introduced by Bing Crosby.-Notable recordings:*Ella Fitzgerald and Gordon Jenkins on Decca, a 1955 release... |
Dorothy Parker Dorothy Parker Dorothy Parker was an American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist, best known for her wit, wisecracks, and eye for 20th century urban foibles.... and Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger was an American composer of popular music principally for films.-Biography:Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, Rainger embarked on a legal career before escaping to Broadway where he became Clifton Webb's accompanist... |
3:01 |
| 4. | 7/2/35 | Brunswick 7498 | 1935 | What a Little Moonlight Can Do What a Little Moonlight Can Do "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" is a popular song written by Harry M. Woods in 1934. It was originally recorded by Billie Holiday accompanied by Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra on July 2, 1935. Peggy Lee covered it with a Nelson Riddle arrangement on her 1959 album Jump for Joy. Steve Tyrell... |
Harry M. Woods Harry M. Woods Henry MacGregor Woods was a Tin Pan Alley songwriter and pianist. Woods is sometimes credited as Harry Woods.-Early life:... |
2:56 |
| 5. | 7/2/35 | Brunswick 7501 | 1935 | Miss Brown to You Miss Brown To You "Miss Brown to You" is a song with music by Richard A. Whiting and Ralph Rainger and lyrics by Leo Robin. It was first recorded in 1935 by Billie Holiday accompanied by Teddy Wilson and his orchestra.... |
Leo Robin Leo Robin Leo Robin was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Oscar-winning song "Thanks for the Memory," sung by Bob Hope in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938.-Biography:Robin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and... , Richard Whiting Richard A. Whiting Richard Armstrong Whiting was a composer of popular songs including the standards, "Hooray for Hollywood", "Ain't We Got Fun?" & "On the Good Ship Lollipop".... , Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger was an American composer of popular music principally for films.-Biography:Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, Rainger embarked on a legal career before escaping to Broadway where he became Clifton Webb's accompanist... |
2:58 |
| 6. | 7/2/35 | Brunswick 7498 | 1935 | A Sunbonnet Blue (and A Yellow Straw Hat) | Irving Kahal Irving Kahal Irving Kahal was a popular lyricist active in the 1920's and '30's. He is best remembered for his collaborations with composer Sammy Fain which started in 1926 when Kahal was working in vaudeville sketches written by Gus Edwards... and Sammy Fain Sammy Fain Sammy Fain was an American composer of popular music.-Biography:Sammy Fain was born in New York City. In 1923, Fain appeared with Artie Dunn in a short film directed by Lee De Forest filmed in DeForest's Phonofilm sound-on-film process. In 1925, Fain left the Fain-Dunn act to devote himself to... |
2:50 |
| 7. | 7/31/35 | Brunswick 7511 | 1935 | What A Night, What A Moon, What A Girl | John Jacob Loeb | 2:55 |
| 8. | 7/31/35 | Brunswick 7520 | 1935 | I'm Painting the Town Red | Charles Tobias Charles Tobias -Biography:Born in New York City, Tobias grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with brothers Harry Tobias and Henry Tobias, also songwriters.He started his musical career in vaudeville. In 1923, he founded his own music publishing firm and worked on Tin Pan Alley... , Charles Newman Charles Newman Charles Newman may refer to:* Charles Newman * Charles Newman * Charles M. Newman, mathematician... , Sam H. Stept Sam H. Stept Samuel Howard Stept was an American songwriter who wrote for Broadway, Hollywood and the big bands. He became known simply as Sam Stept or Sam H. Stept — he almost never used his full middle name.-Family:Born in Odessa, Russia, Stept came to the U.S. at the age of three and grew up in... |
2:57 |
| 9. | 7/31/35 | Brunswick 7511 | 1935 | It's Too Hot for Words | Walter Samuels, Leonard Whitcup, Teddy Powell Teddy Powell Teddy Powell was an American jazz guitarist, composer and big band leader... |
2:45 |
| 10. | 10/25/35 | Brunswick 7550 | 1935 | Twenty-Four Hours A Day | Arthur Swanstrom and James Hanley | 3:00 |
| 11. | 10/25/35 | Brunswick 7550 | 1935 | Yankee Doodle Never Went to Town | Ralph Freed and Bernie Hanighen Bernie Hanighen Bernard D. Hanighen was an American songwriter best known for co-writing "'Round Midnight" and "When a Woman Loves a Man"... |
2:42 |
| 12. | 10/25/35 | Brunswick 7554 | 1935 | Eeny Meeny Meiny Mo | Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others... and Matt Malneck |
3:10 |
| 13. | 10/25/35 | Brunswick 7554 | 1935 | If You Were Mine | Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others... and Matt Malneck |
3:09 |
| 14. | 12/3/35 | Brunswick 7577 | 1936 | These 'N' That 'N' Those | Milton Pascal and Edward Fairchild | 3:12 |
| 15. | 12/3/35 | Brunswick 7581 | 1935 | You Let Me Down | Al Dubin Al Dubin Alexander "Al" Dubin was an American lyricist. He became known through his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren.-Life and works:... and Harry Warren Harry Warren Harry Warren was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song eleven times and won three Oscars for composing "Lullaby of Broadway", "You'll Never Know" and "On the Atchison,... |
2:52 |
| 16. | 12/3/35 | Brunswick 7581 | 1935 | Spreadin' Rhythm Around | Ted Koehler Ted Koehler Ted L. Koehler was an American lyricist.-Life and career:Koehler was born in Washington, D.C. He started out as a photo-engraver but was attracted to the music business, where he started out as a theater pianist for silent films. He moved on to write for vaudeville shows and Broadway, and he also... and Jimmy McHugh Jimmy McHugh James Francis McHugh was a U.S. composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he composed over 270 songs... |
2:53 |
| 17. | 1/30/36 | Brunswick 7612 | 1936 | Life Begins When You're In Love | Lew Brown Lew Brown Lew Brown was a lyricist for popular songs in the United States.Brown was born as Louis Brownstein in Odessa, Russian Empire... and Victor Schertzinger Victor Schertzinger Victor L. Schertzinger was an American composer, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His films include Paramount on Parade , Something to Sing About with James Cagney, and the first two "Road" pictures Road to Singapore and Road to Zanzibar... |
3:02 |
| 18. | 6/30/36 | Brunswick 7702 | 1936 | It's Like Reaching for the Moon | Al Lewis Al Lewis (lyricist) Al Lewis is thought of mostly as a Tin Pan Alley era lyricist; however, he did write music on occasion as well. Professionally he was most active during the 1920s working into the 1950s. During this time, he most often collaborated with popular songwriters Al Sherman and Abner Silver... , Al Sherman Al Sherman Al Sherman was an American Tin Pan Alley songwriter from the first half of the twentieth century. Sherman is a link in a long chain of musical Sherman family members.-Early life:... , Gerald Marqusee |
3:20 |
| 19. | 6/30/36 | Brunswick 7699 | 1936 | These Foolish Things These Foolish Things These Foolish Things is a 1973 album by Bryan Ferry, containing cover versions of standard songs. It was his first solo effort, still being Roxy Music's lead singer... |
Holt Marvell and Jack Strachey Jack Strachey Jack Strachey , was an English composer and songwriterBorn John Francis Strachey in London, England on 25 September 1894 he began writing songs in the 1920s for the theatre and the music hall, scoring his first success with songs he had written for Frith Shephard's long running musical revue Lady... |
3:17 |
| 20. | 6/30/36 | Brunswick 7729 | 1936 | I Cried for You I Cried for You "I Cried for You" is a song by Georgian born songstress Katie Melua, and was the second single from her second album, Piece by Piece. The single is a double A-side consisting of "I Cried for You", which is one of Melua's own compositions, and a cover of The Cure's song "Just like Heaven", the... |
Gus Arnheim Gus Arnheim Gus Arnheim was an early popular band leader. He is noted for writing several songs with his first hit being "I Cried for You" from 1923. He was most popular in the 1920s and 1930s... , Arthur Freed Arthur Freed Arthur Freed was born Arthur Grossman in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a Jewish American lyricist and a Hollywood film producer.- Biography :Freed began his career as a song-plugger and pianist in Chicago... , Abe Lyman Abe Lyman Abe Lyman was a popular bandleader from the 1920s to the 1940s. He made recordings, appeared in films and provided the music for numerous radio shows, including Your Hit Parade.... |
3:10 |
| 21. | 6/30/36 | Brunswick 7702 | 1936 | Guess Who | Ralph Freed and Burton Lane Burton Lane Burton Lane was an American composer and lyricist. His most popular and successful work is the musical Finian's Rainbow, "the score for which Lane will always be most remembered."-Biography:... |
3:08 |
| 22. | 7/10/36 | Vocalion 3276 | 1936 | Did I Remember? | Hugh Adamson Hugh Adamson Hugh Adamson , was a footballer who played in the Football League for Bolton Wanderers and Everton.-References:... and Walter Donaldson Walter Donaldson Walter Donaldson was a prolific United States popular songwriter, composing many hit songs of the 1910s and 1920s.-History:... |
2:49 |
| 23. | 7/10/36 | Vocalion 3276 | 1936 | No Regrets | Harry Tobias Harry Tobias Harry Tobias was an American lyricist. Like his younger brother Charles, he is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.... and Roy Ingraham |
2:35 |
| 24. | 7/10/36 | Vocalion 3288 | 1936 | Summertime Summertime (song) "Summertime" is an aria composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin by ASCAP.... |
DuBose Heyward DuBose Heyward Edwin DuBose Heyward was a white American author best known for his 1925 novel Porgy. This novel was the basis for the play by the same name and, in turn, the opera Porgy and Bess with music by George Gershwin.-Life and career:Heyward was born in 1885 in Charleston, South Carolina and was a... , Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... , George Gershwin George Gershwin George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... |
2:53 |
| 25. | 7/10/36 | Vocalion 3288 | 1936 | Billie's Blues Billie's Blues (song) "Billie's Blues" is a blues song written by jazz singer Billie Holiday, composing it just before being recorded in a session in 1936.According to the article in Melody Maker, 1 August 1936:-Recording Session:*Did I Remember?*Summertime*No Regrets... |
Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... |
2:38 |
Disc Two
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9/29/36 | Vocalion 3333 | 1936 | A Fine Romance A Fine Romance (song) "A Fine Romance" is a popular song composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, published in 1936.The song was written for the musical film, Swing Time, where it was co-introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers... |
Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films... and Jerome Kern Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A... |
2:51 |
| 2. | 9/29/36 | Vocalion 3333 | 1936 | I Can't Pretend | Charles Tobias Charles Tobias -Biography:Born in New York City, Tobias grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with brothers Harry Tobias and Henry Tobias, also songwriters.He started his musical career in vaudeville. In 1923, he founded his own music publishing firm and worked on Tin Pan Alley... , Paul Rusincky, W. Edward Breuder |
3:03 |
| 3. | 9/29/36 | Vocalion 3334 | 1936 | One, Two, Button Your Shoe | Arthur Johnston Arthur Johnston (composer) Arthur Johnston was a composer known for such works as “Mandy, Make Up Your Mind,” "Pennies From Heaven," and many others... and John Burke Johnny Burke (lyricist) Johnny Burke was a lyricist, widely regarded as one of the finest writers of popular songs in America between the 1920s and 1950s.-Biography:... |
2:47 |
| 4. | 9/29/36 | Vocalion 3334 | 1936 | Let's Call A Heart A Heart | Arthur Johnston Arthur Johnston (composer) Arthur Johnston was a composer known for such works as “Mandy, Make Up Your Mind,” "Pennies From Heaven," and many others... and John Burke Johnny Burke (lyricist) Johnny Burke was a lyricist, widely regarded as one of the finest writers of popular songs in America between the 1920s and 1950s.-Biography:... |
2:59 |
| 5. | 10/21/36 | Brunswick 7762 | 1936 | Easy to Love Easy to Love "Easy to Love" is the title of a R&B single by For Real, it was the second single from their debut album It's a Natural Thang. Billboard magazine noted "super-tight harmonies that are proiminent, but not overshadowing; instatly memorable melody stands as the cut's focal point.-Chart positions:... |
Cole Porter Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre... |
3:10 |
| 6. | 10/21/36 | Brunswick 7768 | 1936 | With Thee I Swing | Basil Adam, Alexander Hyde Alexander Hyde Alexander Hyde was an English royalist clergyman, Bishop of Salisbury from 1665 to 1667.-Life:Hyde was born at Salisbury in 1598, the fourth son of Sir Lawrence Hyde. At the age of twelve he entered Winchester College as a scholar, and matriculated 17 November 1615 at New College, Oxford. In... , Al Stillman Al Stillman Al Stillman was an American lyricist.-Biography:Stillman was born in New York City. His name was originally Albert Silverman, but changed it to that of a well-known New York banking family. He was Jewish. He attended New York University. After graduation, he contributed to Franklin P... |
3:16 |
| 7. | 10/21/36 | Brunswick 7762 | 1936 | The Way You Look Tonight The Way You Look Tonight "The Way You Look Tonight" is a song featured in the film Swing Time, originally performed by Fred Astaire. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. The song was sung to Ginger Rogers as Penelope "Penny" Carroll by Astaire's character of John "Lucky" Garnett while Penny was busy... |
Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films... and Jerome Kern Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A... |
3:00 |
| 8. | 10/21/36 | Brunswick 7768 | 1936 | Who Loves You? | Benny Davis Benny Davis Benny Davis was a vaudeville performer and writer of popular songs. He composed the classic 1926 standard "Baby Face" with Harry Akst.-Life and career:... and J. Fred Coots J. Fred Coots John Frederick Coots was an American songwriter. He wrote over 700 songs.He is most famous for the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history.... |
3:13 |
| 9. | 11/19/36 | Brunswick 7789 | 1936 | Pennies From Heaven Pennies from Heaven (song) "Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and words by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name... |
Arthur Johnston Arthur Johnston (composer) Arthur Johnston was a composer known for such works as “Mandy, Make Up Your Mind,” "Pennies From Heaven," and many others... and John Burke Johnny Burke (lyricist) Johnny Burke was a lyricist, widely regarded as one of the finest writers of popular songs in America between the 1920s and 1950s.-Biography:... |
3:15 |
| 10. | 11/19/36 | Brunswick 7789 | 1936 | That's Life I Guess | Peter DeRose Peter DeRose Peter DeRose was an American Hall of Fame composer of jazz and pop music during the Tin Pan Alley era.-Biography:DeRose was born in New York City and as a boy exhibited a gift for things musical... and Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis was a Jewish-American singer and lyricist, born in New York City, New York as Samuel Levine-Biography:... |
3:08 |
| 11. | 11/19/36 | Brunswick 7781 | 1936 | I Can't Give You Anything But Love | Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films... and Jimmy McHugh Jimmy McHugh James Francis McHugh was a U.S. composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he composed over 270 songs... |
3:26 |
| 12. | 1/12/37 | Vocalion 3431 | 1937 | One Never Knows, Does One? | Mack Gordon Mack Gordon Mack Gordon was an American composer and lyricist of songs for the stage and film. He was nominated for the best original song Oscar nine times, including six consecutive years between 1940 and 1945, and won the award once, for "You'll Never Know"... and Harry Revel Harry Revel Harry Revel was an English composer of musical theatre.Revel was born in London. Before emigrating to the United States in 1929, he wrote musicals for productions in Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna and London.... |
3:02 |
| 13. | 1/12/37 | Vocalion 3431 | 1937 | I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" is a popular song written in 1937 by Irving Berlin. It was introduced in On the Avenue by Dick Powell and Alice Faye. Les Brown's instrumental version, arranged by Skip Martin and recorded in 1946 as Columbia #38324, became a million-seller and Billboard top ten... |
Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous... |
2:55 |
| 14. | 1/12/37 | Vocalion 3440 | 1937 | If My Heart Could Only Talk | Walter Samuels, Leonard Whitcup, Teddy Powell Teddy Powell Teddy Powell was an American jazz guitarist, composer and big band leader... |
3:03 |
| 15. | 1/12/37 | Vocalion 3440 | 1937 | Please Keep Me In Your Dreams | Tot Seymour and Vee Lawnhurst | 2:16 |
| 16. | 1/25/37 | Brunswick 7824 | 1937 | He Ain't Got Rhythm | Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous... |
2:49 |
| 17. | 1/25/37 | Brunswick 7824 | 1937 | This Year's Kisses | Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous... |
3:08 |
| 18. | 1/25/37 | Brunswick 7859 | 1937 | Why Was I Born? Why Was I Born? "Why Was I Born?" is a 1929 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II.It was written for the show Sweet Adeline .-Notable recordings:*Georgia Brown - Georgia Brown Sings Gershwin/Georgia Brown... |
Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for... and Jerome Kern Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A... |
2:50 |
| 19. | 1/25/37 | Brunswick 7859 | 1937 | I Must Have That Man | Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films... and Jimmy McHugh Jimmy McHugh James Francis McHugh was a U.S. composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he composed over 270 songs... |
2:54 |
| 20. | 2/18/37 | Brunswick 7844 | 1937 | The Mood That I'm In | Abner Silver Abner Silver Abner Silver was an American songwriter who worked primarily during the Tin Pan Alley era of the craft. He was born on December 28, 1899, in New York.... and Al Sherman Al Sherman Al Sherman was an American Tin Pan Alley songwriter from the first half of the twentieth century. Sherman is a link in a long chain of musical Sherman family members.-Early life:... |
2:59 |
| 21. | 2/18/37 | Brunswick 7840 | 1937 | You Showed Me the Way | Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist... , Teddy McRae Teddy McRae Teddy McRae was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and arranger.McRae was born in Philadelphia and played with local ensembles, including one composed of family members, when young. He played with June Clark in 1926 before moving to New York City to found his own band... , Chick Webb Chick Webb William Henry Webb, usually known as Chick Webb was an American jazz and swing music drummer as well as a band leader.-Biography:... , Bud Green Bud Green Bud Green was an Austrian-born songwriter. Bud Green grew up in Harlem at 108th & Madison Ave. at the turn of the century, the eldest of seven. He dropped out of elementary school to sell newspapers and help the family... |
2:58 |
| 22. | 2/18/37 | Brunswick 7844 | 1937 | Sentimental and Melancholy | Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others... and Richard Whiting Richard A. Whiting Richard Armstrong Whiting was a composer of popular songs including the standards, "Hooray for Hollywood", "Ain't We Got Fun?" & "On the Good Ship Lollipop".... |
2:37 |
| 23. | 2/18/37 | Brunswick 7840 | 1937 | My Last Affair | Haven A. Johnson | 3:08 |
Disc Three
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 3/31/37 | Brunswick 7867 | 1937 | Carelessly | Nick Kenny, Charles Kenny Charles Kenny Charles Francis Kenny was an American composer, author, and violinist. His hit songs include "There's A Gold Mine In The Sky" and "Love Letters in the Sand", and "Laughing at Life" and "Because It's Your Birthday Today" which he wrote with his brother Nick Kenny. The birthday song was made popular... , Norman Ellis |
3:05 |
| 2. | 3/31/37 | Brunswick 7867 | 1937 | How Could You? | Al Dubin Al Dubin Alexander "Al" Dubin was an American lyricist. He became known through his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren.-Life and works:... and Harry Warren Harry Warren Harry Warren was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song eleven times and won three Oscars for composing "Lullaby of Broadway", "You'll Never Know" and "On the Atchison,... |
2:29 |
| 3. | 3/31/37 | Brunswick 7877 | 1937 | Moanin' Low Moanin' Low Moanin' Low is a popular torch song. The music was written by Arthur Schwartz; the lyrics by Howard Dietz. The song was published in 1929 and was introduced that same year in the musical revue The Little Show. Since it's publication, the song has become a popular jazz standard.... |
Howard Dietz Howard Dietz Howard Dietz was an American publicist, lyricist, and librettist.-Biography:Dietz was born in New York City and studied journalism at Columbia University... and Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger was an American composer of popular music principally for films.-Biography:Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, Rainger embarked on a legal career before escaping to Broadway where he became Clifton Webb's accompanist... |
3:03 |
| 4. | 4/1/37 | Vocalion 3543 | 1937 | Where Is the Sun? | John Redmond John Redmond John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918... and Lee David |
2:45 |
| 5. | 4/1/37 | Vocalion 3520 | 1937 | Let's Call the Whole Thing Off Let's Call the Whole Thing Off "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" is a song written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 film Shall We Dance where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as part of a celebrated dance duet on roller skates... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and George Gershwin George Gershwin George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... |
2:36 |
| 6. | 4/1/37 | Vocalion 3520 | 1937 | They Can't Take That Away From Me They Can't Take That Away from Me "They Can't Take That Away from Me" is a 1937 song written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film Shall We Dance.... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and George Gershwin George Gershwin George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... |
3:02 |
| 7. | 4/1/37 | Vocalion 3543 | 1937 | Don't Know If I'm Comin' or Goin' | Lee Wainer and Lupin Fien | 2:45 |
| 8. | 5/11/37 | Brunswick 7917 | 1937 | Sun Showers | Arthur Freed Arthur Freed Arthur Freed was born Arthur Grossman in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a Jewish American lyricist and a Hollywood film producer.- Biography :Freed began his career as a song-plugger and pianist in Chicago... and Nacio Herb Brown Nacio Herb Brown Nacio Herb Brown was an American writer of popular songs, movie scores, and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s.-Biography:... |
3:06 |
| 9. | 5/11/37 | Brunswick 7917 | 1937 | Yours and Mine | Arthur Freed Arthur Freed Arthur Freed was born Arthur Grossman in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a Jewish American lyricist and a Hollywood film producer.- Biography :Freed began his career as a song-plugger and pianist in Chicago... and Nacio Herb Brown Nacio Herb Brown Nacio Herb Brown was an American writer of popular songs, movie scores, and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s.-Biography:... |
3:15 |
| 10. | 5/11/37 | Brunswick 7903 | 1937 | I'll Get By | Roy Turk Roy Turk Roy Kenneth Turk was an American songwriter. A lyricist, he frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert – their popular 1928 song "Mean to Me" has become a jazz standard. He worked with many other composers, including for film lyrics... and Fred E. Ahlert Fred E. Ahlert Frederick Emil Ahlert was an American composer and songwriter. He received a degree from Fordham Law School, but instead of pursuing a legal career he began work as an arranger, initially for Irving Aaronson and his Commanders and then for composer and band-leader Fred Waring... |
3:07 |
| 11. | 5/11/37 | Brunswick 7903 | 1937 | Mean to Me | Roy Turk Roy Turk Roy Kenneth Turk was an American songwriter. A lyricist, he frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert – their popular 1928 song "Mean to Me" has become a jazz standard. He worked with many other composers, including for film lyrics... and Fred E. Ahlert Fred E. Ahlert Frederick Emil Ahlert was an American composer and songwriter. He received a degree from Fordham Law School, but instead of pursuing a legal career he began work as an arranger, initially for Irving Aaronson and his Commanders and then for composer and band-leader Fred Waring... |
3:06 |
| 12. | 6/1/37 | Brunswick 7911 | 1937 | Foolin' Myself | Peter Tinturin and Jack Lawrence Jack Lawrence Jack Lawrence was an American songwriter. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975.- Biography :... |
3:00 |
| 13. | 6/1/37 | Brunswick 7911 | 1937 | Easy Living Easy Living (song) "Easy Living" is a jazz standard written by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin for the film Easy Living directed by Mitchell Leisen.The song has been recorded by many jazz performers including Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Anita O'Day, and Miles Davis... |
Leo Robin Leo Robin Leo Robin was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Oscar-winning song "Thanks for the Memory," sung by Bob Hope in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938.-Biography:Robin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and... and Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger was an American composer of popular music principally for films.-Biography:Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, Rainger embarked on a legal career before escaping to Broadway where he became Clifton Webb's accompanist... |
3:02 |
| 14. | 6/1/37 | Brunswick 7926 | 1937 | I'll Never Be the Same | Gus Khan, Frank Signorelli Frank Signorelli Frank Signorelli was an US jazz pianist of the 1920s. He was a founder member of the Original Memphis Five in 1917, then joined the Original Dixieland Jazz Band briefly in 1921. In 1927 he played in Adrian Rollini's New York ensemble, and subsequently worked with Eddie Lang, Bix Beiderbecke, Matty... , Matt Malneck |
3:01 |
| 15. | 6/15/37 | Vocalion 3593 | 1937 | Me, Myself, and I Me, Myself, and I (1937 song) A variant title is "Me, Myself and I ". The music was written by Irving Gordon with lyrics by Allen Roberts and Allen S. Kaufman. It was first recorded in 1937 by several artists including Billy Holiday and Her Orchestra, Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Bob Howard and His Orchestra, and Dick... |
Irving Gordon Irving Gordon Irving Gordon was an American songwriter.-Biography:Irving Gordon was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, he studied violin, and after attending public schools in New York City, went to work in the Catskill Mountains at some of the resort hotels in the area... , Allan Roberts, Alvin Kaufman |
2:35 |
| 16. | 6/15/37 | Vocalion 3605 | 1937 | A Sailboat in the Moonlight | Carmen Lombardo Carmen Lombardo Carmen Lombardo was the younger brother of bandleader Guy Lombardo. He was a vocalist and composer whose compositions included the 1928 classic "Sweethearts on Parade", which was number one for three weeks in 1929 on the U.S... and John Jacob Loeb |
2:49 |
| 17. | 6/15/37 | Vocalion 3605 | 1937 | Born to Love Born to Love Born to Love is a studio album of duets between Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack. It contains the top-ten R&B hit "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love", written by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser.-Track listing:... |
Jack Scholl and M.K. Jerome | 2:38 |
| 18. | 6/15/37 | Vocalion 3593 | 1937 | Without Your Love | Johnny Lange Johnny Lange Johnny Lange was a songwriter, author and publisher. He was educated in a Philadelphia high school. He joined the music staff at film studios in 1937 and resumed his film music career in 1946 and 1947. He also wrote special material for night club singers, and the "Ice Capades of 1950"... and Fred Stryker |
2:51 |
| 19. | 9/13/37 | Vocalion 3701 | 1937 | Getting Some Fun Out of Life | Edgar Leslie Edgar Leslie Edgar Leslie was an American songwriter. His first song Lonesome in 1909 was an immediate success, recorded by the Haydn Quartet and again by Byron G. Harlan. Other notable artists he worked with are:... and Joseph A. Burke Joe Burke (composer) Joseph A. Burke was an American composer and pianist. He was born in Philadelphia and died in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and started as a pianist accompanying silent movies and an arranger in a music publishing firm. It was during this time... |
3:00 |
| 20. | 9/13/37 | Vocalion 3701 | 1937 | Who Wants Love? | Gus Khan and Franz Waxman Franz Waxman Franz Waxman was a German-American composer, known for his bravura Carmen Fantasie for violin and orchestra, based on musical themes from the Bizet opera Carmen, and for his musical scores for films.... |
2:32 |
| 21. | 9/13/37 | Vocalion 3748 | 1937 | Travelin' All Alone | J.C. Johnson | 2:12 |
| 22. | 9/13/37 | Vocalion 3748 | 1937 | He's Funny That Way | Neil Moret Neil Moret Charles N. Daniels , was a composer, occasional lyricist, and music publishing executive. He employed many pseudonyms, including Neil Moret, Jules Lemare, L'Albert, Paul Bertrand, Julian Strauss, and Sidney Carter... and Richard Whiting Richard A. Whiting Richard Armstrong Whiting was a composer of popular songs including the standards, "Hooray for Hollywood", "Ain't We Got Fun?" & "On the Good Ship Lollipop".... |
2:39 |
Disc Four
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 11/1/37 | Brunswick 8015 | 1937 | Nice Work If You Can Get It Nice Work If You Can Get It (song) "Nice Work If You Can Get It" is a popular song.The music was written by George Gershwin, the lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was one of nine songs George Gershwin wrote for the movie A Damsel in Distress, in which it was performed by Fred Astaire with backing vocals provided by The Stafford Sisters... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and George Gershwin George Gershwin George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... |
3:07 |
| 2. | 11/1/37 | Brunswick 8015 | 1937 | Things Are Looking Up Things Are Looking Up "Things Are Looking Up" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film A Damsel in Distress.-Notable recordings:... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and George Gershwin George Gershwin George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... |
3:19 |
| 3. | 11/1/37 | Brunswick 8008 | 1937 | My Man My Man "My Man" is a 1982 single by Yoko Ono from the album It's Alright in a New Wave/calypso style. The minimalist "Let The Tears Dry" appeared on the B-side.... |
Jacques Charles Jacques Charles Jacques Alexandre César Charles was a French inventor, scientist, mathematician, and balloonist.Charles and the Robert brothers launched the world's first hydrogen-filled balloon in August 1783, then in December 1783, Charles and his co-pilot Nicolas-Louis Robert ascended to a height of about... , Channing Pollack, Albert Willemetz Albert Willemetz Albert Willemetz was a French librettist.Albert Willemetz was a prolific lyricist. He invented a new type of musical, with a humorous and "sexy" style... , Maurice Yvain |
3:01 |
| 4. | 11/1/37 | Brunswick 8008 | 1937 | Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" with music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, is one of the most famous songs from their classic 1927 musical play Show Boat, adapted from Edna Ferber's novel.-Context:... |
Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for... and Jerome Kern Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A... |
3:14 |
| 5. | 1/6/38 | Brunswick 8053 | 1938 | My First Impression of You | Charles Tobias Charles Tobias -Biography:Born in New York City, Tobias grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with brothers Harry Tobias and Henry Tobias, also songwriters.He started his musical career in vaudeville. In 1923, he founded his own music publishing firm and worked on Tin Pan Alley... and Sam H. Stept Sam H. Stept Samuel Howard Stept was an American songwriter who wrote for Broadway, Hollywood and the big bands. He became known simply as Sam Stept or Sam H. Stept — he almost never used his full middle name.-Family:Born in Odessa, Russia, Stept came to the U.S. at the age of three and grew up in... |
2:47 |
| 6. | 1/6/38 | Brunswick 8070 | 1938 | When You're Smiling When You're Smiling "When You're Smiling" is a song by Larry Shay, Mark Fisher, and Joe Goodwin , and made famous by Louis Armstrong, who recorded it at least three times, in 1929, 1932, and 1956... |
Mark Fisher Mark Fisher (songwriter) Mark Fisher was an American songwriter.He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.He died in Long Lake or Ingleside, Illinois. Many of his compositions were joint ventures with Joe Goodwin and Larry Shay . Another collaborator was Joe Burke.-External references:*... , Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay Larry Shay Larry Shay was an American songwriter.Shay was born in Chicago, Illinois. While still young, he studied the piano at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He eventually moved to New York City to become a songwriter. His first composition was "Do You, Don't You, Will You, Won't You," published... |
2:50 |
| 7. | 1/6/38 | Brunswick 8070 | 1938 | I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me | Clarence Gaskill and Jimmy McHugh Jimmy McHugh James Francis McHugh was a U.S. composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he composed over 270 songs... |
2:49 |
| 8. | 1/6/38 | Brunswick 8053 | 1938 | If Dreams Come True If Dreams Come True Music critic Michael Berick, writing for Allmusic, praised selected tracks, writing that overall "Sometimes the performances do suggest an excellent lounge band to the extent that you can almost hear the audience applause after a solo... |
Edgar Sampson Edgar Sampson Edgar Melvin Sampson was a composer, arranger, saxophonist, and violinist... and Benny Goodman Benny Goodman Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America... |
3:03 |
| 9. | 1/12/38 | Vocalion 3947 | 1938 | Now They Call It Swing | Walter Hirsch, Vaughan DeLeath, Norman Cloutier, Lou Handman Lou Handman Lou Handman is a composer born in New York City on September 10, 1894 and died in Flushing, New York on December 9, 1956. In his early career toured in vaudeville shows in Australia and New York. Handman worked closely with Roy Turk... |
2:58 |
| 10. | 1/12/38 | Vocalion 3947 | 1938 | On the Sentimental Side | Johnny Burke Johnny Burke Johnny Burke was a Newfoundland songwriter and musician. He was nicknamed the 'Bard of Prescott Street'. He wrote many popular songs that artists in the 1930s and 1940s released.Popular songs by Burke include:* The Night Paddy Murphy Died... and James Monaco James Monaco James Monaco is an American film critic, author, publisher, and educator.He has written seven books, including The New Wave : Truffaut, Godard, Chabrol, Rohmer, Rivette , How To Read A Film and American Film Now , and edited four others.He founded Baseline in 1982, an early online database about... |
3:03 |
| 11. | 1/12/38 | Vocalion 4029 | 1938 | Back In Your Own Backyard Back in Your Own Backyard "Back in Your Own Backyard" is a popular song. Officially the credits show it as written by Al Jolson, Billy Rose, and Dave Dreyer; in fact, Billy Rose was exclusively a lyricist , Dreyer a composer, and Al Jolson a performer who was often given credits so he could earn some more money, so the... |
Al Jolson Al Jolson Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer".... , Billy Rose Billy Rose William "Billy" Rose was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. He is credited with many famous songs, notably "Me and My Shadow" , "It Happened in Monterey" and "It's Only a Paper Moon"... , Dave Dreyer Dave Dreyer Dave Dreyer is a composer and pianist born on September 22, 1894 in Brooklyn, New York. He died on March 2, 1967 in New York City. He started off as a pianist with vaudeville greats such as Al Jolson, Sophie Tucker, Belle Baker, and Frank Fay. In 1923 he worked for the Irving Berlin Music Company.... |
2:40 |
| 12. | 1/12/38 | Vocalion 4029 | 1938 | When a Woman Loves a Man When a Woman Loves a Man "When a Woman Loves a Man" is a song composed by Bernie Hanighen and Gordon Jenkins with lyrics by Johnny Mercer in 1938.-Notable recordings:*Tony Bennett - Tony Bennett on Holiday... |
Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others... , Bernie Hanighen Bernie Hanighen Bernard D. Hanighen was an American songwriter best known for co-writing "'Round Midnight" and "When a Woman Loves a Man"... , Gordon Jenkins Gordon Jenkins Gordon Hill Jenkins was an American arranger, composer and pianist who was an influential figure in popular music in the 1940s and 1950s, renowned for his lush string arrangements... |
2:23 |
| 13. | 5/11/38 | Vocalion 4126 | 1938 | You Go to My Head You Go to My Head "You Go to My Head" is a 1938 popular song composed by J. Fred Coots with lyrics by Haven Gillespie. The song is a unique conjunction of a sophisticated lyric and complex, lush harmonic structure by two songwriters who were not generally known for such elegance; nevertheless the song is highly... |
J. Fred Coots J. Fred Coots John Frederick Coots was an American songwriter. He wrote over 700 songs.He is most famous for the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history.... and Haven Gillespie Haven Gillespie James Lamont "Haven" Gillespie was an American Tin Pan Alley composer and lyricist. He was the writer of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" as well as "You Go to My Head", "Honey", "By the Sycamore Tree", "That Lucky Old Sun", "Breezin' Along With The Breeze", "Right or Wrong," "Beautiful Love",... |
2:52 |
| 14. | 5/11/38 | Vocalion 4126 | 1938 | The Moon Looks Down and Laughs | Bert Kalmar Bert Kalmar Bert Kalmar was a Jewish American lyricist.He was born in New York, New York. He ran away from home at the age of 10 to become a magician at a tent show, and retained an interest in magic all his life. He never got much of an education, but decided to make a career in show business... , Sid Silvers Sid Silvers Sid Silvers was an American actor, comedian, lyricist, and writer.Silvers began his career in vaudeville in the early 1920s as a comedy partner of Phil Baker. As part of their act, Silvers would heckle Baker from the audience... , Harry Ruby Harry Ruby Harry Ruby was a Jewish American songwriter and screenwriter.After failing in his early ambition to become a professional baseball player,... |
2:55 |
| 15. | 5/11/38 | Vocalion 4151 | 1938 | If I Were You | Bob Emmerich Bob Emmerich Robert George Emmerich is a former Major League Baseball player. He played one season with the Boston Braves.-External links:... and Buddy Bernier Buddy Bernier Henry 'Buddy' Bernier was an American lyricist, mainly active during the 1940s and 50s.Born in Watertown, New York, Bernier is perhaps best remembered for Poinciana, written with composer Nat Simon, first introduced in the 1952 film Dreamboat which subsequently became a standard covered by artists... |
2:24 |
| 16. | 5/11/38 | Vocalion 4151 | 1938 | Forget If You Can | Jack Manus, Ken Upham, Leonard Joy | 2:48 |
| 17. | 6/23/38 | Vocalion 4208 | 1938 | Having Myself A Time | Leo Robin Leo Robin Leo Robin was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Oscar-winning song "Thanks for the Memory," sung by Bob Hope in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938.-Biography:Robin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and... and Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger was an American composer of popular music principally for films.-Biography:Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, Rainger embarked on a legal career before escaping to Broadway where he became Clifton Webb's accompanist... |
2:28 |
| 18. | 6/23/38 | Vocalion 4208 | 1938 | Says My Heart | Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for... and Burton Lane Burton Lane Burton Lane was an American composer and lyricist. His most popular and successful work is the musical Finian's Rainbow, "the score for which Lane will always be most remembered."-Biography:... |
2:48 |
| 19. | 6/23/38 | Vocalion 4238 | 1938 | I Wish I Had You | Bud Green Bud Green Bud Green was an Austrian-born songwriter. Bud Green grew up in Harlem at 108th & Madison Ave. at the turn of the century, the eldest of seven. He dropped out of elementary school to sell newspapers and help the family... , Al Stillman Al Stillman Al Stillman was an American lyricist.-Biography:Stillman was born in New York City. His name was originally Albert Silverman, but changed it to that of a well-known New York banking family. He was Jewish. He attended New York University. After graduation, he contributed to Franklin P... , Claude Thonhill |
2:49 |
| 20. | 6/23/38 | Vocalion 4238 | 1938 | I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (and Throw Away the Key) | Jimmy Eaton and Terry Shand | 2:06 |
| 21. | 9/15/38 | Vocalion 4457 | 1938 | The Very Thought of You The Very Thought of You "The Very Thought of You" is a pop standard published in 1934, with music and lyrics by Ray Noble. In addition to Noble's own hit recording of the song with his orchestra, featuring the vocals of Al Bowlly, there was also a popular version recorded that same year by Bing Crosby. A decade later, the... |
Ray Noble Ray Noble (musician) Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day... |
2:45 |
| 22. | 9/15/38 | Vocalion 4457 | 1938 | I Can't Get Started I Can't Get Started "I Can't Get Started" is a popular song, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and music by Vernon Duke, that was first heard in the theatrical production Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 where it was sung by Bob Hope... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and Vernon Duke Vernon Duke Vernon Duke was a Russian-American composer/songwriter, who also wrote under his original name Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for "Taking a Chance on Love" with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche, "I Can't Get Started" with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, "April in Paris" with lyrics by E. Y... |
2:46 |
| 23. | 9/15/38 | Vocalion 4396 | 1938 | I've Got A Date With A Dream | Mack Gordon Mack Gordon Mack Gordon was an American composer and lyricist of songs for the stage and film. He was nominated for the best original song Oscar nine times, including six consecutive years between 1940 and 1945, and won the award once, for "You'll Never Know"... and Harry Revel Harry Revel Harry Revel was an English composer of musical theatre.Revel was born in London. Before emigrating to the United States in 1929, he wrote musicals for productions in Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna and London.... |
2:42 |
| 24. | 9/15/38 | Vocalion 4396 | 1938 | You Can't Be Mine | J.C. Johnson and Chick Webb Chick Webb William Henry Webb, usually known as Chick Webb was an American jazz and swing music drummer as well as a band leader.-Biography:... |
2:21 |
Disc Five
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 10/31/38 | Brunswick 8259 | 1938 | Everybody's Laughing | Sammy Lerner Sammy Lerner Samuel "Sammy" Lerner was a Romanian-born songwriter for American and British musical theatre and film.-Career:... and Ben Oakland Ben Oakland Ben Oakland was an American composer, lyricist and pianist most active from the 1920s through the 1940s. He composed mainly for Broadway and vaudeville, though he also worked on several Hollywood scores including for the film My Little Chickadee.Oakland often composed music only, collaborating... |
3:00 |
| 2. | 10/31/38 | Brunswick 8259 | 1938 | Here It Is Tomorrow Again | Patrick Gibbons and Roy Ringwald | 2:44 |
| 3. | 10/31/38 | Brunswick 8270 | 1938 | Say It With A Kiss | Harry Warren Harry Warren Harry Warren was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song eleven times and won three Oscars for composing "Lullaby of Broadway", "You'll Never Know" and "On the Atchison,... and Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others... |
2:34 |
| 4. | 10/31/38 | Brunswick 8265 | 1938 | April In My Heart | Helen Meinardi and Hoagy Carmichael Hoagy Carmichael Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the... |
3:06 |
| 5. | 10/31/38 | Brunswick 8265 | 1938 | I'll Never Fail You | Irving Taylor Irving Taylor (songwriter) Irving Taylor , was a Jewish-American composer, lyricist, and screenwriter. He enlisted in the US Navy the day after Pearl Harbor... and Vic Mizzy Vic Mizzy Vic Mizzy was an American composer for television and movies whose best-known works are the themes to the 1960s television sitcoms Green Acres and The Addams Family. He also penned top-20 songs from the 1930s to 1940s.-Biography:Vic Mizzy was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended New York... |
2:58 |
| 6. | 10/31/38 | Brunswick 8270 | 1938 | They Say They Say -Vinyl:-Music video:On June 20, 2008, Scars on Broadway released a music video teaser for "They Say" on a MySpace bulletin and blog.In the teaser, the video is said to premiere soon. The official music video premiered on the Yahoo! Music page on June 27.... |
Paul Mann, Stephan Weiss, Edward Heyman Edward Heyman Edward Heyman was an American musician and lyricist, best known for his compositions "Body and Soul", "When I Fall in Love", and "For Sentimental Reasons". He also contributed many songs for films.-Biography:... |
3:10 |
| 7. | 11/28/38 | Brunswick 8283 | 1938 | You're So Desirable | Ray Noble Ray Noble (musician) Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day... |
2:51 |
| 8. | 11/28/38 | Brunswick 8281 | 1938 | You're Gonna See A Lot of Me | Al Goodhart Al Goodhart Al Goodhart a member of ASCAP, was born in New York City and attended DeWitt Clinton High School. During his lifetime he was a radio announcer, vaudeville pianist and special materials writer. He also owned a theatrical agency. After his 1931 hit "I Apologize" he concentrated on composing music... , Manny Kurtz, Al Hoffman Al Hoffman Al Hoffman , a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame since 1984, was a hit songwriter active in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, usually co-writing with others and responsible for number one hits through each decade, many of which are still sung and recorded today... |
2:57 |
| 9. | 11/28/38 | Brunswick 8281 | 1938 | Hello, My Darling | Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for... and Friedrich Hollaender Friedrich Hollaender Friedrich Hollaender was a German film composer.He was born in London, where his father, operetta composer Victor Hollaender, worked at the Barnum & Bailey Circus... |
2:43 |
| 10. | 11/28/38 | Brunswick 8283 | 1938 | Let's Dream in the Moonlight | Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh... and Matt Malneck |
2:53 |
| 11. | 1/20/39 | Vocalion 4631 | 1939 | That's All I Ask of You | R.E. Pope | 2:56 |
| 12. | 1/20/39 | Vocalion 4631 | 1939 | Dream of Life | Carmen McRae Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable... |
2:43 |
| 13. | 1/30/39 | Brunswick 8314 | 1939 | What Shall I Say? | Peter Tinturin | 3:04 |
| 14. | 1/30/39 | Brunswick 8314 | 1939 | It's Easy to Blame the Weather | Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area... and Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin was an American composer and musical director.He was born Saul Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York.He had worked on stage, screen and television since the days of Tin Pan Alley... |
2:58 |
| 15. | 1/30/39 | Brunswick 8319 | 1939 | More Than You Know More Than You Know (1929 song) "More Than You Know" is a popular song, with music written by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu. The song was published in 1929.... |
Vincent Youmans Vincent Youmans Vincent Youmans was an American popular composer and Broadway producer.- Life :Vincent Millie Youmans was born in New York City on September 27, 1898 and grew-up on Central Park West on the site where the Mayflower Hotel once stood. His father, a prosperous hat manufacturer, moved the family to... , Billy Rose Billy Rose William "Billy" Rose was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. He is credited with many famous songs, notably "Me and My Shadow" , "It Happened in Monterey" and "It's Only a Paper Moon"... , Edward Eliscu Edward Eliscu Edward Eliscu was a lyricist, playwright, producer and actor. He attended the City College of New York where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree. He then began acting in Broadway plays... |
3:05 |
| 16. | 1/30/39 | Brunswick 8319 | 1939 | Sugar Sugar (Maceo Pinkard song) "Sugar", also known as "That Sugar Baby o' Mine", is a popular song by Maceo Pinkard, his wife Edna Alexander and Sidney D. Mitchell.The song is not to be confused with another 1927 song titled "Sugar", written by Jack Yellen, Milton Ager, Frank Crum and Red Nichols.The song has been recorded by... |
Maceo Pinkard Maceo Pinkard Maceo Pinkard was an American composer, lyricist, and music publisher. Among his compositions is "Sweet Georgia Brown", a popular standard for decades after its composition and famous as the theme of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.Pinkard was inducted in the National Academy of... , Sidney Mitchell, Edna Alexander |
2:45 |
| 17. | 3/21/39 | Vocalion 4834 | 1939 | You're Too Lovely to Last | Teddy McRae Teddy McRae Teddy McRae was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and arranger.McRae was born in Philadelphia and played with local ensembles, including one composed of family members, when young. He played with June Clark in 1926 before moving to New York City to found his own band... , C. Beal, E. Frazer |
2:48 |
| 18. | 3/21/39 | Vocalion 4786 | 1939 | Under A Blue Jungle Moon | R. Conway and N. Brisben | 2:55 |
| 19. | 3/21/39 | Vocalion 4786 | 1939 | Everything Happens for the Best Everything Happens for the Best Everything Happens For The Best is a song written by Billie Holiday.-Recording session:Session #35: New York, March 21, 1939 on the Vocalion label, Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra with ‘Hot Lips’ Page , Tab Smith, Kenneth Hollon, Stanley Payne , Kenny Kersey , Jimmy McLin , John Williams Eddie... |
Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... and Tab Smith Tab Smith Talmadge "Tab" Smith , was an American swing and rhythm and blues alto saxophonist. He is best known for the tracks, "Because Of You" and "Pretend". He variously worked with Count Basie, the Mills Rhythm Boys and Lucky Millinder.-Biography:Smith was born in Kinston, North Carolina, United States... |
2:48 |
| 20. | 3/21/39 | Vocalion 4834 | 1939 | Why Did I Always Depend on You? | Teddy McRae Teddy McRae Teddy McRae was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and arranger.McRae was born in Philadelphia and played with local ensembles, including one composed of family members, when young. He played with June Clark in 1926 before moving to New York City to found his own band... |
2:31 |
| 21. | 3/21/39 | Columbia 37586 | 1941 | Long Gone Blues | Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... |
3:05 |
Disc Six
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 7/5/39 | Vocalion 5021 | 1939 | Some Other Spring | Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog was an American novelist, non-fiction writer, and journalist, well known for his works of science fiction and true crime books.His novels The Swarm and Orca have been made into films... and Irene Kitchings |
3:01 |
| 2. | 7/5/39 | Vocalion 5129 | 1939 | Our Love Is Different Our Love Is Different Our Love Is Different is a song written by Billie Holiday, R. Conway, Basil G. Alba, and Sonny White-Recording session:Session #37: New York, July 5, 1939, Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra, with Charlie Shavers , Tab Smith , Kenneth Hollon, Stanley Payne , Sonny White , Bernard Addison , John... |
Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... , R. Conway, Basil Alba, Sonny White Sonny White Ellerton Oswald, better known as Sonny White was a jazz pianist who spend most of his life in America.... |
3:13 |
| 3. | 7/5/39 | Vocalion 5021 | 1939 | Them There Eyes Them There Eyes "Them There Eyes" is a jazz song written by Maceo Pinkard, Doris Tauber, and William Tracey. It was published in 1930. One of the early recorded versions was done by Louis Armstrong in 1931... |
Maceo Pinkard Maceo Pinkard Maceo Pinkard was an American composer, lyricist, and music publisher. Among his compositions is "Sweet Georgia Brown", a popular standard for decades after its composition and famous as the theme of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.Pinkard was inducted in the National Academy of... , William Tracey, Doris Tauber |
2:48 |
| 4. | 7/5/39 | Vocalion 5129 | 1939 | Swing Brother Swing | Clarence Williams, Lewis Raymond, Walter Bishop, Sr. Walter Bishop, Sr. Walter Bishop Sr. was a Jamaican composer and songwriter. His Swing, Brother, Swing was recorded by Billie Holiday with Count Basie, among other performers. His calypso, Sex is a Misdemeanor, continues to be recorded. Other songs written by Bishop, Sr... |
2:54 |
| 5. | 12/13/39 | Vocalion 5377 | 1940 | Night and Day Night and Day (song) "Night and Day" is a popular song by Cole Porter. It was written for the 1932 musical play Gay Divorce. It is perhaps Porter's most popular contribution to the Great American Songbook and has been recorded by dozens of artists.... |
Cole Porter Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre... |
2:58 |
| 6. | 12/13/39 | Vocalion 5377 | 1940 | The Man I Love The Man I Love (song) "The Man I Love" is a popular standard, with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by his brother Ira. Originally part of the 1924 score for the Gershwin government satire Lady, Be Good as "The Girl I Love", the song was deleted from the show as well as from both the 1927 anti-war satire Strike Up... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and George Gershwin George Gershwin George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... |
3:04 |
| 7. | 12/13/39 | Vocalion 5302 | 1939 | You're Just A No Account | Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area... and Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin was an American composer and musical director.He was born Saul Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York.He had worked on stage, screen and television since the days of Tin Pan Alley... |
2:58 |
| 8. | 12/13/39 | Vocalion 5302 | 1939 | You're A Lucky Guy | Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area... and Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin was an American composer and musical director.He was born Saul Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York.He had worked on stage, screen and television since the days of Tin Pan Alley... |
2:43 |
| 9. | 2/29/40 | Vocalion 5609 | 1940 | Ghost of Yesterday | Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog was an American novelist, non-fiction writer, and journalist, well known for his works of science fiction and true crime books.His novels The Swarm and Orca have been made into films... and Irene Kitchings |
2:37 |
| 10. | 2/29/40 | Vocalion 5481 | 1940 | Body and Soul Body and Soul (song) "Body and Soul" was recorded as a duet by Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse in 2011. It was the final recording made by Winehouse before her death on July 23, 2011. The single was released worldwide on September 14, 2011 on iTunes, MTV and VH1.... |
Johnny Green Johnny Green Johnny Green was an American songwriter, composer, musical arranger, and conductor. He was given the nickname "Beulah" by colleague Conrad Salinger. His most famous song was one of his earliest, "Body and Soul"... , Edward Heyman Edward Heyman Edward Heyman was an American musician and lyricist, best known for his compositions "Body and Soul", "When I Fall in Love", and "For Sentimental Reasons". He also contributed many songs for films.-Biography:... , Robert Sour Robert Sour Robert Sour was a lyricist and composer, and the president of Broadcast Music Incorporated .In 1940 Sour worked for Broadcast Music as its lyrics editor, and by 1966 had risen through company ranks to become BMI's president. Two years later he had become the company's vice chairman and was... , Frank Eyton Frank Eyton Frank Eyton was an English popular music lyricist best known for co-writing the lyrics of Johnny Green's "Body and Soul" with Edward Heyman and Robert Sour.... |
2:57 |
| 11. | 2/29/40 | Vocalion 5481 | 1940 | What Is This Going to Get Us? | Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog was an American novelist, non-fiction writer, and journalist, well known for his works of science fiction and true crime books.His novels The Swarm and Orca have been made into films... and Irene Kitchings |
2:39 |
| 12. | 2/29/40 | Vocalion 5609 | 1940 | Falling In Love Again Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It) "Falling in Love Again " is the English language name for a 1930 German song composed by Friedrich Hollaender as Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt... |
Sammy Lerner Sammy Lerner Samuel "Sammy" Lerner was a Romanian-born songwriter for American and British musical theatre and film.-Career:... and Friedrich Hollaender Friedrich Hollaender Friedrich Hollaender was a German film composer.He was born in London, where his father, operetta composer Victor Hollaender, worked at the Barnum & Bailey Circus... |
2:49 |
| 13. | 6/7/40 | Okeh 5991 | 1941 | I'm Pulling Through | Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog was an American novelist, non-fiction writer, and journalist, well known for his works of science fiction and true crime books.His novels The Swarm and Orca have been made into films... and Irene Kitchings |
3:09 |
| 14. | 6/7/40 | Vocalion 5719 | 1940 | Tell Me More-More-Then Some | Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... |
3:07 |
| 15. | 6/7/40 | Vocalion 5719 | 1940 | Laughing at Life | Nick Kenny, Charles Kenny Charles Kenny Charles Francis Kenny was an American composer, author, and violinist. His hit songs include "There's A Gold Mine In The Sky" and "Love Letters in the Sand", and "Laughing at Life" and "Because It's Your Birthday Today" which he wrote with his brother Nick Kenny. The birthday song was made popular... , Bob Todd, Cornell Todd |
2:54 |
| 16. | 6/7/40 | Okeh 5991 | 1941 | Time On My Hands (You In My Arms) | Vincent Youmans Vincent Youmans Vincent Youmans was an American popular composer and Broadway producer.- Life :Vincent Millie Youmans was born in New York City on September 27, 1898 and grew-up on Central Park West on the site where the Mayflower Hotel once stood. His father, a prosperous hat manufacturer, moved the family to... , Harold Adamson Harold Adamson For the Toronto Police Chief see Harold Adamson Harold Adamson was an American lyricist during the 1930s and 1940s.- Biography :... , Mack Gordon Mack Gordon Mack Gordon was an American composer and lyricist of songs for the stage and film. He was nominated for the best original song Oscar nine times, including six consecutive years between 1940 and 1945, and won the award once, for "You'll Never Know"... |
3:04 |
| 17. | 9/12/40 | Okeh 5831 | 1940 | I'm All For You | Jerry Bresler Jerry Bresler Jerry Bresler was a songwriter, with one of his most famous compositions being "Five Guys Named Moe". He won an Oscar and subsequently had two other nominations for his two-reel short films.... and Larry Wynn |
3:08 |
| 18. | 9/12/40 | Okeh 5831 | 1940 | I Hear Music I Hear Music "I Hear Music" is a popular song composed by Burton Lane, with lyrics by Frank Loesser for the Paramount Pictures movie Dancing on a Dime .-Notable recordings:*Billie Holiday - Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933–1944 ... |
Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for... and Burton Lane Burton Lane Burton Lane was an American composer and lyricist. His most popular and successful work is the musical Finian's Rainbow, "the score for which Lane will always be most remembered."-Biography:... |
2:39 |
| 19. | 9/12/40 | Okeh 5806 | 1940 | The Same Old Story | Michael Field, Newt Oliphant | 3:10 |
| 20. | 9/12/40 | Okeh 5806 | 1940 | Practice Makes Perfect | Don Roberts and Ernest Gold | 2:34 |
| 21. | 10/15/40 | Okeh 6064 | 1941 | St. Louis Blues | W.C. Handy | 2:53 |
| 22. | 10/15/40 | Okeh 6064 | 1941 | Loveless Love | W.C. Handy | 3:15 |
| 23. | 3/21/41 | Okeh 6134 | 1941 | Let's Do It Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love" is a popular song written in 1928 by Cole Porter. It was introduced in Porter's first Broadway success, the musical Paris by French chanteuse Irène Bordoni for whom Porter had written the musical as a starring vehicle... |
Cole Porter Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre... |
2:55 |
| 24. | 3/21/41 | Okeh 6134 | 1941 | Georgia on My Mind Georgia on My Mind "Georgia on My Mind" is a song written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell . It is the official state song of the U.S. state of Georgia. Gorrell wrote the lyrics for Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael. However, the lyrics of the song are ambiguous enough to refer either to the state or... |
Stuart Gorrell Stuart Gorrell Stuart Graham Steven Gorrell is best known for writing the lyrics for the song Georgia on My Mind.Gorrell attended Indiana University; there he became friends with fellow student Hoagy Carmichael... and Hoagy Carmichael Hoagy Carmichael Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the... |
3:17 |
Disc Seven
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 3/21/41 | Okeh 6214 | 1941 | Romance in the Dark | Sam Coslow Sam Coslow Sam Coslow was an American songwriter, singer, film producer, publisher, and market analyst. Coslow was born in New York City. He began writing songs as a teenager... and Gertrude Niesen Gertrude Niesen Gertrude Niesen was an American torch singer, actress, comedienne and songwriter who achieved popular success in musicals and films in the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:... |
2:15 |
| 2. | 3/21/41 | Okeh 6214 | 1941 | All of Me All of Me (song) "All of Me" is a popular song and jazz standard written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931.First performed by Belle Baker over the radio and recorded in December 1931 by Ruth Etting, it has become one of the most recorded songs of its era, with notable versions by Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby,... |
Seymour Simons Seymour Simons Seymour Simons, was an American Pianist, Composer, Orchestra Leader, and Radio Producer.Simons returned to Detroit after service in World War I and built a reputation as a pianist and songwriter, providing material for stage stars Nora Bayes and Elsie Janis... and Gerald Marks Gerald Marks Gerald Marks , was an American composer best known for the song "All of Me" which he co-wrote with Seymour Simons and has been recorded about 2,000 times... |
3:01 |
| 3. | 5/9/41 | Okeh 6451 | 1941 | I'm In A Low Down Groove | R. Jordan | 3:08 |
| 4. | 5/9/41 | Okeh 6270 | 1941 | God Bless the Child God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song) "God Bless the Child" is a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. in 1939, first recorded on May 9, 1941 under the Okeh label.Holiday's version of the song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in... |
Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... and Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog was an American novelist, non-fiction writer, and journalist, well known for his works of science fiction and true crime books.His novels The Swarm and Orca have been made into films... |
2:58 |
| 5. | 5/9/41 | Columbia 37586 | 1941 | Am I Blue? Am I Blue? "Am I Blue?" is a song written by Harry Akst and Grant Clarke in 1929, and was a big hit that year for Ethel Waters. It has become a standard and has been covered by numerous artists.-Other versions:... |
Harry Akst Harry Akst Harry Akst was an American songwriter, who started out his career as a pianist in vaudeville accompanying singers such as Nora Bayes, Frank Fay and Al Jolson.-Life and career:Akst was born in New York, United States.... and Grant Clarke Grant Clarke Grant Clarke was an American songwriter.Clarke moved to New York City early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians... |
2:50 |
| 6. | 5/9/41 | Okeh 6270 | 1941 | Solitude (In My) Solitude " Solitude" is a 1934 jazz standard, composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills.- Notable recordings :* Paul Robeson, bass with orchestra. Recorded in London on October 18, 1937... |
Duke Ellington Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions... , Eddie DeLange Eddie DeLange Eddie DeLange was an American bandleader and lyricist. Famous artists who recorded some of DeLange's songs include Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman.-Biography:... , and Irving Mills Irving Mills Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919... |
3:13 |
| 7. | 8/7/41 | Okeh 6369 | 1941 | Jim Jim (song) "Jim" is a popular song with music by Caesar Petrillo and Edward Ross, lyrics by Nelson Shawn. The song was published in 1941.... |
Nelson Shawn, Caesar Petrillo, Edward Ross | 3:08 |
| 8. | 8/7/41 | Columbia 37493 | 1945 | I Cover the Waterfront I Cover the Waterfront (song) "I Cover the Watefront" is a 1933 popular song and jazz standard composed by Johnny Green with lyrics by Edward Heyman.The song was inspired by Max Miller's 1932 best-selling novel I Cover the Waterfront... |
Johnny Green Johnny Green Johnny Green was an American songwriter, composer, musical arranger, and conductor. He was given the nickname "Beulah" by colleague Conrad Salinger. His most famous song was one of his earliest, "Body and Soul"... and Edward Heyman Edward Heyman Edward Heyman was an American musician and lyricist, best known for his compositions "Body and Soul", "When I Fall in Love", and "For Sentimental Reasons". He also contributed many songs for films.-Biography:... |
2:55 |
| 9. | 8/7/41 | Okeh 6369 | 1941 | Love Me or Leave Me Love Me or Leave Me (song) "Love Me or Leave Me" is a U.S. popular song from the 1920s.The music was written by Walter Donaldson and the lyrics by Gus Kahn. The song was introduced in the Broadway play, Whoopee!, which opened in December 1928... |
Walter Donaldson Walter Donaldson Walter Donaldson was a prolific United States popular songwriter, composing many hit songs of the 1910s and 1920s.-History:... and Gus Khan |
3:20 |
| 10. | 8/7/41 | Okeh 6451 | 1941 | Gloomy Sunday Gloomy Sunday "Gloomy Sunday" is a song composed by Hungarian pianist and composer Rezső Seress and published in 1933, as "Vége a világnak" . Lyrics were written by László Jávor, and in his version the song was retitled "Szomorú vasárnap"... |
Rezső Seress Rezso Seress Rezső Seress was a Hungarian pianist and composer. Some sources give his birth name as Rudolf Spitzer.Rezső Seress lived most of his life in poverty in Budapest, when, being Jewish, was taken to a labour camp by the Nazis during the Second World War... , László Jávor László Jávor László Jávor was a Hungarian poet who wrote the poem that was the basis for the jazz standard Gloomy Sunday, composed by Rezső Seress, later also notably recorded by Billie Holliday.... , Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis was a Jewish-American singer and lyricist, born in New York City, New York as Samuel Levine-Biography:... |
3:11 |
| 11. | 2/10/42 | Harmony 1075 | 1947 | Wherever You Are | Cliff Friend Cliff Friend Cliff Friend was an accomplished songwriter and pianist. A member of Tin Pan Alley, Friend co-wrote several hits including "Lovesick Blues," "My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now" and "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down," also known as the theme song to the Looney Tunes cartoon series.-Early life:Friend was... and Charles Tobias Charles Tobias -Biography:Born in New York City, Tobias grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with brothers Harry Tobias and Henry Tobias, also songwriters.He started his musical career in vaudeville. In 1923, he founded his own music publishing firm and worked on Tin Pan Alley... |
2:59 |
| 12. | 2/10/42 | Columbia CL6163 | 1950 | Mandy Is Two | Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others... and Fulton McGrath Fulton McGrath Fulton "Fidgy" McGrath was an American jazz pianist and songwriter.McGrath played with Red Nichols early in the 1930s, then joined the band of The Dorsey Brothers, in addition to working extensively as a studio musician and in radio orchestras... |
2:59 |
| 13. | 2/10/42 | Harmony 1075 | 1947 | It's A Sin to Tell A Lie It's a Sin to Tell a Lie "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" is a 1936 popular song by Billy Mayhew. Originally introduced by Fats Waller on the 78 rpm record Victor 20-1595, it was revived in 1955 by Somethin' Smith and the Redheads, reaching #7 on the Billboard charts in that year. John Denver tells a story about the song and... |
Billy Mayhew | 3:02 |
| 14. | 2/10/42 | Columbia 37493 | 1945 | Until the Real Thing Comes Along Until the Real Thing Comes Along " Until the Real Thing Comes Along" is a popular song first published in 1936.According to one version of the original sheet music, the songwriting credits read: "Words and Music by Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin and L.E. Freeman".... |
Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area... , Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin was an American composer and musical director.He was born Saul Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York.He had worked on stage, screen and television since the days of Tin Pan Alley... , Alberta Nichols Alberta Nichols Alberta Nichols was a popular songwriter of the 1930s and 40s. Together with her husband, lyricist Mann Holiner, they composed over 100 songs, of which their most famous were "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" and "A Love Like Ours".-Biography :Nichols was born in Lincoln, Illinois on December 3,... , Mann Holiner |
3:08 |
| 15. | 3/12/35 | Legacy C3K 47724 | 1991 | Saddest Tale | Irving Mills Irving Mills Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919... and Duke Ellington Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions... |
2:53 |
| 16. | 7/10/36 | previously unreleased | No Regrets | Harry Tobias Harry Tobias Harry Tobias was an American lyricist. Like his younger brother Charles, he is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.... and Roy Ingraham |
2:35 | |
| 17. | 10/21/36 | previously unreleased | The Way You Look Tonight The Way You Look Tonight "The Way You Look Tonight" is a song featured in the film Swing Time, originally performed by Fred Astaire. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. The song was sung to Ginger Rogers as Penelope "Penny" Carroll by Astaire's character of John "Lucky" Garnett while Penny was busy... |
Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films... and Jerome Kern Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A... |
3:07 | |
| 18. | 10/21/36 | previously unreleased | Who Loves You? | Benny Davis Benny Davis Benny Davis was a vaudeville performer and writer of popular songs. He composed the classic 1926 standard "Baby Face" with Harry Akst.-Life and career:... and J. Fred Coots J. Fred Coots John Frederick Coots was an American songwriter. He wrote over 700 songs.He is most famous for the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history.... |
3:14 | |
| 19. | 11/19/36 | previously unreleased | Pennies From Heaven Pennies from Heaven (song) "Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and words by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name... |
Arthur Johnston Arthur Johnston (composer) Arthur Johnston was a composer known for such works as “Mandy, Make Up Your Mind,” "Pennies From Heaven," and many others... and John Burke Johnny Burke (lyricist) Johnny Burke was a lyricist, widely regarded as one of the finest writers of popular songs in America between the 1920s and 1950s.-Biography:... |
3:13 | |
| 20. | 11/19/36 | previously unreleased | That's Life I Guess | Peter DeRose Peter DeRose Peter DeRose was an American Hall of Fame composer of jazz and pop music during the Tin Pan Alley era.-Biography:DeRose was born in New York City and as a boy exhibited a gift for things musical... and Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis was a Jewish-American singer and lyricist, born in New York City, New York as Samuel Levine-Biography:... |
3:18 | |
| 21. | 4/1/37 | previously unreleased | They Can't Take That Away From Me They Can't Take That Away from Me "They Can't Take That Away from Me" is a 1937 song written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film Shall We Dance.... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and George Gershwin George Gershwin George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... |
2:54 | |
| 22. | 4/1/37 | previously unreleased | Don't Know If I'm Comin' or Goin' | Lee Wainer and Lupin Fien | 2:45 | |
| 23. | 5/11/37 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | I'll Get By | Roy Turk Roy Turk Roy Kenneth Turk was an American songwriter. A lyricist, he frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert – their popular 1928 song "Mean to Me" has become a jazz standard. He worked with many other composers, including for film lyrics... and Fred E. Ahlert Fred E. Ahlert Frederick Emil Ahlert was an American composer and songwriter. He received a degree from Fordham Law School, but instead of pursuing a legal career he began work as an arranger, initially for Irving Aaronson and his Commanders and then for composer and band-leader Fred Waring... |
3:06 |
| 24. | 5/11/37 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | Mean to Me | Roy Turk Roy Turk Roy Kenneth Turk was an American songwriter. A lyricist, he frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert – their popular 1928 song "Mean to Me" has become a jazz standard. He worked with many other composers, including for film lyrics... and Fred E. Ahlert Fred E. Ahlert Frederick Emil Ahlert was an American composer and songwriter. He received a degree from Fordham Law School, but instead of pursuing a legal career he began work as an arranger, initially for Irving Aaronson and his Commanders and then for composer and band-leader Fred Waring... |
3:05 |
Disc Eight
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 6/15/37 | Columbia CL6129 | 1951 | Me, Myself, and I Me, Myself, and I (1937 song) A variant title is "Me, Myself and I ". The music was written by Irving Gordon with lyrics by Allen Roberts and Allen S. Kaufman. It was first recorded in 1937 by several artists including Billy Holiday and Her Orchestra, Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Bob Howard and His Orchestra, and Dick... |
Irving Gordon Irving Gordon Irving Gordon was an American songwriter.-Biography:Irving Gordon was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, he studied violin, and after attending public schools in New York City, went to work in the Catskill Mountains at some of the resort hotels in the area... , Allan Roberts Allan Roberts Allan Roberts was a British politician who was a Labour Member of Parliament from 1979 until his death. A teacher and social worker before his election, he was a member of the left-wing of the party.-Early life:... , Alvin Kaufman |
2:35 |
| 2. | 6/15/37 | Columbia CL6163 | 1951 | Without Your Love | Johnny Lange Johnny Lange Johnny Lange was a songwriter, author and publisher. He was educated in a Philadelphia high school. He joined the music staff at film studios in 1937 and resumed his film music career in 1946 and 1947. He also wrote special material for night club singers, and the "Ice Capades of 1950"... and Fred Stryker |
2:52 |
| 3. | 6/30/37* | Columbia C3L21 | 1964 | They Can't Take That Away From Me They Can't Take That Away from Me "They Can't Take That Away from Me" is a 1937 song written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film Shall We Dance.... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and George Gershwin George Gershwin George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... |
3:23 |
| 4. | 6/30/37* | Columbia C3L21 | 1964 | Swing Brother Swing Swing Brother Swing Swing Brother Swing is a detective novel by Ngaio Marsh; it is the fifteenth novel to feature Roderick Alleyn, and was first published in 1949. The plot concerns the murder of a big band leader in London; the novel was published as A Wreath for Rivera in the United States.... |
Clarence Williams, Lewis Raymond, Walter Bishop, Sr. Walter Bishop, Sr. Walter Bishop Sr. was a Jamaican composer and songwriter. His Swing, Brother, Swing was recorded by Billie Holiday with Count Basie, among other performers. His calypso, Sex is a Misdemeanor, continues to be recorded. Other songs written by Bishop, Sr... |
1:50 |
| 5. | 11/3/37* | Columbia C3L21 | 1964 | I Can't Get Started I Can't Get Started "I Can't Get Started" is a popular song, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and music by Vernon Duke, that was first heard in the theatrical production Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 where it was sung by Bob Hope... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and Vernon Duke Vernon Duke Vernon Duke was a Russian-American composer/songwriter, who also wrote under his original name Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for "Taking a Chance on Love" with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche, "I Can't Get Started" with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, "April in Paris" with lyrics by E. Y... |
2:45 |
| 6. | 1/6/38 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | My First Impression of You | Charles Tobias Charles Tobias -Biography:Born in New York City, Tobias grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with brothers Harry Tobias and Henry Tobias, also songwriters.He started his musical career in vaudeville. In 1923, he founded his own music publishing firm and worked on Tin Pan Alley... and Sam H. Stept Sam H. Stept Samuel Howard Stept was an American songwriter who wrote for Broadway, Hollywood and the big bands. He became known simply as Sam Stept or Sam H. Stept — he almost never used his full middle name.-Family:Born in Odessa, Russia, Stept came to the U.S. at the age of three and grew up in... |
2:50 |
| 7. | 1/6/38 | Columbia 36208 | 1945 | When You're Smiling When You're Smiling "When You're Smiling" is a song by Larry Shay, Mark Fisher, and Joe Goodwin , and made famous by Louis Armstrong, who recorded it at least three times, in 1929, 1932, and 1956... |
Mark Fisher Mark Fisher (songwriter) Mark Fisher was an American songwriter.He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.He died in Long Lake or Ingleside, Illinois. Many of his compositions were joint ventures with Joe Goodwin and Larry Shay . Another collaborator was Joe Burke.-External references:*... , Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay Larry Shay Larry Shay was an American songwriter.Shay was born in Chicago, Illinois. While still young, he studied the piano at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He eventually moved to New York City to become a songwriter. His first composition was "Do You, Don't You, Will You, Won't You," published... |
3:00 |
| 8. | 1/6/38 | Columbia 36335 | 1945 | I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me | Clarence Gaskill and Jimmy McHugh Jimmy McHugh James Francis McHugh was a U.S. composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he composed over 270 songs... |
2:48 |
| 9. | 1/6/38 | Columbia JG34837 | 1976 | If Dreams Come True If Dreams Come True Music critic Michael Berick, writing for Allmusic, praised selected tracks, writing that overall "Sometimes the performances do suggest an excellent lounge band to the extent that you can almost hear the audience applause after a solo... |
Edgar Sampson Edgar Sampson Edgar Melvin Sampson was a composer, arranger, saxophonist, and violinist... and Benny Goodman Benny Goodman Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America... |
3:03 |
| 10. | 1/12/38 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | Now They Call It Swing | Walter Hirsch, Vaughan DeLeath, Norman Cloutier, Lou Handman Lou Handman Lou Handman is a composer born in New York City on September 10, 1894 and died in Flushing, New York on December 9, 1956. In his early career toured in vaudeville shows in Australia and New York. Handman worked closely with Roy Turk... |
3:04 |
| 11. | 1/12/38 | Columbia C3L21 | 1964 | On the Sentimental Side | Johnny Burke Johnny Burke Johnny Burke was a Newfoundland songwriter and musician. He was nicknamed the 'Bard of Prescott Street'. He wrote many popular songs that artists in the 1930s and 1940s released.Popular songs by Burke include:* The Night Paddy Murphy Died... and James Monaco |
3:04 |
| 12. | 1/12/38 | Columbia JG34837 | 1976 | Back In Your Own Backyard Back in Your Own Backyard "Back in Your Own Backyard" is a popular song. Officially the credits show it as written by Al Jolson, Billy Rose, and Dave Dreyer; in fact, Billy Rose was exclusively a lyricist , Dreyer a composer, and Al Jolson a performer who was often given credits so he could earn some more money, so the... |
Al Jolson Al Jolson Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer".... , Billy Rose Billy Rose William "Billy" Rose was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. He is credited with many famous songs, notably "Me and My Shadow" , "It Happened in Monterey" and "It's Only a Paper Moon"... , Dave Dreyer Dave Dreyer Dave Dreyer is a composer and pianist born on September 22, 1894 in Brooklyn, New York. He died on March 2, 1967 in New York City. He started off as a pianist with vaudeville greats such as Al Jolson, Sophie Tucker, Belle Baker, and Frank Fay. In 1923 he worked for the Irving Berlin Music Company.... |
3:14 |
| 13. | 5/11/38 | previously unreleased | You Go to My Head You Go to My Head "You Go to My Head" is a 1938 popular song composed by J. Fred Coots with lyrics by Haven Gillespie. The song is a unique conjunction of a sophisticated lyric and complex, lush harmonic structure by two songwriters who were not generally known for such elegance; nevertheless the song is highly... |
J. Fred Coots J. Fred Coots John Frederick Coots was an American songwriter. He wrote over 700 songs.He is most famous for the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history.... and Haven Gillespie Haven Gillespie James Lamont "Haven" Gillespie was an American Tin Pan Alley composer and lyricist. He was the writer of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" as well as "You Go to My Head", "Honey", "By the Sycamore Tree", "That Lucky Old Sun", "Breezin' Along With The Breeze", "Right or Wrong," "Beautiful Love",... |
2:52 | |
| 14. | 5/11/38 | previously unreleased | The Moon Looks Down and Laughs | Bert Kalmar Bert Kalmar Bert Kalmar was a Jewish American lyricist.He was born in New York, New York. He ran away from home at the age of 10 to become a magician at a tent show, and retained an interest in magic all his life. He never got much of an education, but decided to make a career in show business... , Sid Silvers Sid Silvers Sid Silvers was an American actor, comedian, lyricist, and writer.Silvers began his career in vaudeville in the early 1920s as a comedy partner of Phil Baker. As part of their act, Silvers would heckle Baker from the audience... , Harry Ruby Harry Ruby Harry Ruby was a Jewish American songwriter and screenwriter.After failing in his early ambition to become a professional baseball player,... |
2:54 | |
| 15. | 5/11/38 | previously unreleased | If I Were You | Bob Emmerich Bob Emmerich Robert George Emmerich is a former Major League Baseball player. He played one season with the Boston Braves.-External links:... and Buddy Bernier Buddy Bernier Henry 'Buddy' Bernier was an American lyricist, mainly active during the 1940s and 50s.Born in Watertown, New York, Bernier is perhaps best remembered for Poinciana, written with composer Nat Simon, first introduced in the 1952 film Dreamboat which subsequently became a standard covered by artists... |
2:27 | |
| 16. | 5/11/38 | previously unreleased | Forget If You Can | Jack Manus, Ken Upham, Leonard Joy | 2:49 | |
| 17. | 6/23/38 | Legacy C3K 47724 | 1991 | Having Myself A Time | Leo Robin Leo Robin Leo Robin was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Oscar-winning song "Thanks for the Memory," sung by Bob Hope in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938.-Biography:Robin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and... and Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger was an American composer of popular music principally for films.-Biography:Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, Rainger embarked on a legal career before escaping to Broadway where he became Clifton Webb's accompanist... |
2:29 |
| 18. | 6/23/38 | Legacy C3K 47724 | 1991 | Says My Heart | Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for... and Burton Lane Burton Lane Burton Lane was an American composer and lyricist. His most popular and successful work is the musical Finian's Rainbow, "the score for which Lane will always be most remembered."-Biography:... |
2:43 |
| 19. | 6/23/38 | previously unreleased | I Wish I Had You | Bud Green Bud Green Bud Green was an Austrian-born songwriter. Bud Green grew up in Harlem at 108th & Madison Ave. at the turn of the century, the eldest of seven. He dropped out of elementary school to sell newspapers and help the family... , Al Stillman Al Stillman Al Stillman was an American lyricist.-Biography:Stillman was born in New York City. His name was originally Albert Silverman, but changed it to that of a well-known New York banking family. He was Jewish. He attended New York University. After graduation, he contributed to Franklin P... , Claude Thonhill |
2:59 | |
| 20. | 6/23/38 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (and Throw Away the Key) | Jimmy Eaton and Terry Shand | 2:06 |
| 21. | 9/15/38 | Columbia JG34837 | 1976 | I Can't Get Started I Can't Get Started "I Can't Get Started" is a popular song, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and music by Vernon Duke, that was first heard in the theatrical production Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 where it was sung by Bob Hope... |
Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... and Vernon Duke Vernon Duke Vernon Duke was a Russian-American composer/songwriter, who also wrote under his original name Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for "Taking a Chance on Love" with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche, "I Can't Get Started" with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, "April in Paris" with lyrics by E. Y... |
2:46 |
| 22. | 9/15/38 | Columbia JG34837 | 1976 | I've Got A Date With A Dream | Mack Gordon Mack Gordon Mack Gordon was an American composer and lyricist of songs for the stage and film. He was nominated for the best original song Oscar nine times, including six consecutive years between 1940 and 1945, and won the award once, for "You'll Never Know"... and Harry Revel Harry Revel Harry Revel was an English composer of musical theatre.Revel was born in London. Before emigrating to the United States in 1929, he wrote musicals for productions in Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna and London.... |
2:41 |
Disc Nine
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 10/31/38 | previously unreleased | April In My Heart | Helen Meinardi and Hoagy Carmichael Hoagy Carmichael Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the... |
3:12 | |
| 2. | 10/31/38 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | They Say They Say -Vinyl:-Music video:On June 20, 2008, Scars on Broadway released a music video teaser for "They Say" on a MySpace bulletin and blog.In the teaser, the video is said to premiere soon. The official music video premiered on the Yahoo! Music page on June 27.... |
Paul Mann, Stephan Weiss, Edward Heyman Edward Heyman Edward Heyman was an American musician and lyricist, best known for his compositions "Body and Soul", "When I Fall in Love", and "For Sentimental Reasons". He also contributed many songs for films.-Biography:... |
3:03 |
| 3. | 11/28/38 | previously unreleased | You're So Desirable | Ray Noble Ray Noble (musician) Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day... |
2:53 | |
| 4. | 11/28/38 | previously unreleased | You're Gonna See A Lot of Me | Al Goodhart Al Goodhart Al Goodhart a member of ASCAP, was born in New York City and attended DeWitt Clinton High School. During his lifetime he was a radio announcer, vaudeville pianist and special materials writer. He also owned a theatrical agency. After his 1931 hit "I Apologize" he concentrated on composing music... , Manny Kurtz, Al Hoffman Al Hoffman Al Hoffman , a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame since 1984, was a hit songwriter active in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, usually co-writing with others and responsible for number one hits through each decade, many of which are still sung and recorded today... |
2:58 | |
| 5. | 11/28/38 | previously unreleased | Hello, My Darling | Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for... and Friedrich Hollaender Friedrich Hollaender Friedrich Hollaender was a German film composer.He was born in London, where his father, operetta composer Victor Hollaender, worked at the Barnum & Bailey Circus... |
2:42 | |
| 6. | 11/28/38 | previously unreleased | Let's Dream in the Moonlight | Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh... and Matt Malneck |
2:54 | |
| 7. | 1/17/39* | Legacy C3K 47724 | 1991 | I Cried for You I Cried for You "I Cried for You" is a song by Georgian born songstress Katie Melua, and was the second single from her second album, Piece by Piece. The single is a double A-side consisting of "I Cried for You", which is one of Melua's own compositions, and a cover of The Cure's song "Just like Heaven", the... |
Gus Arnheim Gus Arnheim Gus Arnheim was an early popular band leader. He is noted for writing several songs with his first hit being "I Cried for You" from 1923. He was most popular in the 1920s and 1930s... , Arthur Freed Arthur Freed Arthur Freed was born Arthur Grossman in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a Jewish American lyricist and a Hollywood film producer.- Biography :Freed began his career as a song-plugger and pianist in Chicago... , Abe Lyman Abe Lyman Abe Lyman was a popular bandleader from the 1920s to the 1940s. He made recordings, appeared in films and provided the music for numerous radio shows, including Your Hit Parade.... |
2:29 |
| 8. | 1/17/39* | Legacy C3K 47724 | 1991 | Jeepers Creepers Jeepers Creepers (song) Jeepers Creepers is a popular 1938 song and jazz standard. The music was written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the movie Going Places. It was premiered by Louis Armstrong and has since been covered by many other artists.-Overview:... |
Harry Warren Harry Warren Harry Warren was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song eleven times and won three Oscars for composing "Lullaby of Broadway", "You'll Never Know" and "On the Atchison,... and Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others... |
3:01 |
| 9. | 1/20/39 | previously unreleased | That's All I Ask of You | R.E. Pope | 2:58 | |
| 10. | 1/30/39 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | More Than You Know More Than You Know (1929 song) "More Than You Know" is a popular song, with music written by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu. The song was published in 1929.... |
Vincent Youmans Vincent Youmans Vincent Youmans was an American popular composer and Broadway producer.- Life :Vincent Millie Youmans was born in New York City on September 27, 1898 and grew-up on Central Park West on the site where the Mayflower Hotel once stood. His father, a prosperous hat manufacturer, moved the family to... , Billy Rose Billy Rose William "Billy" Rose was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. He is credited with many famous songs, notably "Me and My Shadow" , "It Happened in Monterey" and "It's Only a Paper Moon"... , Edward Eliscu Edward Eliscu Edward Eliscu was a lyricist, playwright, producer and actor. He attended the City College of New York where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree. He then began acting in Broadway plays... |
3:04 |
| 11. | 3/21/39 | previously unreleased | You're Too Lovely to Last | Teddy McRae Teddy McRae Teddy McRae was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and arranger.McRae was born in Philadelphia and played with local ensembles, including one composed of family members, when young. He played with June Clark in 1926 before moving to New York City to found his own band... , C. Beal, E. Frazer |
3:01 | |
| 12. | 3/21/39 | previously unreleased | Under A Blue Jungle Moon | R. Conway and N. Brisben | 3:03 | |
| 13. | 12/13/39 | Legacy C3K 47724 | 1991 | Night and Day Night and Day (song) "Night and Day" is a popular song by Cole Porter. It was written for the 1932 musical play Gay Divorce. It is perhaps Porter's most popular contribution to the Great American Songbook and has been recorded by dozens of artists.... |
Cole Porter Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre... |
3:02 |
| 14. | 2/29/40 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | Falling In Love Again Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It) "Falling in Love Again " is the English language name for a 1930 German song composed by Friedrich Hollaender as Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt... |
Sammy Lerner Sammy Lerner Samuel "Sammy" Lerner was a Romanian-born songwriter for American and British musical theatre and film.-Career:... and Friedrich Hollaender Friedrich Hollaender Friedrich Hollaender was a German film composer.He was born in London, where his father, operetta composer Victor Hollaender, worked at the Barnum & Bailey Circus... |
2:46 |
| 15. | 6/7/40 | Columbia C234849 | 1977 | Laughing at Life Laughing at Life - Cast :*Victor McLaglen as Dennis P. McHale / Burke / Captain Hale*Conchita Montenegro as Panchita*William "Stage" Boyd as Inspector Mason*Lois Wilson as Mrs. McHale*Henry B... |
Nick Kenny, Charles Kenny Charles Kenny Charles Francis Kenny was an American composer, author, and violinist. His hit songs include "There's A Gold Mine In The Sky" and "Love Letters in the Sand", and "Laughing at Life" and "Because It's Your Birthday Today" which he wrote with his brother Nick Kenny. The birthday song was made popular... , Bob Todd, Cornell Todd |
2:54 |
| 16. | 9/12/40 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | I'm All For You I'm All For You I'm All For You is a ballads-oriented album, which critics have called one of his most enjoyable endeavors. The album features Hank Jones as well as two members who've enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Lovano: George Mraz and Paul Motian.... |
Jerry Bresler Jerry Bresler Jerry Bresler was a songwriter, with one of his most famous compositions being "Five Guys Named Moe". He won an Oscar and subsequently had two other nominations for his two-reel short films.... and Larry Wynn |
3:27 |
| 17. | 9/12/40 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | I Hear Music I Hear Music "I Hear Music" is a popular song composed by Burton Lane, with lyrics by Frank Loesser for the Paramount Pictures movie Dancing on a Dime .-Notable recordings:*Billie Holiday - Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933–1944 ... |
Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for... and Burton Lane Burton Lane Burton Lane was an American composer and lyricist. His most popular and successful work is the musical Finian's Rainbow, "the score for which Lane will always be most remembered."-Biography:... |
2:39 |
| 18. | 9/12/40 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | The Same Old Story The Same Old Story Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine disliked the "deus ex machina" aspects that "neatly solved the puzzles of the first two episodes", and also criticized perceived "plot contrivances" like how the serial murderer immediately began aging once interrupted from killing his last victim... |
Michael Field, Newt Oliphant | 3:10 |
| 19. | 9/12/40 | previously unreleased | The Same Old Story The Same Old Story Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine disliked the "deus ex machina" aspects that "neatly solved the puzzles of the first two episodes", and also criticized perceived "plot contrivances" like how the serial murderer immediately began aging once interrupted from killing his last victim... |
Michael Field, Newt Oliphant | 3:09 | |
| 20. | 9/12/40 | Epic SN6042 | 1964 | Practice Makes Perfect | Don Roberts and Ernest Gold | 2:35 |
| 21. | 9/12/40 | Columbia C3L40 | 1964 | Practice Makes Perfect | Don Roberts and Ernest Gold | 2:42 |
| 22. | 9/12/40 | previously unreleased | Practice Makes Perfect | Don Roberts and Ernest Gold | 2:43 |
Disc Ten
| Track | Recorded | Catalogue | Released | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 10/15/40 | previously unreleased | St. Louis Blues | W.C. Handy | 2:50 | |
| 2. | 10/15/40 | previously unreleased | Loveless Love | W.C. Handy | 3:15 | |
| 3. | 3/21/41 | Columbia C234849 | 1977 | Let's Do It Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love" is a popular song written in 1928 by Cole Porter. It was introduced in Porter's first Broadway success, the musical Paris by French chanteuse Irène Bordoni for whom Porter had written the musical as a starring vehicle... |
Cole Porter Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre... |
2:56 |
| 4. | 3/21/41 | previously unreleased | Georgia On My Mind Georgia on My Mind "Georgia on My Mind" is a song written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell . It is the official state song of the U.S. state of Georgia. Gorrell wrote the lyrics for Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael. However, the lyrics of the song are ambiguous enough to refer either to the state or... |
Stuart Gorrell Stuart Gorrell Stuart Graham Steven Gorrell is best known for writing the lyrics for the song Georgia on My Mind.Gorrell attended Indiana University; there he became friends with fellow student Hoagy Carmichael... and Hoagy Carmichael Hoagy Carmichael Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the... |
2:59 | |
| 5. | 3/21/41 | previously unreleased | Georgia On My Mind Georgia on My Mind "Georgia on My Mind" is a song written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell . It is the official state song of the U.S. state of Georgia. Gorrell wrote the lyrics for Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael. However, the lyrics of the song are ambiguous enough to refer either to the state or... |
Stuart Gorrell Stuart Gorrell Stuart Graham Steven Gorrell is best known for writing the lyrics for the song Georgia on My Mind.Gorrell attended Indiana University; there he became friends with fellow student Hoagy Carmichael... and Hoagy Carmichael Hoagy Carmichael Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the... |
3:05 | |
| 6. | 3/21/41 | previously unreleased | Romance in the Dark Romance in the Dark Romance in the Dark is a 1938 film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Gladys Swarthout, John Boles, John Barrymore, and Claire Dodd.... |
Sam Coslow Sam Coslow Sam Coslow was an American songwriter, singer, film producer, publisher, and market analyst. Coslow was born in New York City. He began writing songs as a teenager... and Gertrude Niesen Gertrude Niesen Gertrude Niesen was an American torch singer, actress, comedienne and songwriter who achieved popular success in musicals and films in the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:... |
2:18 | |
| 7. | 3/21/41 | previously unreleased | Romance in the Dark Romance in the Dark Romance in the Dark is a 1938 film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Gladys Swarthout, John Boles, John Barrymore, and Claire Dodd.... |
Sam Coslow Sam Coslow Sam Coslow was an American songwriter, singer, film producer, publisher, and market analyst. Coslow was born in New York City. He began writing songs as a teenager... and Gertrude Niesen Gertrude Niesen Gertrude Niesen was an American torch singer, actress, comedienne and songwriter who achieved popular success in musicals and films in the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:... |
2:14 | |
| 8. | 3/21/41 | previously unreleased | Romance in the Dark Romance in the Dark Romance in the Dark is a 1938 film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Gladys Swarthout, John Boles, John Barrymore, and Claire Dodd.... |
Sam Coslow Sam Coslow Sam Coslow was an American songwriter, singer, film producer, publisher, and market analyst. Coslow was born in New York City. He began writing songs as a teenager... and Gertrude Niesen Gertrude Niesen Gertrude Niesen was an American torch singer, actress, comedienne and songwriter who achieved popular success in musicals and films in the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:... |
2:26 | |
| 9. | 3/21/41 | Columbia C234849 | 1977 | All of Me All of Me (song) "All of Me" is a popular song and jazz standard written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931.First performed by Belle Baker over the radio and recorded in December 1931 by Ruth Etting, it has become one of the most recorded songs of its era, with notable versions by Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby,... |
Seymour Simons Seymour Simons Seymour Simons, was an American Pianist, Composer, Orchestra Leader, and Radio Producer.Simons returned to Detroit after service in World War I and built a reputation as a pianist and songwriter, providing material for stage stars Nora Bayes and Elsie Janis... and Gerald Marks Gerald Marks Gerald Marks , was an American composer best known for the song "All of Me" which he co-wrote with Seymour Simons and has been recorded about 2,000 times... |
2:59 |
| 10. | 3/21/41 | Columbia C234849 | 1977 | All of Me All of Me (song) "All of Me" is a popular song and jazz standard written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931.First performed by Belle Baker over the radio and recorded in December 1931 by Ruth Etting, it has become one of the most recorded songs of its era, with notable versions by Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby,... |
Seymour Simons Seymour Simons Seymour Simons, was an American Pianist, Composer, Orchestra Leader, and Radio Producer.Simons returned to Detroit after service in World War I and built a reputation as a pianist and songwriter, providing material for stage stars Nora Bayes and Elsie Janis... and Gerald Marks Gerald Marks Gerald Marks , was an American composer best known for the song "All of Me" which he co-wrote with Seymour Simons and has been recorded about 2,000 times... |
3:57 |
| 11. | 5/9/41 | Time-Life STL3 | 1978 | God Bless the Child God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song) "God Bless the Child" is a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. in 1939, first recorded on May 9, 1941 under the Okeh label.Holiday's version of the song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in... |
Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... and Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog was an American novelist, non-fiction writer, and journalist, well known for his works of science fiction and true crime books.His novels The Swarm and Orca have been made into films... |
2:58 |
| 12. | 5/9/41 | Legacy C3K 47724 | 1991 | God Bless the Child God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song) "God Bless the Child" is a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. in 1939, first recorded on May 9, 1941 under the Okeh label.Holiday's version of the song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in... |
Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... and Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog Arthur Herzog was an American novelist, non-fiction writer, and journalist, well known for his works of science fiction and true crime books.His novels The Swarm and Orca have been made into films... |
2:32 |
| 13. | 5/9/41 | previously unreleased | Am I Blue? Am I Blue? "Am I Blue?" is a song written by Harry Akst and Grant Clarke in 1929, and was a big hit that year for Ethel Waters. It has become a standard and has been covered by numerous artists.-Other versions:... |
Harry Akst Harry Akst Harry Akst was an American songwriter, who started out his career as a pianist in vaudeville accompanying singers such as Nora Bayes, Frank Fay and Al Jolson.-Life and career:Akst was born in New York, United States.... and Grant Clarke Grant Clarke Grant Clarke was an American songwriter.Clarke moved to New York City early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians... |
2:45 | |
| 14. | 5/9/41 | previously unreleased | Am I Blue? Am I Blue? "Am I Blue?" is a song written by Harry Akst and Grant Clarke in 1929, and was a big hit that year for Ethel Waters. It has become a standard and has been covered by numerous artists.-Other versions:... |
Harry Akst Harry Akst Harry Akst was an American songwriter, who started out his career as a pianist in vaudeville accompanying singers such as Nora Bayes, Frank Fay and Al Jolson.-Life and career:Akst was born in New York, United States.... and Grant Clarke Grant Clarke Grant Clarke was an American songwriter.Clarke moved to New York City early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians... |
2:45 | |
| 15. | 8/7/41 | previously unreleased | Jim Jim (song) "Jim" is a popular song with music by Caesar Petrillo and Edward Ross, lyrics by Nelson Shawn. The song was published in 1941.... |
Nelson Shawn, Caesar Petrillo, Edward Ross | 3:04 | |
| 16. | 8/7/41 | previously unreleased | Gloomy Sunday Gloomy Sunday "Gloomy Sunday" is a song composed by Hungarian pianist and composer Rezső Seress and published in 1933, as "Vége a világnak" . Lyrics were written by László Jávor, and in his version the song was retitled "Szomorú vasárnap"... |
Rezső Seress Rezso Seress Rezső Seress was a Hungarian pianist and composer. Some sources give his birth name as Rudolf Spitzer.Rezső Seress lived most of his life in poverty in Budapest, when, being Jewish, was taken to a labour camp by the Nazis during the Second World War... , László Jávor László Jávor László Jávor was a Hungarian poet who wrote the poem that was the basis for the jazz standard Gloomy Sunday, composed by Rezső Seress, later also notably recorded by Billie Holliday.... , Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis was a Jewish-American singer and lyricist, born in New York City, New York as Samuel Levine-Biography:... |
3:12 | |
| 17. | 8/7/41 | previously unreleased | Wherever You Are | Cliff Friend Cliff Friend Cliff Friend was an accomplished songwriter and pianist. A member of Tin Pan Alley, Friend co-wrote several hits including "Lovesick Blues," "My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now" and "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down," also known as the theme song to the Looney Tunes cartoon series.-Early life:Friend was... and Charles Tobias Charles Tobias -Biography:Born in New York City, Tobias grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with brothers Harry Tobias and Henry Tobias, also songwriters.He started his musical career in vaudeville. In 1923, he founded his own music publishing firm and worked on Tin Pan Alley... |
2:59 | |
| 18. | 8/7/41 | previously unreleased | Mandy Is Two | Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others... and Fulton McGrath Fulton McGrath Fulton "Fidgy" McGrath was an American jazz pianist and songwriter.McGrath played with Red Nichols early in the 1930s, then joined the band of The Dorsey Brothers, in addition to working extensively as a studio musician and in radio orchestras... |
2:59 | |
| 19. | 8/7/41 | previously unreleased | It's A Sin to Tell A Lie It's a Sin to Tell a Lie "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" is a 1936 popular song by Billy Mayhew. Originally introduced by Fats Waller on the 78 rpm record Victor 20-1595, it was revived in 1955 by Somethin' Smith and the Redheads, reaching #7 on the Billboard charts in that year. John Denver tells a story about the song and... |
Billy Mayhew | 3:08 | |
| 20. | 8/7/41 | previously unreleased | It's A Sin to Tell A Lie It's a Sin to Tell a Lie "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" is a 1936 popular song by Billy Mayhew. Originally introduced by Fats Waller on the 78 rpm record Victor 20-1595, it was revived in 1955 by Somethin' Smith and the Redheads, reaching #7 on the Billboard charts in that year. John Denver tells a story about the song and... |
Billy Mayhew | 3:07 | |
| 21. | 8/7/41 | Legacy C3K 47724 | 1991 | Until the Real Thing Comes Along Until the Real Thing Comes Along " Until the Real Thing Comes Along" is a popular song first published in 1936.According to one version of the original sheet music, the songwriting credits read: "Words and Music by Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin and L.E. Freeman".... |
Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area... , Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin Saul Chaplin was an American composer and musical director.He was born Saul Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York.He had worked on stage, screen and television since the days of Tin Pan Alley... , Alberta Nichols Alberta Nichols Alberta Nichols was a popular songwriter of the 1930s and 40s. Together with her husband, lyricist Mann Holiner, they composed over 100 songs, of which their most famous were "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" and "A Love Like Ours".-Biography :Nichols was born in Lincoln, Illinois on December 3,... , Mann Holiner |
3:18 |
| 22. | 1/26/44* | V-Disc 672 | 1948 | Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me | Bob Russell Bob Russell (songwriter) Sidney Keith "Bob" Russell, was an American songwriter born in Passaic, New Jersey.In 1968, Russell along with songwriting partner Quincy Jones was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category... and Duke Ellington Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions... |
4:58 |
| 23. | 1/26/44* | V-Disc 28 | 1948 | I Love My Man Billie's Blues (song) "Billie's Blues" is a blues song written by jazz singer Billie Holiday, composing it just before being recorded in a session in 1936.According to the article in Melody Maker, 1 August 1936:-Recording Session:*Did I Remember?*Summertime*No Regrets... |
Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing... |
4:05 |
* live recordings
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finnish Albums Chart | 31 |