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    The Jazz Singers 1919-1994

    05/19/1998

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    All Music Guide Review

    The compilers of this five-CD/cassette box set anthology, which contains 104 tracks and runs over six hours, have taken an inclusive, open-ended approach to both their selections and their sequencing. Unconventionally, the album is organized not chronologically, but thematically, in eight categories -- "Steeped in the Blues," Straight out of Church," "Let's Have a Party," "Swinging the Songbook," "After Hours: Slow-Dancing and Torching the Songbook," "Jazz Compositions," and "Novelties and Take-Offs" (in other words, blues, gospel, dance, standards, slow standards, scatting and vocalese, and other). Annotator Robert G. O'Meally is quick to acknowledge that the categories are slippery, however, and to invite the listener to re-arrange the sequencing as he sees fit, a suggestion some may not appreciate. The sequencing is roughly chronological within the categories, but since they do not correspond to CD or cassette sides, it is easy for a pristine 1993 recording to be followed by a sonically challenged 1937 one as you go from one category to another. It isn't consistently comprehensible from a strictly auditory perspective, but it allows the compilers occasional felicitous and instructional juxtapositions. Many of the performers are obvious choices, among them Holiday (seven selections), Ella Fitzgerald (five), and Louis Armstrong (eight), but there are also some surprising names (Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Al Green) as well as some surprising omissions (Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, and Lee Wiley). Most of the selections are standard studio takes, and the compilers have avoided many choices one would expect to appear on any compilation of jazz singing: there is no "Lady, Be Good" by Ella Fitzgerald, for example, and Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" is a live take from Clef Records, not the studio version from Commodore. All of this is to say, however, that The Jazz Singers is deliberately intended as an introductory sampler of vocal jazz, not as a final statement. That's fair enough, though buyers of an expensive box set from the Smithsonian might be expecting something definitive rather than merely representative. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

    The Jazz Singers 1919-1994 Track Listing

  • Track#
  • Title
  • Artist
  • time
  • lyrics
  • 1
  • West End Blues
  • Taylor, Eva
  • 3:09
  • Sound Clip for West End Blues from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 2
  • In the House Blues
  • Smith, Bessie
  • 2:59
  • Sound Clip for In the House Blues from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 3
  • 2:19 Blues
  • Armstrong, Louis & His Orchestra
  • 2:52
  • Sound Clip for 2:19 Blues from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 4
  • I Left My Baby
  • Rushing, Jimmy
  • 3:10
  • Sound Clip for I Left My Baby from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 5
  • 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do
  • Holiday, Billie
  • 3:19
  • Sound Clip for 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 6
  • Blues With Helen
  • Humes, Helen
  • 4:08
  • Sound Clip for Blues With Helen from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 7
  • I Won't Be Here Long
  • Page, Hot Lips
  • 2:40
  • Sound Clip for I Won't Be Here Long from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 8
  • Jelly, Jelly
  • Eckstine, Billy
  • 3:28
  • Sound Clip for Jelly, Jelly from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 9
  • Lotus Blossom
  • Lee, Julia
  • 3:17
  • Sound Clip for Lotus Blossom from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 10
  • Goin' to Kansas City
  • Witherspoon, Jimmy
  • 3:11
  • Sound Clip for Goin' to Kansas City from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 11
  • Goin' to Chicago Blues
  • 4:09
  • Sound Clip for Goin' to Chicago Blues from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 12
  • Never Make Your Move Too Soon
  • Anderson, Ernestine
  • 3:27
  • Sound Clip for Never Make Your Move Too Soon from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 13
  • D.B. Blues
  • Alexandria, Lorez
  • 2:56
  • Sound Clip for D.B. Blues from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 14
  • Come on in My Kitchen
  • Wilson, Cassandra
  • 4:53
  • Sound Clip for Come on in My Kitchen from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 15
  • Nobody's Fault But Mine
  • Johnson, Blind Willie
  • 3:09
  • Sound Clip for Nobody's Fault But Mine from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 16
  • One Day
  • 2:14
  • Sound Clip for One Day from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 17
  • I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song
  • Jackson, Mahalia
  • 2:36
  • Sound Clip for I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 18
  • Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)
  • Smith, Bessie
  • 3:28
  • Sound Clip for Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 19
  • Doctor Jazz
  • Morton, Jelly Roll & His Red Hot Peppers
  • 3:20
  • Sound Clip for Doctor Jazz from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 20
  • Shakin' the African
  • Redman, Don & His Orchestra
  • 2:38
  • Sound Clip for Shakin' the African from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 21
  • It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
  • Anderson, Ivie
  • 3:09
  • Sound Clip for It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 22 (2)
  • The Man from Harlem
  • Calloway, Cab
  • 3:06
  • Sound Clip for The Man from Harlem from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 23 (2)
  • Let Me Off Uptown
  • ODay, Anita
  • 3:02
  • Sound Clip for Let Me Off Uptown from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 24 (2)
  • Saturday Night Fish Fry
  • 2:52
  • Sound Clip for Saturday Night Fish Fry from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 25 (2)
  • Hog Wash
  • Jordan, Louis [1]
  • 2:57
  • Sound Clip for Hog Wash from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 26 (2)
  • Good Rockin' Tonight
  • Harris, Wynonie
  • 2:46
  • Sound Clip for Good Rockin' Tonight from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 27 (2)
  • All of Me
  • Armstrong, Louis & His Orchestra
  • 2:55
  • Sound Clip for All of Me from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 28 (2)
  • Top Hat, White Tie and Tails
  • 4:08
  • Sound Clip for Top Hat, White Tie and Tails from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 29 (2)
  • I Can't Give You Anything But Love
  • Waters, Ethel
  • 3:07
  • Sound Clip for I Can't Give You Anything But Love from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 30 (2)
  • I Can't Give You Anything But Love
  • Holiday, Billie
  • 3:26
  • Sound Clip for I Can't Give You Anything But Love from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 31 (2)
  • These Foolish Things
  • Holiday, Billie
  • 3:16
  • Sound Clip for These Foolish Things from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 32 (2)
  • Lover, Come Back to Me
  • Bailey, Mildred
  • 3:09
  • Sound Clip for Lover, Come Back to Me from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 33 (2)
  • Don't Get Around Much Anymore
  • Hibbler, Al
  • 3:01
  • Sound Clip for Don't Get Around Much Anymore from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 34 (2)
  • You're Driving Me Crazy
  • Turner, Big Joe [50s]
  • 4:12
  • Sound Clip for You're Driving Me Crazy from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 35 (2)
  • Don't Be That Way
  • 4:59
  • Sound Clip for Don't Be That Way from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 36 (2)
  • Night and Day
  • Sinatra, Frank
  • 3:57
  • Sound Clip for Night and Day from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 37 (2)
  • Some of These Days
  • Rushing, Jimmy
  • 4:47
  • Sound Clip for Some of These Days from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 38 (2)
  • Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away)
  • Vaughan, Sarah
  • 2:30
  • Sound Clip for Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 39 (2)
  • I Get a Kick Out of You
  • Washington, Dinah
  • 6:17
  • Sound Clip for I Get a Kick Out of You from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 40 (2)
  • There's a Small Hotel
  • Williams, Joe
  • 2:15
  • Sound Clip for There's a Small Hotel from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 41 (2)
  • Just You, Just Me
  • Cole, Nat King
  • 3:00
  • Sound Clip for Just You, Just Me from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 42 (3)
  • Give Me the Simple Life
  • Staton, Dakota
  • 2:13
  • Sound Clip for Give Me the Simple Life from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 43 (3)
  • Love Me or Leave Me
  • Simone, Nina
  • 4:04
  • Sound Clip for Love Me or Leave Me from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 44 (3)
  • You Are My Sunshine
  • Franklin, Aretha
  • 4:18
  • Sound Clip for You Are My Sunshine from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 45 (3)
  • What's Going On
  • Gaye, Marvin
  • 3:47
  • Sound Clip for What's Going On from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 46 (3)
  • I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away the Key)
  • Jones, Etta
  • 3:10
  • Sound Clip for I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away the Key) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 47 (3)
  • Yesterdays
  • Holiday, Billie
  • 3:23
  • Sound Clip for Yesterdays from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 48 (3)
  • Strange Fruit
  • Holiday, Billie
  • 3:06
  • Sound Clip for Strange Fruit from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 49 (3)
  • You've Changed
  • Holiday, Billie
  • 3:16
  • Sound Clip for You've Changed from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 50 (3)
  • Someone to Watch over Me
  • Fitzgerald, Ella
  • 3:14
  • Sound Clip for Someone to Watch over Me from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 51 (3)
  • Until the Real Thing Comes Along
  • Fitzgerald, Ella
  • 2:55
  • Sound Clip for Until the Real Thing Comes Along from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 52 (3)
  • Until the Real Thing Comes Along
  • Waller, Fats & His Rhythm
  • 3:23
  • Sound Clip for Until the Real Thing Comes Along from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 53 (3)
  • You Don't Know What Love Is
  • Washington, Dinah
  • 4:00
  • Sound Clip for You Don't Know What Love Is from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 54 (3)
  • For All We Know
  • Christy, June
  • 2:46
  • Sound Clip for For All We Know from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 55 (3)
  • Angel Eyes
  • Connor, Chris [1]
  • 2:41
  • Sound Clip for Angel Eyes from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 56 (3)
  • In the Still of the Night
  • Eckstine, Billy
  • 3:40
  • Sound Clip for In the Still of the Night from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 57 (3)
  • Save Your Love for Me
  • Wilson, Nancy [1]
  • 2:42
  • Sound Clip for Save Your Love for Me from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 58 (3)
  • Trav'lin' Light
  • Horn, Shirley
  • 2:46
  • Sound Clip for Trav'lin' Light from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 59 (3)
  • Prelude to a Kiss
  • Vaughan, Sarah
  • 2:45
  • Sound Clip for Prelude to a Kiss from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 60 (3)
  • My Little Brown Book
  • 2:30
  • Sound Clip for My Little Brown Book from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 61 (3)
  • Lush Life
  • Hartman, Johnny
  • 5:27
  • Sound Clip for Lush Life from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 62 (3)
  • I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
  • McRae, Carmen
  • 3:26
  • Sound Clip for I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 63 (4)
  • This Is Always
  • Carter, Betty
  • 3:10
  • Sound Clip for This Is Always from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 64 (4)
  • All of Me
  • Scott, Jimmy
  • 2:57
  • Sound Clip for All of Me from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 65 (4)
  • What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
  • Coleman, Earl
  • 5:47
  • Sound Clip for What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 66 (4)
  • You're My Thrill
  • Merrill, Helen
  • 3:16
  • Sound Clip for You're My Thrill from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 67 (4)
  • Could I Be the One?
  • Green, Al
  • 4:05
  • Sound Clip for Could I Be the One? from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 68 (4)
  • Jazz Me Blues
  • Hegamin, Lucille
  • 2:33
  • Sound Clip for Jazz Me Blues from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 69 (4)
  • The Mooche
  • Cox, Baby
  • 3:11
  • Sound Clip for The Mooche from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 70 (4)
  • Parker's Mood
  • King Pleasure
  • 2:58
  • Sound Clip for Parker's Mood from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 71 (4)
  • Lullaby of Birdland
  • Vaughan, Sarah
  • 3:59
  • Sound Clip for Lullaby of Birdland from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 72 (4)
  • Down for Double
  • Torme, Mel
  • 2:31
  • Sound Clip for Down for Double from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 73 (4)
  • Jumpin' at the Woodside
  • 3:17
  • Sound Clip for Jumpin' at the Woodside from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 74 (4)
  • Left Alone
  • Lincoln, Abbey
  • 6:45
  • Sound Clip for Left Alone from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 75 (4)
  • Stolen Moments
  • Murphy, Mark
  • 5:43
  • Sound Clip for Stolen Moments from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 76 (4)
  • Worry Now Later
  • Lee, Jeanne
  • 1:25
  • Sound Clip for Worry Now Later from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 77 (4)
  • Get It Straight
  • McRae, Carmen
  • 3:54
  • Sound Clip for Get It Straight from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 78 (4)
  • 'Round Midnight
  • McFerrin, Bobby
  • 5:33
  • Sound Clip for 'Round Midnight from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 79 (4)
  • Doodlin'
  • Bridgewater, Dee Dee
  • 6:04
  • Sound Clip for Doodlin' from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 80 (4)
  • Improvised Scat Song
  • Morton, Jelly Roll
  • 1:45
  • Sound Clip for Improvised Scat Song from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 81 (4)
  • Hotter Than That
  • Armstrong, Louis & His Hot Five
  • 2:59
  • Sound Clip for Hotter Than That from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 82 (5)
  • Sweet Sue, Just You
  • Armstrong, Louis & His Orchestra
  • 2:44
  • Sound Clip for Sweet Sue, Just You from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 83 (5)
  • My Honey's Lovin' Arms
  • 2:56
  • Sound Clip for My Honey's Lovin' Arms from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 84 (5)
  • Ool-Ya-Koo
  • Gillespie, Dizzy
  • 6:00
  • Sound Clip for Ool-Ya-Koo from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 85 (5)
  • Disappointed (Excerpt)
  • Jefferson, Eddie
  • 2:48
  • Sound Clip for Disappointed (Excerpt) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 86 (5)
  • Them There Eyes
  • Fitzgerald, Ella
  • 5:05
  • Sound Clip for Them There Eyes from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 87 (5)
  • The Way You Look Tonight
  • ODay, Anita
  • 2:10
  • Sound Clip for The Way You Look Tonight from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 88 (5)
  • This Masquerade (Excerpt)
  • Benson, George [Guitarist]
  • 3:17
  • Sound Clip for This Masquerade (Excerpt) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 89 (5)
  • Frenesi
  • Carter, Betty
  • 2:30
  • Sound Clip for Frenesi from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 90 (5)
  • Jazzola
  • Sissle, Noble
  • 2:51
  • Sound Clip for Jazzola from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 91 (5)
  • Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train
  • Armstrong, Louis
  • 3:03
  • Sound Clip for Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 92 (5)
  • Rockin' Chair
  • Armstrong, Louis
  • 5:15
  • Sound Clip for Rockin' Chair from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 93 (5)
  • 'Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)
  • Young, Trummy
  • 3:02
  • Sound Clip for 'Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 94 (5)
  • Vol Vist du Gaily Star
  • Tunnell, George "Bon Bon"
  • 3:03
  • Sound Clip for Vol Vist du Gaily Star from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 95 (5)
  • We've Got the Blues
  • Watson, Leo & Spirits Of Rhythm
  • 3:18
  • Sound Clip for We've Got the Blues from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 96 (5)
  • Cow Cow Boogie
  • Fitzgerald, Ella
  • 2:52
  • Sound Clip for Cow Cow Boogie from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 97 (5)
  • Babalu (Orooney)
  • Gaillard, Slim & His Orchestra
  • 3:30
  • Sound Clip for Babalu (Orooney) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 98 (5)
  • Chi-Chi-Chi-Chicago
  • Lutcher, Nellie & Her Rhythm
  • 2:58
  • Sound Clip for Chi-Chi-Chi-Chicago from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 99 (5)
  • Did You Call Her Today (Excerpt)
  • Webster, Ben
  • 6:25
  • Sound Clip for Did You Call Her Today (Excerpt) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 100 (5)
  • Takes Two to Tango
  • Young, Lester
  • 3:26
  • Sound Clip for Takes Two to Tango from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 101 (5)
  • Mumbles
  • Terry, Clark
  • 2:00
  • Sound Clip for Mumbles from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


  • 102 (5)
  • Close Your Eyes (Shut Yo' Mouth)
  • 3:31
  • Sound Clip for Close Your Eyes (Shut Yo' Mouth) from The Jazz Singers 1919-1994


    • Credits of The Jazz Singers 1919-1994

    • Don Redman
    • Arranger, Sax (Alto), Performer, Vocals


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