ANDY KIRK AND HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY – 1936-1937 | The Classics Chronological Series – 573 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Andy Kirk Orchestra ended their five-year hiatus from records in March 1936 in a big way, recording ten titles in their first session alone. Mary Lou Williams' arrangements and several strong soloists (including pianist Williams and tenor saxophonist Dick Wilson) gave the band its own musical personality, and their hit recording of "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" (included on this release) made the group a commercial success for a time. Vocalist Pha Terrell's high voice was always an acquired taste, and many of his vocals (other than the hit and "All the Jive Is Gone") are often difficult to sit through. However, most of the songs on this excellent CD are pretty heated, with highlights including "Walkin' and Swingin'," "Lotta Sax Appeal," "Froggy Bottom," "Christopher Columbus" and "The Lady Who Swings the Band." Listeners who are not completists (and the Classics CD series does skip over alternates anyway) may want to acquire GRP/Decca's single CD Mary's Idea instead. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1    Walkin' And Swingin' 2:55
Arranged By – Mary Lou Williams
Written-By – Williams
2    Moten Swing 3:06
Written-By – Moten, Moten
3    Lotta Sax Appeal 2:54
Written-By – Williams
4    Git 2:51
Written-By – Williams
5    All The Jive Is Gone 2:36
Written-By – Thompson
6    Froggy Bottom 3:12
Written-By – Williams
7    Bearcat Shuffle 3:00
Written-By – Williams
8    Steppin' Pretty 2:48
Written-By – Williams
9    Christopher Columbus 2:42
Written-By – Razaf, Barry
10    Corky 2:25
Arranged By – Mary Lou WIlliams
Written-By – Williams
11    I'se A Muggin' 2:45
Written-By – Smith
12    Until The Real Thing Comes Along 2:55
Written-By – Nichols, Freeman, Holiner, Cahn, Chaplin
13    Puddin' Head Serenade 2:47
Written-By – Hart
14    Until The Real Thing Comes Along 3:01
Written-By – Nichols, Freeman, Holiner, Cahn, Chaplin
15    Blue Illusion 2:44
Written By – Unknown
Written-By [Uncredited] – Emma La Freniere, Thomas J. Gindhart
16    Cloudy 2:54
Written-By – Williams
17    Give Her A Pint (And She'll Tell It All) 2:52
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
18    Puddin' Head Serenade 2:35
Written-By – Hart
19    Fifty-Second Street 3:01
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
20    The Lady Who Swings The Band 2:45
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
21    What Will I Tell My Heart? 3:14
Written-By – Lawrence, Tinturin
22    Dedicated To You 3:21
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
23    Wednesday Night Hop 3:06
Arranged By – Les Johnakins
Written-By – Kirk, Johnakins
24    Skies Are Blue 3:02
Written-By – Cahn, Chaplin
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Earl Miller (tracks: 23, 24)
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Williams (14)
Arranged By – Earl Thompson (tracks: 2 to 9, 11 to 22)
Bass – Booker Collins
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Harrington
Directed By, Bass Saxophone – Andy Kirk
Drums – Ben Thigpen
Guitar – Ted Robinson
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson
Trombone – Henry Wells, Ted Donnelly
Trumpet – Earl Thompson, Harry Lawson, Paul King
Violin – Claude Williams
Vocals – Ben Thigpen (tracks: 4, 6, 11, 12), Harry Mills (tracks: 19, 20), Pha Terrell (tracks: 5, 14 to 17, 21, 22, 24)