BENNIE MOTEN's KANSAS CITY ORCHESTRA – 1929-1930 | The Classics Chronological Series – 578 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

From 1929-30, the Bennie Moten Orchestra could hold its own with fellow big bands like Fletcher Henderson, Paul Whiteman and McKinney's Cotton Pickers, although it was the least known nationally of the four. The third of four Classics CDs completely reissuing Moten's recordings finds the young Count Basie taking over the piano slot and such stars joining the band as singer Jimmy Rushing and (by 1930) trumpeter Hot Lips Page. With cornetist Ed Lewis, Eddie Durham on trombone and guitar, clarinetist Harlan Leonard and Buster Moten (on accordion) also heard from, this was a mighty orchestra, as displayed on such numbers as "New Goofy Dust Rag," "The Jones Law Blues" and "New Vine Street Blues." The four imported Classics sets are certainly more complete than the two CDs put out domestically by Bluebird. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    That Certain Motion    3:00
 Bennie Moten
2    It Won't Be Long    2:47
 Bennie Moten
3    When Life Seems So Blue    2:50
 Bennie Moten
4    Loose Like A Goose    2:54
 Bennie Moten
5    Just Say It's Me    2:52
 Bennie Moten
6    New Goofy Dust Rag    2:38
 Bennie Moten
7    Rumba Negro (Spanish Stomp)    2:47
 Count Basie / Bennie Moten
8    The Jones Law Blues    3:05
 Count Basie / Bennie Moten
9    Band Box Shuffle    2:27
 Count Basie / Bennie Moten
10    Small Black    3:18
 Count Basie / Bennie Moten
11    Every Day Blues (Yo Yo Blues)    3:05
 Eddie Durham / Bennie Moten
12    Boot It    3:13
 Bennie Moten
13    Mary Lee    3:15
 Bennie Moten / Speckled Red
14    Rit-Dit-Ray 2:46
 Count Basie / Bennie Moten
Vocals – Willie McWashington
15    New Vine Street Blues    2:58
 Count Basie / Bennie Moten
16    Sweetheart Of Yesterday    2:37
 Bennie Moten / Carl Sigman
17    Won't You Be My Baby? 3:11
 Bennie Moten / Jimmy Rushing
Vocals – Jimmy Rushing
18    I Wish I Could Be Blue    3:08
 Count Basie / Eddie Durham / Bennie Moten
19    h! Eddie    2:54
 Eddie Durham / Bennie Moten
20    That Too, Do 3:18
 Count Basie / Eddie Durham / Bennie Moten
Vocals – Jimmy Rushing
21    Mack's Rhythm    3:00
 Count Basie / Bennie Moten
22    You Made Me Happy    3:20
 Eddie Durham / Bennie Moten
23    Here Comes Marjorie    2:53
 Bennie Moten / Henri Woode
Credits :    
Banjo – Leroy Berry (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 23)
Brass Bass – Vernon Page (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 23)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Jack Washington (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 23)
Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Harlan Leonard (tracks: 1 to 3, 6 to 23)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Woody Walder
Cornet – Booker Washington (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 23), Ed Lewis (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 23)
Directed By – Bennie Moten
Drums – Willie McWashington
Piano – Bennie Moten (tracks: 1 to 6), Count Basie (tracks: 7 to 23)
Piano Accordion, Piano – Buster Moten
Trombone – Thamon Hayes (tracks: 1 to 3, 6 to 23)
Trombone, Guitar – Eddie Durham (tracks: 7 to 23)
Trumpet – Oran "Hot Lips" Page (tracks: 17 to 23)