JIMMIE LUNCEFORD AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1930-1934 | The Classics Chronological Series – 501 (1990) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The first in Classics' "complete" Jimmie Lunceford series has two titles apiece from 1930 (when the band was based in Tennessee) and 1933 along with its first six sessions for Decca in 1934. Lunceford's band had an immediately recognizable sound by 1934 and, despite the presence of such top soloists as altoist Willie Smith, tenor-saxophonist Joe Thomas and high-note trumpeter Tommy Stevenson, it was its arranged ensembles (particularly those of Sy Oliver) that gave the orchestra its musical identity. Among the better selections on this CD are "Flaming Reeds And Screaming Brass," "White Heat," "Swinging' Uptown," "Rose Room," "Miss Otis Regrets" and the band's fresh interpretations of Duke Ellington's "Black And Tan Fantasy" and "Mood Indigo." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Jimmie Lunceford And His Chickasaw Syncopators–    In Dat Mornin' 3:21
Speech [Preaching] – Moses Allen
2    Jimmie Lunceford And His Chickasaw Syncopators–    Sweet Rhythm     2:41
3    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Flaming Reeds And Screaming Brass    2:57
4    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    While Love Lasts     3:06
5    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    White Heat 2:29
Arranged By – Will Hudson
6    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Jazznocracy 2:42
Arranged By – Will Hudson
7    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Chillun Get Up 3:19
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Henry Wells
8    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Leavin' Me 3:05
Vocals – Henry Wells
9    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Swingin' Uptown 2:37
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
10    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Breakfast Ball 3:00
Arranged By, Vocals – Sy Oliver
11    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Here Goes (A Fool) 2:45
Vocals – Henry Wells
12    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Remember When 3:20
Vocals – Henry Wells
13    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Sophisticated Lady 3:10
Arranged By – Willie Smith
14    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Mood Indigo 2:58
Arranged By – Willie Smith
15    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Rose Room 3:06
Arranged By – Willie Smith
16    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Black And Tan Fantasy 2:51
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
17    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Stratosphere 2:15
Arranged By – Jimmie Lunceford
18    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Nana 3:10
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Henry Wells
19    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Miss Otis Regrets 2:41
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Sy Oliver
20    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Unsophisticated Sue     3:08
21    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Stardust 3:02
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Henry Wells
22    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Dream Of You 3:09
Arranged By, Vocals – Sy Oliver
23    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Stomp It Off 3:13
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
24    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Call It Anything (It Wasn't Love) 3:18
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Henry Wells
25    Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra–    Because You're You 3:23
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Henry Wells
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Jimmie Lunceford (tracks: 1 to 12), LaForet Dent (tracks: 13 to 25)
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Earl Carrothers
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Willie Smith
Bass – Moses Allen
Directed By – Jimmie Lunceford
Drums, Vibraphone – Jimmy Crawford
Guitar – Al Norris
Piano, Celesta – Edwin Wilcox
Tenor Saxophone – George Clark (tracks: 1, 2)
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Joe Thomas (tracks: 3 to 25)
Trombone – Henry Wells, Russell Bowles (tracks: 3 to 25)
Trumpet – Eddie Tompkins (tracks: 3 to 25), Sy Oliver (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 25), Tommy Stevenson (tracks: 3 to 25), William "Sleepy" Tomlin (tracks: 3, 4)

JIMMIE LUNCEFORD AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1934-1935 | The Classics Chronological Series – 505 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second of Classics' reissuance of all the master takes of Jimmie Lunceford's recordings finds the orchestra gaining in popularity and in power. Among the highlights (most of the songs were arranged by Sy Oliver or Ed Wilcox) are "Since My Beat Gal Turned Me Down," "Rhythm Is Our Business," "Shake Your Head," "Sleepy-Time Gal," "Four or Five Times" and "Swanee River." The high musicianship and clean ensembles (along with the showmanship) are most impressive and the concise solos (particularly from altoist Willie Smith, tenor saxophonist Joe Thomas and trumpeter Sy Oliver) are enjoyable and fit in logically as part of the arrangements. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Chillum, Get Up 3:03
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Henry Wells, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
Written-By – Parker
2    Solitude 3:10
Vocals – Henry Wells
Written-By – Ellington, DeLange
3    Rain 3:20
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Henry Wells, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
Written-By – Swansstrom, Morgan, Ford
4    Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down 3:30
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Henry Wells, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
Written-By – Quicksell, Ludwig
5    Jealous 3:07
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Henry Wells
Written-By – Finch, Little, Malie
6    Rhythm Is Our Business 3:08
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Chorus – Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra
Vocals – Willie Smith
Written-By – Lunceford, Cahn, Chaplin
7    I'm Walking Through Heaven With You 3:12
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Henry Wells
Written-By – Lunceford
8    Shake Your Head (From Side To Side) 2:52
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Written-By – Gerow, Cahn
9    Sleepy Time Gal 3:08
Alto Saxophone – Jimmie Lunceford
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Written-By – Lorenzo, Alden, Whiting
10    Bird Of Paradise 3:20
Arranged By – Eddie Durham, Edwin Wilcox
Written-By – Ellington
11    Rhapsody Junior 3:23
Arranged By – Eddie Durham, Edwin Wilcox
Written-By – Ellington
12    Runnin' Wild 3:11
Arranged By – Willie Smith
Vocals – Sy Oliver
Written-By – Gibbs, Grey, Wood
13    Four Or Five Times 3:07
Arranged By, Vocals – Sy Oliver
Written-By – Gay, Hellman
14    (If I Had) Rhythm In My Nursery Rhymes 3:01
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Willie Smith
Written-By – Ray, Lunceford, Cahn, Chaplin
15    Babs 3:07
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
Written-By – Ahlert, Young
16    Swanee River 2:45
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Written-By – Foster
17    Thunder 3:04
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Dan Grissom
Written-By – Manners, Lewis
18    Oh! Boy 3:10
Arranged By – Eddie Durham
Written-By – Durham, Lunceford
19    (You Take The East, Take The West, Take The North) I'll Take The South 2:40
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
Written-By – Palmer, Klages
20    Avalon 3:05
Arranged By – Eddie Durham
Written-By – Jolson, De Sylva, Rose
21    Charmaine 2:50
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
Written-By – Rapee, Pollack
22    Hittin' The Bottle 3:07
Arranged By – Eddie Durham
Vocals – Sy Oliver
Written-By – Arlen, Koehler
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – LaForest Dent
Bass – Moses Allen
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Dan Grissom (tracks: 10 to 22)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Earl Carruthers, Willie Smith
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Joe Thomas
Drums, Vibraphone – Jimmy Crawford
Guitar – Al Norris
Leader, Arranged By – Jimmie Lunceford
Orchestra – Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra
Piano, Celesta – Edwin Wilcox
Trombone – Elmer Crumbley (tracks: 9 to 22), Henry Wells (tracks: 1 to 8), Russell Bowles
Trombone, Guitar – Eddie Durham (tracks: 9 to 22)
Trumpet – Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster (tracks: 9 to 22), Sy Oliver, Tommy Stevenson (tracks: 1 to 8)

JIMMIE LUNCEFORD AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1939 | The Classics Chronological Series – 532 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For this Classics CD, most of the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra's earlier Vocalion recordings (owned by Columbia) are reissued. The loss of Sy Oliver in August 1939 (he was lured away by Tommy Dorsey) would soon hurt the band but they were still using Oliver's arrangemetns in the last session. "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home," "What Is This Thing Called Swing," a classic rendition of "Ain't She Sweet," "Well, All Right Then" and "Belgium Stomp" are among the more memorable selections on this CD which also has a few typically inferior Dan Grissom ballad vocals. Swing fans will want all of these CDs even if they do not include Lunceford's alternate takes. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Baby Won't You Please Come Home? 2:50
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Joe Thomas
2    You're Just A Dream 2:51
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
3    The Lonesome Road 2:31
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Trummy Young
4    You Set Me On Fire 2:38
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
5    I've Only Myself To Blame 2:45
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
6    What Is This Thing Called Swing? 2:26
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Joe Thomas
7    Mixup 2:18
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
8    Shoemaker's Holiday 2:50
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
9    Blue Blazes 2:50
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
10    Mandy 2:52
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
11    Easter Parade 2:40
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Trummy Young
12    Ain't She Sweet? 2:27
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Trummy Young
13    White Heat 2:20
Arranged By – Will Hudson
14    Oh Why, Oh Why 2:49
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
15    Well, All Right Then 2:42
Vocals – Orchestra
16    You Let Me Down 2:52
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
17    I Love You 2:46
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
18    Who Did You Meet Last Night? 2:35
Arranged By – Will Beines
Vocals – Dan Grissom
19    You Let Me Down 2:46
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
20    Sassin' The Boss 2:43
Arranged By – Jesse Stone
Vocals – Willie Smith
21    I Want The Waiter (With The Water) 2:43
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Orchestra, Trummy Young
22    I Used To Love You (But It's All Over Now) 2:45
Arranged By – Milton Hill
Vocals – Joe Thomas
23    Belgium Stomp 2:29
Arranged By – Billy Moore, Jr.
24    You Can Fool Some Of The People (Some Of TheTime) 2:21
Arranged By – Billy Moore, Jr.
Vocals – Trummy Young
25    Think Of Me, Little Daddy 2:42
Arranged By – Edward Inge
Vocals – Trummy Young
26    Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away) 2:37
Arranged By – Edward Inge
Flute – Jimmie Lunceford, Joe Thomas, Ted Buckner
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Dan Grissom, Ted Buckner
Bass – Moses Allen
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Earl Carruthers, Willie Smith
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Joe Thomas
Directed By – Jimmie Lunceford
Drums, Vibraphone – Jimmy Crawford
Guitar – Al Norris
Piano, Celesta – Edwin Wilcox
Trombone – Elmer Crumbley, Russell Bowles, James "Trummy" Young
Trumpet – Eddie Tompkins, Gerald Wilson (tracks: 18 to 26), Paul Webster, Sy Oliver (tracks: 1 to 17)

JIMMIE LUNCEFORD AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1935-1937 | The Classics Chronological Series – 510 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although there have been a few GRP/Decca samplers released domestically, the best way for serious collectors to acquire the recordings of Jimmie Lunceford are by getting the reissue CDs put out by the European labels. On Classics' third Lunceford set, the personnel stays the same (except for one minor change) during the 15-month period that is covered. The well-rehearsed unit continued to grow and develop during this time. Among the highpoints of the CD are "My Blue Heaven," "Organ Grinder's Swing," "Harlem Shout" and "Slumming on Park Avenue." Although one can do without the occasional Dan Grissom vocals, the concise solos, tricky charts and hip singing of Sy Oliver make this music well worth investigating by fans of the swing era. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    My Blue Heaven 3:10
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Violin – Al Norris
Vocals – Dan Grissom, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
2    I'm Nuts About Screwy Music 3:03
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Willie Smith
3    The Best Things In Life Are Free 3:20
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Dan Grissom
4    The Melody Man 3:06
Arranged By, Vocals – Sy Oliver
5    Organ Grinder's Swing 2:37
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
6    On The Beach At Bali-Bali 2:57
Arranged By, Vocals – Sy Oliver
7    Me And The Moon 3:02
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
8    Living From Day To Day 3:04
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
9    'Tain't Good (Like A Nickle Made Of Wood) 3:11
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
10    Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan) 2:55
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
11    I Can't Escape From You 3:00
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
12    Harlem Shout 3:01
Arranged By – Eddie Durham
13    (This Is) My Last Affair 2:48
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
14    Running A Temperature 3:00
Arranged By – Eddie Durham
Vocals – Sy Oliver
15    Count Me Out 3:12
Arranged By – Eddie Durham
Vocals – Dan Grissom
16    I'll Sell You In My Dreams 2:46
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Dan Grissom
17    He Ain't Got Rhythm 2:43
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Joe Thomas
18    Linger Awhile 2:32
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
19    Honest And Truly 2:59
Arranged By – Edwin Wilcox
Vocals – Dan Grissom
20    Slumming On Park Avenue 3:01
Vocals – Dan Grissom, Sy Oliver, Willie Smith
21    Coquette 3:10
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Dan Grissom
22    The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down 2:50
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Vocals – Sy Oliver
23    Ragging The Scale 3:09
Arranged By – Sy Oliver
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Ed Brown (tracks: 21 to 23), LaForet Dent (tracks: 1 to 20)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Dan Grissom
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Earl Carruthers, Willie Smith
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Joe Thomas
Directed By – Jimmie Lunceford
Drums, Vibraphone – Jimmy Crawford
Guitar – Al Norris
Piano, Celesta – Edwin Wilcox
Trombone – Elmer Crumbley, Russell Bowles
Trombone, Guitar – Eddie Durham
Trumpet – Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster, Sy Oliver