DINAH WASHINGTON — I Wanna Be Loved (1962) Vynil, LP | Mono | FLAC (tracks) 24-96Hz

A torch song date recorded between Dinah Washington's commercial breakthrough in 1959 and her death in 1963, I Wanna Be Loved flaunts a large cast of talented collaborators -- plus, to be sure, Washington's regal readings of 12 great songs -- but, unfortunately, the musical side is overwhelmed by the heavy strings in attendance. Working with Quincy Jones, Washington found her studio cast to include Joe Newman and Clark Terry on trumpet, Jimmy Cleveland and Kai Winding on trombone, and Al Cohn on tenor. However, the arrangements (from Ernie Wilkins and Quincy Jones) rarely leave room for the musicians -- and, in fact, rarely feature them at all -- preferring instead to concentrate on strings and the occasional wordless vocal chorus. As usually happened in these circumstances, Washington appears unfazed by the treacle surrounding her; although she doesn't improvise, her performances of "Blue Gardenia," "Don't Explain," and the title track (originally an R&B hit for her 12 years earlier) are elegant and bewitching. The larger big band makes its presence felt on the two side-closers, both of them ("Let's Fall in Love," "Sometimes I'm Happy") more uptempo material. Although Washington's latter-day Mercury material is often derided, she always succeeded despite her surroundings, and this date is no different. John Bush  
Tracklist :
1 I Wanna Be Loved 2:40
Written-By – Heyman, Rose, Green
2 Don't Explain 2:28
Written-By – Herzog, Jr., Holiday
3 Everybody's Somebody's Fool 2:27
Written-By – Adams, Hampton
4 Invitation 2:59
Written-By – Kaper, Webster
5 You're Crying 3:25
Written-By – Feather, Jones
6 Let's Fall In Love 2:15
Written-By – Arlen, Koehler
7 When Your Lover Has Gone 2:08
Written-By – Swan
8 A Stranger In Town 2:15
Written-By – Tormé
9 God Bless The Child 2:43
Written-By – Herzog, Jr., Holiday
10 Blue Gardenia 3:19
Written-By – Russell, Lee
11 I Can't Face The Music (Without Singin' The Blues) 3:20
Written-By – Bloom, Koehler
12 Sometimes I'm Happy 2:04
Written-By – Grey, Caesar, Youmans
Credits :
Arranged By – Billy Byers (tracks: 1), Ernie Wilkins (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Hal Mooney (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Quincy Jones (tracks: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Conductor – Quincy Jones (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Drums – Gary Chester (tracks: 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Guitar – George Barnes (tracks: 2, 3, 10)
Piano – Jack Wilson (tracks: 1, 5), Patti Bown (tracks: 2, 3, 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn (tracks: 2, 3, 10)
Trombone – Billy Byers (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Kai Winding (tracks: 2, 3, 10)
Trumpet – Clark Terry (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Ernie Royal (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Joe Newman (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10)
Vocals – Dinah Washington (tracks: 1-12)

DINAH WASHINGTON ! BROOK BENTON — The Two of Us (1959-1995) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Wonderful duets between Brook Benton (v) and Washington, plus solo cuts by both from 1960. Ron Wynn

Tracklist :
1    Dinah Washington–    There Goes My Heart 3:29
Written-By – Abner Silver, Benny Davis
2    Brook Benton–    Call Me 2:36
Written-By – Belford C. Hendricks, Clyde Otis
3    Brook Benton & Dinah Washington–    Baby (You've Got What It Takes) 2:43
Written-By – Brook Benton, Clyde Otis, Murray Stein
4    Dinah Washington–    Love Walked In 2:08
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
5    Brook Benton–    Not One Step Behind 2:22
Written-By – Brook Benton, Chris Towns
6    Brook Benton & Dinah Washington–    A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love) 2:25
Written-By – Brook Benton, Clyde Otis, Luchi DeJesus
7    Brook Benton–    Someone To Believe In 2:36
Written-By – Bobby Stevenson, Brook Benton, Clyde Otis
8    Dinah Washington–    This I Promise You 2:36
Written-By – Clyde Otis, Vincent Corso
9    Brook Benton & Dinah Washington–    I Do 2:21
Written-By – Ben Raleigh, Don Wolf
10    Brook Benton–    Because Of Everything 2:25
Written-By – Belford C. Hendricks, Clyde Otis
11    Dinah Washington–    Again 3:22
Written-By – Dorcas Cochran, Lionel Newman
12    Brook Benton & Dinah Washington–    I Believe 3:21
Written-By – Al Stillman, Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl
- BONUS TRACKS -    
13    Dinah Washington–    Nothing In The World 3:14
Written By – Brook Benton
Written-By – Belford C. Hendricks, Clyde Otis
14    Dinah Washington–    While We're Young 2:23
Written-By – Alec Wilder, Morty Palitz, Bill Engvick
15    Dinah Washington–    Looking Back 2:25
Written-By – Belford C. Hendricks, Brook Benton, Clyde Otis
16    Dinah Washington–    We Have Love 2:24
Written-By – Alfonso Higgins, Dinah Washington
17    Dinah Washington–    Early Every Morning 2:18
Written-By – Belford C. Hendricks, Clyde Otis
18    Dinah Washington–    Love Walked In 2:13
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
19    Brook Benton–    Someone To Believe In 2:13
Written-By – Bobby Stevenson, Brook Benton, Clyde Otis
Credits :
Arranged By – Belford Hendricks (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 9, 11 to 19), Fred Norman (pistas: 5, 10)
Conductor – Belford Hendricks (pistas: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19), Fred Norman (pistas: 16, 17)
Directed By [Recording] – Clyde Otis
Orchestra – Fred Norman Orchestra (pistas: 5, 10, 16, 17), Nat Goodman Orchestra (pistas: 1, 4, 18)
Producer – Clyde Otis
Vocals – Brook Benton (pistas: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 19), Dinah Washington (pistas: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 to 18)

CLIFFORD BROWN – Brownie : The Complete EmArcy Recordings of Clifford Brown (1989) RM | 11xCD BOX-SET | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although undoubtedly an expensive acquisition, this ten-CD set is perfectly done and contains dozens of gems. The remarkable but short-lived trumpeter Clifford Brown has the second half of his career fully documented (other than his final performance) and he is showcased in a wide variety of settings. The bulk of the numbers are of Brownie's quintet with co-leader and drummer Max Roach, either Harold Land or Sonny Rollins on tenor, pianist Richie Powell, and bassist George Morrow (including some previously unheard alternate takes), but there is also much more. Brown stars at several jam sessions (including a meeting with fellow trumpeters Clark Terry and Maynard Ferguson), accompanies such singers as Dinah Washington, Helen Merrill, and Sarah Vaughan, and is backed by strings on one date. Everything is here, including classic versions of "Parisian Thoroughfare," "Joy Spring," "Daahoud," "Coronado," a ridiculously fast "Move," "Portrait of Jenny," "Cherokee," "Sandu," "I'll Remember April," and "What Is This Thing Called Love?" Get this set while it stays in print. Scott Yanow   Tracklist + Credits :

LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945-1946 | The Chronogical Classics – 922 (1997) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The sixth CD in Classics' series of Lionel Hampton records documents his music during a one-year period. Hampton's big band, riding high after "Flying Home," continued to grow in popularity during this era. The vibraphonist's showmanship and his sidemen's extroverted solos generated constant excitement, as can be heard throughout these 20 selections. With the exception of Dinah Washington's lone vocal on "Blow Top Blues" and the original version of "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop," most of the selections were formerly a bit rare, including a pair of rollicking V-disc performances ("Vibe Boogie" and "Screamin' Boogie"). Hampton is heard on 14 numbers with his big band (which included such key sidemen as trumpeter Joe Morris, tenorman Arnett Cobb, the eccentric Herbie Fields on alto and clarinet, and pianist Milt Buckner), four workouts with a septet, and two tunes (including a pair of vocals) with a rhythm quartet. Bing Crosby guests on so-so versions of "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street" (sounding very much out of place), but otherwise, everything works. Stirring and accessible music. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :