ANDY KIRK AND HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY – 1937-1938 | The Classics Chronological Series – 581 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The third Andy Kirk CD put out by the Classics label (reissuing all of Kirk's swing-era recordings) is primarily for completists, for the then-popular but rather dated singer Pha Terrell is on the majority of the songs. There are some good moments from pianist Mary Lou Williams and tenor saxophonist Dick Wilson (particularly on the instrumentals), with the most memorable numbers being "A Mellow Bit of Rhythm," "Twinklin'," and "The Big Dipper," but Terrell is often difficult to sit through. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Downstream 2:59
Rick Davies / Andy Kirk / Jack Lawrence / Guido Nisenson
2     In the Groove 3:04
Mary Lou Williams / D. Wilson
3     Worried over You 3:09
Ed Nelson, Jr. / Billy Rose
4     Foolin' Myself 3:01
Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin
5     I'm Glad for Your Sake (But I'm Sorry for Mine) 2:58
Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin
6     I'll Get Along Somehow 2:48
Buddy Fields / Gerald Marks
7     A Mellow Bit of Rhythm 3:19
Herman Walder / Mary Lou Williams
8     In My Wildest Dreams 2:52
Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin
9     Better Luck Next Time 2:46
Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin
10     With Love in My Heart 2:39
John Klenner
11     What's Mine Is Yours 3:15
Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin
12     Why Can't We Do It Again? 3:08
Henry Wells
13     The Key to My Heart 3:07
 Niesen / Milton / Kanner
14     I Went to a Gypsy 2:49
Jack Lawrence / Mary Lou Williams
15     Lover, Come Back to Me 3:12
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
16     Poor Butterfly 2:50
John Golden / Raymond Hubbell
17     The Big Dipper 2:54
Larry Clinton / Frances Day Colgems
18     Bear Down 2:59
Dowell / Fox
19     I Surrender, Dear 3:06
Harry Barris / Gordon Clifford
20     Twinklin' 3:11
Mary Lou Williams
21     It Must Be True (You Are Mine, All Mine) 3:08
Harry Barris / Gordon Clifford
22     I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) 3:05
Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk
23     Little Joe from Chicago  2:49
Henry Wells / Mary Lou Williams
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Earl Miller, John Harrington, John Williams
Arranged By – Earl Thompson (tracks: 1 to 6, 8 to 14)
Baritone Saxophone – John Harrington, John Williams
Bass Saxophone – Andy Kirk (tracks: 1 to 14)
Clarinet – John Harrington
Directed By – Andy Kirk
Double Bass – Booker Collins
Drums – Ben Thigpen
Guitar – Ted Robinson
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson
Trombone – Henry Wells, Ted Donnelly
Trumpet – Clarence Trice (tracks: 15 to 23), Earl Thompson, Harry Lawson, Paul King (4) (tracks: 1 to 14)
Violin – Claude Williams
Vocals – Pha Terrell (tracks: 1, 3 to 6, 8 to 16, 19, 21)

ANDY KIRK AND HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY – 1938 | The Classics Chronological Series – 598 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Andy Kirk's Orchestra was at the height of its popularity during the late 1930s, still riding high from their hit "Until the Real Thing Comes Along." The star of that record, singer Pha Terrell, is on the majority of the songs on this CD (the fourth in Classics' complete reissuance of the master takes of all Andy Kirk recordings from the swing era), but there are some hotter tunes too, most notably "Mess-A-Stomp," "Jump Jack Jump," "Dunkin' a Doughnut" and "Mary's Idea." However, Terrell's dominance of many titles may make many swing fans opt for the GRP/Decca single-disc Andy Kirk sampler instead. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Bless You My Dear 3:06
Jack Lawrence
2     How Can We Be Wrong? 3:15
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
3     Mess-A-Stomp 3:04
Mary Lou Williams
4     Toadie Toddle 2:37
Barry Pease / Mary Lou Williams    
5     I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You) 3:09
Hughie Charles / Ross Parker    
6     What Would People Say 2:50
Jack Lawrence
7     How Much Do You Mean to Me? 2:59
Levant / Adams    
8     Jump Jack Jump 2:53
C.L. Roberts
9     Breeze (Blow My Baby Back to Me) 2:52
Joe Goodwin / Joe Hanley / Ballard MacDonald
10     Ghost of Love 3:12
Jack Lawrence
11     What a Life! (Trying to Live Without You) 3:09
Louis Alter
12     Sittin' Around and Dreamin' 3:03
Andy Kirk
13     What's Your Story, Morning Glory? 3:08
Jack Lawrence / Paul Francis Webster
14     Honey 2:47
Ted Fio Rito
15     September in the Rain 2:41
Al Dubin / Harry Warren
16     Clouds 2:47
Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn
17     Julius Caesar 3:09
Shorty Rogers
18     Dunkin' a Doughnut 2:53
Mary Lou Williams
19     Goodbye 3:03
Gordon Jenkins
20     Mary's Idea 2:57
Mary Lou Williams
21     But It Didn't Mean a Thing 2:56
Mack David
22     (I Don't Believe It But) Say It Again 2:32
Richman / Silver
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Earl Miller
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Williams
Bass – Booker Collins
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Harrington
Directed By – Andy Kirk
Drums – Ben Thigpen
Guitar – Ted Robinson
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson
Trombone – Henry Wells, Ted Donnelly
Trumpet – Clarence Trice, Earl Thompson, Harry Lawson
Vocals – Pha Terrell (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 7, 9 to 16, 19, 21, 22) 

ANDY KIRK AND HIS TWELVE CLOUDS OF JOY – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 640 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy was a top-notch Kansas City swing band that, by 1939, featured the pop vocals of Pha Terrell, the more blues-oriented singing of June Richmond, creative arrangements by Mary Lou Williams, and some excellent soloing from pianist Williams and Dick Wilson on tenor. Most memorable in this entry in Classics' "complete" Andy Kirk CD series are "Floyd's Guitar Blues" (an odd but pioneering electric guitar feature for Floyd Smith), "Wham" and "Scratching In the Gravel." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     You Set Me on Fire 2:57
Colwell / MacKinnon
2     (I Guess) I'll Never Learn 3:12
Gordon / Kaufmann
3     Close to Five 2:55
Mary Lou Williams
4     Floyd's Guitar Blues 3:09
Floyd Smith
5     (I Wanna Go Where You Go, Do What You Do) Then I'll Be Happy 2:31
Lew Brown / Sidney Clare / Cliff Friend
6     S'posin' 2:26
Paul Denniker / Andy Razaf
7     I'll Never Fail You 2:55
Victor Mizzy / Irv Taylor
8     Why Don't I Get Wise to Myself 2:42
Sid Bass / Ken Hecht
9     I'm Getting Nowhere With You 2:46
Wood / Adams
10     I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You 3:02
Bing Crosby / Ned Washington / Victor Young
11     Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone 2:51
Sidney Clare / Sam H. Stept
12     Big Jim Blues 2:56
Mary Lou Williams
13     Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam!) 3:05
Eddie Durham / Taps Miller
14     Love Is the Thing 2:57
Ned Washington / Victor Young
15     Why Go on Pretending 2:57
Mary Lou Williams
16     It Always Will Be You 3:16
Hays / Copano / O'Day
17     Fine and Mellow 3:02
Billie Holiday     
18     Scratchin' in the Gravel 3:10
Mary Lou Williams / D. Wilson
19     Fifteen Minute Intermission 3:06
Buddy Cannon / Sunny Skylar
20     Take Those Blues Away 2:51
Jackson
21     Now I Lay Me Down to Dream 2:54
Eddie Howard, Jr. / Ted Fio Rito    
22     There Is No Greater Love 3:02
Isham Jones / Marty Symes
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Earl Miller (tracks: 1 to 16), Rudy Powell (tracks: 17 to 22)
Bass – Booker Collins
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Harrington
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Edward Inge (tracks: 17 to 22)
Directed By – Andy Kirk
Drums – Ben Thigpen
Guitar, Electric Guitar – Floyd Smith
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson, Don Byas (tracks: 1 to 16)
Trombone – Fred Robinson (tracks: 13 to 22), Henry Wells (tracks: 1 to 12), Ted Donnelly
Trumpet – Clarence Trice, Earl Thomson (tracks: 1 to 16), Harold Baker (tracks: 17 to 22), Harry Lawson
Vocals – June Richmond (tracks: 5, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20), Pha Terrell (tracks: 1, 2, 6 to 10, 14, 15, 21, 22)

MARY LOU WILLIAMS – 1927-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 630 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD features the great pianist Mary Lou Williams during her earliest period. She is heard in 1927 on six selections with The Synco Jazzers (a small group that included her then-husband John Williams on alto) and then on the first 19 selections ever recorded under her own name. Performed during the long period when she was the regular pianist with Andy Kirk's 12 Clouds of Joy, Williams is featured on two hot stride solos in 1930, leading trios in 1936 and 1938, playing "Little Joe from Chicago" unaccompanied in 1939 and heading septets in 1940; among her sidemen were trumpeter Harold "Shorty" Baker and the legendary tenor Dick Wilson. Many of the compositions were written by Williams including "Night Life," "New Froggy Bottom," "Mary's special," and "Scratchin' the Gravel;" her version of Jelly Roll Morton's "The Pearls" is a highpoint. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Jeanette's Synco Jazzers–    Midnight Stomp 2:42
Written-By – Williams
2    Jeanette's Synco Jazzers–    The Bumps 2:37
Written-By – Williams
3    John Williams' Synco Jazzers–    Down In Gallion 3:11
Written-By – Unknown
4    John Williams' Synco Jazzers–    Goose Grease 3:15
Written-By – Unknown
5    John Williams' Synco Jazzers–    Pee Wee Blues 3:27
Written-By – Unknown
6    John Williams' Synco Jazzers–    Now Cut Loose 2:47
Written-By – Unknown
7    Mary Lou Williams–    Night Life 2:56
Written-By – Williams
8    Mary Lou Williams–    Drag 'Em 2:52
Written-By – Williams
9    Mary Lou Williams–    Corny Rhythm 2:42
Written-By – Williams
10    Mary Lou Williams–    Overhand (New Froggy Bottom) 2:46
Written-By – Williams
11    Mary Lou Williams–    Isabelle 2:55
Written-By – Williams
12    Mary Lou Williams–    Swingin' For Joy 2:34
Written-By – Williams
13    Mary Lou Williams–    Clean Pickin' 2:48
Written-By – Williams
14    Mary Lou Williams–    Mary's Special 2:46
Written-By – Williams
15    Mary Lou Williams–    The Pearls 3:01
Written-By – Morton
16    Mary Lou Williams–    Mr. Freddie Blues 2:44
Written-By – Shayne
17    Mary Lou Williams–    Sweet (Patootie) Patunia 2:30
Written-By – Williams, Rogan, Alexander
18    Mary Lou Williams–    The Rocks 2:34
Written-By – Burley
19    Mary Lou Williams–    Little Joe From Chicago 2:33
Written-By – Wells, Williams
20    Six Men And A Girl–    Mary Lou Williams Blues 3:15
Written-By – Williams
21    Six Men And A Girl–    Tea For Two 2:48
Written-By – Caesar, Youmans
22    Six Men And A Girl–    Scratchin' The Gravel 3:11
Written-By – Williams
23    Six Men And A Girl–    Zonky 2:54
Written-By – Razaf, Waller
24    Mary Lou Williams And Her Kansas City Seven–    Baby Dear 2:47
Written-By – Moten, Hayes
25    Mary Lou Williams And Her Kansas City Seven–    Harmony Blues 2:47
Written-By – Moten
Credits :   
Alto Saxophone, Bass Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – John Williams (tracks: 1 to 6)
Banjo – Joe Williams (tracks: 1 to 6)
Bass – Booker Collins (tracks: 9 to 18, 20 to 25)
Celesta – Mary Lou Williams (tracks: 14)
Clarinet – Edward Inge (tracks: 20 to 23)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Earl "Buddy" Miller (tracks: 20 to 23)
Drums – Ben Thigpen (tracks: 9 to 18, 20 to 25), Robert Price (tracks: 1 to 6)
Electric Guitar – Floyd Smith (tracks: 20 to 23)
Guitar [?] – Ted Robinson (tracks: 14)
Piano – Mary Lou Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Wilson (tracks: 20 to 25)
Trombone – Bradley Bullett (tracks: 1 to 6), Ted Donnelly (tracks: 20 to 23)
Trumpet – Earl Thompson (tracks: 20 to 23), Harold Baker (tracks: 20 to 23), Henry McCord (tracks: 1 to 6)