The Bethlehem label didn't make it out of the '50s before folding, and
one of the reasons why is the ambitious yet misguided George Gershwin's
Porgy and Bess, a three-LP box set that represents a complete recording
of the Gershwin classic (with narration and sound effects). Bethlehem
certainly had the talent to pull it off -- appearing on the label, and
this production, are Mel Tormé, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra,
Johnny Hartman, Bob Dorough, Betty Roche, Frances Faye, and minor period
stars including vocalist Frank Rosolino, bandleader Stan Levey, and
arranger Russ Garcia. And long-playing versions of theatrical
productions were huge in the mid-'50s (a few sold millions of copies).
The most popular of these, however, were simply easy-to-digest
highlights LPs that never attempted to present the complete production.
This version is a gargantuan two hours long, difficult to sit through
even if every performance was stellar (and, unfortunately, that's far
from the case). The recording makes a virtue of being hip, primarily
through the narration of Al "Jazzbo" Collins, a radio DJ who may have
been hip for the times but whose counterfeit excitement and perfect
diction make the proceedings sound like a period newsreel. ("Watch out,
Porgy, here comes that mean Sportin' Life!") Tormé, as the most popular
vocalist on the label, was a shoe-in for the role of Porgy, despite
Johnny Hartman's clear superiority, and Frances Faye received the role
of Bess despite Betty Roche's ability to handle the role much better.
Those mistakes are compounded by Russ Garcia's period arrangements (the
Ellington group makes only one appearance) and some decidedly subpar
performances from Frank Rosolino early in the program. Still, it has to
be admitted that a highlights compilation of this record would sparkle
very brightly, driven by Mel Tormé's swinging "I've Got Plenty o'
Nuttin'" with a super-enthused backing chorus, George Kirby's "It Ain't
Necessarily So," and Betty Roche's reprise of "Summertime" during the
second half. John Bush
Tracklist 1
Porgy and Bess, opera
1 Part 1. Introduction / Summertime 01:25
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
feat: Duke Ellington / Duke Ellington & His Orchestra / The Russell Garcia Orchestra
2 Part 1. Narration 1:24
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
3 Part 1. Summertime 3:48
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Betty Roché
4 Part 1. Narration 0:12
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
5 Part 1. A Woman Is A Sometime Thing 2:39
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Frank Rosolino
6 Part 1. Narration / Here come de honey man... 1:20
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins / Joe Derise
7 Part 1. Narration 0:24
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
8 Part 1. Evenin' ladies, hello boys... 0:43
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
9 Part 1. Narration 0:15
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
10 Part 1. No, no, brother, Porgy ain't soft on no woman... 1:33
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
11 Part 1. Narration (Scene: crap game and murder) 4:31
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: The Russell Garcia Orchestra
12 Part 1. Narration 0:51
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
13 Part 1. Gone, Gone, Gone 2:20
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
14 Part 1. Overflow, overflow 2:08
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
15 Part 1. Narration 0:28
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
16 Part 1. I can't puzzle this thing out... 1:18
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
17 Part 1. Narration 0:11
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
18 Part 1. My Man's Gone Now 3:49
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Sallie Blair
19 Part 1. Narration 0:35
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
20 Part 1. Oh the train is at the station... 2:43
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
21 Part 1. Narration 0:37
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
22 Part 1. Oh I'm agoin' out to the Blackfish banks... 2:17
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Frank Rosolino
23 Part 1. Narration 0:34
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
24 Part 1. I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' 3:13
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: The Pat Moran Quartet
25 Part 1. Mornin', Lawyer. Looking for somebody?... 4:23
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: George Kirby / The Pat Moran Quartet
26 Part 1. Buzzard Song 2:43
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
27 Part 1. Narration 0:28
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
28 Part 1. Bess, You Is My Woman Now 4:57
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
29 Part 1. Oh, I can't sit down (picnic music) 1:55
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Don Fagerquist / Don Fagerquist Group / Betty Roché
30 Part 1. Porgy, I hates to go... 1:00
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
31 Part 1. I Got Plenty o Nuttin' (reprise) 0:37
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
32 Part 1. It Ain't Necessarily So (instrumental) 1:52
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Russell Garcia / Betty Roché
33 Part 1. Narration 0:34
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
34 Part 1. It Ain't Necessarily So 4:28
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: George Kirby
35 Part 1. Narration 0:53
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
36 Part 1. What you want wid Bess?... 2:12
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Johnny Hartman
37 Part 1. Narration 00:33
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
38 Part 1. Oh I'm agoin' out to the Blackfish banks... (reprise) 1:27
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Frank Rosolino
39 Part 1. Narration 0:30
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
40 Part 1. Oh, doctor Jesus...
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Sallie Blair
41 Part 1. Here come de honey man... / Oh dey's so fresh and fine... / I'm talkin' about devil crabs.. 3:31
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Joe Derise / Bob Dorough / Loulie Jean Norman
Tracklist 2
Porgy and Bess, opera
1 Part 2. Narration 0:38
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
2 Part 2. I Loves You, Porgy 3:17
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
3 Part 2. Narration (Scene: storm) 3:04
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus / The Russell Garcia Orchestra
4 Part 2. Summertime (reprise) 1:22
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Betty Roché
5 Part 2. Narration 0:11
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
6 Part 2. Oh, dere's somebody knockin' at de do'... 1:03
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
7 Part 2. Narration 1:20
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
8 Part 2. If God want to kill me... 2:05
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Johnny Hartman
9 Part 2. Narration 0:06
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
10 Part 2. A red-headed woman... 1:48
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus / Johnny Hartman
11 Part 2. Narration 0:59
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
12 Part 2. Oh, doctor Jesus (reprise) 0:38
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
13 Part 2. Narration 00:55
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
14 Part 2. Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted... 1:36
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: The Pat Moran Quartet
15 Part 2. Narration 0:10
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
16 Part 2. Summertime (reprise) 1:12
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Betty Roché
17 Part 2. Narration 1:50
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
18 Part 2. Oh, Lawd, what I goin' do?... 1:21
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
19 Part 2. Narration 0:09
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
20 Part 2. There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York 1:28
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: George Kirby
21 Part 2. Narration 1:18
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins / The Russell Garcia Orchestra
22 Part 2. Narration 0:24
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
23 Part 2. How are you dis mornin'?... 1:41
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
24 Part 2. Narration 0:39
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
25 Part 2. Oh, Bess, Oh, Where's My Bess 2:19
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Sallie Blair
26 Part 2. Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way 1:57
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
27 Suite (editied instrumental suite from Russ Garcia's orchestration) 29:12
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: The Russell Garcia Orchestra
20.4.24
GEORGE GERSHWIN : The Complete George Gershwin Porgy And Bess (1956-1996) RM | 2CD MONO | Serie Mastersonic, ベツレヘム名盤マスター・トランスファー・コレクション – 11 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
7.8.22
CLARK TERRY with JEFF LINDBERG & THE CHICAGO JAZZ ORCHESTRA - George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess (2004) FLAC (tracks), lossless
Tracklist :
1 Buzzard Song 4'06
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
2 Bess, You Is My Woman Now 5'23
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
3 Gone 4'53
Gil Evans
4 Gone, Gone, Gone 2'16
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
5 Summertime 3'19
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
6 Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess? 4'32
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
7 Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus) 5'03
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
8 Fisherman, Strawberry and Devil Crab 4'14
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
9 My Man's Gone Now 6'15
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
10 It Ain't Necessarily So 4'27
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
11 Here Come de Honey Man 1'43
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
12 I Loves You, Porgy 4'33
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
13 There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York 3'20
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
Credits :
Arranged By – Charles Harrison III (pistas: 12), Gil Evans (pistas: 1 to 11, 13)
Conductor – Jeff Lindberg
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals (pistas: 11) – Clark Terry
28.2.22
THE KOHON QUARTET - American String Quartets 1900-1950 (1993) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
CD1
William Schuman
Quartet No. 3 (23:47)
Howard Hanson
Quartet In One Movement, Op. 23 17:47
Virgil Thomson
Quartet No. 2 (22:16)
George Gershwin
Lullaby For String Quartet 11:24
CD2
Roger Sessions
Quartet No. 2 (32:19)
Charles Ives
Scherzo For 2 Violins, Viola And Cello – 1:45
Peter Mennin
Quartet No. 2 (17:29)
Walter Piston
Quartet No. 5 (16:55)
Aaron Copland
Two Pieces For String Quartet (8:50)
Ensemble [String Quartet] – The Kohon Quartet
Cello – W. Ted Hoyle
Viola – Eugenie Dengel
Violin – Harold Kohon, Isadora Kohon
10.7.21
CHRIS CONNOR - Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song (1989) 2CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
Most of this highly recommended set is taken from a series of 1957
sessions in which singer Chris Connor exclusively interprets songs of
George Gershwin. To fill out the CDs, additional Gershwin cuts from
other, otherwise unrelated dates by the vocalist have been added.
Connor's cool delivery gives many of the largely familiar songs new
life. She is assisted by such fine musicians as trumpeter Joe Newman,
tenorman Al Cohn, flutist Herbie Mann, vibraphonist Milt Jackson and
pianist Ralph Sharon, who add tasteful and concise solos. Many of the
selections were quite rare before this well-conceived and appealing
reissue was put together. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist 1 :
1 But Not for Me 3:47
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2 Of Thee I Sing 1:26
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
3 Strike Up the Band 2:31
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
4 I've Got a Crush on You 2:15
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
5 Soon 2:00
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6 Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away) 2:38
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / Gus Kahn
7 Looking for a Boy 3:02
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
8 I Got Rhythm 1:45
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
9 (I've Got) Beginner's Luck 2:09
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
10 Slap That Bass 1:58
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
11 For You, for Me, for Evermore 3:35
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
12 Love Is Sweeping the Country 2:54
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
13 The Man I Love 2:35
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
14 'S Wonderful 2:24
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
15 A Foggy Day 3:16
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
16 Medley from Porgy and Bess: Summertime/There's a Boat That's Leav 6:35
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Tracklist 2 :
1 Nice Work If You Can Get It 1:19
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2 Blah, Blah, Blah 2:54
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
3 They Can't Take That Away from Me 2:10
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
4 Clap Yo' Hands 2:26
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
5 Little Jazz Bird 3:08
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6 I Was Doing All Right 2:15
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
7 My One and Only 02:39
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
8 That Certain Feeling 2:12
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
9 Fascinating Rhythm 2:34
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
10 Love Is Here to Stay 3:16
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
11 They All Laughed 2:15
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
12 How Long Has This Been Going On? 4:00
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
13 I Can't Be Bothered Now 1:48
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
14 Love Walked In 2:58
15 Somebody Loves Me 2:22
Buddy DeSylva / George Gershwin / Ballard MacDonald
16 Embraceable You 2:33
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
- Bonus Tracks -
17 Strike Up the Band 2:07
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
18 Summertime 3:11
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
Credits :
Trumpet - Bill Berry, Rolf Ericson, Chet Ferretti, Joe Newman, Doc Severinsen
Trombone - Eddie Bert, Jimmy Cleveland, Warren Covington, Jimmy Thompson, Kenny Rupp
Bass - Vinnie Burke, Eddie DeHaas, Milt Hinton, Charlie Sanders, Wendell Marshall, Oscar Pettiford
Guitar - Kenny Burrell, Barry Galbraith, Mundell Lowe, Joe Puma
Sax (Tenor) - Al Cohn
Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor) - Danny Bank
Vocals - Chris Connor
Reeds - Joe Farrell, Willie Maiden, Lanny Morgan, Frank Hittner
French Horn, Trombone, Trumpet - Maynard Ferguson
Arranger, Piano - Stan Free
Vibraphone - Milt Jackson, Eddie Costa
Clarinet - Peanuts Hucko
Clarinet, Flute - Sam Most
Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Tenor) - Eddie Wasserman
Drums - Osie Johnson, Lex Humphries, Ronnie Free, Rufus "Speedy" Jones, Ed Shaughnessy
Piano - Hank Jones, Jaki Byard, Bill Rubinstein
Flute, Flute (Alto) - Herbie Mann
Bongos - Johnny Rodriguez
Arranger - Ray Ellis, Don Sebesky
Arranger, Celeste, Piano - Ralph Sharon
Arranger, Conductor - Ralph Burns
14.11.18
GEORGE GERSHWIN : The Complete Gershwin Songbooks (1995) 3xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks), lossless
Track Listing - Disc 1 'S Wonderful
1 Billie Holiday– They Can't Take That Away From Me 4:10
2 Helen Merrill– Summertime 3:24
3 Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong– Let's Call The Whole Thing Off 4:12
4 Sarah Vaughan– Embraceable You 4:47
5 Dinah Washington– But Not For Me 2:24
6 Bing Crosby– They All Laughed 2:40
7 Betty Carter– The Man I Love 7:39
8 The Gordons (2), Dizzy Gillespie, Stuff Smith– Oh, Lady Be Good 4:11
9 Louis Armstrong– There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York 4:51
10 Ella Fitzgerald– How Long Has This Been Going On? 5:50
11 Joe Williams– 'S Wonderful 2:37
12 Nina Simone– I Loves You Porgy 2:31
13 Bill Henderson– I've Got A Crush On You 4:01
14 Fred Astaire– Fascinatin' Rhythm 2:42
15 Blossom Dearie– Someone To Watch Over Me 5:58
16 Shirley Horn– Our Love Is Here To Stay 3:35
Track Listing - Disc 2 'S Marvelous
1 Ernestine Anderson– I Got Rhythm 2:55
2 Billie Holiday– Nice Work If You Can Get It 3:50
3 Joe Williams– Embraceable You 4:36
4 Anita O'day– Who Cares? 3:15
5 Louis Armstrong– A Woman Is A Sometime Thing 4:45
6 Sarah Vaughan– Love Walked In 3:06
7 Blossom Dearie– Love Is Here To Stay 3:11
8 Fred Astaire– Oh, Lady Be Good 4:30
9 Ella Fitzgerald– Of Thee I Sing 3:07
10 Morgana King– For You For Me, For Evermore 3:03
11 Dinah Washington– A Foggy Day 8:00
12 Arthur Prysock– Someone To Watch Over Me 2:53
13 Shirley Horn– Isn't It A Pity? 5:47
14 Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong– They Can't Take That Away From Me 4:38
15 Sarah Vaughan– 'S Wonderful 2:29
16 Antonio Carlos Jobim– Fascinatin' Rhythm 2:09
Track Listing - Disc 3 'S Paradise (Instrumentals)
1 Louie Bellson Orchestra– Fascinatin' Rhythm 4:15
2 Bill Evans, Jim Hall– My Man's Gone Now 6:44
3 Buddy DeFranco– Mine 6:27
4 Coleman Hawkins– How Long Has This Been Going On? 3:54
5 Oscar Peterson– Somebody Loves Me 3:22
6 Kenny Burrell– Prelude II 2:17
7 George Shearing– They All Laughed 2:31
8 Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer– Nice Work If You Can Get It 5:55
9 Bill Evans– I Loves You, Porgy 5:40
10 Jimmy Cleveland– Love Is Here To Stay 3:31
11 Toshiko Akiyoshi– The Man I Love 5:28
12 Tal Farlow– A Foggy Day 3:22
13 Oscar Peterson– Strike Up The Band 3:15
14 Clifford Brown– Embraceable You 3:01
15 Don Elliott– 'S Wonderful 5:12
16 Art Tatum– Someone To Watch Over Me 3:10
+ last month
e.s.t. — Retrospective 'The Very Best Of e.s.t. (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
"Retrospective - The Very Best Of e.s.t." is a retrospective of the unique work of e.s.t. and a tribute to the late mastermind Esb...