The Depression may have been at its height during the two years covered by this Classics CD (the fourth in their series of 12 complete Cab Calloway sets), but there was nothing depressed about Calloway's often-jubilant vocals, the playing of his vastly underrated orchestra or the infectious (and sometimes) crazy lyrics. Trumpeter Lammar Wright, clarinetist Eddie Barefield and Walter Thomas on tenor contribute some fine solos but the focus is very much on the leader's vocals and he is in peak form on such songs as "The Lady with the Fan," "Harlem Camp Meeting," "Kickin' the Gong Around," "'Long About Midnight" and "Margie" (even if "Chinese Rhythm" is rather absurd). This easily recommended set also has a remake of "Minnie the Moocher" and an all-star recording of "Doin' the New Lowdown" with The Mills Brothers and Don Redman's Orchestra. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Cab Calloway And His Orchestra– Hot Water 2:54
Arranged By – Will Hudson
Written-By – Hudson
2 Don Redman And His Orchestra– Doin' The New Low-Down 3:06
Alto Saxophone – Don Redman, Edward Inge, Rupert Cole
Arranged By – Don Redman, Horace Henderson
Banjo, Guitar – Talcott Reeves
Brass Bass, Double Bass – Bob Ysaguirre
Clarinet – Edward Inge, Rupert Cole
Drums, Vibraphone – Manzie Johnson
Piano – Horace Henderson
Tenor Saxophone – Robert Carroll
Trombone – Benny Morton, Claude Jones, Fred Robinson
Trumpet – Langston Curl, Shirley Clay, Sidney De Paris
Vocals – Cab Calloway, Don Redman, The Mills Brothers
Written-By – Fields-McHugh
3 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Evenin' 2:44
Written-By – White, Parrish
4 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Harlem Hospitality
Written-By – Arlen, Van Heusen
5 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– The Lady With The Fan 3:14
Written-By – Brackman, Calloway, Burns
6 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Harlem Camp Meeting 3:06
Written-By – White
7 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Zaz Zuh Zaz 3:24
Chorus – Cab Calloway
Written-By – Calloway, White
8 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Father's Got His Glasses On 3:07
Arranged By – Will Hudson
Written-By – Swayzee
9 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Minnie The Moocher 3:33
Written-By – Calloway, Mills
Written-By [Uncredited] – Clarence Gaskill
10 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– The Scat Song 2:45
Written-By – Calloway
Written-By [Uncredited] – Frank Perkins, Mitchell Parish
11 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Kickin' The Gong Around 3:21
Written-By – Arlen, Koehler
12 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– There's A Cabin In The Cotton 3:28
Written-By – Perkins, Parrish
13 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– I Learned About Love From Her 3:02
Written-By – Calloway
14 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Little Town Gal 3:10
Written-By – Burns
15 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– 'Long About Midnight 3:02
Written-By – Hill, Mills
16 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Moon Glow 3:04
Written-By – Hudson
17 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Jitter Bug 3:09
Written-By – Calloway, Swayzee
18 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Hotcha Razz-Ma-Tazz 3:12
Written-By – Razaf, Mills, Hudson
19 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Margie 3:07
Written-By – Davis, Conrad, Robinson
20 Cab Calloway And His Cotton Club Orchestra– Emaline 2:50
Written-By – Perkins, Parrish
21 Cab Calloway And His Orchestra– Chinese Rhythm 2:49
Written-By – Calloway, White
22 Cab Calloway And His Orchestra– Moonlight Rhapsody 3:24
Written-By – Hudson
23 Cab Calloway And His Orchestra– Avalon 3:28
Written-By – Jolson, Rose
Written-By [Uncredited] – Buddy G. De Sylva
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Andrew Brown (tracks: 1, 3 to 23), Arville Harris (tracks: 1, 3 to 23), Eddie Barefield (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Banjo – Morris White (tracks: 1, 3 to 14)
Baritone Saxophone – Andrew Brown (5) (tracks: 1, 3 to 23), Eddie Barefield (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Bass Clarinet – Andrew Brown (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Celesta, Piano – Bennie Payne (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Clarinet – Arville Harris (tracks: 1, 3 to 23), Eddie Barefield (tracks: 1, 3 to 23), Walter Thomas (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Directed By – Cab Calloway
Double Bass – Al Morgan (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Drums – Leroy Maxey (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Walter Thomas (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Guitar – Morris White (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Trombone – De Priest Wheeler* (tracks: 1, 3 to 23), Harry White (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Trumpet – Doc Cheatham (tracks: 1, 3 to 23), Edwin Swayzee (tracks: 1, 3 to 23), Lammar Wright (tracks: 1, 3 to 23)
Vocals – Cab Calloway (tracks: 3 to 15, 17 to 23) 
