LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1949-1950 | The Chronogical Classics – 1161 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although some of the personnel had changed in the interim, Lionel Hampton's big band sounded largely the same in 1949 as it had before the recording strike in late 1947. The main change was that there were now more vocals and the band had clearly shifted toward R&B and a bit away from bebop. But the excitement level remained quite high, as can be heard on such numbers as "Chicken Shack Boogie," "New Central Avenue Breakdown," "Hamp's Boogie No. 2," and "Rag Mop." The key sidemen are trumpeter Benny Bailey, tenors Gene Morris and Johnny Sparrow, guitarist Wes Montgomery (a decade before he became famous), and trombonist Al Grey. Boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons is on a few numbers and the vocalists include such future greats as Betty Carter and Little Jimmy Scott, who had a hit with "Everybody's Somebody's Fool." Scott Yanow
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LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1950 | The Chronogical Classics – 1193 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While most big bands broke up by 1950, Lionel Hampton was able to keep his orchestra together due to being exciting, R&B-oriented, and putting on very colorful shows. The selections on this CD, which covers the first nine months of 1950, include the rambunctious two-part "Turkey Hop," Little Jimmy Scott's vocal feature on "I Wish I Knew," a few small-group numbers (including a session featuring Jerome Richardson's flute and Doug Duke's organ), and a sextet date that showcases Hampton's vibes and Buddy Cole's organ. Most of this music was formerly rare and has been overlooked by domestic reissue programs. Scott Yanow
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JIMMY SCOTT — The Fabulous Songs of Jimmy Scott (1960-2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Reissued in 2003 with extra tracks and beautifully remastered sound, the FABULOUS SONGS OF JIMMY SCOTT, originally released in 1960, showcases Scott's stunning, inimitable voice. The vocalist suffered from Kallmann's Syndrome, which kept his voice perpetually at a high, pre-pubescent tenor, yet he parlayed his physical limitation into an exquisite instrument, and he was capable of rendering great emotional power in his deliveries.
FABULOUS SONGS OF JIMMY SCOTT contains some traditional numbers ("Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child") and some standards ("The Way You Look Tonight"), but all of the material is presented with a sophistication and passion that are uniquely Scott's. He is arguably at the height of his powers here (the control he holds over his vibrato is truly amazing), making FABULOUS one of the singer's best early recordings. AllMusic
Tracklist :
1 Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child 3:12
Traditional
2 An Evening In Paradise 2:58
Little Jimmy Scott
3 If I Ever Lost You 2:43
Little Jimmy Scott
4 I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over 3:34
Herbert Magidson / Allie Wrubel
5 Please Forgive Me 3:07
Little Jimmy Scott
6 How Else 3:04
Little Jimmy Scott
7 If You Are But a Dream 2:39
Nat Bonx / Jack Fulton / Moe Jaffe
8 The Way You Look Tonight 2:28
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
9 Things That Are Love 2:29
Little Jimmy Scott
10 Everybody's Somebody's Fool 2:15
Howard Greenfield / Jack Keller
11 Once 2:22
Guy Wood
12 What Good Would It Be 2:30
Howard Biggs
13 There Will Never Be Another You 2:22
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
14 Time On My Hands 2:42
Harold Adamson / Mack Gordon / Vincent Youmans
15 Smile 2:31
Charlie Chaplin / Geoffrey Parsons / John Turner
Credits :
Bass – Abie Baker, Al Lucas, Lloyd Trotman
Cello – Maurice Brown
Drums – Bobby Donaldson, Norris Shawker
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli, Charles May, Hy White
Piano – Howard Biggs, Robert Banks
Viola – David Mankovitz, Isadore Zir
Violin – David Soyer, Felix Orlewitz, Julius Brand, Julius Held, Seymour Miroff
Vocals – Jimmy Scott