EARL HINES AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1937-1939 | The Classics Chronological Series – 538 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Another chapter in the Classics label's impressive chronological account of Earl Hines' big-band and solo piano work from 1928-1947. By this time, Hines was slipping into a bit of a routine, but for the most part the material here maintains the high standards of his benchmark work from 1934 and 1935. His top arranger, Jimmy Mundy, is on hand again, joined by Horace Henderson (Fletcher Henderson's brother) and Budd Johnson. Johnson would later flower as one of Hines' main chart-makers, and here he ably displays his talents on the churning "XYZ" and the Hines showcase "Piano Man." Hines further displays his mammoth chops on two exciting solo tracks, "The Father's Getaway" and "Reminiscing at Blue Note." And making fine contributions of their own are clarinetist Omer Simeon and trumpeters George Dixon, Ray Nance (later of Ellington fame), and Freddy Webster. A highly enjoyable if unessential disc from the Hines catalog. Stephen Cook  
Tracklist + Credits :

EARL HINES AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 567 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

At the time of these recordings, Hines was in the process of re-igniting his once potent and inventive big band of the mid-'30s. And while he and his cohorts hadn't completely dropped off the quality scale -- Hines' solos, of course, always remained hot -- the group's material was beginning to dip in caliber. Then came the twin powers of arranger/tenor saxophonist Budd Johnson and singer Billy Eckstine. Picking up from his fine work on Classics' earlier 1937-1939 disc, Johnson delivers standout charts here, like "Number 19" and the novelty number "Tantalizing a Cuban." One of Hines' top arrangers from the past, Jimmy Mundy, also does his part with solid if somewhat slick cuts like "You Can Depend on Me" and "Easy Rhythm." And with Eckstine in the mix, the band finally found a genuine star vocalist. Showing the kind of swarthy tone and incredible facility that would bring him fame over the next three decades, Eckstine lights up the proceedings on classics like "Jelly, Jelly," "I'm Falling for You," and "Ann." Keeping up with the Young Turk, Hines displays his seasoned soloing chops on numbers like "Rosetta," "Body and Soul," and "Child of a Disordered Brain." Check out the mighty Hines band finding its groove again before unwittingly morphing into an incubator for bebop talent. Stephen Cook     Tracklist :

CAB CALLOWAY AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1949-1955 (2003) The Classics Chronological Series – 1287 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Having spent years showcasing his own personality while diminishing the importance of the instrumentalists in his bands, Cab Calloway groveled during the early '50s, resorting to every imaginable gimmick and often sounding positively desperate. Two rather forced duets with Eugenie Baird employ exactly the same material as Pearl Bailey and Hot Lips Page were using during that same time period. These somewhat irritating covers are as different as can be from the fine artistry of Pearl and Page. "Rooming House Boogie" actually rocks, and Sam Taylor has a good hot solo. An overbearing tribute to Joe Louis is followed by the misogynistic "Your Voice." Notoriously intolerant of new musical ideas when young Dizzy Gillespie worked in his orchestra, by 1949 Cab had the unmitigated gall to sing a stupid novelty called "I Beeped When I Shoulda Bopped." This in itself was a gross imitation of Dizzy Gillespie's hit record "He Beeped When He Shoulda Bopped." Musical genres alternate as if Cab's career has been stuffed into a Waring blender. "Pero Que Jelengue," "La Mucura," and to some extent "Que Pasa Chica" are interesting examples of Calloway getting in touch with his Latino background. Cab should have done this more often! "The Duck Trot" has a bit of conga drumming and the tough tenor sax of Ike Quebec. On "Shotgun Boogie," Cab attempts to emulate Tennessee Ernie Ford. "One for My Baby" depicts a pathetic, lonely man trying to bond with his bartender. In 1952 Calloway began recording as a star vocalist backed by various orchestras rather than his own. Some of these tunes sound as if they were written expressly for Webb Pierce or Lefty Frizzell. There's a significant influx of material from the country & western market. "Hey Joe" was sent up by Homer & Jethro under the title "Hay Schmo." Why Cab Calloway tried to sing these songs, or indeed more than half of the material gathered together on this disc, is a mystery that can only be explained by economic straits and the often horrifying pop culture landscape of the 1950s. While Ray Charles was able to triumph with this kind of music, Calloway merely sounded like he was cornered by circumstances. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist  :
1    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    Baby It's Cold Outside 2:17
Vocals – Eugenie Baird
2    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    The Huckle-Buck    2:27
3    Cab Calloway And His Cab Jivers–    Ol' Joe Louis 2:31
Choir [Uncredited] – The Cab Jivers
4    Cab Calloway And His Cab Jivers–    Your Voice 2:36
Speech [Uncredited] – Maud McElroy
5    Cab Calloway And His Cab Jivers–    Rooming House Boogie    3:20
6    Cab Calloway And His Cab Jivers–    I Beeped When I Shoulda Bopped    2:35
7    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    The Duck Trot    3:10
8    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    Pero Que Jelengue    2:44
9    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    The Keeper Of The Blues    2:44
10    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    La Mucura    2:51
11    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    Que Pasa Chica    2:31
12    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    Shot Gun Boogie    3:00
13    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    Frosty Morning    2:35
14    Cab Calloway And His Orchestra–    One For My Baby    3:28
15    Cab Calloway Acc. By Jimmy Carroll And His Orchestra–    I'll Get By    2:47
16    Cab Calloway Acc. By Jimmy Carroll And His Orchestra–    Minnie The Moocher    3:05
17    Cab Calloway Acc. By Jimmy Carroll And His Orchestra–    Gambler's Guitar (Gamblers' Blues)    2:31
18    Cab Calloway Acc. By Jimmy Carroll And His Orchestra–    Hey Joe    2:25
19    Cab Calloway Acc. By Sy Oliver And His Orchestra–    Jilted    2:06
20    Cab Calloway Acc. By Sy Oliver And His Orchestra–    Such A Night    2:07
21    Cab Calloway Acc. By Sy Oliver And His Orchestra–    Unchained Melody    2:45
22    Cab Calloway Acc. By Sy Oliver And His Orchestra–    Learning The Blues    2:35
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Bernie Peacock (tracks: 1, 2), Hilton Jefferson (tracks: 5, 6)
Bass – Milt Hinton (tracks: 1 to 6)
Drums – Panama Francis (tracks: 1 to 6)
Piano – Dave Rivera (tracks: 1 to 10)
Reeds – Leon "Diamond" Washington (tracks: 3, 4), S.A. Stewart (tracks: 3, 4)
Tenor Saxophone – Ike Quebec (tracks: 7 to 10), Sam "The Man" Taylor (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 6)
Trombone – John "Streamline" Ewing (tracks: 3, 4), Keg Johnson (tracks: 1, 2), Tyree Glenn (tracks: 5, 6)
Trumpet – Jonah Jones (tracks: 1 to 10)
Vocals – Cab Calloway