HARRY JAMES AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945-1946 | The Chronogical Classics – 1313 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Classics' gathering of Harry James' material between July of '45 and May of '46 showcases a band on the far side of their peak as one of the finest swing bands in jazz history. The group is still in top-notch form, and provides a glimpse into vocalist Kitty Kallen's finest moments with the band on numbers such as "Wonder of You." Fans of swing will find this an appealing set to twirl along to. Gregory McIntosh
Tracklist :

JACK TEAGARDEN AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1939-1940 | The Classics Chronological Series – 758 (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The third in Classics' Complete Jack Teagarden series traces the trombonist's big-band recordings during his Columbia period. There were no great soloists among Teagarden's sidemen and some of these tunes (particularly the nine with Kitty Kallen vocals) are throwaways but Teagarden's own singing on six songs (including "Beale Street Blues" and "If I Could Be with You") and distinctive trombone give listeners strong reasons to acquire this entry in the worthy series. Other highlights include "Peg of My Heart," "Wolverine Blues," "Swinging' on the Teagarden Gate" and "The Blues." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    I'm Takin' My Time With You    2:58
2    I Wanna Hat With Cherries    2:54
3    Two Blind Loves    2:41
4    Hawaii Sang Me To Sleep    2:54
5    It's A Hundred To One (I'm In Love)    2:28
6    I'll Remember    3:02
7    Peg O' My Heart 3:21
Arranged By – Red Bone
8    At Least You Could Say Hello    3:13
9    A Table In The Corner    3:10
10    Stop Kicking My Heart Around    3:03
11    If What You Say Is True    2:48
12    So Many Times    2:58
13    Muddy River Blues    3:01
14    Wolverine Blues 2:42
Arranged By – Red Bone
15    Red Wing    2:55
16    United We Swing    2:51
17    Beale Street Blues    3:10
18    Somewhere A Voice Is Calling    2:45
19    Swingin' On The Teagarden Gate 2:45
Arranged By – Fred Norman
20    If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)    3:07
21    My Melancholy Baby    2:55
22    Can't We Talk It Over?    3:07
23    The Blues    3:14
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Jack Goldie (tracks: 20 to 23), Joe Ferdinando (tracks: 20 to 23), Tony Antonelli (tracks: 20 to 23)
Bass [String Bass] – Arnold Fishkind (tracks: 20 to 23), Art Miller (tracks: 1 to 16), Benn Pottle (tracks: 17 to 19)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Clint Garvin (tracks: 1 to 19)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Art St. John
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Hub Lytle (tracks: 1 to 19), John Van Eps (tracks: 1 to 19)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Ernie Caceres (tracks: 1 to 19)
Drums – Cubby Teagarden (tracks: 1 to 7), Dave Tough (tracks: 8 to 19), Ed Naquin (tracks: 20 to 23)
Guitar – Allan Reuss (tracks: 1 to 19), Dan Perri (tracks: 20 to 23)
Piano – Jack Russin (tracks: 8 to 19), John Anderson (14) (tracks: 1 to 7), Nat Jaffe (tracks: 20 to 23)
Tenor Saxophone – Larry Walsh (tracks: 20 to 23)
Trombone – Charles McCamish (tracks: 1 to 7), Eddie Dudley (tracks: 8 to 19), Joe Ferrall (tracks: 20 to 23), Jose Gutierrez, Mark Bennett (tracks: 1 to 19), Seymour Goldfinger (tracks: 20 to 23)
Trombone, Directed By – Jack Teagarden
Trumpet – Charlie Spivak (tracks: 1 to 16), Frank Ryerson (tracks: 17 to 19), John Fallstitch (tracks: 20 to 23), Carl Garvin (tracks: 1 to 19), Lee Castle (tracks: 1 to 19), Sid Feller (tracks: 20 to 23), Tom Gonsoulin (tracks: 20 to 23)
Vocals – Jack Teagarden (tracks: 5, 13, 17, 20 to 22), Kitty Kallen (tracks: 1 to 4, 8 to 12) 

JACK TEAGARDEN AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1940-1941 | The Classics Chronological Series – 839 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Volume four in the complete works of trombonist Jack Teagarden as reissued by Classics contains all of his studio recordings made between February 1940 and January 1941. Most of the 20 selections are by Teagarden's second big band, an entity that came together in 1939 and lasted until 1947. Aside from Mr. T, the one player to really listen for is clarinetist Danny Polo. A scan of the remaining personnel reveals little about this orchestra other than the incidence of memorable names like those of trumpeter Pokey Carriere and trombonist Seymour Goldfinger. Arrangements are attributed to Irving Szathmary (composer of theme music for TV's Get Smart and I'm Dickens, He's Fenster) and African American pianist Phil Moore, who also arranged for Tommy Dorsey and Harry James. There are numerous vocals by Kitty Kallen, Marianne Dunn, and David Allen. The perkiest of these is a version of Eddie Durham and Taps Miller's hepcat staple "Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam!)" While Teagarden & co. did nice things with Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" and "Frenesi," the jazz heart of this album exists in tracks 13-16, which were recorded on December 15, 1940 for the Hot Record Society on 12" 78 rpm platters, allowing for durations exceeding four minutes per side. Teagarden's Big Eight was an uncommonly solid unit composed of strong improvisers, especially Ellingtonian front liners Rex Stewart, Barney Bigard, and Ben Webster. The equally impressive rhythm section consisted of drummer Dave Tough, bassist Billy Taylor, pianist Billy Kyle (a cardinal member of the John Kirby Sextet) and guitarist Brick Fleagle, whose presence almost invariably indicated the presence of his friend and collaborator Rex Stewart. Most of the participants, in fact, had recorded together for HRS five months earlier as Rex Stewart's Big Seven. As an album, this entry in the Classics Teagarden chronology offers four supremely well-crafted traditional jazz numbers and 16 big-band sides garnished with pop vocals. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Love For Sale 3:00
Arranged By – Irving Szathmary
2    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    You, You Darling    3:07
3    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    The Moon And The Willow Tree    3:17
4    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam)    3:11
5    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Devil May Care    3:17
6    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Night On The Shalimar    3:24
7    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    I Hear Bluebirds    3:23
8    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Fatima's Drummer Boy    2:45
9    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Now I Lay Me Down To Dream    3:23
10    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Wait 'Till I Catch You In My Dreams    3:12
11    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    And So Do I    3:26
12    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    River Home    3:11
13    Jack Teagarden's Big Eight–    St James Infirmary    4:16
14    Jack Teagarden's Big Eight–    The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise    4:09
15    Jack Teagarden's Big Eight–    The Big Eight Blues    4:15
16    Jack Teagarden's Big Eight–    Shine    3:56
17    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Here's My Heart    3:09
18    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Frenesi    2:55
19    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    It All Comes Back To Now    2:58
20    Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra–    Accidentally On Purpose    3:19
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Benny Lagasse (tracks: 5 to 8), Jack Goldie (tracks: 1 to 4), Joe Ferdinando (tracks: 1 to 12, 17 to 20), Tony Antonelli (tracks: 1 to 12, 17 to 20)
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Art St. John (tracks: 1 to 12)
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Danny Polo (tracks: 9 to 12, 17 to 20)
Bass [String Bass] – Arnold Fishkind (tracks: 1 to 12, 17 to 20), Billy Taylor Sr. (tracks: 13 to 16)
Clarinet – Barney Bigard (tracks: 13 to 16)
Cornet – Rex Stewart (tracks: 13 to 16)
Drums – Dave Tough (tracks: 13 to 16), Ed Naquin (tracks: 1 to 4), Paul Collins (6) (tracks: 5 to 12, 17 to 20)
Guitar – Brick Fleagle (tracks: 13 to 16)
Piano – Billy Kyle (tracks: 13 to 16), Ernie Hughes (tracks: 17 to 20), Nat Jaffe (tracks: 1 to 12)
Tenor Saxophone – Art Beck (tracks: 17 to 20), Art Moore (tracks: 17 to 20), Ben Webster (tracks: 13 to 16), Larry Walsh (tracks: 1 to 12)
Trombone – Jack Teagarden, Joe Ferrall (tracks: 1 to 12, 17 to 20), Jose Gutierrez (tracks: 1 to 12, 17 to 20), Seymour Goldfinger (tracks: 1 to 12, 17 to 20)
Trumpet – John Fallstitch (tracks: 1 to 12, 17 to 20), Pokey Carriere (tracks: 17 to 20), Sid Feller (tracks: 1 to 12, 17 to 20), Tom Gonsoulin* (tracks: 1 to 12)
Vocals – David Allen (tracks: 9, 10, 12, 17, 19), Jack Teagarden (tracks: 8, 13), Kitty Kallen (tracks: 1 to 4), Lynne Clark (tracks: 20), Marianne Dunne (tracks: 5 to 7, 11)

KITTY KALLEN - If I Give My Heart to You + Honky Tonk Angel (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Following her tenure as vocalist with Harry James & His Orchestra, Kitty Kallen released several solo sessions, managing a few hits before she disappeared. These albums were released on the downside of her career. If I Give My Heart to You from 1960 contains relaxing takes on Broadway hits and standards without much originality or vitality. Honky Tonk Angel, released the following year, boasts the subtitle "Country Songs With a City Flavor." While this delicate formula worked for Tony Bennett and Ray Charles, Kallen doesn't have the passion to translate Hank Williams material. Originally released on Columbia, both albums have been reissued for the first time together by Collectables. by Al Campbell
Tracklist:
1 Need Me 3:15
Jim Reeves
2 Driftwood on the River 3:11
John Klenner / Bob Miller
3 Always in My Heart 3:36
Kim Gannon
4 Never in a Million Years 2:54
Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
5 Because You're Mine 2:39
Nicholas Brodszky / Sammy Cahn
6 Got a Date With an Angel 2:07
Clifford Grey / Sonny Miller / Joseph Turnbridge / Jack Waller
7 If I Give My Heart to You 2:49
Jimmy Brewster / Jimmie Crane / Al Jacobs
8 Blues in My Heart 2:55
Jenny Carson / Red Foley
9 That Old Feeling 2:32
Lew Brown / Sammy Fain
10 Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You) 3:29
Inez James / Buddy Pepper / Bert Russell / Larry Russell
11 Blue Doll 3:20
Boudleaux Bryant
12 Love Is a Sacred Thing 2:39
Ben Raleigh
13 I'll Never Stand in Your Way 2:55
Hy Heath / Fred Rose
14 Your Cheatin' Heart 2:43
Hank Williams
15 Be My Life's Companion 2:48
Milton Delugg / Bob Hilliard
16 It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels 2:57
J.D. Miller
17 Raining in My Heart 3:09
Boudleaux Bryant / Felice Bryant
18 A Poor Man's Roses (Or a Rich Man's Gold) 2:12
Milton Delugg
19 You Are My Sunshine 2:52
Jimmie Davis / Charles Mitchell
20 Careless Hands 2:33
Bob Hilliard / Carl Sigman
21 I Love You Because 2:54
Leon Payne
22 Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You) 3:13
Jimmie Hodges
23 I Walked Alone Last Night 3:04
Robert Arthur / Jack Wolf
24 Hey, Good Lookin' 2:04
Hank Williams
Credits:
Conductor [Orchestra Director] – Milton DeLugg (tracks, 1 to 12)
Producer – Jack Pleis (tracks 13 to 24)
Vocals – Kitty Kallen