BOB HOWARD AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1935-1936 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1121 (2000) | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Bob Howard recorded frequently for Decca during 1935-1938. The Decca label was hoping that his jivey vocal records would duplicate the commercial success of Fats Waller's Rhythm sides for Victor, but Howard remained comparatively obscure. For this classics chronological study, Howard leads six band dates which find his vocals accompanied by such notable swing players as trumpeter Bunny Berigan (who is on eight songs), clarinetists Cecil Scott and Artie Shaw, trombonist Benny Morton, pianists Frank Froeba and Frank Signorelli, and the team of trumpeter Eddie Farley and trombonist Mike Riley. Among the tunes are "Lost My Rhythm, Lost My Music, Lost My Girl," "It's Written in the Stars," "You Hit the Spot," "Spreadin' Rhythm Around," and "Wake Up and Sing." Concluding this CD are four medleys (two or three songs apiece) featuring Howard as a pianist (accompanied by drummer Ronnie Gubertini) recorded in London. Overall, this is one of the best of the Bob Howard collections. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1     Lost My Rhythm, Lost My Music, Lost My Girl 3:07
Brown / Maxwell / Akst
2     I'm Painting the Town Red 2:35
Charles Newman / Sam H. Stept / Charles Tobias
3     It's Funny What a Kiss Can Do 2:28
Unknown Blues Band
4     Sugar Plum 3:02
Arthur Johnson / Arthur Johnston / Gus Kahn
5     It's Written in the Stars 2:35
Jack Little / Fred Rose
6     Give Me a Break, Baby 2:33
Unknown Blues Band
7     Whose Big Baby Are You? 2:50
Ted Koehler / Jimmy McHugh
8     Much Too Much 3:01
Unknown Blues Band
9     Garbo Green 2:29
Fred Fisher
10     You Hit the Spot 2:35
Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
11     Spreadin' Rhythm Around 2:47
Ted Koehler / Jimmy McHugh
12     Wake Up and Sing 2:32
Unknown Blues Band
13     If Love Is Blind 2:38
Cahn / Chaplin / Raye
14     The Best Things Happen at Night 2:35
Unknown Blues Band
15     Public Weakness No. 1 2:56
Fred Rose
16     Let's Not Fall in Love 2:32
Unknown Blues Band
17     Swing It, Bob, Pt. 1: Intro. I Ain't Got Nobody/I Can't Give You ... 2:53
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
18     Swing It, Bob, Pt. 2: Intro. Some of These Days/Limehouse ... 2:25
Brooks / Braham / Furber     
19     Swing It, Bob, Pt. 3: Intro. Solitude/Nobody's Sweetheart/St. ... 3:01
Eddie DeLange / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
20     Swing It, Bob, Pt. 4: Intro. Chinatown My Chinatown/Tiger Rag 2:52
Schwartz / La Rocca