PEARL BAILEY – 1947-1950 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1293 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second volume in Classics' welcome wrap-up of Pearl Bailey's early career begins at the end of 1947, with Bailey fresh from the success of her film debut, Variety Girl, and its career-making song, "Tired." During the next two years, she would refine her approach to jive rhythm and sweet singing, a relaxed sense of vocal cool that fused the exquisite phrasing of Billie Holiday to the hip majesty of Cab Calloway. The first two sessions include her usual studio orchestra of the time, led by Mitchell Ayres and featuring great work from Peanuts Hucko on clarinet and the Charioteers on vocal backing. Most of the rest are small-group dates, during which she recorded some of her finest material; present are two of her best performances, the gloriously swinging, exuberant duets "Baby, It's Cold Outside" featuring Hot Lips Page and "Saturday Night Fish Fry" featuring Moms Mabley. Even the obscure songs from this period are filled with great moments, as on the solos "Johnson Rag" and "Not Tonight," as well as her appearance with Tony Pastor on "Mamie Is Mimi." Fans looking to find more excellent material after enjoying a collection like Ain't She Sweet! will find much to love here on these sides, originally recorded for Columbia and Harmony. John Bush
Tracklist :

THE THREE KEYS – 1932-1933 + BON BON AND HIS BUDDIES – 1941-1942 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1141 (2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Two very obscure series of recordings, both featuring singer Bon Bon (George Tunnell), are reissued in full on this intriguing CD. Bon Bon is best-known for his stint with Jan Savitt's orchestra during the late 1930s/early '40s. On the first 16 selections, he is heard as a pianist-vocalist with the Three Keys, a group also featuring guitarist Slim Furness and bassist Bob Pease; all three musicians sing together. The music is enjoyable jive although not as creative as the Mills Brothers or the Spirits of Rhythm. Among the better selections are "Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn," "Nagasaki," and "Oh By Jingo." Also on this CD are the six surviving selections from two dates by Bon Bon and his buddies during 1941-42. In both caes, the artist is joined by a swing septet. Among the sidemen are trumpeter Je Thomas, clarinetists Buster Smith and Jimmy Lytell, and pianist Billy Kyle, although guitarist Eddie Durham (doubling on trombone) gets solo honors on the first four songs. Bon Bon was an appealing vocalist and this CD should be of strong interest to swing specialists. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1    The Three Keys–    Moon Indigo    3:42
2    The Three Keys–    Somebody Loses, Somebody Wins    3:04
3    The Three Keys–    Jig Time    2:21
4    The Three Keys–    Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn    2:56
5    The Three Keys–    Basin Street Blues    2:49
6    The Three Keys–    Wah-Dee-Dah    2:54
7    The Three Keys–    Nagasaki    2:49
8    The Three Keys–    Fit As A Fiddle    2:25
9    The Three Keys–    Anything For You    3:06
10    The Three Keys–    That Doggone Dog Of Mine    2:51
11    The Three Keys–    Rasputin    2:41
12    The Three Keys–    Oh! By Jingo    2:30
13    The Three Keys–    Heebie Jeebies    2:36
14    The Three Keys–    Song Of The Islands    2:51
15    The Three Keys–    I've Found A New Baby    3:07
16    The Three Keys–    You Can Depend On Me    3:15
17    Bon Bon And His Buddies–    I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire    2:37
18    Bon Bon And His Buddies–    Blow, Gabriel, Blow    2:27
19    Bon Bon And His Buddies–    Sweet Mama Papa's Getting Mad    3:06
20    Bon Bon And His Buddies–    All That Meat And No Potatoes    2:56
21    Bon Bon And His Buddies–    Seeing You Again Did Me No Good    2:44
22    Bon Bon And His Buddies–    Sleepy Old Town    2:55
Credits :    
1-16
Bass, Vocals – Bob Pease
Guitar, Vocals – Slim Furness
Piano – George "Bon Bon" Tunnell
17-20    
Alto Saxophone – Jackie Fields
Bass – Al Hall
Clarinet – Buster Smith
Drums – Jack Parker  
Piano – James Phipps
Trumpet – Joe Thomas
Trombone, Guitar – Eddie Durham
Vocals – George "Bon Bon" Tunnell
21-22
Piano – Billy Kyle
Bass – Haig Stephens
Clarinet – Jimmy Lytell
Drums – O'Neil Spencer
Trumpet – Red Solomon
Guitar – George Van Eps
Trombone – Russ Jenner