BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1928-1931 | The Classics Chronological Series – 693 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 This CD reissues the first 22 selections led by Benny Goodman, spanning a three-year period when the clarinetist developed into a greatly in-demand studio musician during the Depression. The first ten titles feature him in hot, small groups with the likes of cornetist Jimmy McPartland, trombonist Glenn Miller, trumpeter Wingy Manone, and tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman. Included is "Wolverine Blues," "Jungle Blues" (during which Benny Goodman takes his only recorded trumpet solo), the satirical "Shirt Tail Stomp" (which makes fun of cornball bands), and a pair of trio features ("That's a Plenty" and "Clarinetitis"), recorded seven years before the Benny Goodman Trio debuted. The remaining dozen numbers, from 1930-1931, are strictly dance band performances with an emphasis on melodies and dull vocals (mostly by Scrappy Lambert and Paul Small) and only a few short spots for solos. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

RED NICHOLS – 1928-1929 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1270 (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This collection, drawn from recordings done by Red Nichols in 1928 and 1929, finds him in transition, struggling to deal with the advent of Dixieland and the coming big-band era. Nichols worked best with midsize bands (six to ten pieces), and his most successful arrangements (the lead track here, "Poor Butterfly," is a good example) feature unusual tonal placements that give each piece an edgy, cinematic feel. Dixieland made such touches far too subtle, and Nichols was unable to play to his strengths as the 1930s progressed. A valuable record of an interesting jazzman at the crossroads, this compilation will find its greatest appeal with serious jazz buffs, historians, and collectors. Steve Leggett
Tracklist :
1    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Poor Butterfly (Vocal)    3:58
2    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Poor Butterfly (Instr.)    4:01
3    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Can't Yo' Hear Me Calling, Caroline? (Vocal)    4:05
4    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Can't Yo' Hear Me Calling, Caroline? (Instr.)    4:04
5    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Panama    3:02
6    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    There'll Come A Time    3:14
7    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Dear Old Southland (Vocal)    4:27
8    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Dear Old Southland (Instr.)    4:31
9    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Limehouse Blues (Vocal)    4:38
10    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Limehouse Blues (Instr.)    4:32
11    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Whispering    3:03
12    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    I Can't Give You Anything But Love    2:49
13    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Margie    2:56
14    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Imagination    2:57
15    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Original Dixieland One-Step    2:46
16    Red Nichols And His Orchestra–    Harlem Twist 2:51
Vocals – Chauncey Morehouse
17    Red Nichols And His Orchestra–    Five Pennies    3:25
18    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody    3:03
19    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    I Never Knew    2:58
20    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Who's Sorry Now?    3:01
21    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Chinatown, My Chinatown    3:13
Credits :
Bass – Art Miller (tracks: 1 to 15)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Benny Goodman (tracks: 19 to 21), Jimmy Dorsey (tracks: 5, 6, 18)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Fud Livingston (tracks: 1 to 18, 21)
Drums – Vic Berton (tracks: 1 to 12, 18)
Drums, Vibraphone – Chauncey Morehouse (tracks: 13 to 17, 19 to 21)
Guitar – Carl Kress (tracks: 1 to 6, 13 to 21), Eddie Lang (tracks: 7 to 10)
Mellophone – Dudley Fosdick
Piano – Arthur Schutt (tracks: 1 to 20)
Piano, Celesta – Lennie Hayton (tracks: 21)
Trombone – Miff Mole
Trumpet – Leo McConville (tracks: 1 to 11, 13 to 17), Manny Klein (tracks: 1 to 10, 13 to 15, 18 to 21), Red Nichols
Violin – Joe Venuti (tracks: 11, 12), Murray Kellner (tracks: 1 to 10, 13 to 15)
Vocals – Scrappy Lambert (tracks: 1, 3, 7, 9)

RED NICHOLS – 1929-1930 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1369 (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fifth installment in the Classics Red Nichols chronology focuses upon records he made between September 9, 1929, and August 27, 1930. This was a particularly fruitful period for Nichols, as he was able to hire a number of excellent players who would all be leading their own bands throughout the next couple of decades: Jack Teagarden, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Bud Freeman, and Gene Krupa. Other jazz aces found throughout this album are multi-instrumentalist Adrian Rollini, pianists Joe Sullivan and Rube Bloom, saxophonist Babe Russin, bassist Joe Tarto, and drummer Dave Tough. This veritable infestation of great jazz talent centered around (and partially resulted from) Nichols' high-profile gig as conductor of the pit orchestra that steered the George and Ira Gershwin show Strike Up the Band through 191 performances at New York's Times Square Theatre. Vocalists include Scrappy Lambert, Teg Brown, and the ever-amiable Jack Teagarden. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist
1    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Nobody Knows    2:40
2    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Smiles    3:21
3    The Captivators–    Get Happy    3:06
4    The Captivators–    Somebody To Love Me    3:20
5    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Say It With Music    3:24
6    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Strike Up The Band 2:42
Vocals [Uncredited] – Chester Gaylord
7    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Soon 3:27
Vocals [Uncredited] – Wes Vaughan
8    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Sometimes I'm Happy    3:22
9    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Hallelujah!    2:53
10    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    I'm Just Wild About Harry    3:09
11    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    After You've Gone 3:11
Vocals – Jack Teagarden
12    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    I Want To Be Happy    2:56
13    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Tea For Two    3:03
14    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Peg O' My Heart    3:11
15    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Sweet Georgia Brown    2:47
16    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    China Boy    2:50
17    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    The Sheik Of Araby 3:15
Vocals – Jack Teagarden, Teg Brown
18    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble    3:00
19    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Carolina In The Morning    3:10
20    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    Who?    3:04
21    Red Nichols And His Five Pennies–    By The Shalimar    3:08
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Sid Stoneburn (tracks: 6, 7, 14 to 18)
Banjo – Teg Brown (tracks: 6 to 9, 14 to 18), Tommy Felline (tracks: 1 to 5)
Bass – Art Miller (tracks: 14 to 18), Joe Tarto (tracks: 1 to 5)
Bass Saxophone, Xylophone – Adrian Rollini (tracks: 8 to 13, 19 to 21)
Brass Bass – Jack Hansen (tracks: 10 to 13)
Clarinet – Benny Goodman (tracks: 1, 2, 14 to 21)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Dorsey (tracks: 1 to 13)
Drums – Dave Tough (tracks: 1 to 5), Gene Krupa (tracks: 6 to 21)
Guitar – Weston Vaughan (tracks: 10 to 13)
Piano – Jack Russin (tracks: 6 to 13), Joe Sullivan (tracks: 14 to 21), Rube Bloom (tracks: 1 to 5)
Tenor Saxophone – Babe Russin (tracks: 6 to 21), Bud Freeman (tracks: 19 to 21), Larry Binyon (tracks: 6, 7)
Trombone – Bill Trone (tracks: 1, 2), Glenn Miller (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 21), Herb Taylor (2) (tracks: 3 to 5), Jack Teagarden (tracks: 1, 2, 10 to 21), Tommy Dorsey (tracks: 6 to 9)
Trumpet – Charlie Teagarden (tracks: 6, 7, 14 to 21), Manny Klein (tracks: 10 to 13), Mickey Bloom (tracks: 1 to 5), Red Nichols, Ruby Weinstein (tracks: 6 to 9, 14 to 18), Tommy Thunen (tracks: 1 to 5, 10 to 13)
Vocals – Scrappy Lambert (tracks: 1 to 5)

RED NICHOLS – 1930-1931 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1462 (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Volume six in the complete recordings of trumpeter Red Nichols as reissued by the Classics Chronological Series consists of 25 Victor and Brunswick recordings dating from September 1930 through January 1931, and is especially recommended to those who enjoy Depression-era jazz and pop vocals, with the pop outweighing the jazz by a considerable margin. "On Revival Day," a topical novelty originally released in two parts on flipsides of a 78 rpm record, trombonist Jack Teagarden is backed by a vocal group billed as the Foursome. Forthwith, Nichols' ensemble is garnished at times with a couple of violins and is almost invariably dusted with sugary vocals by Scrappy Lambert, Dick Robertson, Eddie Thomas, Paul Small, and songwriter Harold Arlen. If you're curious to hear what the composer of "Blues in the Night" sounded like as a crooner, that's him singing "How Come You Do Me Like You Do?" as well as his own compositions "Linda," "You Said It," and "Sweet and Hot." The jazziest vocals, even funkier than Teagarden's, are by trumpeter Wingy Manone, who puts his personal stamp on "Rockin' Chair," "Bugaboo," and "Corrine Corrina." Betwixt and between the vocals there exist smoothly coordinated ensemble passages and a number of fine solos, for almost every group that Nichols ever led was peppered with skilled jazz musicians. In addition to those already mentioned, Nichols is heard alongside clarinetist Benny Goodman, trombonist Glenn Miller, saxophonists Jimmy Dorsey and Eddie Miller, pianist Joe Sullivan, and drummer Gene Krupa. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    On Revival Day - Part 1 2:40
2    On Revival Day - Part 2 2:38
3    Embraceable You 3:08
4    I Got Rhythm 2:56
5    A Girl Friend Of A Boy Friend Of Mine 2:48
6    Sweet Jennie Lee 2:44
7    Linda 3:06
8    Yours And Mine 2:55
9    That's Where The South Begins 2:44
10    I'm Tickled Pink With A Blue-Eyes Baby 2:48
11    My Honey's Lovin' Arms 2:56
12    Rockin' Chair 3:10
13    Bugaboo 3:12
14    Corrinne Corrina 3:02
15    How Come You Do Me Like You Do? 3:01
16    Blue Again 3:12
17    When Kentucky Bids The World "Good Morning" 3:09
18    What Good Am I Without You? 2:58
19    We're Friends Again 3:09
20    At Last I'm Happy 2:51
21    If You Haven't Got A Girl 2:56
22    You Said It 3:05
23    Sweet And Hot 3:02
24    The Peanut Vendor 2:47
25    Sweet Rosita 3:03
All Credits :