McKINNEY'S COTTON PICKERS – 1928-1929 | The Chronogical Classics – 609 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 This is the first of three Classics CDs featuring all of the master takes by McKinney's Cotton Pickers, one of the finest big bands of the late '20s. The inventive arrangements of leader Don Redman (who also plays alto and clarinet in addition to taking some vocals) are even better than the individual solos. Highlighted by such numbers as "Four or Five Times," "Milenberg Joys," "Cherry," "Don't Be Like That," "There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder," and a surprisingly hard-swinging version of "It's a Precious Little Thing Called Love," the Cotton Pickers feature tight ensembles, spirited vocals, and concise, hot solos. All three of their Classics CD's are well worth picking up. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

McKINNEY'S COTTON PICKERS – 1929-1930 | The Chronogical Classics – 625 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On the second of three Classics CD's that releases the complete output of McKinney's Cotton Pickers (but without the alternate takes), there are many classic performances including "Wherever There's A Will There's A Way," "If I Could Be With You," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" and "I Want A Little Girl." In addition to the band's regular soloists (trumpeters John Nesbitt, Joe Smith and Langston Curl, trombonist Ed Cuffee and tenorman George Thomas), some tunes also feature guests Coleman Hawkins on tenor, altoist Benny Carter and pianist Fats Waller. Timeless classic jazz. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

WYNONIE HARRIS – 1950-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1289 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Wynonie Harris specialized in driving jump blues numbers that celebrated the party side of urban life, and his tales of whiskey-soaked nights and relentless hangovers reached its peak during his long stay at King Records. This collection covers his last years at the label, and while a couple of his biggest hits are here, like the cranked-up version of Hank Penny's country classic "Bloodshot Eyes" and the engaging novelty number about trying to outsmart the IRS, "Good Morning Judge," Harris by this time was on the sundown side of his zenith, and even though he would seem like an artist ready-made for the emerging rock & roll craze, he never really made the transition. The song "All Night Long" included here is actually by Detroit group the Royals (who later morphed into Hank Ballard & the Midnighters), with Harris doing a guest vocal on the bridge. "All Night Long," in an interesting bit of music trivia, was the flip side to the original version of "Every Beat of My Heart," which Gladys Knight & the Pips turned into a huge hit nearly a decade later. Steve Leggett  
Tracklist
1     Rock Mr. Blues 2:41
Henry Bernard / Lois Mann
2     Stormy Night Blues 2:45
Henry Bernard / Sam Theard
3     Good Morning Judge 2:40
Wynonie Harris / Louis Innis
4     Be Mine My Love 2:52
Henry Bernard / Sydney Mann
5     Mr. Blues Is Coming to Town 3:02
Henry Glover
6     I Want to Love You Baby 2:35
Henry Glover / Lois Mann
7     Put It Back 2:47
Henry Glover
8     Oh Babe! 2:57
Milt Kabak / Louis Prima
9     Teardrops from My Eyes 2:54
Rudy Toombs
10     A Love Untrue 2:54
Henry Glover
11     Triflin' Woman 2:38
Henry Bernard / Lois Mann / Moon Mullican
12     Man, Have I Got Troubles 2:58
Mossman / Carlson
13     Confessin' the Blues 2:50
Walter Brown / Jay McShann
14     Tremblin' 2:28
Annisteen Allen / Henry Glover
15     Just Like Two Drops of Water 2:35
Joe Greene
16     I'll Never Give Up 2:32
Henry Glover / Sam Theard
17     Bloodshot Eyes 2:42
Wynonie Harris / Hank Penny
18     Here Comes the Night 2:36
Henry Glover
19     Lovin' Machine 2:27
Henry Glover / Lois Mann
20     My Playful Baby's Gone 2:30
Henry Glover / Wynonie Harris / Lois Mann
21     Luscious Woman 2:51
Henry Glover / Lois Mann    
22     All Night Long 2:18
Alonzo Tucker    
23     Keep on Churnin' (Till the Butter Comes) 2:55
Henry Glover
24     Married Woman - Stay Married 2:50
Henry Glover    
25     Rot-Gut 2:19
Henry Glover / Lois Mann