CLEO BROWN – 1935-1951 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1252 (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 With the exception of an album that she made in 1987, 1935-1951 is all anyone has heard of the recordings of pianist-singer Cleo Brown. Brown, who has sometimes been cited by Dave Brubeck as an early influence (although the musical connection really cannot be heard), was an excellent pianist and a personable good-time singer. She recorded four sessions for Decca during 1935-36, in which she is backed by guitar, bass, and drums, performing such numbers as "Lookie, Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie," "The Stuff Is Here And It's Mellow," "Mama Don't Want No Peas An' Rice An' Cocoanut Oil" and the unusual "When Hollywood Goes Black And Tan." In addition, she romps on the solo "Pelican Stomp," her part from a Decca All Star Revue is included, and there is one session apiece from 1949, 1950, and 1951. It seems odd that she never became a big star. Needless to say, this CD is the perfect way to obtain and enjoy this lost legend's recordings. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist + Credits :

LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1931-1932 | The Classics Chronological Series – 536 (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During the long cold winter of 1931-1932, Louis Armstrong stationed himself in Chicago, where he spun out the last of his OKeh recordings. This volume of vintage jazz opens with 16 of these marvelous sides. Backed by nine resilient players, the trumpeter sings on each and every track, handling light novelties and romantic ballads with relative ease. He makes "Lazy River" sound like he wrote it himself. "Chinatown" has a magnificent spoken intro and vocal by the leader, followed by what he describes as "a little argument between the saxophones and the trumpet," culminating of course in a dazzling display of Armstrong's unsurpassed virtuosity. Brimming with humorous commentary and theatrical patter, "The Lonesome Road" represents a special subgenre of sanctified church burlesques. After Armstrong asks aloud "What kind of church is this?," someone can't resist interjecting a flippant salute to "you vipers." Apparently limbered up and in the mood for conversation, Armstrong introduces his musicians with relish all throughout a fine version of "I Got Rhythm." His handling of "Kickin' the Gong Around" is less theatrical but swings more solidly than Cab Calloway's hyperventilated version. Always ready to outdo even himself, Armstrong recorded a sequel to his "Tiger Rag" with someone loudly counting off the number of choruses as he blew them. What appears to have been his last OKeh record, "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" backed with "Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long," was recorded in Chicago on March 11, 1932, and given the serial number 41560. His next opportunity to record in front of his own band occurred in Camden, NJ, on December 8th. Armstrong was now officially working for the Victor record company. His 11-piece band included trombone legend Big Charlie Green, reedman and composer Edgar Sampson, and percussion wizard Chick Webb, who provided amazing locomotive effects on his snare drum on "Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train." Mezz Mezzrow is said to have been responsible for ringing the bells on this track. This excellent segment of the Louis Armstrong chronology ends with a four-and-a-half-minute "Medley of Armstrong Hits," with a nine-piece Victor studio band backing him every step of the way. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1     Lazy River 3:08
Sidney Arodin / Hoagy Carmichael
2     Chinatown, My Chinatown 3:21
William Jerome / Jean Schwartz
3     Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away) 3:43
Harry Barris / Ted Koehler / Billy Moll
4     Stardust 3:35
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
5     You Can Depend on Me 3:24
Charles Carpenter / Louis Dunlap / Earl Hines
6     Georgia on My Mind 3:26
Hoagy Carmichael / Stuart Gorrell
7     The Lonesome Road 3:39
Gene Austin / Nat Shilkret
8     I Got Rhythm 3:10
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
9     Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 3:06
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
10     Kickin' the Gong Around 3:17
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
11     Home (When Shadows Fall) 3:11
Harry Clarkson / P. V. Steeden Jr / Peter Van Steeden
12     All of Me 3:03
Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons
13     Love, You Funny Thing 3:47
Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk
14     The New Tiger Rag 3:29
Nick LaRocca
15     Keepin' Out of Mischief Now 3:38
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
16     Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long 3:11
Patrick Lewis / Victor Young
17     That's My Home 3:11
Ben Ellison / Otis Rene / Leon René
18     Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train 3:01
Louis Armstrong
19     I Hate to Leave You Now 3:11
Dick / Dorothy Dick / Harry Link / Fats Waller
20     You'll Wish You'd Never Been Born 3:16
Louis Armstrong
21     Medley of Armstrong Hits, Pt. 2: When You're Smiling/St. James ... 4:32
Harry Akst / Joe Goodwin / Patrick Lewis / Joe Primrose / Larry Shay / Victor Young