Classic Southern Gospel

Classic Southern Gospel

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Showcasing some of the best in bluegrass gospel and country gospel from the Smithsonian Folkways archives in a single, special priced album. The music's plain-spoken, direct, and earnest style stokes it with power and appeal, whether performed by widely known marquee-name artists Bill Monroe and the Watson family or by local churchgoers such as the Old Regular Baptists. The spirit of time-worn Southern Gospel music remains as rock-solid as the people who perform it on this moving collection of inspired songs. 28-page booklet, extensive notes, 59 minutes.

Tracks:

I'm Working On A Building - Bill Monroe And The Bluegrass Boys
No Disappointment In Heaven - Dock Boggs
Wondrous Love - The Old Harp Singers Of Eastern Tennessee
Are You Washed In The Blood - Red Allen
What Are They Doing In Heaven Today? - Harry & Jeanie West
The Lost Soul - The Watson Family
Hallelujah Side - Earnest Stoneman
Walking In Jerusalem (Just Like John) - The Country Gentlemen
Sinner, You'd Better Get Ready - The Lilly Brothers
When He Reached Down His Hand For Me - Bill Monroe And The Bluegrass Boys
Away Over In The Promised Land - The A.L. Phipps Family
No Tears In Heaven - Kilby Snow
Old Country Church - Tom Morgan
Glory To The Lamb - The Debusk-Weaver Family
Amazing Grace - Doc Watson
River Of Jordan - The Poplin Family
Shake Hands With Mother Again - The Allen Brothers
Gabriel's Call - Hazel And Alice
What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul? - Bill Monroe
He Said, If You Love Me, Feed My Sheep - The Stancer Quartet
I Am A Pilgrim - The Country Gentlemen
I'm Going To A City - Indian Bottom Association Of Old Regular Baptists

Album Description

Showcasing some of the best in bluegrass gospel and country gospel from the Smithsonian Folkways archives in a single, special priced album. The music's plain-spoken, direct, and earnest style stokes it with power and appeal, whether performed by widely known marquee-name artists Bill Monroe and the Watson family or by local churchgoers such as the Old Regular Baptists. The spirit of time-worn Southern Gospel music remains as rock-solid as the people who perform it on this moving collection of inspired songs. 28-page booklet, extensive notes, 59 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

Enchanting collection reinvigorates interest in this music.......2005-06-08

Playing Time - 60:51 -- These twenty-two tracks of classic southern gospel music present much variety from the Smithsonian Folkways vaults. Dating primarily from the late 1950s and early 1960s, these songs are country or bluegrass gospel as performed and listened to by white family groups. The earliest recorded offering is "Wondrous Love," recorded in 1951 by The Old Harp Singers of Eastern Tennessee. The latest recording dates to a 1993 special meeting of the Indian Bottom Assn. of Old Regular Baptists singing "I'm Going to a City." Extensive liner notes (25 pages total) provide an introduction to the music, the 19th Century roots of the music, publishing companies, quartets, pentecostalism, modern southern gospel, song notes, and suggestions for further listening and reading..

This compilation includes songs from familiar artists such as Bill Monroe, Dock Boggs, Earnest Stoneman, Red Allen, The Lilly Brothers, Doc Watson, Country Gentlemen, and Hazel and Alice. Their work is well documented. Of special note are the many artists who are less familiar to us. It is a joy to hear such songs as "Away Over in the Promised Land" by The A.L. Phipps Family. Phipps had begun his career as a devoted fan of The Carter Family and that style of music before he starting his own record company called Pine Mountain. "No Tears in Heaven" features Kilby Snow on vocals and autoharp. "Old Country Church" is presented by Tom Morgan and others is from a 1983 Folkways recording. The DeBusk-Weaver Family's rendition of "Glory to the Lamb" also emphasizes autoharps, vocals, and guitar. From South Carolina, the Poplin Family's "River of Jordan" is sampled from a 1963 Folkways release. A 1967 cut ("He Said, If You Love Me, Feed My Sheep") attributed to the Stancer Quartet was recorded by Mike Seeger as part of a Virginia radio broadcast, but the four singers remain unidentified.

This sampler is an enchanting collection that will reinvigorate an interest in classic southern gospel music. Smithsonian Folkways is to be commended for this release, and we can only hope that more offerings from their traditional music archives are forthcoming. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Average customer rating:

Incredibly fun jump blues classics
must have blues

Risque Blues, Vol. 1
Various Artists
Manufacturer: See for Miles UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Blues | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | R&B | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Risque Blues: King Anthology
Risque Blues: Big 10 Inch Record
Risque Blues: It Ain't the Meat
Risque Blues: 60 Minute Man
Banned : 20 Risque Songs From The 20s & 30s

ASIN: B00000DAJ1
Release Date: 1998-09-16

Tracks:

Big Ten-Inch Record - Bull Moose Jackson
Cadillac Baby - Roy Brown
The Walkin' Blues - Fluffy Hunter
I Like My Baby's Pudding - Wynonie Harris
It Ain't The Meat - The Swallows
Work With Me Annie - Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
Sixty Minute Man - Billy Ward & The Dominoes
My Ding-A-Ling - Dave Bartholomew
Chocolate Pork Chop Man - Pete 'Guitar' Lewis
Silent George - Lucky Millinder
Saturday Night Daddy - Little Esther
Sittin' On It All The Time - Wynonie Harris
Sure Cure For The Blues - The Four Jacks
Shake 'Em Up Baby - Roy Brown
Rocket 69 - Todd Rhodes
Salty Dog - The Lamplighters
Smooth, Slow & Easy - The Drivers
Sexy Ways - Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
Keep On Churnin' - Wynonie Harris
Grandpa Can Boogie Too - Lil Greenwood
Pedal Pushin' Papa - Billy Ward & The Dominoes
Boogie At Midnight - Roy Brown
Lolly Pop Mama - Wynonie Harris
I'm A Hi-Ballin' Daddy - Tiny Bradshaw
Ride, Daddy, Ride - Fats Noel

Customer Reviews:

Incredibly fun jump blues classics.......2001-05-23

This is one of the most enjoyable CDs I own. Unless you're completely humorless, you will laugh like crazy at some of the songs on this CD. As an added bonus, this is also one of the better collections of jump blues you can buy. It's not as good an introduction to the genre as the two Rhino "Jump Blues Classics" collections, but it has almost no overlap, so its a good companion volume. In any case, whether you're a fan of jump blues or you're just looking for some fun, un-PC music to get a party started, you will love this CD.

There are some relatively well-known tracks on here, such as Bull Moose Jackson's "Big Ten-Inch Record" (covered by Aerosmith), Billy Ward & The Dominoes' "Sixty Minute Man" (featured in the movie "Bull Durham"), and Dave Bartholomew's "My Ding-A-Ling", which was a big hit for Chuck Berry in the early 70's. There are also some terrific tracks from Wynonie Harris, including "Keep on Churnin' (Till the Butter Comes Out)", and good songs from Roy Brown such as "Boogie at Midnight". However, there are also some wonderful tracks that are probably not in print anywhere else, like The Swallows doing "It Ain't the Meat" or The Four Jacks doing "Sure Cure for the Blues."

Like other King rereleases, there's no recording session or songwriting information included. The liner notes aren't terribly informative, though they are definitely in the spirit of the music. Still, it's a terrific collection. If you like this one, be sure to check out Volume 2, which also has a bunch of classics.

must have blues.......2001-04-17

if someone wants a fun cd order risque blues, you will love it! it's not for kids but good old fashion rock n roll it is. this is the album you're parents were worried about back in the 50's, thank god i finally got it.

Classic Candi, Vol. 2 (Sing a Song / Love Lifted Me)

Average customer rating:

Buy two-you'll need them!

Classic Candi, Vol. 2 (Sing a Song / Love Lifted Me)
Candi Staton
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Classic Candi, Vol. 1 (Make Me an Instrument / The Anointing)
Here's a Blessing
The Ultimate Gospel Collection
His Hands

ASIN: B0001BKB6G
Release Date: 2004-03-16

Tracks:

Sing A Song
He Is Lord
To Glorify Your Name
It's Not Easy
Have You Tried God
The First Face I Want To See
God's Got It
He's Coming Back
When Jesus Took Over My Life
When We All Get To Heaven
I Must Tell Jesus
Uncloudy Day
Love Lifted Me
Higher Ground
Highway To Heaven
Caught Up

Customer Reviews:

Buy two-you'll need them!.......2004-06-04

Why are Candi Staton re-releases so sought after? Because Candi's voice makes the kind of music that gets you wearing out your Records and Tapes with repeated playing!
Give this CD a listen if you want to find out why!

Softly & Tenderly: Classic Piano Meditations

Average customer rating:

Softly & Tenderly: Classic Piano Meditations

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000778FWG
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Southern Journey, Vol. 5: Bad Man Ballads - Songs Of Outlaws And Desperadoes

Average customer rating:

Voices from a pastoral past
Southern Journey, Vol. 5: Bad Man Ballads

Southern Journey, Vol. 5: Bad Man Ballads - Songs Of Outlaws And Desperadoes
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Old-Time Country | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Folk | Styles | Music

Appalachian | North America | International | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Delta Blues | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Southern Journey, Vol. 2: Ballads And Breakdowns - Songs From The Southern Mountains
Southern Journey, Vol. 3: 61 Highway Mississippi - Delta Country Blues, Spirituals, Work Songs & Dance Music
Southern Journey, Vol. 4: Brethren, We Meet Again - Southern White Spirituals
Southern Journey, Vol. 6: Sheep, Sheep, Don'tcha Know The Road? - Southern Music, Sacred And Sinful
Southern Journey, Vol. 1: Voices From The American South - Blues, Ballads, Hymns, Reels, Shouts, Chanteys And Work Songs

ASIN: B0000002UM
Release Date: 1997-04-22

Tracks:

Jesse James - Almeda Riddle
Po' Lazarus - Bright Light Quartet
Railroad Bill - Hobart Smith
John Henry - Ed Lewis
Willie Brennan - Neil Morris
Hangman Tree - Almeda Riddle
Columbus Stockade - J.E. Mainer Band
Early In The Mornin' - Johnny Lee Moore & Prisoners
Pretty Polly - Estil C. Ball
Lazarus - Henry Morrison
Claude Allen - Hobart Smith
Cole Younger - Oscar Gilbert
The Lawson Murder - Spencer Moore/Everett Blevins
Tom Devil - Ed Lewis & Prisoners
Hawkins County Jail - Hobart Smith
Dangerous Blues - Floyd Batts
Po' Lazarus - James Carter & Prisoners

Customer Reviews:

Voices from a pastoral past.......2001-08-28

While you can certainly buy music with better production (these songs were produced "on the spot" in sometimes less than ideal conditions),better musicianship and more competent vocals, you would be hard pressed to find a contemporary collection that is more heartfelt and stirring as the one offered here. This music embodies our past ~ the roots from which grew blues and bluegrass. The "artists" represented on this CD are just plain folks that learned their instruments and songs from family and friends,passed down from the preceding generations. When taken within the context of the collection each selection is a gem on its own. Among these gems, many have a rare and haunting beauty. You should buy this CD if you have even a passing interest in American roots music

Southern Journey, Vol. 5: Bad Man Ballads.......1999-12-19

Alan Lomax recorded these folk songs during the late 1950's in people's houses and in prisons. Incredible to have recordings of prisoners singing to the beat of their axe strokes as they work. Housework seems less mundane when doing it with this music on. Wide range of music represented here, but many of the songs in this volume are concerned with crime, especially murder, and prison life. Two (actually three) great versions of Po' Lazarus, and an interesting John Henry. I would have given it 5 stars except there's 1 track I hate and two others I don't care for. That leaves 14 great tracks.

Average customer rating:

Inspirational

Someone to Care (The Battle Sessions)
Rev. Cleophus Robinson
Manufacturer: Specialty
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Ragtime | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Live in St. Louis
Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up
I Shall Know Him
Living Legend

ASIN: B000000QNU
Release Date: 1994-03-25

Tracks:

Get Away Jordan
Before This Time Another Year
Morning And Evening
Someone To Care
Let The Church Roll On
(Keep Me) Near The Cross
It Won't Hurt You To Speak
Peace In The Valley
When The Sun Goes Down
Grace Made A Change
I Know Prayer Changes Things
Waiting For Jesus
Jesus Met The Woman At The Well
Until I Found The Lord
I'm Going To Leave You In The Hands Of The Lord
Going Over Yonder
Strange Things Happening
Consecrated
You've Got To Love Everybody
No More Than You Can Bear
I Can't Help It
We'll Understand It Better By And By
Farther Along
Lord, I'm In Your Care
When The Saints Go Marching In
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational.......2001-08-17

I am what you would call a lover of great gospel music. I am more of a tradionalist and tend to shy away from the newer contemporary types of gospel music and gravitate towards what is proven music to my ears and inspiration to my soul. Rev. Cleophus Robinson accomplishes this through tradition, "old landmark" style of gospel music sung directly from the soul. If you are looking for songs your grandparents sung and lessons taught that still apply today, get this recording. You will not regret it.

Tracks:

'Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do-Part II - Frank Stokes
Walk Right In - Cannon's Jug Stompers
Old Dog Blue - Jim Jackson
Pickin' The Blues - Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe
Stealin' Stealin' - Memphis Jug Band
Big Chief Blues - Furry Lewis
Avalon Blues - Mississippi John Hurt
Cypress Grove Blues - Skip James
High Sheriff Blues - Charley Patton
My Black Mama-Part II - Son House
Crossroads Blues - Robert Johnson
Break 'Em On Down - Big Joe Williams & Sonny Boy Williamson
Banana In Your Fruit Basket - Bo Carter
Sitting On Top Of The World - Mississippi Sheiks
Big Road Blues - Tommy Johnson
Country Blues (No. 1) - Muddy Waters

Tracks:

Bad Boy - Ed Bell (Barefoot Bill)
Man Trouble Blues - Jaybird Coleman
Down In Boogie Alley - Lucille Bogan & Walter Roland
Papa's Lawdy Lawdy Blues - Papa Charlie Jackson
Hey, Hey Daddy Blues - Blind Blake
Black Eye Blues - Ma Rainey
Coal Man Blues - Peg Leg Howell
Diddle-Da-Diddle - Georgia Cotton Pickers
Georgia Stomp - Andrew & Jim Baxter
Love Changing Blues - Blind Willie McTell
Silicosis Is Killin' Me - Josh White
Cross And Evil Woman Blues - Blind Gary Davis
You Got To Have You Dollar - Blind Boy Fuller & Sonny Terry
Cocaine Blues - Luke Jordan

Tracks:

Old Country Stomp - Henry Thomas
Matchbox Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson
God Moves On The Water - Blind Willie Johnson
Doggone My Good Luck Soul - Hattie Hudson
Easy Rider Blues - Texas Alexander & Willie Reed
Howling Wolf Blues-No. 1 - J. T. 'Funny Paper' Smith
Four Day Worry Blues - Leadbelly
A Rag - Buddy Boy Hawkins
Down On My Bended Knee (Tk. 2) - King Solomon Hill
Blues De Basile - Amede Ardoin
Don't Sell It-Don't Give It Away - Oscar Woods
Going Away Blues - Lottie Beaman
Henry's Worry Blues - Henry Townsend
Woke Up With The Blues In My Fingers - Lonnie Johnson
Room Rent Blues - Mary Johson/Henry Brown/Ike Rodgers
Keep It Clean - Charley Jordan
Poor Boy Blues - Roosevelt Sykes
'4-11-44' - Sparks Brothers

Customer Reviews:

The Comprehensive Collection Of Historic Blues.......2007-02-07

SOUTHERN COUNTRY BLUES Vol.1 * Down In Boogie Alley consists of 48 songs on three CDs. Included with disc #1 is an informative 20 page booklet that's easy on the eyes; it features many vintage photos. The rare recordings span the years 1927 to 1940, with each disc specific to a particular southern region.

Sound quality of the original 78s is generally OK-- some tracks have surface noise or other imperfections, but there's no oppressive filtering applied. The famous are here as well as the obscure; all perform in the traditional blues style. This set belongs in every serious blues afficianado's collection.

TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --
DISC ONE (Memphis & the Mississippi Delta) -- 49:59
DISC TWO (Alabama & the Eastern States) -- 42:22
DISC THREE (South & the Mid Western States) -- 52:55

Average customer rating:

Gospel Sound of Spirit Feel
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Spirit Feel
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Jump Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Piano | Blues | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Boogie-Woogie | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Compilations | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Great Gospel Women

ASIN: B000000EAZ
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

99 - Kati Bell Nubin, Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Look for Me in Heaven - Professor J. Earle Hines,
Even Me - Mahalia Jackson
Canaan
Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down - Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Jesus - Robert Anderson
We Will Walk Through the Valley - Ernestine Washington
I'm Just Waiting on the Lord
I Gave up Everything to Follow Him - Mahalia Jackson
I'll Tell It Wherever I Go - Spirit of Memphis Quartet
No Room at the Hotel - Sister Jessie Mae Renfro
Let Me Tell You About Jesus Christ - The Christland Singers
Blessed Assurance
Prayer Wheel - The Dixie Hummingbirds, Ira Tucker
Fountain - Clara Ward
Sinner Man - Rev. Julius Cheeks, The Sensational Nightingales
Calvary - Marie Knight
Tree of Level - The Fairfield Four
Thank You Lord - Choir of Washington Temple, Ernestine Washington
Gloryland - The Consolers
Lord Will Make a Way Somehow - Marion Williams
What About You - Rev. Julius Cheeks,
King Jesus Is All I Need - Clara Ward
New Born Soul - Gospel All Stars, Prof. Charles Taylor
I've Got a Secret - Sister Jessie Mae Renfro
Maybe It's You - The Dixie Hummingbirds
Must I Be to Judgement Brought - Marion Williams

Average customer rating:

Amazing Box Set
4 1/2* A Superb Sampler
Superb and Masterful Collection of the Jazz Greats
A great lesson for the creation and extension of jazz singin
5 x 100 stars

The Jazz Singers 1919-1994
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Collect.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

East Coast Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

New Orleans Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocalese | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

New Orleans & Dixieland Jazz | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Dixieland | Jazz | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

1970s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Box Sets | Stores | Music

General | Jazz | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Box Sets | Stores | Music

General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Vocal Pop & Oldies | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music

R&B & Soul | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000060IW
Release Date: 1998-05-19

Tracks:

West End Blues - Eva Taylor
In The House Blues - Bessie Smith
Blues - Louis Armstrong
I Left My Baby - Jimmiy Rushing
'Taint Nobody's Business If I Do - Billie Holiday
Blues With Helen - Helen Humes
I Won't Be Here Long - Hot Lips Page
Jelly, Jelly - Billy Eckstine
Lotus Blossom - Julia Lee
Goin' To Kansas City - Jimmy Witherspoon
Goin' To Chicago - Joe Williams
She's Got To Go - Ernie Andrews
Never Make Your Move Too Soon - Ernestine Anderson
D.B. Blues - Lorez Alexandria
Come On In My Kitchen - Cassandra Wilson
Nobody's Fault But Mine - Blind Willie Johnson
One Day - Angelic Gospel Singers & Dixie Hummingbirds
I'm Going To Live The Life I Sing About In My Song - Mahalia Jackson
Gimmie A Pigfoot - Bessie Smith
Doctor Jazz - Jelly Roll Morton
Shakin' The African - Don Redman
It Don't Mean A Thing - Ivie Anderson

Tracks:

The Man From Harlem - Cab Calloway
Let Me Off Uptown - Anita O'day
Saturday Night Fish Fry - Pearl Bailey & Moms Mabley
Hogwash - Louis Jordan
Good Rockin' Tonight - Wynonie Harris
All Of Me - Louis Armstrong
Top Hat, White Tie & Tails - Louis Armstrong
I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Ethel Wates
I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Billie Holiday
These Foolish Things - Billie Holiday
Me, Myself & I - Billie Holiday
Lover, Come Back To Me - Mildred Bailey
Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Al Hibber
You're Driving Me Crazy - Joe Turner
Don't Be That Way - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstong
Night & Day - Frank Sinatra
Some Of These Days - Jimmy Rushing
Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams - Sara Vaughan
I Get A Kick Out Of You - Dinah Washington
There's A Small Hotel - Joe Williams
Just You, Just Me - Nat ''King'' Cole

Tracks:

Give Me The Simple Life - Dakota Staton
Love Me Or Leave Me - Nina Simone
You Are My Sunshine - Aretha Franklin
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
I'm Gonna Lock My Heart - Etta Jones
Yesterdays - Billie Holiday
Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
You've Changed - Billie Holiday
Someone To Watch Over Me - Ella Fitzgerald
Until The Real Thing Comes Along - Ella Fitzgerald
Until The Real Thing Comes Along - Fats Waller
You Don't Know What Love Is - Dinah Washington
For All We Know - June Christy
Angel Eyes - Chris Connor
In The Still Of The Night - Billy Eckstine
Save Your Love For Me - Nancy Wilson
Travelin' Light - Shirley Horn
Prelude To A Kiss - Sarah Vaughan
My Little Brown Book - Gloria Lynne
Lush Life - Johnny Hartman
I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - Carmen McRae

Tracks:

This Is Always - Betty Carter
All Of Me - Little Jimmy Scott
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life - Earl Coleman
Your're My Thrill - Helen Merrill
Could I Be The One? - Al Green
Jazz Me Blues - Lucille Hegamin
The Mooche - Baby Cox
Parker's Mood - King Pleasure
Lullaby Of Birdland - Sarah Vaughn
Down For Double - Mel Torme
Jumpin' At The Woodside - Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross
Left Alone - Abbey Lincoln
Stolen Moments - Mark Murphy
Worry Now Later - Jeanne Lee
Get It Straight - Carmen McRae
'Round Midnight - Bobby McFerrin
Doodlin' - Dee Dee Bridgewater
Improvised Scat Song - Jelly Roll Morton
Hotter Than That - Louis Armstrong

Tracks:

Sweet Sue (Just You) - Louis Armstrong
My Honey's Lovin' Arms - Bing Crosby & Mills Brothers
Ool Ya Koo - Dizzy Gillespie
Disappointed - Eddie Jefferson
Them There Eyes - Ella Fitzgerald
The Way You Look Tonight - Anita O'day
This Masquerade - George Benson
Frenesi - Betty Carter
Jazzola - Noble Sissle
Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train - Louis Armstong
Rockin' Chair - Louis Armstong
'Taint What You Do - Trummy Young
Vol Vist Du Gaily Star - Bon Bon (George Tunnell)
We've Got The Blues - Leo Watson
Cow Cow Boogie - Ella Fitzgerald
Babalu (Orooney) - Slim Gaillard
Chi-Chi-Chi-Chicago - Nellie Lutcher
Did You Call Her Today? - Ben Webster
Takes Two To Tango - Lester
Mumbles - Clark Terry
Close Your Eyes (Shut Yo' Mouth) - Slam Stewart & Major Holley

Amazon.com

Singing begot jazz. Sure, that's a vast oversimplification, but there's probably no better way to say it. The voice as the foundation and essential instrument of jazz's evolution is expansively presented in this five-CD box set compiled by Robert O'Meally, biographer of Billie Holiday. His goal, he writes in an accompanying 100-page booklet, is to show the sweep and the development of jazz singing in all its permutations, including blues, bebop, and scat, from the greatest figures--Bessie Smith, Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Jon Hendricks-to smaller or newer gems like Mildred Bailey and Cassandra Wilson. O'Meally has also endeavored to represent styles related to or dependent on jazz voicings, so the likes of soulful Marvin Gaye and June Christy are also represented. This set handily orients listeners and entices even more exploration. --Peter Monaghan

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Box Set.......2005-12-26

This is an absolutly amazing box set of Jazz Vocals. It seems to include just about everyone that you can think of. I especally love that the early recordings were NOT digitally cleaned-up. I really enjoy listing to them exactly how they sounded when they were first released on 78's back in the 1920' & 30's. This box set is a Must-Have for all fans of 20th Century Jazz & Blues.

4 1/2* A Superb Sampler.......2004-04-22

This is an excellent collection of jazz singers, ranging chronologically from Bessie Smith and Eva Taylor to Cassandra Wilson and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Stylistically, it presents classic jazz singers like Holiday, Vaughan, and Fitzgerald, Armstrong, and Billy Eckstine to pop/jazz artists like Sinatra (but no Tony Bennett), blues- and gospel-influenced singers (Bessie Smith; Mahalia Jackson) and a variety of singers very loosely associated with jazz: Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Al Green!.

Of the latter singers, I suppose the producers can co-opt R&B and soul if they want, but to me it's a stretch. On the other hand, these are some of my favorite singers, so I don't mind the producers blurring jazz boundaries a little too much. Robert G. O'Meally, the extremely knowledgeable author of the superb 127 book that accompanies the five CDs, makes a defense: He states that both Gaye and Franklin made at least one straight jazz record (not sure which those would be), and that these songs are included "to indicate that jazz is a rollicking and rowdy river that flows into and out of other styles." Well, ok, but the potential buyer should review all the singers presented here so that he/she knows the breadth of that river.

Sound quality on the older songs is mostly good, though there is no evidence of remastering (listeners of some of the technologies aimed at "cleaning" the sound of older recordings will attest that remastering can either enhance or obscure a recording's musical value). As stated above, the booklet is tremendous, and really makes this collection a great value. EACH song and singer is fully discussed, often in relation to other songs in the collection. O'Meally writes clearly and with interesting details, he has a great understanding of singing and its relationship to music. For example, on Lorez Alexander's "D. B. Blues," a tribute to Lester Young, O'Meally writes that she evokes his "sinewy, sometimes airy tone, his angular phrasing, his artful uses of silences..."

Lorez Alexandria is a good example of the breadth of singers in this collection. She is not nearly as well known as some of her contemporaries, and this compilation of the under appreciated along with the famous surprises as well as delights.

My main complaint with this compilation is with the "Novelties and Take-offs" section of Disc 5. While it may be, as the true, as O'Meally suggests, that jazz has a tradition based partly on "low comedy, hokum, and fun," these are not essential recordings by any means. Actually, a few of these songs are a little painful to listen to. This collection would have been much better by deleting most of these, and including more numbers by the greats mentioned above.

Overall, however, this is an excellent introduction to the luminaries of jazz singing (as well as the sometimes overlooked). I think it's a good starting point for those exploring the diverse sounds of the idiom, and who want a wide sampling from which to pick their favorites. There's so much music (as well as the superb commentary by O'Meally) that almost everyone will find much to enjoy here. (NOTE: This appears to be same collection as that released by Sony for the Smithsonian Collection in 1998.)

Superb and Masterful Collection of the Jazz Greats.......1999-07-17

This box set contains every essential hit from every essential jazz artist. Armstrong, Holliday, Fitzgerald, Cole, and a little Simone, they're all here! This has to be the greatest compilation of jazz greats I have seen in my few years of living.

A great lesson for the creation and extension of jazz singin.......1999-05-10

What a pleasure to listen to this album. Five CD's take some time go through but it is worth every minute. The way this album is assembled is pure genuis by Prof. O'Meally. This album should be enjoyed by young adults as well and up to senior's. If one doesn't enjoy this album, one must be brain dead.

5 x 100 stars.......1998-10-19

I was almost in tears listening to this box set. It is everything you could possibly hope for in a compilation and so much more- there isn't one track that you don't want to hear again and again. I wish there were a few more like this around