Fascinating Rhythm

I * II * III

Disc 1

01 - Prelude No. 2 For Piano - George Gershwin

02 - I Got Rhythm - Ethel Waters

03 - Oh Lady, Be Good - Buck & Bubbles

04 - Summertime - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra

05 - Nice Work If You Can Get It - Maxine Sullivan & Her Orchestra

06 - They Cant Take That Away From Me - Fred Astaire

07 - Swanee - Al Jolson

08 - Liza - Benny Goodma

09 - Someone To Watch Over Me - Frank Sinatra

10 - 'S Wonderful - Dinah Shore & Buddy Clark

11 - Do It Again - Jane Russell

12 - Soon - Dorothy Kirsten

13 - Facinating Rhythm- Someone To Watch Over Me - Morton Gould

14 - The Man I Love - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra

15 - Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - Fred Astaire

16 - Love Is Here To Stay - Gene Kelly

17 - How Long Has This Been Going On - Felicia Sanders

18 - Blues - Harry James & His Orchestra

19 - But Not For Me - Doris Day

20 - A Foggy Day - Rosemary Clooney

21 - I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise - Georges Guetary

22 - Third Movement (Allegro Agitato) - Oscar Levant & Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York

Disc 2

01 - Of Thee I Sing Overture - Buffalo Philharmonic

02 - They All Laughed - Tony Bennett

03 - Of Thee I Sing - The Hi-Lo's

04 - Promenade (Walking the Dog) - Los Angeles Philharmonic

05 - Ive Got A Crush On You - Ella Fitzgerald

06 - Somebody Loves Me - Alberta Hunter

07 - Love Walked In- Embraceable You - Maureen McGovern

08 - Mine - Dick Hyman

09 - Isn't It A Pity - Mel Tormé

10 - Introduction And Jazzbo Brown - André Kostelanetz & His Orchestra

11 - It Ain't Nessecarily So - Aretha Franklin

12 - Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Robert McFerrin & Adele Addison

13 - I Loves You, Porgy - Miles Davis

14 - My Man's Gone Now - Sarah Vaughan

15 - There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York - Cab Calloway

16 - Who Cares - Tony Bennett

17 - Rhapsody In Blue - George Gershwin

18 - Strike Up the Band - André Kostelanetz & His Orchestra

19 - Home Blues - Michael Feinstein

Little Girl Blue

This is Nina Simone's first album, released in 1957. It's an interesting glimpse into the origins of her unique "social cabaret" style in the early part of her career. Nuff said.

NINA SIMONE - LITTLE GIRL BLUE 1. Mood Indigo

2. Don't Smoke in Bed

3. He Needs Me

4. Little Girl Blue

5. Love Me or Leave Me

6. My Baby Just Cares for Me

7. Good Bait

8. Plain Gold Ring

9. You'll Never Walk Alone

10. I Loves You, Porgy

11. Central Park Blues

12. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands [*]

13. For All We Know [*]

14. African Mailman [*]

Van Swings With Fame

This is one of my favorite Van Morrison albums, 1995's "How Long Has This Been Going On", recorded by Van along with his pal Georgie Fame, doing some great RnB/Jazz tunes. I wish he had recorded more records like this one instead of the middle of the road pap that he sometimes did. I saw him do this repertoire at Jazzfest in '96, and even if The Man wasn't at his best, he cranked them out pretty sweet, while Georgie picked up the slack when the leprechauns got up Van's ass (moody bugger, isn't he?).

Highlights, for me, include: "The New Symphony Sid" (my favorite one, actually - especially Georgie's genius vocal take in the bridge), "Sack O' Woe", "Centerpiece", "Blues in the Night", and "That's Life" (Sinatra's).

Here is an excerpt from an interview about this recording:

JF: There's quite a feel of the Ray Charles band in some of this. It's got that... Particularly the way the horns are written for and everything. Was Pee Wee Ellis involved in writing?

VM: Oh yeah, he wrote the horn charts. Yeah

JF: By the standards of a lot of record making, this was all put together pretty fast, wasn't it?

VM: Yeah it was, but I think it's because we rehearsed, had a couple of good rehearsals. And so everybody was ready and clued-in.

JF: And how long did it actually take to do?

VM: An afternoon. We were there four hours maybe, five hours. All these musicians are very good and very clued-in. They're very fast, you know? So... You know, it's great to work with these kind of people. You usually don't find these type of musicians in the rock field. 'Cause it's much more sort of plodding.

JF: Where was the record recorded, Van, and what was it about the venue that you like?

VM: Um, we just sort of did it at Ronnie Scott's for, sort of, just the vibe.

HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?

1. I Will Be There
2. The New Symphony Sid
3. Early In The Morning
4. Who Can I Turn To
5. Sack O' Woe
6. Moondance
7. Centerpiece
8. How Long Has This Been Going On?
9. Your Mind Is On Vacation
10. All Saints Day
11. Blues In The Night
12. Don't Worry About A Thing
13. That's Life
14. Heathrow Shuffle

PS: I am trying out a new upload service, so let me know if you have any trouble/complaints!!

Jimmy II + III

Ok, here, after more than a few days, I know, are the second and third installments in the Savoy box set of Jimmy Scott's early years. Enjoy the heartache!

DISC 2:
1. If You Only Knew
2. Am I Wrong?
3. Laughing On The Outside
4. I'll Be All Right
5. Please Be Kind
6. Never Peace Of Mind
7. Oh, What I Wouldn't Give
8. All Or Nothing At All
9. I'm Through With Love
10. Address Unknown
11. I May Never
12. What Wouldn't I Give
13. I Need Some Lovin' Baby
14. When It Comes To Love
15. There Will Never Be Another You
16. I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over
17. Once
18. What Good Would It Be
19. Way You Look Tonight, The
20. Things That Are Love
21. Everybody's Somebody's Fool
22. Time On My Hands
23. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
24. If I Ever Lost You

DISC 3:
1. Please Forgive Me
2. How Else
3. If You Are But A Dream
4. Evening In Paradise, An
5. My Romance
6. When You Wish Upon A Star
7. Blue Bird Of Happiness
8. These Are The Things I Love
9. Smile
10. I'll Be Around
11. You've Changed
12. Way We Were, The
13. Anchored By My Side
14. Can't We Begin Again
15. Close Your Eyes
16. More I See You, The
17. When I Fall In Love
18. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?

Sing Like a Man

Jimmie Scott doesn't sing like a man, he sings like a woman, particularly in these early cuts, which he recorded for the Savoy label. The first of a 3 CD Savoy retrospective, it is a fascinating look into the early sound of this curious, heartwrenching voice. To learn more about his life and why he sounds as he does, read this in Lil' Mike's blog.


SONGLIST:
1. After I'm Gone
2. Talk Of The Town
3. Why Do You Cry?
4. Rain In My Eyes
5. Dearest Darling
6. Be My Sunshine
7. I'll Be Seeing You
8. Loneliest House On The Street
9. Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere
10. When Did You Leave Heaven
11. Guilty
12. Everybody Needs Somebody
13. Why Don't You Open Your Heart
14. Time On My Hands
15. Imagination
16. Very Truly Yours
17. Don't Cry, Baby
18. How Can I Go On Without You
19. Street Of Dreams
20. Someone To Watch Over Me
21. It's Over
22. I'll Never Deceive You
23. Recess In Heaven
24. Show Goes On