This three-CD box set does an excellent job of
covering the big-band era through 66 recordings (by almost as many
orchestras) owned by Columbia. The selections (programmed in
chronological order), although emphasizing the 1934-45 era, also include
18 earlier and six later recordings. The 60 Columbia/Okeh sides, which
include the real rarities, are spiced with six tracks (Tommy Dorsey's
"Marie," and Jimmy Dorsey's "Green Eyes," Glenn Miller's "In the Mood,"
Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train," Bob Crosby's "South Rampart
Street Parade," and Stan Kenton's "The Peanut Vendor") licensed from
RCA, MCA etc., which cover some familiar bases for the benefit of
beginners. The accompanying booklet is also excellent.
Disc: 1
1. Sweet Georgia Brown - California Ramblers
2. Sugar Foot Stomp - Fletcher Henderson
3. Birmingham Breakdown - Mc Kinney Cotton Pickers
4. Crazy Rhythm - Fred Elizalde
5. Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) - Benny Goodman
6. Sugar Is Back In Town - Ambrose
7. Panama - Luis Russell
8. San Sue Strut - Casa Loma Orch.
9. Happy Feet - Paul Whiteman
10. Hot and Anxious - Fletcher Henderson
11. Royal Garden Blues - Ted Lewis
12. Walkin' My Baby Back Home - Louis Armstrong
13. I Got Rhythm - Don Redman
14. It Don't Mean A Thing - Duke Ellington
15. Dinah - Cab Calloway
16. Everybody Loves My Baby - Red Nichols
17. I Love You Because I Love You - Earl 'Fatha' Hines
18. Under A Blanket Of Blue - Casa Loma Orch.
19. Bugle Call Rag - Benny Goodman
20. Three Little Words - Claude Hopkins
21. Stompin' At The Savoy - Chick Webb
22. Who Walks In When I Walk Out - Ray Noble
Disc: 2
1. Uptown Rhapsody - Teddy Hill
2. Deep Blue Melody - Earl 'Fatha' Hines
3. Organ Grinder's Swing - Joe Haymes
4. Mr. Ghost Goes To Town - Hudson-delange Orch.
5. Jimtown Blues - Ben Pollack
6. St. Louis Wiggle Rhythm - Blue Rhythm Band
7. Cross Patch - Louis Prima
8. Big John's Special - Erskine Hawkins
9. Emperor Jones - Charlie Barnet
10. Marie - Tommy Dorsey
11. Blue Lou - Bunny Berigan
12. South Rampart Street Parade - Bob Crosby
13. Stealin' Apples - Fletcher Henderson
14. Remember - Red Norvo
15. Shuffle Rhythm - Jan Savitt
16. The Nightmare - Artie Shaw
17. Caravan - Eddie Stone
18. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart - Duke Ellington
19. Cherokee - Ray Noble
20. In The Mood - Glenn Miller
21. Stardust - Jack Jenney
22. All Or Nothing At All - Harry James
Disc: 3
1. Let's Dance - Benny Goodman
2. 'tain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It) - Jimmie Lunceford
3. Sweet Lorraine - Teddy Wilson
4. Beale Street Blues - Jack Teagarden
5. Celery Stalks At Midnight - Will Bradley
6. Slow Freight - Benny Carter
7. Moten Swing - Count Basie
8. Green Eyes - Jimmy Dorsey
9. Let Me Off Uptown - Gene Krupa
10. Take The 'A' Train - Jimmie Lunceford
11. Jersey Bounce - Red Norvo
12. One O'clock Jump - Count Basie
13. Why Don't You Do Right? - Benny Goodman
14. I'm Beginning To See The Light - Harry James
15. Leap Frog - Les Brown
16. Caldonia - Woody Herman
17. Arab Dance - Claude Thornhill
18. The Peanut Vendor - Stan Kenton
19. Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Duke Ellington
20. Elevation - Elliot Lawrence
21. What A Little Moonlight Can Do - Benny Goodman