Jimmie Lunceford - The Chronological Classics '1990-1996

Tracks list

The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra has always been a bit difficult to evaluate.
Contemporary observers rated Luncefords big band at the top with Duke Ellington
and Count Basie but, when judging the music solely on their records (and not
taking into account their visual show, appearance, and showmanship), Luncefords
ensemble has to be placed on the second tier. His orchestra lacked any really
classic soloists (altoist Willie Smith and trombonist Trummy Young came the
closest), and a large portion of the bands repertoire either featured the dated
vocals of Dan Grissom, or were pleasant novelties. And yet, the well-rehearsed
ensembles were very impressive, some of the arrangements (particularly those of
Sy Oliver) were quite original, and the use of glee-club vocalists and short,
concise solos were pleasing and often memorable. Plus Luncefords was the first
orchestra to feature high-note trumpeters (starting with Tommy Stevenson in
1934) and had a strong influence on the early Stan Kenton Orchestra.

Although he was trained on several instruments and was featured on flute on Liza
in the 1940s, Jimmie Lunceford was much more significant as a bandleader than as
a musician. While teaching music at Manassa High School in Memphis in 1927,
Lunceford organized a student band called the Chickasaw Syncopators, recording
two songs that year and a pair in 1930. After leaving Memphis, the band (known
by then as the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra) played in Cleveland and Buffalo and
cut two songs in 1933 that were not issued until decades later. 1934 was the
breakthrough year. The orchestra made a strong impression playing at New Yorks
Cotton Club, waxed a few notable songs for Victor, and then started recording
regularly for Decca. Their tight ensembles and colorful shows made them a major
attraction throughout the remainder of the swing era. Among their many hits were
Rhythm Is Our Business, Four or Five Times, Swanee River, Charmaine, My Blue
Heaven, Organ Grinders Swing, Aint She Sweet, For Dancers Only, Taint What You
Do, Its the Way That Cha Do It, Uptown Blues, and Lunceford Special. The stars
of the band included arranger Sy Oliver (on trumpet and vocals), Willie Smith,
Trummy Young (who had a hit with Margie), and tenor saxophonist Joe Thomas.

In 1939, it was a major blow when Tommy Dorsey lured Sy Oliver away (although
trumpeters Gerald Wilson and Snooky Young were important new additions).
Unfortunately, Lunceford underpaid most of his sidemen, not thinking to reward
them for their loyalty in the lean years. In 1942 Willie Smith was one of
several key players who left for better-paying jobs elsewhere, and the orchestra
gradually declined. Jimmie Lunceford was still a popular bandleader in 1947 when
he suddenly collapsed; rumors have persisted that he was poisoned by a racist
restaurant owner who was very reluctant about feeding his band. After Luncefords
death, pianist/arranger Ed Wilcox and Joe Thomas tried to keep the orchestra
together, but in 1949 the band permanently broke up.



Tracks:

Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1930-1934 {The Chronological Classics, 501}


 01. In Dat Mornin (3:23)
 02. Sweet Rhythm (2:43)
 03. Flaming Reeds And Screaming Brass (3:00)
 04. While Love Lasts (3:08)
 05. White Heat (2:31)
 06. Jazznocracy (2:44)
 07. Chillun Get Up (3:17)
 08. Leavin Me (3:13)
 09. Swingin Uptown (2:39)
 10. Breakfast Ball (3:02)
 11. Here Goes (A Fool) (2:49)
 12. Remember When (3:20)
 13. Sophisticated Lady (3:09)
 14. Mood Indigo (2:53)
 15. Rose Room (3:02)
 16. Black And Tan Fantasy (2:47)
 17. Stratosphere (2:15)
 18. Nana (3:07)
 19. Miss Otis Regrets (2:44)
 20. Unsophisticated Sue (3:09)
 21. Stardust (3:06)
 22. Dream Of You (3:21)
 23. Stomp It Off (3:18)
 24. Call It Anything (It Wasnt Love) (3:20)
 25. Because Youre You (3:25)

Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1934-1935 {The Chronological Classics, 505}


 01. Chillun, Get Up (3:13)
 02. Solitude (3:15)
 03. Rain (3:17)
 04. Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down (3:29)
 05. Jealous (3:05)
 06. Rhythm Is Our Business (3:13)
 07. Im Walking Through Heaven With You (3:14)
 08. Shake Your Head (From Side To Side) (2:46)
 09. Sleepy Time Gal (3:11)
 10. Bird Of Paradise (3:18)
 11. Rhapsody Junior (3:23)
 12. Runnin Wild (3:10)
 13. Four Or Five Times (3:11)
 14. (If I Had) Rhythm In My Nursery Rhymes (3:06)
 15. Babs (3:10)
 16. Swanee River (2:48)
 17. Thunder (3:05)
 18. Oh Boy (3:12)
 19. (You Take The East, Take The West, Take The North) Ill Take The South
(2:41)
 20. Avalon (3:09)
 21. Charmaine (2:54)
 22. Hittin The Bottle (3:04)

Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1935-1937 {The Chronological Classics, 510}


 01. My Blue Heaven (3:15)
 02. Im Nuts About Screwy Music (3:06)
 03. The Best Things In Life Are Free (3:24)
 04. The Melody Man (3:04)
 05. Organ Grinders Swing (2:40)
 06. On The Beach At Bali-Bali (3:00)
 07. Me And The Moon (3:05)
 08. Living From Day To Day (3:06)
 09. Taint Good (Like A Nickle Made Of Wood) (3:14)
 10. Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan) (2:57)
 11. I Cant Escape From You (3:02)
 12. Harlem Shout (3:00)
 13. (This Is) My Last Affair (2:50)
 14. Running A Temperature (3:00)
 15. Count Me Out (3:15)
 16. Ill See You In My Dreams (2:47)
 17. He Aint Got Rhythm (2:46)
 18. Linger Awhile (2:37)
 19. Honest And Truly (3:02)
 20. Slumming On Park Avenue (3:04)
 21. Coquette (3:12)
 22. The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down (2:53)
 23. Ragging The Scale (3:10)

Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1937-1939 {The Chronological Classics, 520}


 01. Hells Bells (3:10)
 02. For Dancers Only (2:43)
 03. Posin (3:01)
 04. The First Time I Saw You (2:47)
 05. Honey, Keep Your Mind On Me (3:10)
 06. Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet (2:49)
 07. Pigeon Walk (2:41)
 08. Like A Ship At Sea (2:47)
 09. Teasin Tessie Brown (2:57)
 10. Annie Laurie (3:13)
 11. Frisco Fog (3:13)
 12. Margie (3:09)
 13. The Love Nest (3:04)
 14. Im Laughing Up My Sleeve (Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha) (2:54)
 15. Down By The Old Mill Stream (3:00)
 16. My Melancholy Baby (3:06)
 17. Sweet Sue - Just You (2:49)
 18. By The River Sainte Marie (3:16)
 19. Rainin (3:00)
 20. Taint What You Do (Its The Way That You Do It) (3:06)
 21. Cheatin On Me (2:47)
 22. Le Jazz Hot (2:43)
 23. Times A-Wastin (2:33)

Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1939 {The Chronological Classics, 532} 

 01. Baby Wont You Please Come Home? (2:52)
 02. Youre Just A Dream (2:53)
 03. The Lonesome Road (2:33)
 04. You Set Me On Fire (2:40)
 05. Ive Only Myself To Blame (2:48)
 06. Whats This Thing Called Swing? (2:28)
 07. Mixup (2:21)
 08. Shoemakers Holiday (2:53)
 09. Blue Blazes (2:52)
 10. Mandy (2:55)
 11. Easter Parade (2:42)
 12. Aint She Sweet? (2:29)
 13. White Heat (2:24)
 14. Oh Why, Oh Why (2:52)
 15. Well, All Right Then (2:43)
 16. You Let Me Down (2:54)
 17. I Love You (2:48)
 18. Who Did You Meet Last Night? (2:38)
 19. You Let Me Down (2:49)
 20. Sassin The Boss (2:47)
 21. I Want The Waiter (With The Water) (2:45)
 22. I Used To Love You (But Its All Over Now) (2:47)
 23. Belgium Stomp (2:31)
 24. You Can Fool Some Of The People (Some Of The Time) (2:23)
 25. Think Of Me, Little Daddy (2:44)
 26. Liza (All The Cloudsll Roll Away) (2:40)

Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1939-1940 {The Chronological Classics, 565}


 01. Put It Away (2:42)
 02. Im Alone With You (2:40)
 03. Rock It For Me (2:40)
 04. Im In An Awful Mood (2:48)
 05. Wham (Re Bop Boom Bam) (2:51)
 06. Pretty Eyes (2:45)
 07. Uptown Blues (2:56)
 08. Lunceford Special (2:50)
 09. Bugs Parade (2:31)
 10. Blues In The Groove (2:35)
 11. I Wanta Hear Swing Songs (2:57)
 12. Its Time To Jump And Shout (2:55)
 13. Whats Your Story, Mornin Glory? (3:13)
 14. Dinah - Part I (2:17)
 15. Dinah - Part II (2:17)
 16. Sonata By L. Van Beethoven (Pathetique Op. 13) (3:18)
 17. I Got It (2:56)
 18. Chopins Prelude No. 7 (2:51)
 19. Swingin On C (2:23)
 20. Lets Try Again (2:54)
 21. Monotony In Four Flats (2:54)
 22. Barefoot Blues (2:45)
 23. Minnie The Moocher Is Dead (2:29)
 24. I Aint Gonna Study War No More (2:57)
 25. Pavanne (2:48)

Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1940-1941 {The Chronological Classics, 622}


 01. Whatcha Know Joe? (2:41)
 02. Red Wagon (2:35)
 03. You Aint Nowhere (2:56)
 04. Please Say The Word (2:41)
 05. Okay For Baby (3:11)
 06. Flight Of The Jitterbug (2:30)
 07. Blue Afterglow (3:15)
 08. Blue Prelude (3:02)
 09. Twenty-Four Robbers (3:13)
 10. I Had A Premonition (2:59)
 11. Battle Axe (2:50)
 12. Peace And Love For All (Prayer For Moderns) (3:19)
 13. Chocolate (3:00)
 14. Im Walking Through Heaven With You (3:15)
 15. Youre Always In My Dreams (2:47)
 16. Flamingo (3:06)
 17. Siesta At The Fiesta (3:03)
 18. Gone (3:10)
 19. Hi Spook (2:58)
 20. Yard Dog Mazurka (3:18)
 21. Impromptu (2:54)
 22. Blues In The Night - Part 1 (2:39)
 23. Blues In The Night - Part 2 (2:49)


Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1941-1945 {The Chronological Classics, 862}


 01 Im Losing My Mind (Because of You) Choate, Scheffer, Waters 3:18
 02 Life Is Fine Young 2:39
 03 It Had to Be You Jones, Kahn 3:07
 04 Im Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town, Pt. 1 Razaf, Weldon 3:09
 05 Im Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town, Pt. 2 Razaf, Weldon 2:56
 06 Strictly Instrumental Battle, Benjamin, Marcus, Seiler 2:36
 07 Knock Me a Kiss Jackson 3:00
 08 Keep Smilin, Keep Laughin,Be Happy Singer 2:20
 09 I Dream a Lot About You Young 3:07
 10 Easy Street Jones 2:58
 11 Back Door Stuff, Pt. 1 Segure 3:08
 12 Back Door Stuff, Pt. 2 Segure 2:46
 13 Jeep Rhythm Henderson 2:54
 14 Im Gonna See My Baby Moore 2:57
 15 That Someone Must Be You Hardy 2:52
 16 Im in a Jam With Baby Heindorf, Jerome, Koehler 3:03
 17 Buzz Buzz Buzz Lunceford, Sims, Trace 2:25
 18 This Is My Confession to You Thomas 3:02
 19 Baby Are You Kiddin Atkinson, Oliver 3:00
 20 The Honeydripper Liggins 2:44

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