5 comments about The Early Years: 1930-34.

1. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL RECORDINGS THAT CAB CALLOWAY AND HIS BAND (THE MISSOURIANS) DID THAT MADE CAB A STAR, AND IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT WAS BEING PLAYED UP AT THE COTTON CLUB, WHERE CAB CALLOWAY WAS THE FEATURED PERFORMER AFTER THE DUKE ELLINGTON BAND DEPARTED. THE WORD I WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE IT "INFECTUOUS", EVEN WHEN HE SINGS A SAD SONG IT MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPY! IF YOU LOVE CAB CALLOWAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS COLLECTION. AFTER LISTENING FOR AWHILE, YOU'LL FEEL LIKE YOU'RE HANGIN' WITH THE KING OF SWEDEN, YOU'LL BE KICKIN' THE GONG AROUND, CHILLING IN CHINATOWN, CABBING IT UP TO HARLEM, SPENDING TIME WITH SMOKEY JOE (WHO WAS MIGHTY COKEY), LOOKING FOR MINNIE, BECOMING A JITTERBUG AND SAYING HI-DE-HI-DE-HI-DE-HO, WHICH ALL SEEM TO BE RECURRING THEMES IN A LOT THE SONGS, ALONG WITH A LOT OF NONSENSICAL SCAT SINGING, WHICH MAKES THE WHOLE THING SUBLIME AND UNFORGETTABLE.



2. Cab Calloway fans, you MUST own this! Sit back, close your eyes and imagine you're nodding off in the Cotton Club. I LOVE this collection. Disc 1- St James' Infirmary, worth the price alone.



3. While I'm a big fan of this collection, along with the continuing collection "1935-1940", I'd be really interested in knowing if JSP is planning on putting out a collection of Cab's 1940-1947 stuff. If such a collection exists from JSP & I'm just being ignorant, please let me know!



4. I'm a very big Calloway fan and this is a very complete collection. Wonderfully put together and sounds just like I'm listening to an actual record. Amazing.
   
   I will highly suggest this four disc set to everyone, a four disc set of one of the greatest jazz/blues singer and performer of the 1930's.



5. JSP Records from the U.K. has really been doing a bang-up, first-rate job with these CD box sets of classic swing jazz: they offer complete chronological catalogs of great artists, re-mastered with terrific sound, and sold at amazing prices! I've enjoyed their Django Rheinhardt, Bill Wills, and Louis Jordan box sets, and this collection of Cab Calloway and His Orchestra (the first of two) is another triumph.

   This set encompasses the earliest recordings in Cab's incredible career, starting with his first session with the musicians who had once been the Missourians (they changed to the Cab Calloway orchestra when he became their singer) through his years as the top act at the Cotton Club. Before Benny Goodman made swing a commercial smash, Cab and his orchestra were swingin' hard, and you can hear in these first four years of recordings. His band leaps from hot jazz to hard swing to Cab's bizarre slow blues that became his trademark (exemplified in "Minnie the Moocher," heard in two different versions in this set). Cab Calloway was a remarkable showman, a born entertainer, a funny guy, and a unique singer. He was also an exceptional bandleader, and this extensive collection of songs lets you savor the musicianship of the boys in the band in a way that wasn't previously possible.

   The first CD shows the band and Cab finding their identity. Cab seems a bit hesitant on the first track, his first recording as a leader, "Gotta Darn Good Reason (For Bein' Good)," but with the second track, a recording of the already old "St. Louis Blues," he finds his groove and starts having fun. And the fun never stops after this.

   Here are some of the classic and un-earthed gems and other delightful treasures you'll find here:

   Two recordings of "Minnie the Moocher," the first of which is extremely different from what people usually think of the song. (The most famous version wasn't recording until 1942). You'll also hear two of the sequels to "Minnie the Moocher": "Kickin' the Gong Around" (two versions) and "Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day." Cab does some great nonsense scatting with "Zaz Zuh Zaz," "Hotcha Razz-Ma-Tazz," "The Scat Song," and "Wah-Dee-Dah." Some of the songs have strong racial overtones that reflect the kind of shows the Cotton Club put on for the white patrons: "Yaller," "Black Rhythm," and "Strictly Cullud Affair." These are somewhat unpleasant songs if you focus on the lyrics, but extremely interesting from the historical perspective. (The excellent liner notes discuss Cab's opinion about having to sing songs like this.) And then there's the extremely naughty, but red-hot song about marijuana, "Reefer Man." Cab also croons quite well on some very pretty, slow blues numbers, even though ballad singing wasn't his strength: "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues," "Stardust," and "Six or Seven Times" are among the best tracks on these CDs. Some other personal favorites of mine: "Aw You Dog," instrumentals like "Moon Glow" and "Mood Indigo" that show how great a band was backing up Cab, and the defiant "I Gotta Go Places and Do Things," and...

   Oh, there's just too much that's good on these CDs! And how can you turn it down at this price? You also get four informative booklets (actually, it's one continuous set of liner notes spread over four booklets) that detail the history of band, it's many exceptional players, and background on the racial situation of the times, which ties very closely into Cab Calloway's music. This information will help you appreciate the genius of Cab Calloway and His Orchestra even more.

   And if you like this, make sure to get JSP's Volume 2 set of Cab Calloway, covering 1935-1940.

3 comments about Yes Indeed.

1. I was too young to appreciate Jo Stafford's music or to know much about her, but I always loved the song "I'll Be Seeing You" without knowing who had sung the version that I loved. In recently searching all of the versions on iTunes, I learned that it was Joe Stafford's version that I had remembered and it was the best by far. That made me begin searching for other songs by her and I ordered this album. It is the best album set I have ever owned, because out of 100 songs, there are very few that I do not appreciate - primarily up tempo numbers - with the far majority being outstandingly beautiful songs. When I was young I thought that Barbra Streisand was the greatest female singer, because she had such a strong voice, now I believe she cannot compare to Jo Stafford: who was reputed to have a perfect pitch, enabling her to sing songs that no one else could carry, and an amazing vocal range, while also projecting an exceptional warmth and a personality in her voice that Barbra Streisand is lacking. Jo Stafford and Doris Day recordings have convinced me that the best singing voice is not the loudest voice. The amazing thing about this album is that I had thought that all of the really great old standards were still being sung today, or at least had been rerecorded by Barbara, and that only the inferior songs have been forgotten. Was I wrong. There are many songs on this album I have never heard of before, like "Manhattan Serenade, Trouble in Mind, If I ever love Again, How Sweet You Are" that are just amazingly good, at least when sung by Jo Stafford. These are songs that should have become old standards, because they are as good or better than the ones that have. There are also other songs that I never liked very much, like "Embraceable You" and "Some Enchanted Evening," that are amazingly good when sung by Jo Stafford. The last one I associated with strong male operatic voices and excessive theatricality, sort of a male version of Barbra Streisand, never expecting that I would come to really like the song when delivered with more subtlety, warmth, and personality. This album has convinced me that when singing operatically from the diaphragm with great volume it becomes almost impossible to project warmth, subtlety, and personality -- while those latter attributes, along with always singing perfectly on key, are what make Jo Stafford's music so truly exceptional.



2. Although I understand those who appreciate the songs Ms Stafford made popular in the fifties, it is her singing of the great standards that I find immensely appealing - it is this combination that provides the reason this 4CD set is well worth the investment.
   In the forties, the "cool" style of female singing reached its apex I believe, along with the domination of the strong female roles in cinema often in FILM NOIR. Such singers as Ms Christy and Ms O'Day kept a distance from the material, even adopting an ironic stance to the lyrics. This "distancing" had its own appeal, and its own sexiness, as we knew that she knew that we knew it's just a song. Although, Ms Stafford is not a stylist of the same level as either of those two singers, she too maintains a distance but has also a "sweeter" voice tinged with a touch of melancholy. But in such songs as AMOR, AMOR and THE TROLLEY SONG
   the songs seem written for her. With so many great songs, this collection is a bargain.



3. Jo was one of the best singers of her generation, and this box clearly demonstrates that. All the 26 tracks available on the Capitol collectors series CD are included here, plus 73 other tracks, all mastered to the highest quality.
   
   The set covers Jo's entire period with Capitol, so it starts with a few songs featuring Jo as lead singer of the Pied Pipers doing typical big band stuff, but the remaining tracks all feature Jo as solo singer, with an occasional duet. Besides including all the essential hits and a few lesser ones, there are many great covers of classic songs which Jo sings brilliantly. The track listing says it all.
   
   Long ago and far away, I love you, It could happen to you, Candy, Trolley song, There's no you, That's for me, Symphony, Day by day, The things we did last summer, Temptation, Feudin' and fightin', Serenade of the bells, Some enchanted evening, Whispering hope, Ragtime cowboy Joe and No other love, all American top ten hits for Jo, are among the hits included here.
   
   If you enjoy this and you'd like more of Jo's music, I recommend the compilation Jo Stafford on Capitol, which has very little overlap with what's here, and which contains most of the lesser hits that were omitted from this set. I also recommend Jo's fifties music, for which the strongest compilation is Columbia hits collection. If you like the Pied Pipers tracks, there is a compilation just focusing on that music. Jo is well served by CD releases, although there are still some treasures yet to be released on CD.
   
   If you haven't got any of Jo's music, I suggest starting with the Columbia hits collection, then you can decide how much of her forties music you want. If you only want the big hits, the Capitol collectors series will be enough, but if you enjoy it a lot, this is the one to buy - it's about double the price, but has nearly four times as many tracks.

5 comments about The Music of Johnny Mathis - A Personal Collection (Repackaged).

1. I,have listened to these 4 C.d.'s over and over again and I, had difficulty giving any of these C.D's less than 10 of 10.Finally I,had to rate them 10 and 10 plus. IF there was ever a desert island disc, this is it. Solo's, duets they are all there. By the way I,love "Feelings and I, am thrilled that he included it.
   .



2. If you enjoy Johhny Mathis you will I am sure find this collection of Johnny's personal selction a treat to your ears.
   I was a teenager in high school during the late 50's when Johnny made what I believe to be some of his very best songs.
   This collection is so masterfully reproduced that the quality is phenomenal. So much better on CD's than the LP vinyls that we had back then. And of course the stereo systems that we have now further enhance the listening experience. Unfortunately Johnny's voice is now no longer anywhere near what it was back then so I am so pleased that we have these great songs archived on this new media.
   I just can't get enough of this great and wonderful voice. I'm just worried that I might wear out my stereo from playing these albums over and over again.



3. Although the products I ordered in December were just fine, the DHL delivery via llama was unbelievably slow and subsequently not received at all in time for Christmas. Amazon did reship, taking their own time about it, but at least used another carrier. Compared to everything else I ordered online at the same time, all free shipping by the way, this was absolutely the worst!



4. Excellent! A LOT of good tracks. Well worth the price.



5. I had forgotten how great Johnny Mathis is until I recently watched his "50 Year concert celebration on PBS. I enjoyed it so much, especially one song, "99 Miles from LA" that I went on Amazon to find one of his cd's that had this song in it. Fortunately for me, I decided on this personal collection. It is hard to believe that I have four cd's in this collection that contain so many wonderful favorites of his that are absolutely fabulous and for such a small $ amount. Anybody that wants to revisit Johnny Mathis cannot go wrong with this collection. Bravo, Johnny.

1 comments about The Great Bobby Vinton (3CD).

1. This CD of Bobby's was very good. The music and his voice, the songs, all brought back a lot of memories. Puts you in a calmer relaxed mood, and guess what .....you can sing to it. I used to listen to my mother play his music and others during the 60's on Sunday's when she had a day off from work. It was her day to play her music. Obviously even though my taste was more into rock in roll, songs like Bobby's made their way into my memory for a reason. She no longer is here, but the music and memories live on with her always in my mind

5 comments about The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books.

1. The reason why you won't find a single review that gives this collection less than five stars is because this is just a stunning, amazing, extremely satisfying collection of music. The greatest music composers and lyricists of our time, each represented and sung by one of the great female jazz vocalists of ALL time, combines to make 16 CD's of classic jazz. I hemmed and hawed over buying this because of the price and bodaciousness of the collection, but with The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings: Eighth Edition (Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings) making Ella singing Cole Porter one of its core collection selections, I wasn't sure I should buy just the Cole Porter portion, or if I should buy the whole giant set. I feared buying just the Cole Porter and being wowed and then having to kick myself for not buying the set, but I also feared buying the whole set and being stuck with 10, 12, or, God forbid, 16 CD's I was hardly going to listen to. I leapt in and bought the whole set, and I think it was worth every dollar. Jazz music collector's MUST have this whole set. Yes: MUST! Casual jazz fans and plain old good music lovers might get by with just certain portions, but trust me and the other thirty some odd reviewers who gave this five stars: You simply will not be disappointed with anything in here and this provides hours and hours of great jazz listening you, your loved ones, party guests, and people passing by while washing your car, will appreciate and enjoy.



2. Ella Fitzgerald's interpretations of Great American Songbook gems by Arlen, Gershwin, Porter, Duke Ellington, Rogers and Hart, Mercer, and Kern are timeless. Her impeccable phrasing, sense of humor, and chameleonlike ability to inhabit a song, whether sultry or playful, is teamed with tight orchestrations and flawless remastering on The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks on Verve.
   
   I first became interested in the American Songbook when my cousin gave me a copy of Rod Stewart's It Had to Be You... The Great American Songbook. My collection quickly expanded to include all of Frank Sinatra's early works on Brunswick with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey and his Columbia works (1942-1953) and 1940s songbook collections by Jo Stafford, Doris Day with Les Brown, and Peggy Lee with Benny Goodman. I first purchased several of Ella Fitzgerald's songbook CDs individually (Gershwin, Porter, and the best of Berlin), and was looking to purchase her Duke Ellington songbook, which retails for about $30. As a member of BMG Music Club, the entire Complete Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks was $89, so I opted for the box set even though I already owned five of the CDs.
   
   The 16 CDs are housed in a compact fabric-covered box in individual slipcases (for single CDs) and small cardboard boxes with the original LP artwork and reproduction LP liner notes. My only gripe is the cramped quarters; I switched the CDs to jewel cases for easier access, since it's a pain to constantly have to eject all the cardboard slipcases in search of one CD. The liner notes come in a small fabric-covered hardcover book.
   
   You'll find well-known and oft-recorded hits such as Night and Day, Blue Skies, I Got Rhythm, and I Got It Bad, but there are lesser-known gems that are equally entrancing, such as the dreamy, nostalgic My Heart Stood Still(Rogers and Hart), or her starry-eyed The Way You Look Tonight, with its soft sweep of strings and mellow piano. There are even spirited renditions of Wizard of Oz songs such as Over the Rainbow and Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead. Ella's jazzy, punchy delivery on Ding Dong is a satirical, big band romp.
   
   The Duke Ellington discs (three in all) were as stellar as I'd dared to hope; tight backing, Ella's dead-on scat singing that lets her jazz it up more than on the "canonical" standards. Rockin' in Rhythm features Armstrong-style muted trumpet, a pounding "Indian" bassline, and an extended scat melody. Ella's take on I'm Beginning to See The Light is much more playful and sultry than earlier recordings by Jo Stafford and other 40s singers of her ilk.
   
   Ella imbues each song with its own magic, bringing a sparkle to even the most tired of covers. The execution is flawless and the sound is timeless. Each time I listen I discover some new nuance, a turn of phrase here, a cleverly punctuated passage there. If you only buy one box set of standards, this should be in your library.



3. Yes, I know it's expensive. But hey, it's well worth the money! This CDs feature THE greatest singer of all time at her prime, singing some of the best songs in history. 16 hours of music and not a single mediocre song - you couldn't possibly regret buying this album.



4. There truly aren't words enough to describe the quality of this set in every aspect.The packaging is superb.The liner notes are impressive. It is the complete song book recordings made famous by Ella all in one place. Over 15 hours of pure magic ! I have always agreed with all the praise given Ella concerning her "jazz voice" , with all the scat singing and improvisational interpretations of songs , but I have always felt that her "pop" singing was under-appreciated in the grand scheme of things. This set will make anyone reassess her talent. A great voice is a great voice. What is really impressive is that Ella was obviously just as comfortably adept at singing in either style. A remarkable release.



5. Better than I hoped for. Well worth the money though I did think about it for a while due to the cost.If you like Ella and classic songs by some of the greatest songwriters of the twentieth century this is the perfect collection.

5 comments about I Grandi Successi.

1. This set is the best collection that you can have from Al bano and Romina Power. If you like italian songs, specially these two singer, You will love this.
   I myself have it and I love Disc 1 & 2 the most. I don't listen to the 3rd disc very much but once in a while..



2. Item was as described and a great value for the amount of music. The CDs arrived on time, well packed, and in perfect condition. I LOVE Amazon, thank you for getting me this album at such a great price.



3. This is a excellent choice to purchase because you receive 3 cds set in it also good music by them too.



4. I love all Italian Music, but this is one of the best I've Heard. This is the album that got me hooked on Italian Music. Like many other reviewers said, I'd give it more than 5 stars.



5. I love it and you will too !!! The Italians know how to make good music. By all means, get this CD set. Their songs will put you in an amorous mood. In my opinion, 5 stars are not enough for this recording !!!

5 comments about A Jazz Romance - A Night In With Verve.

1. Ballads, I believe, are the real test of musicianship. And this collection has a judicious and delicious selection which is perhaps the best balanced one I know featuring the all time great moments - Clifford Brown's treatment of Rodgers and Harts Where or When will bring tears to your eyes - as well as quirky less known works - If the Moon Turns Green sung by Billy Holiday - the "old", Ben Webster, along with the "new" Mark Whitfield. Please don't think this is or should be "background" music. You only have to listen to Bill Evans playing with Paul Motian and Gary Peacock on CD1 to realise this is a collection of some of the greatest moments in 20th Century music, regardless of genre.



2. This selection contains a bunch of great cuts and a few that I could live without, especially the Blossom Dearie tracks. However, as opposed to most collections with weak tracks, this one flows along so well that it is a pleasure to put all four CDS on and let it play in the background on a quiet evening "In." I prefer the companion 4 CD set called "A Night Out with Verve." I would recommend "Out" over "In."



3. I am a complete novice when it comes to Jazz. Don't know much about it except that I enjoy it. I have to say this set of CD's is a great mood-setter. Definitely softens the atmosphere and relaxes the body and soul. Great music for a night of serenity and romance



4. I put this cd set on my Amazon wishlist, and was very pleased to get it as a gift from my lover. All the old familiar songs, together with songs that I think I remember from my childhood, transport me to space where romance and sentmentality feel like comfortable old wool sweater. Think I'll just sit back... sip some good hot coffee..and hope the boyfriend joins me on the couch



5. Beautiful. Billie Holiday blends seamlessly into Dinah Washington into Johnny Hodges into... this four box is the perfect background atmosphere for your swank cocktail party or that evening of candlelight romance. The compilers have collected a remarkable selection of music from classic Verve jazz heavyweights like Elle and Louie, Sarah Vaughan, Clifford Brown, Coleman Hawkins to, surprisingly, a few lesser known French artists such as Michael Legrand (who wrote the score for the French film 'Les Parapluies De Cherbourg') and Laura Fygi. This is a highly recommended classic jazz collection that will beautifully compliment your romantic evening in and will fit nicely into any classic jazz lovers music collection.

5 comments about The Best of the Columbia Years: 1943-1952.

1. Reading through the other reviews, there is nothing much I can add to the superlatives directed at this compilation of the work, at Columbia Records, of a man who can arguably be described as the greatest vocalist of the 20th Century. However, I notice too that the only two 3-star reviews to date have drawn a disproportionate number of negative votes, almost as if it's regarded as sacrilege by some to even dare cast a negative light on any compilation of Frank Sinatra songs. Well, I can see their point to some degree.
   
   A large part of my 5-star assessment relates to the near-flawless sound quality and the packaging, 4 discs contained in a book-like 5.5 x 10 inch case which also presents a 68-page booklet divided as follows: Introduction by Nancy Sinatra; At the Heart Of American Music by Daniel Okrent; The Essence Of Axel - An appreciation by Will Friedwald; Sinatra Standards by Roy Hemming; The Art Of Recording by Charles Granata; Sinatra In Transition by Will Friedwald; Frankly Speaking - personal recollections by Dave Mann and Matt Dennis; Here's To The Band - Orchestral personnel listing - New York and Hollywood; Alphabetical Song Title and CD location; Discography. Sprinkled throughout are some 78 rpm/vintage poster and advertisement reproductions and many candid photographs, including one delightful shot with a very young Nancy.
   
   As to the music contained herein, well, they do call it The Best Of The Columbia Years 1943-1952 after all, and when a collector like myself sees the term "best" - especially from that pre-LP era - they are thinking those songs that became national hits, since that was the whole idea behind popular 78 rpm releases, i.e., "sell as many as we can and get as much air and jukebox play as we can."
   
   And since, in the 1943 to 1952 period, Ol' Blue Eyes registered some 87 hits for Columbia, one might think that a 97-track box set so-titled would contain most, if not all, of those hits. But when you look closely you find that just 39 of those charted songs are here!
   
   Now, I can readily understand the producers selecting items that, while never actually hits for Frank, or perhaps were among his more modest chart entries, are nevertheless regarded as among his finest performances at Columbia, Standards such as April In Paris, Body And Soul, Always and She's Funny That Way (none of which charted), and I've Got A Crush On You (# 21), All Of Me (# 21), Autumn In New York (# 27), and The Birth Of The Blues (# 19 in late 1952 and his last Columbia hit), all of which were modest entries at the time.
   
   But it's definitely misleading to some to have just 42% of the contents legitimate hits in an album titled "The Best Of." Especially when no less than 14 TOP 10 hits were omitted: All Or Nothing At All (# 1 in 1943 with Harry James); You'll Never Know (# 2 in 1943 and the A-side of a record that included Close To You, a # 10 that IS included here); Sunday, Monday Or Always (# 9 in 1943); I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night (# 4 in 1944); You'll Never Walk Alone (# 9 in 1945); Don't Forget Tonight Tomorrow (# 9 in 1945); All Through The Day (# 7 in 1946); The Coffee Song (# 6 in 1946); That's How Much I Love You (# 10 in 1947); I Believe (# 5 in 1947 as the A-side to Time After Time, a # 16 which IS included); So Far (# 8 in 1947); The Hucklebuck (# 19 in 1949); Goodnight Irene (# 5 in 1950); One Finger Melody (# 9 in 1950); and Castle Rock (# 8 in 1951).
   
   What I would dearly love to see is a follow-up volume in the exact same format containing those and other missing hit singles. In the meantime, if you just enjoy the music of this legend, regardless of the title, you will definitely NOT be disappointed. It's a gem in that regard.



2. Frank Sinatra, son of a fireman, dropped out of high school as a senior to pursue a career in music. At 20, Frank Sinatra started out singing with the Hoboken Four, then as a singing waiter, but had his eye on bigger fish. In 1939 he signed with trumpeter and bandleader Harry James (The Complete Recordings Nineteen Thirty-Nine). The next year, he left to join Tommy Dorsey's band as vocalist (The Song Is You), until he set out for a solo career with Columbia Records in 1943. These early years were previously available on the excellent (and now-out-of-print) box set The Song Is You and the single CD reissue of The Complete Harry James and Frank Sinatra. However, a new Sony box set, A Voice in Time: 1939-1952, combines this pre-Columbia Brunswick material with Sinatra's Columbia gems and airchecks. If you're looking for a more complete portrait of early Frank, you're better off buying the new A Voice In Time release.
   
   The Columbia Years, 1943-1952
   
   Frank signed with Columbia in 1943, although the groundwork had already been laid for his first solo album The Voice of Frank Sinatra with several Cole Porter recordings in 1942 (arranged by Axel Stordahl). Throughout the mid-1940s, Sinatra appeared in numerous films and radio series. The Best of the Columbia Years conveniently lists songs by the film that they appeared in; nearly all of the Great American Songbook composers make appearances, including Gershwin, Berlin, Rogers and Hammerstein, Porter, Kern, Arlen, and Mercer.
   
   By the early 1950s, Sinatra was increasingly at odds with Columbia head Mitch Miller, who relied on having his stars record silly novelty songs to boost ratings. Miller was also in favor of overdubbing, where the technically exacting Sinatra preferred recording with a live band and backup singers. Miller's demands that Sinatra record the truly awful "Mama Will Bark" (thankfully omitted here), and his perception that Sinatra was already a washed-up teen idol, led to Sinatra's switch to Capitol Records in 1953, where he had the last laugh on Miller (and the rest is music history).
   
   The original Frank Sinatra: The Columbia Years: The Complete Recordings was a massive twelve-CD, 285-track epic collection of Frank's entire Columbia catalog (hideous novelties included). This four-CD, 97-track distillation offers the highlights, including many memorable original recordings (as opposed to later Capitol and Reprise rerecordings) of seminal American Songbook classics such as Night and Day, All of Me, You Do Something To Me, Where or When, How Deep is the Ocean, etc.
   
   Packaging
   
   The Best of the Columbia Years comes in at least two versions: a longbox, and a more compact, traditional four-CD set in a slipcase. I own the longbox version. Two CDs are stored vertically on the front and back plates, and the nearly 70 pages of liner notes are full of rare photographs of Frank and family, essays by Sinatra expert Will Friedwald, orchestra personnel listings, alphabetical song listings, and a discography.
   
   It's clear that this was a labor of love, and it is a collection to be treasured, especially since the original Complete Columbia Recordings has been out of print for several years. The sound quality is impeccable, the songs themselves are a reflection on a simpler time long past, and the liner notes are full of personal recollections and trivia. Buy this while you still can; it's worth twice as much!



3. "Frank Sinatra was like the Mount Everest for a songwriter: if you got Frank to do one of your songs, it was done right." ~ Antonio Carlos Jobim ~
   
   This is *the* most comprehensive CD package I've ever came across in all Sinatra recordings. It's a 4-CD set consisting of his best recordings from Columbia Records from 1943 thru 1952, which includes ninety-seven songs, most are rare recordings and some alternate takes. With the package is a very detailed and informative booklet of 76 pages that documents Frank Sinatra's fruitful tenure at Columbia Records. The introduction was written by his celebrated daughter, Nancy Sinatra, who singled out the most outstanding quality of her father, his honesty - "honesty that comes through in the lyrics, in the music, in everything that he does. It's that feeling that enables him to take for example, a Sammy Cahn lyric - with Sammy's deepest, most profound feelings - and make it understood by everybody. That's the mark of a great communicator, and not many people are able to do that sort of thing in the honest way he does!"
   
   The booklet offers a chock-full of goodies such as photos of Sinatra with some of the musicians involved in these recordings -- mini photos of music sheets, album covers and single records; photos of songwriters Irving Berlin, Jonny Mercer, Rodgers & Hart, George & Ira Gershwin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn; alphabetical song titles and CD location listing; a discography; a complete orchestra personnel listing in New York and Hollywood studios; brief information on arrangers Heinie Beau, Sy Oliver, Ray Conniff and Percy Faith; and the following interesting articles.
   
   1. At The Heart of American Music by Daniel Okrent, Managing Editor of Life Magazine
   2. The Essence of Axel by Will Friedwald, Author
   3. Sinatra Standards by Roy Hemming, Classic Pop Historian
   4. The Art of Recording by Charles Granata, Author, Sinatra Historian and Archivist
   5. Sinatra In Transition - an appreciation by Will Friedwald, Author
   6. Frankly Speaking - interviews and personal recollections by Dave Mann and Matt Dennis, Composers
   
   One thing I admire about Frank Sinatra besides his many musical virtues was his deep sense of gratitude, he always gave credit when it's due especially to people whom he had worked with. And these are his thoughts: "I consider myself among the luckiest people in the world to have been able to make a career out of what I love to do - interpret wonderful music." It's a common knowledge that Sinatra's bright career started at Columbia and he declared that it was a "rare opportunity and a treasured gift having the opportunity to immerse himself in the talents of people like Axel Stordahl, the Gershwins, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Alec Wilder and Nat King Cole" while he was at Columbia Records. In addition, his pianist Stan Freeman commented that he only remembers Sinatra as "being very aware of what he wanted, and getting it! If he thought a flute or oboe part should be left out on one session, he would say so. He didn't have to take charge, but nominally he was in charge - and everybody knew that. He was always very pleasant, never any tantrums or anything."
   
   Listening to these CDs gives me a touch of nostalgia that takes me back in time when I was growing up and constantly hearing these same songs played repeatedly by my late parents. These are the original recordings and I guess Sinatra's renditions are more subdued and reserved as opposed to the second or even third recordings. In my opinion, there is that element of restraint in the way he interpreted them as compared to his passionate performances in the succeeding years from 1953 thru the last years of his recording career. But don't get me wrong, I still consider these CDs five-star materials. They are truly remarkable and the songs that stand out and the most wonderful from this set are as follow.
   
   Disc 1
   "Close To You," "If You Are But A Dream," "Stormy Weather," "Embraceable You," "Where Or When," "All The Things You Are," "Dream," "If I Loved You," "Someone To Watch Over Me," "You Go To My Head," "These Foolish Things," "Day By Day," "Put Your Dreams Away" and "I Should Care."
   
   Disc 2
   "Always," "Mam'selle," "Time After Time," "Try A Little Tenderness," "Full Moon And Empty Arms," "Begin The Beguine," "They Say It's Wonderful," "That Old Black Magic," "Five Minutes More," "The Things We Did Last Summer" and "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry."
   
   Disc 3
   "My Romance," "If I Had You," "Stella By Starlight," "But Beautiful," "All Of Me," "Night And Day," "The Song Is You," "S'posin'," "What'll I Do?," "Fools Rush In," "I've Got A Crush On You," "It All Depends On You" and "Some Enchanted Evening."
   
   Disc 4
   "You Do Something To Me," "When You're Smiling," "Nevertheless," "The Birth of the Blues," "Should I Reveal?" and "I Could Write A Book."
   
   This is Axel Stordahl's greatest contribution to Sinatra's rise to stardom. He was called the "Father of Modern Vocal Orchestrations" for his exceptional arrangements on most of the tracks. Nelson Riddle once said that Stordahl was his favorite arranger/conductor. He was Sinatra's very first conductor and musical director. He was described by Will Friedwald as "the man who helped popular music's greatest vocalist lay the foundation for his entire career."
   
   I agree with another great Sinatra arranger who was also very impressed with the works of Stordahl, Don Costa, when he said; "Nobody wrote ballads as pretty as he did until many years later when Nelson Riddle came along. I think he was really the "Daddy" that people began to learn from in the sense of writing orchestrations. He was really the most prolific of his time."
   
   Here's to the magic of wonderful music courtesy of Sinatra and his great orchestrators/arrangers in these recordings: Axel Stordahl, Sy Oliver, Heinie Beau, Ray Conniff, Norman Leyden, Mitch Miller, George Siravo, Alec Wilder, Jeff Alexander, John Guarnieri and Percy Faith. And not to mention the special contributions of his guest musicians: Nat King Cole (piano "Sweet Lorraine"), Johnny Hodges (alto sax "Sweet Lorraine"), Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax "Sweet Lorraine"), Dinah Shore (duet "My Romance"), Felix Slatkin (violin "Always") and Ray Charles Singers ("I'm A Fool To Want You").
   
   The songs in these CDs are the very same songs that launched the bright career of the Chairman of the Board. These are the original recordings that speak of simple elegance and honest-to-goodness interpretations devoid of any technical tricks.
   
   To any serious Sinatra collector, this is an essential add-on.
   
   "I adore making records. I'd rather do that than almost anything else." ~ Frank Sinatra ~



4. As though to help his biographers, Frank Sinatra's musical career can be separated into clear-cut, chronological periods: the Tommy Dorsey years, the Columbia years, the Capitol years, and the Reprise years. These four CDs comprise the best of the Columbia Record years. The first is my favorite because of my familiarity with so many of the lyrics and songs, and the fourth segues nicely into the swinging and saucy style Sinatra adopted when he signed with Capitol Records (a sweet, nostalgic world-weariness alternating with a swinging, in-your-face sexiness, sometimes on the same record).
   The maturing, confident Sinatra of the Columbia years in the '40s and early '50s reveals a resonant and deepening voice (compared to the Dorsey years) that combines with a gentleness and tenderness that had to appeal not only to bobby-soxers (whose younger sisters, seduced by early rock, would not find the Sinatra of the Capitol years ten years later anywhere as appealing) but also to their mothers and older sisters who, lonely keeping the home fires burning, were waiting for husbands and lovers to return from war. Anyone who remembers the '40s with anything approaching fondness will find memories forcefully stirred, and those who know those heady times only second- or third-hand will be equally stirred by a musical master whose style and command of the standards matched Bing and Perry's and perhaps, for strength and intimacy, even surpassed theirs.



5. In comparison to his Capitol and Reprise years, Frank Sinatra's tenure at his first label, Columbia, is unfairly forgotten about by most. And at first glance, it's easy to see why, as artistically, it's easily his weakest period. There's nothing on here as memorable or as artistically impressive as, say, "I've Got You Under My Skin", and Frank's voice had not yet matured into the rich, provocative instrument it would become, nor had be begun to work with arrangers as talented as Nelson Riddle or Don Costa (though Axl Strodahl more than holds his own).
   
   That being said, the 97 tracks featured on "The Best Of The Columbia Years" are nothing to sneeze at. This is Frank in all his youthful glory. His voice isn't as resonant or raw as it on his later recordings, but his way of interpreting a song properly like no other past or present is in full bloom.
   
   For the most part, the songs are on the slower side of things, which for me is excellent. To hear Frank's voice in such a youthful, intimate manner is simply a thrill. It makes songs like "Close To You", "If You Are But A Dream", "The Things We Did Last Summer" and many others sound all the more endearing and passionate. Of course, the album does swing in many instances, and those tracks work just as well.
   
   Many of the songs here (such as, "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Put Your Dreams Away", "Nancy", "Where Or When", "Oh, What It Seemed To Be", "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry", "All Of Me", "Night And Day" and especially "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) were perfected at Frank's latter recording labels, without these, the excellent in their own right originals, as the foundation for those wonderful later renditions, it's unlikely those later versions would have been half as good (though I'm amazed at the striking difference between the lackluster 1947 version of "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)" and the masterful 1958 rendition, as they're almost two completely different songs).
   
   The sound quality is fantastic despite some distant static, and the booklet and overall packaging are boh simply magnifcint. This a an absolute must have that all Sinatra fans should snatch up without hesitation.

4 comments about The Complete Johnny Mercer Songbook.

1. All three discs are great, but the third (instrumental and jazzy)is outstanding. Old enough to be exposed to the popular Mercer tunes and understandingly biased regarding the commercialization of his stuff, I was thrilled to hear these renditions by the great artists selected for this disc. Worth the price for just the last disc-so consider the other two as bonuses.



2. What's not to like? Incredible songs that became vocal standards by great jazz and pop vocalists and great jazz musicians! A wonderful gift for friends who prefer the classic jazz sound over fusion.



3. An excellent album. The best of Mercer performed by the best musicians and singers. The instrumental album is magnific, with names like Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz performing songs that sensibilize our reflections. An invitation for a dream.



4. Among Johnny Mercer's greatest songs are: "P.S. I Love You" (1934, Gordon Jenkins), "Goody Goody" (1936, Matt Melneck), "I'm An Old Cowhand" (1936, words and music), "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)" (1937, Bernie Hanighen), "Too Marvelous For Words" (1937, Richard Whiting), "Jeepers Creepers" (1938, Harry Warren), "Hooray For Hollywood" (1938, Richard Whiting), "Day In--Day Out" (1939, Rube Bloom), "I Thought About You" (1939, Jimmy Van Heusen), "Fools Rush In" (1940, Rube Bloom), "Blues In The Night" (1941, Harold Arlen), "Skylark" (1941, Hoagy Carmichael), "I Remember You" (1942, Victor Schertzinger), "I'm Old Fashioned" (1942, Jerome Kern), "That Old Black Magic"(1942, Harold Arlen), "Hit The Road To Dreamland" (1942, Harold Arlen), "My Shining Hour" (1943, Harold Arlen), "One For My Baby" (1943, Harold Arlen), "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive" (1944, Harold Arlen), "Let's Take The Long Way Home"(1944, Harold Arlen), "G.I. Jive" (1944, words and music), "Laura" (1945, David Raskin), "Out Of This World" (1945, Harold Arlen), "Early Autumn" (1949, Woody Herman and Ralph Burns), "Autumn Leaves" (1950, English version of a French song, music by Joseph Kozma), "Here's To My Lady" (1951, Rube Bloom), "Something's Gotta Give" (1955, words and music), "Satin Doll" (1958, Duke Ellington), "Charade" (1963, Henry Mancini), "Summer Wind" (1965, Henry Mayer), and "How Do You Say Aug Wiedersehn?" (1967, Tony Scibetta).
   This collection does not include them all but contains enough to show why he is considered one of the greatest lyricists popular American song ever produced.
   One oddity with Mercer is that many of his greatest hits came from melodies, music which had been pre- produced and which he was asked to write the words for. So for instance the beautiful haunting 'Autumn Leaves' was given lyrics after it had come to America from France.
   Mercer is also the only lyric writer to have been honored by an 'Ella Fitzergald Songbook' collection.

5 comments about Edith Piaf: L'Intégrale (Complete) / 20 CD / 413 Chansons.

1. Well, I think with a possible moments pause here, that I would respond to the question posed by my review title with an affirmative. This collection brings together for the very first (but doubtfully the last) time the early Piaf recordings originally owned by Polydor (1936-45) together with the Pathe Marconi years, 1946-63. It also includes many rarities, alternative takes and a representation of the Carnegie Hall 1956/7 shows. It is certainly the definitive Piaf, if not actually the "complete" recordings.
   
   On a positive note, the remastering is absolutely crystal clear with good deep sound staging and wonderful lifelike resolution of detail. Please remember these recordings are old though and you can't expect todays sound quality or anything close to it. Now, back to the music....
   
   I have a few gripes about this set. Firstly, the 30th Anniversary Sets produced in 1993 included material incongruously absent from this mammoth 20CD set produced in 2003 (second time round re-mastering). For instance, "L' Homme Du Berlin" recorded as a demo on a crude tape recorder is missing from this set but included in the 10 CD set from 1993 (and even the 2 CD sampler from that set). Whilst this set DOES include the same song, it is a polished studio take and although good in its own right, I personally like the intimate raw feel of the first recording. Okay, you can't please everyone all the time and there must be limits on space, but come on, this is a 20 CD set! Why not have made it into a 24 CD set and called it the COMPLETE RECORDINGS? It's frustrating for collectors and completists but nobody else need worry - this set is simply outstanding in its representation of Piaf at all ages and times.
   
   There are other "issues" which possibly need mentioning. The Carnegie Hall recordings are NOT complete. Again, for reasons better known to the folks at EMI France, the 1957 show has been abridged so that it fits neatly onto the disc 20 when the 1956 show spills over from disc 19 leaving the rest of the disc to cover the 57 show. I have not heard the complete 57 show but it was released on vinyl back in 1977 and according to people who own that issue, it is a better show and recording than 1956. It seems odd to compromise a recording familiar to the larger public for the sake of "space" when compiling such a big set to begin with. The 1956 show also has an instrumental introduction whereas the 57 show has Piaf singing the same song. Puzzling decision?
   
   There are no booklets included or any sleeve notes. I personally would have liked to see this but at the bargain prices this set can be found for, that is a small glitch in my view. Buy it now whilst you can and enjoy France's greatest ever singer. Then buy the biographies to help put the songs and recordings into some context.



2. I like to keep my reviews short and to the point (sometimes).
   
   And there is only one thing to say about this collection:
   
   If you are a staunch Piaf fan, buy this. It is likely the ultimate Piaf collection.
   
   It's more affordable than the accordeon set, but features the exact same track listing, newly remastered.
   The sound quality on all tracks is marvelous (though representative of the recording techniques and technologies of the time it was recorded).
   
   I adore this collection, and any Piaf fan would.
   Also, its fun to realize every now and then that you are hearing a track for the first time.
   
   Another plus, is the amount of essentially, demo recordings, alternate takes, and recordings of Piaf on stage at Carnegie Hall (the final two discs of the 20).
   
   Simply: buy it... you will have no regrets.



3. This box set is the 2007 re-issue of the 2003 "L'Integrale" box set released as part of the 40th anniversary of Piaf's passing in 1963. This box set is so far the most complete collection of Edith Piaf recordings put together. 413 tracks in total, including 6 "inedit" tracks discovered in 2003.
   This box consists of a CD-sized sturdy cardboard box that holds the 20 CD's in individual cardboard sleeves, with and outer slip case of the artwork shown. The CD's have a 2003 copyright, which confirms that this box set has not been remastered again. No booklet is included. Tracklistings are found on the back of each CD sleeve. The audio quality is great in most tracks, including the 6 "inedit" ones. Get this bargain while you can, since the box set can be found for as low as $80 on amazon, which makes each CD $4.



4. I don't own this set but have done some research on various "integrale" Piaf sets. This one is identical to the 2003 "Accordeon" box set in terms of musical content but totally lacking in any kind of documentation or recording information, be it recording dates, arrangers, or even composers. There's no booklet whatsoever. Worthless to any serious collector. A bargain if you're only interested in owning the music.



5. This is a real bargain reissue of the 2003 edition, which is identical in musical content and remastering. I have that. I wonder if this edition has the 2 books with photos from that 2003 edition (which were in French), or whether it has different books(in English? same photos?)or just the absolute minimum info (songs and dates?) Can someone educate us with another review? What is the internal packaging of the discs like: paper sleeves, cardboard sleeves, or CDs in little slots in a foldout?