Classic 1936-1947 Count Basie And Lester Young Studio Sessions Discography
Sonny Rollins Speaks of His Admiration of Lester Young
Classic 1936-1947 Count Basie and
Lester Young Studio Sessions
Discography
For the purposes of this discography, only the first release of each matrix is listed. All titles in this discography were released initially on 78 except where noted. Non-U.S. releases are abbreviated (Aus) for Australia, (F) for France (It) for Italy and (Sd) for Sweden. Abbreviations to the matrix numbers include BD for breakdown and INC for incomplete.
To the best of our knowledge, this discography is presented in the order in which each take was recorded. However, the CDs contained in this set are sequenced with the master take first and then any alternates at the conclusion of the disc. Any sides that have been shown in discographies but are missing from the vaults or possibly in private collections are listed as unissued, master no longer exists.
The following reference materials used for this discography were The Aladdin/Imperial Labels: A Discography by Michel Ruppli (Greenwood Press), Both Sides Now Publications: Philo/Aladdin Singles Discography (www.bsnpubs.com/index.html), The Complete Commodore Jazz Recordings: A Discography by Vincent Pelote and the three discographies that accompanied our Mosaic-Commodore LP sets compiled by Michael Cuscuna (via research from Milt Gabler’s original session notes), Count Basie: A Bio-Discography by Chris Sheridan (Greenwood Press) and The Jazz Discography by Tom Lord (Cadence Jazz Books).
Label Abbreviations: Alad for Aladdin, BB for Bluebird, Br for Brunswick, Dec for Decca, Com for Commodore, EmA for EmArcy, JS for Jazz Selection, Key for Keynote, Merc for Mercury, QD for Queen Disc, Sig for Signature, Vic for Victor and Voc for Vocalion.
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(A) JONES-SMITH INC: Carl “Tatti” Smith (tp), Lester Young (ts), Count Basie (p), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl).
Chicago, November 9, 1936
Supervised by John Hammond
C 1657-2 Shoe Shine Boy Tax (Sd) m-8000 (LP)
C 1657-1 Shoe Shine Boy Voc 3441
C 1658-2 Evenin’ (JR-vcl) previously unissued
C 1658-1 Evenin’ (JR-vcl) Voc 3441
C 1659-2 Boogie Woogie (JR-vcl) previously unissued
C 1659-1 Boogie Woogie (JR-vcl) Voc 3459
C 1660-2 Oh, Lady Be Good previously unissued
C 1660-1 Oh, Lady Be Good Voc 3459
Note: Although the Vocalion ledgers and cards state the session above took place on October 9, 1936, this seems to be a clerical error. All accounts from the musicians, John Hammond and adjacent matrix numbers, confirm that November 9th is the correct date.
The initial artist credit listed in the ledgers for this session was “Jones-Smith Inc. of Kansas City”.
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(B) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Joe Keyes, Buck Clayton, Carl Smith (tp), George Hunt, Dan Minor (tb), Caughey Roberts, Jack Washington (as), Lester Young, Herschel Evans (ts), Count Basie (p, arr), Claude Williams (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl), Fletcher Henderson, Don Redman, Buster Smith (arr).
NYC, January 21, 1937
61542-B Honeysuckle Rose (FH-arr) previously unissued
61542-A Honeysuckle Rose (FH-arr) Dec 1141
61543-A Pennies From Heaven (JR-vcl) (DR-arr) Dec 1121
61544-A Swinging At The Daisy Chain (BS or CB-arr) –
61545-A Roseland Shuffle (FH-arr) Dec 1141
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(C) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis, Buck Clayton, Bobby Moore (tp), George Hunt, Dan Minor (tb), Caughey Roberts (as), Lester Young, Herschel Evans (ts), Jack Washington (as, bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl), Fletcher Henderson, Don Redman (arr).
NYC, March 26, 1937
62078-A Exactly Like You (JR-vcl) (poss. DR-arr) Dec 1252
62079-A Boo-Hoo (JR-vcl) (poss. FH-arr) Dec 1228
62080-A The Glory Of Love (poss. FH-arr) –
62081-A Boogie Woogie (I May Be Wrong) (head arr) (JR-vcl) Dec 1252
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(D) TEDDY WILSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Buck Clayton (tp), Buster Bailey (cl), Lester Young (ts), Teddy Wilson (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d).
NYC, June 1, 1937
Supervised by John Hammond
B-21220-3 I’ve Found A New Baby Tax (Sd) m-8000 (LP)
B-21220-1 I’ve Found A New Baby Br 7926
________________________________________________________________________ (E) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis, Buck Clayton, Bobby Moore (tp), George Hunt, Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren (as), Lester Young, Herschel Evans (ts), Jack Washington (as, bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl), Eddie Durham, Skippy Martin, Buster Smith (arr).
NYC, July 7, 1937
62331-B (You Know It All) Smarty (SM-arr) Dec 1379
62332-A One O’Clock Jump (ED, BS-arr) Dec 1363
62333-A Listen My Children And
You Shall Hear (JR-vcl) (ED-arr)Dec 1379
62334-A John’s Idea (ED-arr) Dec 1363
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(F) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis, Buck Clayton, Bobby Moore (tp), George Hunt (tb), Eddie Durham (tb, el-g, arr), Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren (as, vcl), Lester Young, Herschel Evans (ts), Jack Washington (as, bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl), Skippy Martin (arr).
NYC, August 9, 1937
62511-A Good Morning Blues (JR-vcl) (ED-arr) Dec 1446
62511-B Good Morning Blues (JR-vcl) (ED-arr) –
62512-A Our Love Was Meant To Be (EW-vcl) (SM-arr) –
62513-A Time Out (ED-arr) Dec 1538
62514-A Topsy (ED-arr) Dec 1770
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(G) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Same as (F) except Bennie Morton (tb) replaces Hunt.
NYC, October 13, 1937
62682-A I Keep Remembering (Someone I
Should Forget) (JR-vcl) (ED-arr) Dec 1581
62683-A Out The Window (ED-arr) –
62684-A Don’t You Miss Your Baby? (JR-vcl) (ED-arr) Dec 1770
62685-A Let Me Dream (EW-vcl) (ED-arr) Dec 1538
Note: Although many recordings list Bennie Morton’s name as “Benny” we have opted for the spelling Morton preferred.
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(H) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis (tp), Buck Clayton (tp, arr), Karl George or Bobby Hicks (tp), Bennie Morton (tb), Eddie Durham (tb, el-g, arr), Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren (as), Lester Young, Herschel Evans (ts), Jack Washington (as, bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl).
NYC, January 3, 1938
63122-A Georgiana (JR-vcl) (ED-arr) Dec 1682
63123-A Blues In The Dark (JR-vcl) (BC-arr) –
Note: Buck Clayton and Bennie Morton had confirmed that trumpeter Karl George was with the band at this point, while Earle Warren claimed it was Bobby Hicks.
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(I) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis (tp), Buck Clayton (tp, arr), Harry Edison (tp), Bennie Morton (tb), Eddie Durham (tb, el-g, arr), Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren, Jack Washington (as, bari), Lester Young, Herschel Evans (ts), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl).
NYC, February 16, 1938
63286-A Sent For You Yesterday And Here
You Come Today (JR-vcl) (poss. ED-arr) Dec 1880
63287-A Every Tub (ED-arr) Dec 1728
63288-A Now Will You Be Good? (JR-vcl) (ED-arr) –
63289-A Swinging The Blues (ED-arr) Dec 1880
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(J) BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Chris Griffin (tp), Red Ballard, Vernon Brown (tb), Benny Goodman (cl), Hymie Schertzer, Dave Matthews (as), Lester Young, Babe Russin (ts), Jess Stacy (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Lionel Hampton (d), Edgar Sampson (arr).
NYC, March 9, 1938
BS-021128-1 Ti-Pi-Tin (ES-arr) Vic 25814
Note: There is an unissued alternate take (-2) of this title, however, it is not included here because the tenor solo is by Babe Russin and not Lester Young.
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(K) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis, Buck Clayton, Harry Edison (tp), Bennie Morton (tb), Eddie Durham (tb, el-g, arr), Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren (as), Lester Young (cl, ts), Herschel Evans (cl, ts, arr), Jack Washington (as, bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl), Edgar Battle, Don Kirkpatrick (arr).
NYC, June 6, 1938
63918-A Mama Don’t Want No Peas An’
Rice An’ Cocoanut Oil (JR-vcl) (DK-arr) Dec 2030
63919-A Blue And Sentimental (ED-arr) Dec 1965
63920-A Doggin’ Around (HE, EB-arr / or ED-arr) –
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(L) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis, Buck Clayton, Harry Edison (tp), Bennie Morton, Dicky Wells, Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren, Jack Washington (as), Lester Young (cl, ts), Herschel Evans (cl, ts, arr), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl), Don Redman (arr).
NYC, August 22, 1938
64471-B Stop Beatin’ ‘Round
The Mulberry Bush (JR, ens.-vcl) (DR-arr) Dec 2004
64471-A Stop Beatin’ ‘Round
The Mulberry Bush (JR, ens.-vcl) (DR-arr) –
64472-A London Bridge Is Falling Down (JR-vcl) (DR-arr) –
64473-A Texas Shuffle (HE-arr) Dec 2030
64474-A Jumpin’ At The Woodside (head arr) Dec 2212
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(M) KANSAS CITY SIX: Buck Clayton (tp), Eddie Durham (tb, el-g, arr), Lester Young (cl, ts), Freddie Green (g, vcl), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d).
Brunswick Studio, NYC, September 27, 1938
Supervised by Milt Gabler
P-23421-1 Way Down Yonder In New Orleans (#2) Tax (Sd) m-8000 (LP)
P-23421-2 Way Down Yonder In New Orleans Com 512
P-23422-1 Countless Blues (Ad Lib Jump Blues) Com 509
P-23422-2 Countless Blues (Ad Lib Jump Blues) (#2) Tax (Sd) m-8000 (LP)
P-23423-1 Them There Eyes (#2) (FG-vcl) –
P-23423-2 Them There Eyes (FG-vcl) Com 511
P-23424-1 I Want A Little Girl Com 509
P-23424-2 I Want A Little Girl (#2) Tax (Sd) m-8000 (LP)
P-23425-1 Pagin’ The Devil Com 512
P-23425-2 Pagin’ The Devil (#2) Tax (Sd) m-8000 (LP)
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(N) COUNT BASIE At The Piano: Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d).
NYC, November 9, 1938
64731-A How Long How Long Blues Dec 2355
64731-B How Long How Long Blues unissued, master no longer exists
64732-A The Dirty Dozens Dec 2498
64733-A Hey Lawdy Mama Dec 2722
64734-A The Fives –
64735-A Boogie Woogie Dec 2355
Note: Matrix 64731-B has been rumored to exist on Decca 2355, however, a copy of this has yet to be confirmed.
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(O) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis, Shad Collins, Buck Clayton, Harry Edison (tp), Bennie Morton, Dicky Wells, Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren (as), Lester Young, Herschel Evans (ts), Jack Washington (as, bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Helen Humes, Jimmy Rushing (vcl), Andy Gibson, Jimmy Mundy, Don Redman, Buster Smith (arr).
NYC, November 16, 1938
64746-A Dark Rapture (HH-vcl) (DR or JM-arr) Dec 2212
64747-A Shorty George (AG-arr) Dec 2325
64748-A The Blues I Like To Hear (JR-vcl) (BS-arr) Dec 2284
64749-A Do You Wanna Jump Children? (JR-vcl) (AG-arr) Dec 2224
64750-A Panassie Stomp (head arr) –
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(P) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis, Shad Collins, Buck Clayton, Harry Edison (tp), Bennie Morton, Dicky Wells, Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren, Jack Washington (as), Lester Young, Herschel Evans (ts), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Helen Humes (vcl), Jimmy Mundy (arr).
NYC, January 5, 1939
64851-A My Heart Belongs To Daddy (HH-vcl) (JM-arr) Dec 2249
64852-A Sing For Your Supper (HH-vcl) (JM-arr) –
Note: As “Helen Hume” on label.
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(Q) COUNT BASIE At The Piano: Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d).
NYC, January 26, 1939
64954-A Oh! Red Dec 2780
64955-A Fare Thee Honey Fare Thee Well –
64955-B Fare Thee Honey Fare Thee Well –
64956-B Dupree Blues Dec 3071
64957-A When The Sun Goes Down Dec (Aus) Y-5422
64957-B When The Sun Goes Down Dec 2498
64958-B Red Wagon Dec 3071
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(R) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Shad Collins (tp), Lester Young (ts), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing (vcl).
NYC, February 2, 1939
64978-A You Can Depend On Me (JR-vcl) Dec 2631
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(S) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ed Lewis, Shad Collins, Buck Clayton, Harry Edison (tp), Bennie Morton, Dicky Wells, Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren, Jack Washington (as), Lester Young, Chu Berry (ts), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Helen Humes (vcl), Jimmy Mundy (arr).
NYC, February 3, 1939
64979-A Cherokee (Pt. 1) (JM-arr) Dec 2406
64980-A Cherokee (Pt. 2) (JM-arr) –
64981-B Blame It On My Last Affair (HH-vcl) (JM-arr) Dec 2284
64981-A Blame It On My Last Affair (HH-vcl) (JM-arr) –
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(T) COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Shad Collins, Buck Clayton (tp), Harry Edison (tp, arr), Dicky Wells (tb), Lester Young (ts), Jack Washington (bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (trap case).
NYC, February 4, 1939
64982-A Jive At Five (HE-arr) Dec 2922
Ed Lewis, Shad Collins (tp), Buck Clayton (tp, arr), Harry Edison (tp), Bennie Morton, Dicky Wells, Dan Minor (tb), Earle Warren (as), Lester Young, Chu Berry (ts), Jack Washington (as, bari), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d), Helen Humes, Jimmy Rushing (vcl).
Same session
64983-A Thursday (HH-vcl) (BC-arr) Dec 2325
64984-A Evil Blues (JR-vcl) Dec 2922
64985-A Oh Lady Be Good (head arr) Dec 2631
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(U) UNA MAE CARLISLE with Orchestra: Shad Collins (tp), Lester Young (ts), Clyde Hart (p), John Collins (g), Nick Fenton (b), Doc West (d), Una Mae Carlisle (vcl).
NYC, March 10, 1941
062747-1 Blitzkrieg Baby (You Can’t Bomb Me) (UMC-vcl) BB 11120
062748-1 Beautiful Eyes (UMC-vcl) BB 11096
062749-1 There’ll Be Some Changes Made (UMC-vcl) –
062750-1 It’s Sad, But True (UMC-vcl) BB 11120
(V) SAM PRICE AND HIS TEXAS BLUSICIANS: Shad Collins, William Johnson (tp), Don Stovall (as), Lester Young (ts), Sammy Price (p), Duke Jones (b), Doc West (d), Yack Taylor (vcl).
NYC, April 3, 1941
poss. supervised by J. Mayo Williams
68920-A The Goon Drag (Gone Wid De Goon) Dec 8547
68921-A Things ‘Bout Coming My Way (YT-vcl) Dec 8557
68923-A Just Jivin’ Around Dec 8557
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(W) LESTER YOUNG TRIO: Lester Young (ts), Nat Cole (p), Red Callender (b).
Wallichs Music City, Hollywood, July 15, 1942
Supervised by Norman Granz
Van 1000 Indiana Philo P1000 (12”)
Van 1001 I Can’t Get Started Philo P1001 (12”)
Van 1002 Tea For Two –
Van 1003 Body And Soul Philo P1000 (12”)
Note: The original issue of this session on Philo are dubs of the glass masters and were not commercially released until 1945.
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(X) DICKIE WELLS & ORCHESTRA: Bill Coleman (tp), Dicky Wells (tb), Lester Young (ts), Ellis Larkins (p), Freddie Green (g), Al Hall (b), Jo Jones (d).
NYC, December 21, 1943
Supervised by Bob Thiele
T19003-4A I Got Rhythm Sig 90002 (12”)
T19004-2 I’m Fer It Too Vogue (F) EPL 7001 (EP)
T19004-4A I’m Fer It Too Sig 90002 (12”)
T1919-1 Hello Babe Vogue (F) EPL 7001 (EP)
T1919-2 Hello Babe Sig 28115
T1920 Linger Awhile –
Note: Discographies show -1 as the take for the 78 issues of I Got Rhythm, I’m Fer It Too and Hello Babe. However the 78s list the takes as shown above.
________________________________________________________________________ (Y) LESTER YOUNG QUARTET: Lester Young (ts), Johnny Guarnieri (p), Slam Stewart (b), Sid Catlett (d).
NYC, December 28, 1943
Supervised by Harry Lim
HL1-1 Just You, Just Me EmA MGE 26010 (LP)
HL1-2 Just You, Just Me Key 603
HL2-1 (BD) I Never Knew EmA MGE 26010 (LP)
HL2-2 I Never Knew Key 603
HL3-1 Afternoon Of A Basie-ite EmA MGE 26010 (LP)
HL3-2 Afternoon Of A Basie-ite Key 604
HL4-1 Sometimes I’m Happy Key 830 121-1 (LP)
HL4-2 Sometimes I’m Happy Key 604
Note: Although the issued 78s carry an album designation number (K-117) these were issued as singles and not part of any album.
________________________________________________________________________ (Z) KANSAS CITY SEVEN: Buck Clayton (tp, arr), Dicky Wells (tb), Lester Young (ts), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Rodney Richardson (b), Jo Jones (d).
NYC, March 22, 1944
Supervised by Harry Lim
HL21-1 After Theatre Jump (BC-arr) Key 830 121-1 (LP)
HL21-2 After Theatre Jump (BC-arr) Key 1302 (12”)
HL22-1 Six Cats And A Prince (BC-arr) Key 830 121-1 (LP)
HL22-2 (INC) Six Cats And A Prince (BC-arr) Met (Sd) B517
HL22-3 Six Cats And A Prince (BC-arr) Key 1303 (12”)
HL23-1 Lester Leaps Again (BC-arr) Key 1302 (12”)
HL24-1 Destination K.C. (BC-arr) Key 1303 (12”)
HL24-2 Destination K.C. (BC-arr) EmA MGE 26010 (LP)
Note: As 6 Cats And A Prince on Keynote 1303.
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(AA) KANSAS CITY SIX WITH LESTER YOUNG: Bill Coleman (tp), Dicky Wells (tb), Lester Young (ts), Joe Bushkin (p), John Simmons (b), Jo Jones (d).
NYC, March 28, 1944
Supervised by Milt Gabler
A-4746-1 Three Little Words (#3) Com XFL-15352 (LP)
A-4746-? Three Little Words (#2) –
A-4746-2 Three Little Words (#4) –
A-4746-3 Three Little Words Com 573
A-4747-4 Jo Jo (#4) Com XFL-15352 (LP)
A-4747-3 Jo Jo (#2) Mosaic MR23-128 (LP)
A-4747-2 Jo Jo (#3) Com XFL-15352 (LP)
A-4747-1 Jo Jo Com 555
A-4748-? I Got Rhythm (#3) Com XFL-15352 (LP)
A-4748-2 I Got Rhythm (#2) –
A-4748-1 I Got Rhythm Com 555
A-4749-2 Four O’Clock Drag Com 573
A-4749-1 Four O’Clock Drag (#3) Com XFL-15352 (LP)
Note: Jo Jo and Four O’Clock Drag have “takes” that were originally issued on Commodore XFL-15352 (LP) but they are not included here since they are composites of other issued takes.
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(BB) LESTER YOUNG AND HIS BAND: Vic Dickenson (tb), Lester Young (ts), Dodo Marmorosa (p), Red Callender (b), Henry Tucker (d).
LA, December 1945
Supervised by Norman Granz
M-123-A-1 D.B. Blues Philo P123 / Alad A123
M-123-B-2 Lester Blows Again – –
P-124-A-2 These Foolish Things -1 Philo P124 / Alad A124
P-124-B-2 Jumpin’ At Mesners’ – –
-1 omit Dickenson.
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(CC) HELEN HUMES AND HER ALL STARS: Snooky Young (tp), Willie Smith (as), Maxwell Davis, Lester Young (ts), Jimmy Bunn (p), Dave Barbour (el-g), Jimmy Rudd (b), Henry Tucker (d), Helen Humes (vcl).
LA, December 22, 1945
Supervised by Norman Granz
M-125A-2 He Don’t Love Me Anymore (HH-vcl) Philo P125 / Alad A125
M-125B-3 Pleasing Man Blues (HH-vcl) – –
M-126B Riffin’ Without Helen Philo P126 / Alad A126
Note: Other titles from this session do not feature Young.
The Aladdin files list the original title of Pleasing Man Blues as Stop Jivin’ Around (Go On & Let Your Mama Be).
Some initial pressings of Aladdin 126 contain an un-named instrumental instead of It’s Better To Give Than To Receive which has a vocal by Helen Humes. When this instrumental was released on the Blue Note CD The Complete Aladdin Recordings Of Lester Young it was re-titled Riffin’ Without Helen.
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(DD) LESTER YOUNG AND HIS BAND: Howard McGhee (tp), Vic Dickenson (tb), Willie Smith (as), Lester Young (ts), Wesley Jones (p), Curtis Counce (b), Johnny Otis (d).
LA, January 1946
Supervised by Norman Granz
M-127-A It’s Only A Paper Moon Philo P127 / Alad A127
M-127-B After You’ve Gone -1 – –
M-128-A Lover Come Back To Me Philo P128 / Alad P128
M-128-B Jammin’ With Lester – –
-1 omit McGhee and Dickenson.
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(EE) THE LESTER YOUNG TRIO: Lester Young (ts), Nat Cole (p), Buddy Rich (d).
LA, c. late March/early April 1946
Supervised by Norman Granz
YB-C-348-2 Back To The Land Merc 11048 (12”)
YB-C-349-1 I Cover The Waterfront Merc MGC-104 (LP)
YB-C-349-2 I Cover The Waterfront Merc 11049 (12”)
YB-C-350-2 Somebody Loves Me –
YB-C-351-2 I’ve Found A New Baby Merc 11048 (12”)
YB-C-352-1 The Man I Love Merc MGC-135 (LP)
YB-C-353-1 Peg O’ My Heart -1 –
YB-C-354-1 I Want To Be Happy Merc (no #) (12”)
YB-C-355-1 Mean To Me Merc MGC-135 (LP)
-1 omit Rich.
Note: Cole is listed as “Aye Guy” on the labels and liner notes of the above.
The version of Back To The Land that is on Clef MGC-104 (LP) is an edited version and might be the reason that some discographies have incorrectly listed this as an alternate take.
I Want To Be Happy was originally released in the 78 album The Jazz Scene and was never assigned a catalog number although the number 2198 appears on the label and 2198-1 appears in the run-off groove.
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(FF) LESTER YOUNG AND HIS BAND: Lester Young (ts), Joe Albany (p), Irving Ashby (el-g), Red Callender (b), Chico Hamilton (as Forest Hamilton) (d).
LA, c. August 1946
Supervised by Norman Granz
AL-137-A-2 You’re Driving Me Crazy Alad 137
AL-137-B-2 New Lester Leaps In –
AL-138-B-3 Lester’s Be-Bop Boogie Alad 138
AL-138-A-2 She’s Funny That Way –
Note: Discographies list the date as above, however sometime in August, Norman Granz left for France and returned in September.
Matrices 137-A and 137-B were also assigned to recordings made by Illinois Jacquet and his Orchestra on 4/1/47.
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(GG) LESTER YOUNG AND HIS SEXTET: Shorty McConnell (tp), Lester Young (ts), Argonne Thornton [Sadik Hakim] (p), Fred Lacey (g), Rodney Richardson (b), Lyndell Marshall (d).
Chicago, October 1946
Possibly supervised by Norman Granz
46 Sunday Alad 162
47 S.M. Blues –
48 Jumping With Symphony Sid -1 Alad 163
49 No Eyes Blues -1 –
50 Sax-o-Be-Bop Alad 164
51 On The Sunny Side Of The Street -1 –
-1 omit McConnell.
Note: The date for this session has been always listed as February 18, 1947. However, the above date is a more likely candidate considering the Aladdin master sequence.
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(HH) LESTER YOUNG AND HIS SEXTET -1 / LESTER YOUNG AND BAND -2: Lester Young (ts), Argonne Thornton [Sadik Hakim] (p), Fred Lacey (g), Rodney Richardson (b), Lyndell Marshall (d).
Radio Recorders, LA, February 18, 1947
Possibly supervised by Norman Granz
121-1 Easy Does It -1 Alad 212
121-2 Easy Does It -1 QD (It) Q-051 (LP)
add Shorty McConnell (tp).
122-1 Movin’ With Lester -2 Alad 3257
123-5 One O’Clock Jump -1 Alad 200
omit McConnell.
124-3 Jumping At The Woodside -2 –
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(II) LESTER YOUNG AND HIS SEXTET -1 / LESTER YOUNG AND HIS BAND -2: Lester Young (ts), Argonne Thornton [Sadik Hakim] (p), Nasir Barakaat (g), Rodney Richardson (b), Lyndell Marshall (d).
NYC, April 2, 1947
Possibly supervised by Norman Granz
140-2 Avalon unissued, master no longer exists
141-1 Confessin’ -1 Alad 212
add Shorty McConnell (tp).
142-1 Lester Smooths It Out -2 Alad 3257
143-1 Just Cooling -2 Alad 3057
Note: The original 78 label refers to Hakim as “Dense Thornton” on Just Cooling.
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(JJ) LESTER YOUNG AND HIS QUARTET: Lester Young (ts), Gene DiNovi (p), Chuck Wayne (el-g), Curly Russell (b), Tiny Kahn (d).
WOR Studios, NYC, December 29, 1947
Supervised by Leonard Feather
25-1020 Tea For Two JS (F) LDM 30.006
25-1021 East Of The Sun – West Of The Moon Alad 3016
25-1022 Sheik Of Araby –
25-1023 Something To Remember You By Alad 3057
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Album Index: 78
Mercury (no number) Various Artists – The Jazz Scene
Mercury C-104 (11048, 11049) Lester Young Trio
Philo P-1 (1000, 1001) King Cole, Lester Young, Red Callender Trio
EP
Vogue (F) EPL 7001 Lester Young And His Kansas City Six
10” LP
Mercury MGC-135 Lester Young Trio No.2
Mercury MGC-104 Lester Young Trio
12” LP
Commodore XFL-15352 Lester Young – Classics In Jazz
EmArcy MGE 26010 Lester Young – Pres At His Very Best
Jazz Sélection (F) LDM 30.006 Lester Young – Les Chefs-D’oeuvre de Lester Young
Keynote (Jap) 830 121-1 Various Artists – The Complete Keynote Collection
Mosaic MR23-128 Various Artists – The Complete Commodore Recordings Jazz Recordings Vol. 2
Queen Disc (It) Q-051 Various Artists – Tenor Triumvirate
Tax (Sd) m-8000 Lester Young – The Alternative Lester
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Produced for release by Scott Wenzel
Executive Producer: Michael Cuscuna
Original supervisors (producers): Bob Stephens (Basie Decca sessions), others listed within the discography
78 transfers: Steven Lasker and Andreas Meyer
Sound restoration and mastering by Andreas Meyer (www.meyer-media.com)
24 bit technology was utilized at all stages of the production of this Mosaic release.
Special thanks: All those at Sony Music and Universal Music, Michael Brooks, Ryan Chroninger, Bryan Cornell, Tad Hershorn and those at The Institute of Jazz Studies.
78s provided by Leon Dierckx, The Institute of Jazz Studies, Steven Lasker, Lloyd Rauch, Russ Shor and Scott Wenzel.
Design Production: InkWell, Inc.
This compilation ©2016 Mosaic Records L.L.C., 425 Fairfield Ave, Suite 421, Stamford, CT 06902. All rights reserved. Phone: 203-327-7111/Fax 203-323-3526/e-mail: info@mosaicrecords.com. Web site: www.mosaicrecords.com.
This compilation (P) 2016 Sony Music Entertainment / Manufactured for Mosaic Records L.L.C. by Sony Music Entertainment / 25 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 / “Columbia” and [walking eye logo bug] Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Marca Registrada / WARNING: All rights reserved. / Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. / 88875112072
This compilation (p) ©2016 Geffen Records. Manufactured by Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. 2220 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404. Warning: All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. / B0022311-02 00602547097484
Printed in the U.S.A.
Producer’s Note:
The vision of this set centers around all of the Decca recordings by Count Basie from 1937 to 1939 as well as recordings by Lester Young on labels that are currently owned by Universal Music. These recordings are housed on Discs I through VII. We have also obtained the rights to include here further recordings by Lester Young that are currently under the ownership of Sony Music and are heard on Disc VIII. Because of contractual reasons we were not able to present them chronologically.
Although the sound quality of these sessions will differ from track to track, we have made every effort to obtain the best possible source material, whether it be the original metal parts, test pressings or commercially released 78s. Therefore, the CDs in this package include a variety of sources.
