The Early Years: 1930-34

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.

THE SET REPRODUCES ALL OF CAB CALLOWAY'S BRUNSWICK & VICTOR RECORDINGS, INCLUDING REMAKES OF SOME OF THEM WHICH, TO MY EARS, ARE SUPERIOR TO THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS. ON TOP OF THAT, THIS SET WAS REMASTERED BY JOHN R.T. DAVIES, WHO'S ONE OF THE BEST!

MORE! I NEED MORE CAB! 'nuff said. This trike is not gonna get me there.

This is a beautifully researched collection of nicely mastered recordings from the beginning of Cab Calloway's career. What it does is historically accurate and valuable. It also offers an incredible gathering of known and notable music by a dazzling artist and his outstanding orchestra.Why not 5-stars? The sound quality is as good as might be expected, but not truly top drawer. Also, the massing of such a quantity of material, without ciritical editing or selectivity points up the redundancy and limitations of the artist.It is a super set to have, and to savor in subsections. And the box is certainly well worth the price.

Great Service on a Great CD set of Mr.Hi De Ho....Cab Calloway.I saw him perform with one of his Daughters at a Miami Art Deco festival in the mid 1980's...…….What a great show! It was like he never lost a step from his glory years.

I've been looking for a good thorough collection of Cab Calloway's songs for a while now, and this is the best I've found. This is the first of a set of two (1935-1940 is the second), and I suggest fans buy both. Not only are there great recordings, but the history notes in each CD booklet are fascinating.A great buy for Cab fans, music fans, and history fans alike!

Anything to do with Cab Calloway I've got it. I'm a fan of his and always will be. These well organized CD's gives out that crisp sound of the 1930's down home jazz melody; that only Cab can sing out. This is the only CD that gives you all of his hits of the 1930's. The first recording of Minnie the moocher, Kickin' the gong around, you gotta hi de ho (To get along with me) and many more. You haven't heard Cab Calloway until you've heard him in his early years. This is a perfect introduction to your jazz collection.

Cab my favorite performer of the 30s in terms of showmanship and just plain fun

Grande intrattenitore, un animale da palcoscenico, musicalmente inferiore a Ellington, ma molto piacevole coinvolgente.

Great listening.

Known for his Zoot suits, hep talk and hi-de-ho style, Cab Calloway was one of the major figures of early jazz, who, along with Louis Armstrong, elevated scat singing to great heights. Cab's style is interesting, as most of the great jazz figures of the age seem to have come form New Orlenas (Armstrong, Bechet, Biederbecke, etc), but Calloway came from Harlem, and his music and themes reflect this.This great 4 CD box set collects together 94 tracks form the first 4 years of his career. They show his progression from bandleader covering mainly old standards, to the first success of `Minnie The Moocher', in which he found his own style and set the template for later recordings (many of which were virtual carbon copies of Minnie). Included along the way are definitive versions of `St James Infirmiary', and `You Rascal You'.The tracks have been expertly remastered by R.T Davies, who also did the `Louis Armstrong Complete Hot Fives And Sevens' set. Once again he's done a great job, and these recordings sound as good as they have ever done. Included are short essays about Cab, and full personnel details.Highly recommended for anyone with even the slightest interest in early jazz, and great scat singing. Also check out the previously mentioned Louis Armstrong set, I'd also recommend the Proper box sets of Bix Beiderbecke and Sidney Bechet.

Capitolazione della mente.