The Jazz & Dance Band CD Round-Up

05/12/2023

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18/11/2023

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Frog Records - Newsletter November 2023

Our Black Friday Sale Is Now On



Our BLACK FRIDAY SALE is running until 20th Nov. with 15% off, or
20% off on 3 or more items.

This will be the last time that customers can buy Frog CDs at these super-cheap prices.
We have not raised our prices for 20+ years - so get them while you can ! After the sale, Frog CDs will rise from £10 to £14 each [ no UK VAT as we are too small for that ;-]

fyi Our next two releases are almost ready and look really great - but their manufacturing costs are three times what they used to be !!!

--oOo--

We'll continue to send you our occasional newsletter for as long as you want us to. And are always pleased to hear from you by email at [email protected] or by telephone at +44 (0)1252 620814.

Enjoy the music!
Paul Swinton
FROG RECORDS LTD

17/10/2023

A BOWL OF CHERRIES

There are different options available when compiling a CD; for example by band, by singer, or by period. Retrospective has included a songwriter approach, of which this is the fifteenth. It makes for a wealth of variety, as can be seen from the tracklist. Ray Henderson, as the composer, first paired with lyricist Ray Brown, which partnership later expanded to include Buddy De Silva, producing the great song-writing triumvirate of the twenties and thirties. They contributed to revues, notably George White’s aptly-named Scandals, Broadway musicals, and Hollywood films, as well as individual songs, all of which are represented here. The compiler must have been spoilt for choice, but the emphasis is on American singers, the exception being Gracie Fields. Every number’s a winner, my particular favourite being McKinney’s Cotton Pickers’ version of the silly song “Never Swat a Fly”. Many of these songs have an upbeat, carefree quality, which induce an air of optimism. Recommended.

03/09/2023

DELVIN' INTO SELVIN
Over fifteen years Ben Selvin recorded thousands of titles, a selection of which can be found in most collections of dance band 78s. That may not be apparent, because they were cut for a number of different labels, some of which were issued under a variety of pseudonyms. Although aimed at the general public, many of his records featured jazz musicians, whose presence promoted them into the “hot” category. That became more noticeable after the late twenties, but his output decreased significantly after 1931. This 93-track compilation charts the development of American dance music from the early raggy approach through to the sophisticated style of the early thirties. The result is a very mixed bag, but it’s a generous package, well remastered, and includes a 24-page booklet with a partial discography.
ACROBAT ACQDC7176
CD ONE: I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles; Medley - Mandy/A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody; Dardanella; My Isle of Golden Dreams; In Your Arms; Wond’ring; Dance-O-Mania; Now and Then; Make Believe; Cherie; Say it with Music; Love Will Find a Way; Angel Child; Romany Love; Chicago; I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise; Three O’Clock in the Morning; Wonderful One; Yes We Have No Bananas; Indiana Moon; Dirty Hands! Dirty Face! So this is Love; Sleep
CD TWO: Take, Oh Take, Those Lips Away; Jealous; Honest and Truly; All Alone; Will You Remember Me?; The Original Charleston; Let it Rain, Let it Pour; Oh How I Miss You Tonight; Manhattan; Sentimental Me; I’mk Tired of Everything But You; Brown Eyes, Why Are You Blue; Sleepy-Time Gal; A Night of Love; Valencia; Tamiami Trail; Only You and Lonely Me; Baby Face; Am I Wasting My Time on You?; Barcelona; In a Little Spanish Town; Blue Skies; Rio Rita; Miss Annabelle Lee
CD THREE: Ooh! Maybe it’s You; My Heart Stood Still; Thou Swell; Among My Souvenirs; My Stormy Weather Pal; I Can’t Give You Anything but Love; I Must Have That Man; Jeannine, I Dream of ‘Lilac Time’; Masquerade; Happy Days and Lonely Nights; You’re the Cream in My Coffee; I Wanna Be Loved by You; Pompanola; A Room with a View; Carolina Moon; Broadway Melody; You Were Meant for Me; My Sin; Honey; My Song of the Nile; Love, Your Spell is Everywhere; Funny, Dear, What Love Can Do; Happy Days are Here Again
CD FOUR: When it’s Springtime in the Rockies; Dancing with Tears in My Eyes; Somewhere in Old Wyoming; Moonlight on the Colorado; When the Organ Played at Twilight; Yours and Mine; Smile, Darn Ya, Smile; Dancing in the Dark; Slow but Sure; Call Me Darling; Goodnight Moon; You’re My Everything; Of Thee I Sing; Just Friends; Is I in Love? I Is; Hummin’ to Myself; Street of Dreams; Sweetheart Darlin’; Dinner at Eight; The Prize Waltz; I Only Have Eyes for You; Born to be Kissed
Vocalists include Irving Kaufmann, Vaughn DeLeath, Dick Robertson, Smith Ballew, Ruth Etting, Helen Rowland and Howard Phillips.

ACROBAT ACQDC7176
CD ONE: I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles; Medley - Mandy/A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody; Dardanella; My Isle of Golden Dreams; In Your Arms; Wond’ring; Dance-O-Mania; Now and Then; Make Believe; Cherie; Say it with Music; Love Will Find a Way; Angel Child; Romany Love; Chicago; I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise; Three O’Clock in the Morning; Wonderful One; Yes We Have No Bananas; Indiana Moon; Dirty Hands! Dirty Face! So this is Love; Sleep
CD TWO: Take, Oh Take, Those Lips Away; Jealous; Honest and Truly; All Alone; Will You Remember Me?; The Original Charleston; Let it Rain, Let it Pour; Oh How I Miss You Tonight; Manhattan; Sentimental Me; I’mk Tired of Everything But You; Brown Eyes, Why Are You Blue; Sleepy-Time Gal; A Night of Love; Valencia; Tamiami Trail; Only You and Lonely Me; Baby Face; Am I Wasting My Time on You?; Barcelona; In a Little Spanish Town; Blue Skies; Rio Rita; Miss Annabelle Lee
CD THREE: Ooh! Maybe it’s You; My Heart Stood Still; Thou Swell; Among My Souvenirs; My Stormy Weather Pal; I Can’t Give You Anything but Love; I Must Have That Man; Jeannine, I Dream of ‘Lilac Time’; Masquerade; Happy Days and Lonely Nights; You’re the Cream in My Coffee; I Wanna Be Loved by You; Pompanola; A Room with a View; Carolina Moon; Broadway Melody; You Were Meant for Me; My Sin; Honey; My Song of the Nile; Love, Your Spell is Everywhere; Funny, Dear, What Love Can Do; Happy Days are Here Again
CD FOUR: When it’s Springtime in the Rockies; Dancing with Tears in My Eyes; Somewhere in Old Wyoming; Moonlight on the Colorado; When the Organ Played at Twilight; Yours and Mine; Smile, Darn Ya, Smile; Dancing in the Dark; Slow but Sure; Call Me Darling; Goodnight Moon; You’re My Everything; Of Thee I Sing; Just Friends; Is I in Love? I Is; Hummin’ to Myself; Street of Dreams; Sweetheart Darlin’; Dinner at Eight; The Prize Waltz; I Only Have Eyes for You; Born to be Kissed
Vocalists include Irving Kaufmann, Vaughn DeLeath, Dick Robertson, Smith Ballew, Ruth Etting, Helen Rowland and Howard Phillips.

21/07/2023

A CENTENARY TRIBUTE
Anne Shelton was blessed with a warm clear voice with a distinctive contralto timbre. She began singing with Ambrose in 1940, replacing Vera Lynn who wanted to tour. She sang and broadcast with his band during the war years, and achieved her own programmes on the BBC. All of which contributed to boosting morale, both at home and abroad, and established her as a firm favourite with the troops. This centenary tribute provides a cornucopia of her career, and is highly recommended.

10/07/2023

A GOOD HAUL

EDDIE FISHER: The Hits Collection 1948-1962 (Acrobat ACTRCD9135) is a 3-CD set with 80 numbers by a singer who, at one time, was a teen idol. It covers the period 1948 to 1962, and most of the songs were accompanied by Hugo Winterhalter. It should appeal not just to Eddie Fisher devotees, but also to lovers of light music.

10/07/2023

VICTORY AT WATERLOO

Dependent upon the venue, live recordings can be a mixed blessing. That is apparent in “The Hot Jazz of Alan Cooper and Friends” (UPBEAT URCD332) where the excitement of a live performance is partially offset by the poor acoustics of the venue, and the basic nature of the recording equipment. That said, there’s much to enjoy here, with a dozen jazz standards performed by a traditional line-up.

25/06/2023

A CLASSIC CONCERT

The first volume of the 1957 Concert is quite straightforward, but this second volume is more of a mixture. The first four tracks were recorded at a rehearsal at the Clarendon Hotel in Manchester earlier in the month. George Lewis is apparent on the first two, but Ian Wheeler was then added. The remaining 13 tracks were recorded at the subsequent Free Trade Hall concert, but do not include George Lewis. As presented here they feature the classic Colyer band, followed by three blues by pianist Bob Kelly and four vocals played by Ken's skiffle group.

20/06/2023

NORMAN THATCHER’S RAGTIME BAND (Upbeat URCD333) was recorded live at “The Bull” at Barnes in March 1997. The band was a quintet, which comprised trumpet, reeds, piano, banjo and tuba, and it’s a measure of their cohesion that bass and drums are not conspicuous by their absence. Norman Thatcher’s lead is strong and inspiring, and he and his cohorts had a relaxed style which makes for easy listening in the best sense of the phrase. Norman played numbers associated with Bix, Morton and Oliver, amongst others. I particularly liked “What Do You Want Me To Do?” and “Dardanella”. The recording is extremely clear and well-balanced, and a delight from start to finish.

19/06/2023

Rex Stewart was influenced by Louis Armstrong, whom he succeeded in Fletcher Henderson’s Orchestra in 1926, and Bix Beiderbecke, whose solo in “Singing’ the Blues” he recreated note for note. His career is detailed in Digby Fairweather’s excellent liner note, which provides also an informed commentary on the 48 sides that make up this compilation. Rex developed his own style by half-valving notes, generating a unique squeezed tonal quality to his playing, best show-cased in “Boy Meets Horn”. This is as comprehensive a conducted tour of his recordings as you could wish for, and is thoroughly recommended.

19/06/2023

THE OTHER CROSBY

Bing’s younger brother fronted a co-operative outfit formed after the dissolution of Ben Pollack’s band. By the mid-30s foxtrots and waltzes were in vogue, but the Crosby band, and its small group The Bobcats, kept one foot firmly in the jazz camp. As a result this compilation offers the best of both worlds. Bob and the roster of supporting vocalists deliver delightful ballads, interspersed with swinging Dixieland numbers, featuring exciting solos against a superb rhythm section. With illustrated 48-page booklet including full discography, this Acrobat CD (ADDCD 3473) is a must for big band enthusiasts

18/06/2023

HAYMES AND THE DAMES

Dick Haymes enthusiasts have cause to celebrate with three new compilations of airshots. “I Like the Likes of You” (ACROBAT ADDCD3471) offers 54 broadcast recordings from between 1947 and 1962. The material includes duets with Martha Tilton, Peggy Lee, Jane Wyman and Fran Jeffries. Accompaniments include Johnny Guarnieri small groups, Ray Bloch, Gordon Jenkins, Victor Young, Frank de Vol, and the Dorsey Brothers. Jasmine weighs in with “Stay Tuned to Club 15” Vol. 1 (JASMCD2777) and Vol. 2 (JASMCD2788). Club 15 refers to the 15-minute CBS radio show, sponsored by Campbell Soups, with Jerry Gray as the resident orchestra. Dick took over from Bob Crosby in 1949/1950, and these two CDs draw upon his vocals with the Andrews Sisters. As is to be expected, sound quality of both compilations is excellent.

09/06/2023

STOP PRESS FROM RIVERMONT RECORDS

In 12 years, the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra has risen to become one of the top ragtime-era theatre orchestras in the world. With virtuosic flair, they bring century-old arrangements to vivid life laced with humor and superb showmanship. Under the direction of founder Andrew Greene, their performances across the United States have attracted sold-out crowds -- most recently at the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival (June 2023) where they were a smash hit. Thus, it is with great excitement that I am happy to announce the release of the PRSO's newest album: Take Me to the Ragtime Dance.

This new record features a dozen selections, ranging from classic rags and ragtime songs, to 1910s and 1920s Broadway musical numbers, to WWI flag-wavers, to a classic of modern ragtime (Max Keenlyside's gorgeous "Northern Lights Rag"). Sprinkled among the tracks are vocals by audience favorites William Edwards and Karen Vincent, and keen-eared listeners will detect the presence of guest pianist Adam Swanson on several tracks.

Each of the album's 12 selections is performed with the orchestra's characteristic verve, and the entire album has been skillfully recorded and engineered by the team at Arts Laureate for exceptional sound quality. The vinyl edition has been lovingly mastered by renowned engineer Greg Reierson at Rare Form Mastering in Minneapolis and pressed in audiophile-grade 180-gram vinyl at New Orleans Record Press on brand-new, state-of the art presses for an unsurpassed listening experience that will transport you to the front row of a major theatre more than a century ago!

TAKE ME TO THE RAGTIME DANCE
TRACK LISTING
It's All Your Fault
Oh, Lady Be Good!
Maple Leaf Rag
Oh, You Beautiful Doll
King Chanticleer
Northern Lights Rag
High Society
The Ragtime Dance
Good-bye Broadway, Hello France!
Solace: A Mexican Serenade
Dizzy Fingers
Over There
Quantities of the LP are EXTREMELY LIMITED; we have only 140 in stock -- so don't delay! The normal price for this exquisitely crafted record is $24.95, but we will discount the price to just $19.95 for the first 50 customers to order through our website.

While we're at it, we have discounted ALL other Rivermont vinyl LPs still in stock by up to 33%. (Just guess where we came up with that number!) Stop by and explore our selection of new vinyl and start your summer the tuneful way! Remember: orders of $50 or more ship FREE in the United States. Why not pick up something for yourself and something for a friend?

Don't "do" vinyl? Don't worry! We are also offering this spectacular new album in digital download formats (your choice of MP3 or Apple Lossless).

29/05/2023

FLETCHER HENDERSON graduated in maths and chemistry, but side-stepped into a musical career. In 1924 he took charge of the house band at the Roseland Ballroom, with Don Redman and Coleman Hawkins in the line-up. Louis Armstrong, who joined the following year, galvanised the band, and he was followed by a stream of major talents. THE GOLDEN YEARS 1925-37 (ACROBAT ADDCD 3468) offers a cross-section of Henderson’s major recordings, with good sound restoration, and at a very affordable price.

22/05/2023

A CAPITAL REISSUE
This is the second compilation from Avid, and covers the same period, namely 1955 to 1960. Julie was quoted as saying "It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone.” But what it lacked in volume it made up for in quality, with a smoky voice that seduced the listener. This is most in evidence in “Lonely Girl”, in which she had the minimal accompaniment of guitarist Al Viola, as opposed to the other four, which have full orchestral accompaniments. The variable quality of the songs detracts from the concept of “Calendar Girl”, and Julie adopted a more dynamic delivery in “Send For Me”. A great compilation, with excellent remastering.

21/04/2023

A PIONEER OF THE JAZZ TROMBONE
Ory was a first generation jazzman, and the first black bandleader to cut a record (included here). He played with some of the best early black bands and small groups, but dropped out in the early thirties because of the depression. His renaissance came about a decade later with the New Orleans revival, after which he led a band until his retirement in 1966. His trademarks were a raucous tone and punchy playing, and this excellent compilation shows off the many facets of his career.

11/03/2023

A TIMELY TRIBUTE TO GENE KRUPA

Three Little Words; Stompin’ at the Savoy; Everybody Loves My Baby; Vibraphone Blues; Liza; Sweet Georgia Brown; I Got Rhythm; Smiles; Limehouse Blues (V-Disc); So Rare; Dinah; Body and Soul; Avalon; Whispers in the Dark; Limehouse Blues; After You’ve Gone; I’m a Ding D**g Daddy from Dumas; Who?; Twilight in Turkey; Remember Me; I’ve Got a Heart Full of Music (from the soundtrack of “Hollywood Hotel”); Marie; Diga Diga Doo; Tea for Two; Handful of Keys
All of the tracks on this excellent tribute album feature the Benny Goodman small groups and, with the exception of the two titles shown, all are airshots recorded before a live audience. Gene Krupa was the powerhouse behind Goodman, and his drumming was even more extrovert freed from the confines of the recording studio. The appreciative audience infects the other musicians also, and even the usually cool Goodman ups the temperature. “Body and Soul” shows signs of wear, there’s the occasional imbalance, and announcements and audience applause can be heard, but they do little to detract from these flamboyant performances. Drummer John Petters’ liner note analyses the percussive contribution Krupa makes to each track.

28/02/2023

ON YOUR MARKS

This new release from Upbeat Jazz (URCD326) is aptly titled “Sizzling Sessions” and features a dozen tracks played in the Dixieland style by Roger Marks’ Armada Jazz Band. They were all recorded at live performances, and have not been issued previously. Roger is a highly acclaimed trombonist, as can be heard particularly on his instrumental feature “Somebody Stole My Girl”. This is the fourth release of Roger Marks from Upbeat, others being “In Retrospect” ((URCD270), “Marks & Sparks” (URCD278) and “Brass Farthings “ (URCD290).

28/02/2023

Harry Owens first led a band at the Café Lafayette in Los Angeles, where he auditioned Bing Crosby and Al Rinker in 1926. Eight years later he moved to Honolulu’s Royal Hawaiian Hotel; there he composed a number of songs with a South Seas flavour, the best-known of which was “Sweet Leilani”. Bing renewed the acquaintance when he was starring in “Waikiki Wedding”, and persuaded Owens to let him incorporate “Sweet Leilani” into the score. This 2-CD set "Songs of the Islands" (ACROBAT ADDCD3459) offers 49 numbers in the Hawaiian idiom, including Bing’s recording of “Sweet Hawaiian Chimes”. It spans two decades from 1937, and comes with a 20-page booklet including discography.

28/02/2023

MEMORIES OF ROSEMARY
This 3-CD set (ACROBAT ACTRCD9128) contains 80 tracks from Rosemary Clooney’s early singles. It includes duets with Guy Mitchell, Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Harry James and Gene Autrey, and covers a wide genre from country to ballads, not forgetting the inevitable novelty songs. In fact, as Paul Watts states in his excellent lengthy liner note, Jo baulked at “Come on a My House”, but the autocratic Mitch Miller left her no choice but to acquiesce. Ironically, it was this number that was her breakthrough hit in 1951. Her dark contralto marked her out, and as her career progressed she was able to choose to sing the best songs with the best bands. As for example the inclusion of her 1955 recording of “Memories of You” with the Benny Goodman Trio. She was much more than a pop singer, and was held in high regard by the musicians who accompanied her.

15/12/2022

Sharing:

Happy Holidays from Rivermont Records!

In appreciation of your continued support of Rivermont's efforts to preserve and share the best ragtime, vintage jazz, and dance band music, please enjoy this special offer, now through December 20:

Use the code THANKS22 at checkout, and for every two items you buy, choose another one for FREE!

Buy 2, select 1 for FREE!

Buy 4, select 2 for FREE!!

Buy 6, select 3 for FREE!!!
..etc.

There's no limit, and everything on the Rivermont website is eligible (even the used CDs in our Bargain Bin). Use it for CDs, vinyl, digital downloads, sheet music -- it's up to you. CDs make great stocking stuffers or last-minute gifts for fellow music lovers! Order by Friday, December 16 and you should have your parcel in time for Christmas (if shipped within the USA). Just don't wait too long -- this special offer expires December 20.

Remember to enter the code THANKS22 at checkout to get this special deal!
rivermontrecords.com

04/12/2022

DIGBY FAIRWEATHER: “Notes from a Jazz Life” Volume 3
(ACROBAT ADDCD3445)
CD ONE: Rehearsing for a Nervous Breakdown; (What Can I Say Dear) After I Say I’m Sorry?; Some of These Days; If I Had You; Sandu; Undecided; Jumping the Blues;
Gone With the Wind; The Blues My Sweetie Gave to Me; I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
CD TWO: Running Wild; If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight; At the Jazz Band Ball; I Got it Bad; Run Rabbit Run; Sleepy Time Gal; Exactly Like You; That’s a Plenty; Lonesome Road; Indiana; Lover Man; Something to Remember You By; What a Little Moonlight Can Do; I Can’t Get Started with You; On the Alamo; Yesterdays
This is the third compilation of Digby’s recordings, handpicked and annotated by him. It's worth noting that a number of them were live performances, and the excitement generated is palpable. Taken as a whole, they are the perfect accompaniment to his eponymous autobiography, which was published in 1999. Digby describes himself as having an embouchure of no fixed abode – a feature that he has in common with his idol, Nat Gonella. Like the previous two releases, this features him both as bandleader and sideman, alongside a stellar cast of musicians, many alas no longer with us.

04/12/2022

LENA HORNE “EARLY YEARS” 1941-1950 (ACROBAT ADDCD3449)
CD ONE: That’s What Love Did to Me (NS); I Take to You (NS); All I Desire (CB); You’re My Thrill (CB); Haunted Town (CB); St Louis Blues (DJG); Careless Love (DJG); Beale Street Blues (DJG); Love Me a Little (AS); Don’t Take Your Love From Me (AS); Out of Nowhere (TW); Prisoner of Love (TW); Moanin’ Low; I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues; Where or When; The Man I Love; Stormy Weather; Ill Wind; Mad About the Boy; What is This Thing Called Love?; One for My Baby (HH); I Didn’t Know About You (HH); I Ain’t Got Nothing But the Blues (HH)
CD TWO: As Long As I Live (HH); How Long Has This Been Going On?; Little Girl Blue; Whispering; Old Fashioned Love; Glad to Be Unhappy; At Long Last Love; Blue Prelude; More Than You Know; Just Squeeze Me; You Go to My Head; Hesitation Blues; Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen; Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child; It’s a Rainy Day; My Man’s Gone Now; Frankie & Johnny (Pt. 1); I Feel So Smoochie; Take Love Easy; Love of My Life; ‘Deed I Do; Sometimes I’m Happy; Is It Always Like This?; I’ve Got the World on a String
KEY: CB – Charlie Barnet; LB – Lou Bring; DJG – Dixieland Jazz Group of Lower Basin Street; HH – Horace Henderson; AS – Artie Shaw; NS – Noble Sissle; TW – Teddy Wilson

This double CD pays tribute to Lena Horne’s first decade, when she was in the process of establishing herself. That included the ability to overcome the many challenges she encountered, both then and later during her long career. She was held in high regard by her peers, as demonstrated here by the quality of the bands with which she sang and recorded. It’s a judicious selection, and her story is well told in the accompanying 24-page booklet.

04/12/2022

ASTAIRE WAY TO PARADISE

FRED ASTAIRE 1923-42 (ACROBAT ACTRCD9126)
CD ONE: Oh Gee! O Gosh!*; The Whichness of the Whatness*; Fascinating Rhythm*(GG); The Half of it Dearie Blues (GG); I’d Rather Charleston*(GG); Hang on to Me*(GG); Swiss Miss*; High Hat; My One and Only; Funny Face*; Not My Girl (AS); Louisiana (AS); Puttin’ on the Ritz; Crazy Feet; I Love Louisa (LR); New Sun in the Sky (LR); Hoops*(LR); White Heat (LR); I’ve Got You on My Mind (LR); Night and Day (LR); Maybe it’s Because I Love You Too Much (LR); My Temptation (LR); Gold Diggers’ Song (LR); Heart of Stone (LR); Flying Down to Rio
CD TWO: Music Makes Me; Cheek to Cheek (LR); No Strings (LR); Top Hat, White Tie and Tails (JG); Isn’t This a Lovely Day? (JG); The Picccolino (LR); Let Yourself Go (JG); Let’s Face the Music and Dance (JG); We Saw the Sea (JG); I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket (JG); I’d Rather Lead a Band (JG); I’m Building Up to an Awful Let Down (JG); A Fine Romance (JG); Pick Yourself Up (JG); The Way You Look Tonight (JG); Bojangles of Harlem (JG); Never Gonna Dance (JG); Beginner’s Luck (JG); They Can’t Take that Away from Me (JG); Slap that Bass (JG); They All Laughed (JG); Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off (JG); Shall We Dance? (JG); A Foggy Day (RN); I Can’t Be Bothered Now (RN)
CD THREE: Nice Work if You Can Get It (RN); Things Are Looking Up (RN); I Used to be Colour Blind (RN); Change Partners (RN); The Yam (RN); Who Cares (BG); Just Like Taking Candy from a Baby (BG); Me and the Ghost Upstairs; Love of My Life; Poor Mister Chisholm; Dig It; So Near and Yet So Far; Since I Kissed My Baby Goodbye; Wedding Cake Walk; Dream Dancing; I’ll Capture Your Heart (with BC); You’re Easy to Dance With; I Can’t Tell a Lie; You Were Never Lovelier; On the Beam; I’m Old Fashioned; Dearly Beloved; Doing the Shorty George; If Swing Goes, I Go Too; This Heart of Mine
KEY: * duet with Adele Astaire; BC – Bing Crosby; BG – Benny Goodman; GG - piano acc. by George Gershwin; JG – Johnny Green; RN – Ray Noble; LR – Leo Reisman; AS – Al Starita & his Boy Friends

This triple set is a fairly exhaustive trawl through the first two decades of Astaire’s recorded output. The earliest numbers reflect his and Adele’s youth and vaudeville background, but he soon demonstrates his growing mastery of phrasing and rhythm, the latter particularly on those records where he also tap dances. It’s a great compilation, augmented by a 24-page illustrated liner note.

26/11/2022

Just a heads-up on this set which will be of great interest to some.

Matchbox Bluesmaster Series: Jack O'Diamonds - Library of Congress field recordings 1934-1943

17/10/2022

CD SALE just in from Rivermont Records.

We occasionally purchase collections of well-cared-for pre-owned CDs and LPs to supplement Rivermont's own productions and offer you a wide selection of vintage jazz and popular music under one roof and at affordable prices. The CDs in this section have been inspected and are from the shelves of ded...

12/10/2022

EARLY BLOSSOM

This is a fine compilation of representative recordings from Blossom Dearie’s early years. The first CD predates her six albums for Verve, providing a track with the Dave Lambert Trio, and two with Stan Getz & Al Haig, before trawling through her albums for Barclay (“Octuor” with King Pleasure, “Jazz Sweet” and “Piano”). It’s a little girl voice, but with a big girl’s sophistication, delivered in a style she made her own. It’s complemented by small group accompaniments, which feature Herb Ellis or Kenny Burrell on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Jo Jones or Ed Thigpen on drums.

13/09/2022

CATCH A FALLING STAR

Kate Smith was a star of stage, screen and radio, whose pure singing voice secured her a recording contract, and her extensive career is well covered in this set of four CDs. Sadly, some of the songs she popularised incurred the retrospective displeasure of the self-appointed guardians of public taste, and her reputation suffered posthumously as a result. So it's good to see this handsome tribute to her talents, which includes a very informative 28-page booklet on her career.

13/09/2022

SWEET HARMONY

Charlie Spivak had a background in jazz, playing with bands such as Ben Pollack, the Dorsey Brothers, Bob Crosby and Jack Teagarden. But his own preference was towards a more sentimental treatment, which he indulged when in 1939 he formed his own band. A skilled trumpeter, who sounds to my ears like a forerunner of Eddie Calvert, he had great success producing smooth ballads, ably assisted by a roster of proficient vocalists. A few of these sides carry evidence of their shellac origins, but overall this is a very appealing package, complete with a 24-page booklet.

23/08/2022

Newsletter From Rivermont Records

One Step to Chicago is the amazing new album (released July 2022) celebrating the music of pioneering jazz clarinetist Frank Teschemacher and the Austin High Gang of the late 1920s.

Here's the story: On July 31, 1992, legendary producer George Avakian brought three generations of jazz titans together in RCA’s New York studio to record the exciting music of the Austin High Gang. The morning session under the direction of pianist Dick Hyman captured spirited note-for-note re-creations of famous Teschemacher records while the afternoon session directed by clarinetist Kenny Davern focused on fresh, original interpretations of tunes associated with Tesch. At the last minute -- after everything was recorded -- the sponsoring record label backed out, citing high production costs. The release was canceled, and the session tapes went into the vaults. Rumors and legends about the all-star session circulated among jazz collectors for decades, but nobody heard the recordings -- until now. After several years of working with the Avakian family, the New York Public Library, and the musicians themselves, Rivermont is thrilled to present the album's premiere release, mastered from the original analog session tapes for outstanding sound.

From now 'til Saturday (August 27), we've put these two Rivermont favorites on sale for only $7.95 each -- that's 50% off the normal price!

Ted Lewis: Runnin' Wild is a treasure trove of 27 jazzy selections from Ted's early days -- some of them previously unissued and sourced from Ted's own one-of-a-kind test pressings. Everybody will be happy with Grammy nominee Mark Berresford's thorough and engaging liner notes in the 40-page booklet packed with rare photos. 80+ minutes of music. "Made me love Ted and His band!" writes one customer. Regular price: $15.95 | SALE: $7.95
Buy Ted Lewis: Runnin' Wild for $7.95
Andy Schumm and His Sink-o-Pators: Futuristic Rhythms imagines what Bix Beiderbecke might have sounded like had he lived further into the 1930s and played in small group jazz sessions with Basie, Goodman, and others. Andy Schumm is recognized around the world as a leading exponent of the Bix "sound." "The music is wonderful... the playing is first rate and the fidelity is perfect" writes one customer. Regular price: $15.95 | SALE: $7.95
Buy Andy Schumm: Futuristic Rhythms for $7.95