Andy Kirk And His Twelve Clouds Of Joy - The Chronological Classics, 7 Albums

Andy Kirk was never a major musician (in fact he never really soloed), arranger or personality yet he was a successful big bandleader in the 1930s and '40s. He started playing bass sax and tuba in Denver with George Morrison's band in 1918. In 1925, he moved to Dallas where he played with Terrence Holder's Dark Clouds of Joy. In 1929 he took over leadership of the band (which was renamed Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy) and moved to Kansas City. During 1929-1930, they recorded some excellent hot performances with such players as pianist/arranger Mary Lou Williams, violinist Claude Williams, and trumpeter Edgar "Puddinghead" Battle. Surprisingly, Kirk's Orchestra was off records entirely during 1931-1935, but in 1936 (the year it relocated to New York) it immediately had a pop hit in "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" featuring the high voice of singer Pha Terrell. In future years, such fine soloists as tenor saxophonist Dick Wilson, the early electric guitarist Floyd Smith, Don Byas, Harold "Shorty" Baker, Howard McGhee, (1942-1943), Jimmy Forrest, and even Fats Navarro and (briefly) Charlie Parker would be among Kirk's sidemen. However, Mary Lou Williams was the most important musician in the band, both as a soloist and as an arranger. In 1948, Andy Kirk broke up the band (which had recorded mostly for Decca) and in later years ran a hotel and served as an official in the Musicians' Union. A lone "reunion" date in 1956 featured the classic charts but almost none of the original sidemen.



Tracks:



Andy Kirk And His Twelve Clouds Of Joy - 1929-1931 {The Chronological Classics, 655}

01. Mess-A-Stomp (2:44)
02. Blue Clarinet Stomp (2:52)
03. Cloudy (3:00)
04. Casey Jones Special (2:58)
05. Somepin' Slow And Low (3:12)
06. Lotta Sax Appeal (2:31)
07. Corky Stomp (2:43)
08. Froggy Bottom (3:13)
09. I Lost My Gal From Memphis (3:19)
10. Loose Ankles (3:22)
11. Snag It (3:09)
12. Sweet And Hot (3:09)
13. Mary's Idea (3:12)
14. Once Or Twice (3:03)
15. Gettin' Off A Mess (2:50)
16. Dallas Blues (2:43)
17. Travellin' That Rocky Road (3:08)
18. Honey, Just For You (3:16)
19. You Rascal You (2:43)
20. Saturday (3:21)
21. Sophomore (3:01)
22. Casey Jones Blues (3:05)
23. There's Rhythm In The River (3:03)
24. I Need Lovin' (2:51)
25. Margie (2:28)



Andy Kirk And His Twelve Clouds Of Joy - 1936-1937 {The Chronological Classics, 573}

01. Walkin' And Swingin' (2:58)
02. Moten Swing (3:07)
03. Lotta Sax Appeal (2:57)
04. Git (2:53)
05. All The Jive Is Gone (2:39)
06. Froggy Bottom (3:12)
07. Bearcat Shuffle (3:03)
08. Steppin' Pretty (2:50)
09. Christopher Columbus (2:43)
10. Corky (2:29)
11. I'se A Muggin' (2:47)
12. Until The Real Thing Comes Along (2:58)
13. Puddin' Head Serenade (2:49)
14. Until The Real Thing Comes Along (3:02)
15. Blue Illusion (2:44)
16. Cloudy (2:56)
17. Give Her A Pint (And She'll Tell It All) (2:54)
18. Puddin' Head Serenade (2:37)
19. Fifty-Second Street (3:03)
20. The Lady Who Swings The Band (2:46)
21. What Will I Tell My Heart? (3:15)
22. Dedicated To You (3:23)
23. Wednesday Night Hop (3:08)
24. Skies Are Blue (3:01)



Andy Kirk And His Twelve Clouds Of Joy - 1937-1938 {The Chronological Classics, 581}

01. Downstream (2:57)
02. In The Groove (3:07)
03. Worried Over You (3:11)
04. Foolin' Myself (3:02)
05. I'm Glad For Your Sake (But I'm Sorry For Mine) (2:59)
06. I'll Get Along Somehow (2:51)
07. A Mellow Bit Of Rhythm (3:23)
08. In My Wildest Dreams (2:54)
09. Better Luck Next Time (2:50)
10. With Love In My Heart (2:44)
11. What's Mine Is Yours (3:17)
12. Why Can't We Do It Again? (3:11)
13. The Key To My Heart (3:08)
14. I Went To A Gypsy (2:52)
15. Lover, Come Back To Me! (3:16)
16. Poor Butterfly (2:53)
17. The Big Dipper (2:58)
18. Bear Down (3:03)
19. I Surrender Dear (3:08)
20. Twinklin' (3:11)
21. It Must Be True (You Are Mine - All Mine) (3:09)
22. I'll Get By (3:07)
23. Little Joe From Chicago (2:52)



Andy Kirk And His Twelve Clouds Of Joy - 1938 {The Chronological Classics, 598}

01. Bless You My Dear (3:10)
02. How Can We Be Wrong? (3:19)
03. Mess-A Stomp (3:11)
04. Toadie Toddle (2:41)
05. I Won't Tell A Soul (I Love You) (3:14)
06. What Would People Say (2:54)
07. How Much Do You Mean To Me? (3:03)
08. Jump Jack Jump (2:58)
09. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) (2:57)
10. Ghost Of Love (3:17)
11. What A Life (Trying To Live Without You) (3:17)
12. Sittin' Around And Dreamin' (3:10)
13. What's Your Story, Morning Glory? (3:13)
14. Honey (2:52)
15. September In The Rain (2:45)
16. Clouds (2:52)
17. Julius Caesar (3:17)
18. Dunkin' A Doughnut (2:57)
19. Goodbye (3:09)
20. Mary's Idea (3:02)
21. But It Didn't Mean A Thing (3:01)
22. (I Don't Believe It But) Say It Again (2:37)



Andy Kirk And His Twelve Clouds Of Joy - 1939-1940 {The Chronological Classics, 640}

01. You Set Me On Fire (2:58)
02. (I Guess) I'll Never Learn (3:13)
03. Close To Five (2:56)
04. Floyd's Guitar Blues (3:10)
05. 'I Wanna' Go Where You Go - Do What You Do Then I'll Be Happy (2:32)
06. S'posin' (2:27)
07. I'll Never Fail You (2:55)
08. Why Don't I Get Wise To Myself (2:43)
09. I'm Getting Nowhere With You (2:46)
10. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You (3:03)
11. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone (2:52)
12. Big Jim Blues (2:56)
13. Wham (Wham, Re, Bop, Boom, Bam) (3:05)
14. Love Is The Thing (2:58)
15. Why Go On Pretending (2:57)
16. It Always Will Be You (3:17)
17. Fine And Mellow (3:03)
18. Scratchin' In The Gravel (3:11)
19. Fifteen Minute Intermission (3:06)
20. Take Those Blues Away (2:51)
21. Now I Lay Me Down To Dream (2:54)
22. There Is No Greater Love (3:02)



Andy Kirk And His Twelve Clouds Of Joy - 1940-1942 {The Chronological Classics, 681}

01. Midnight Stroll (3:21)
02. Little Miss' (3:15)
03. The Count (3:11)
04. Twelfth Street Rag (2:57)
05. (Ev'rything Happened) When I Saw You (3:08)
06. If I Feel This Way Tomorrow (Then It's Love) (3:02)
07. Or Have I (2:54)
08. Cuban Boogie Woogie (2:23)
09. A Dream Dropped In (3:09)
10. Is It A Sin (My Loving You?) (3:07)
11. Ring Dem Bells (2:51)
12. Big Time Crip (3:01)
13. 47th Street Jive (3:17)
14. I'm Misunderstood (3:23)
15. No Answer (2:49)
16. Hey Lawdy Mama (Meet Me In The Bottom) (2:58)
17. Boogie Woogie Cocktail (2:48)
18. Ride On, Ride On (2:37)
19. McGhee Special (2:55)
20. Worried Life Blues (Someday, Baby) (2:29)
21. Take It And Git (3:16)
22. Hip Hip Hooray (3:00)
23. Unlucky Blues (2:50)



Andy Kirk And His Orchestra - 1943-1949 {The Chronological Classics, 1075}

01. Shorty Boo (3:02)
02. Fare Thee Honey Fare Thee Well (3:02)
03. Baby Don't You Tell Me No Lie (3:12)
04. Hippy-Dippy (2:36)
05. Get Together With The Lord (2:52)
06. I Know (3:20)
07. He's My Baby (3:24)
08. Alabama Bound (2:59)
09. Soothe Me (2:58)
10. Doggin' Man Blues (3:08)
11. I Don't Know What I'd Do Without You (3:02)
12. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (3:06)
13. Now You Tell Me (2:57)
14. Louella (3:09)
15. So Soon (3:13)
16. I'm Falling For You (3:07)
17. Little Girl, Don't Cry (2:38)
18. Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, Drinking Wine (3:08)