Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - The Chronological Classics, 13 Albums

Flamboyant swing bandleader and scat singer who personified 1930s Harlem style and led one of the era's finest bands.

One of the great entertainers, Cab Calloway was a household name by 1932, and never really declined in fame. A talented jazz singer and a superior scatter, Calloway's gyrations and showmanship on-stage at the Cotton Club sometimes overshadowed the quality of his always excellent bands. The younger brother of singer Blanche Calloway (who made some fine records before retiring in the mid-'30s), Cab grew up in Baltimore, attended law school briefly, and then quit to try to make it as a singer and a dancer. For a time, he headed the Alabamians, but the band was not strong enough to make it in New York. The Missourians, an excellent group that had previously recorded heated instrumentals but had fallen upon hard times, worked out much better. Calloway worked in the 1929 revue Hot Chocolates, started recording in 1930, and in 1931 hit it big with both "Minnie the Moocher" and his regular engagement at the Cotton Club. Calloway was soon (along with Bill Robinson, Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington) the best-known black entertainer of the era. He appeared in quite a few movies (including 1943's Stormy Weather), and "Minnie the Moocher" was followed by such recordings as "Kicking the Gong Around," "Reefer Man," "Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day," "You Gotta Hi-De-Ho," "The Hi-De-Ho Miracle Man," and even "Mister Paganini, Swing for Minnie." Among Calloway's sidemen through the years (who received among the highest salaries in the business) were Walter "Foots" Thomas, Bennie Payne, Doc Cheatham, Eddie Barefield, Shad Collins, Cozy Cole, Danny Barker, Milt Hinton, Mario Bauza, Chu Berry, Dizzy Gillespie, Jonah Jones, Tyree Glenn, Panama Francis, and Ike Quebec. His 1942 recording of "Blues in the Night" was a big hit.

With the end of the big band era, Calloway had to reluctantly break up his orchestra in 1948, although he continued to perform with his Cab Jivers. Since George Gershwin had originally modeled the character Sportin' Life in Porgy and Bess after Calloway, it was fitting that Cab got to play him in a 1950s version. Throughout the rest of his career, Calloway made special appearances for fans who never tired of hearing him sing "Minnie the Moocher."



Tracks:



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1930-1931 {The Chronological Classics, 516}

01. Gotta Darn Good Reason Now (For Bein' Good) (3:13)
02. St. Louis Blues (2:56)
03. Sweet Jenny Lee (3:07)
04. Happy Feet (2:39)
05. Yaller (3:27)
06. The Viper's Drag (3:22)
07. Is That Religion? (2:55)
08. Some Of These Days (2:57)
09. Nobody's Sweetheart (3:20)
10. St. James Infirmary (3:04)
11. Dixie Vagabond (3:02)
12. So Sweet (2:58)
13. Minnie The Moocher (3:12)
14. Doin' The Rhumba (2:57)
15. Mood Indigo (2:29)
16. Farewell Blues (2:40)
17. I'm Crazy Bout My Baby (2:38)
18. Creole Love Song (2:56)
19. The Levee Low-Down (2:58)
20. Blues In My Heart (2:55)
21. Black Rhythm (3:14)
22. Six or Seven Times (3:24)
23. My Honey's Lovin Arms (3:07)
24. The Nightmare (2:51)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1931-1932 {The Chronological Classics, 526}

01. It Looks Like Susie (2:56)
02. Sweet Georgia Brown (2:36)
03. Basin Street Blues (2:57)
04. Bugle Call Rag (2:31)
05. You Rascal, You (3:15)
06. Stardust (3:28)
07. You Can't Stop Me From Lovin' You (2:54)
08. You Dog (2:59)
09. Somebody Stole My Gal (2:50)
10. Ain't No Gal In This Town (3:18)
11. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (3:02)
12. Trickeration (2:56)
13. Kickin' The Gong Around (3:11)
14. Down-Hearted Blues (2:53)
15. Without Rhythm (2:45)
16. Corinne Corinna (3:04)
17. Stack O' Lee Blues (3:05)
18. The Scat Song (3:09)
19. Cabin In The Cotton (4:04)
20. Strictly Cullud Affair (3:05)
21. Aw You Dawg (2:49)
22. Minnie The Moocher's Wedding Day (3:14)
23. Dinah (3:10)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1932 {The Chronological Classics, 537}

01. How Come You Do Me Like You Do (2:55)
02. Old Yazoo (3:02)
03. Angeline (2:54)
04. I'm Now Prepared To Tell The World It's You (2:57)
05. Swanee Lullaby (2:43)
06. Reefer Man (3:00)
07. Old Man Of The Mountain (2:55)
08. You Gotta Ho-De-Ho (To Get Along With Me) (3:10)
09. Strange As It Seems (3:20)
10. This Time It's Love (3:00)
11. Git Along (2:44)
12. Hot Toddy (2:43)
13. I've Got The World On A String (3:13)
14. Harlem Holiday (2:52)
15. Dixie Doorway (3:02)
16. Wah-Dee-Dah (3:06)
17. Sweet Rhythm (2:55)
18. Beale Street Mama (3:10)
19. That's What I Hate About Love (3:14)
20. The Man From Harlem (3:09)
21. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (3:17)
22. My Sunday Gal (3:00)
23. Eadie Was A Lady (2:55)
24. Gotta Go Places And Do Things (2:45)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1932-1934 {The Chronological Classics, 544}

01. Hot Water (2:54)
02. Doin' The New Low-Down (3:10)
03. Evenin' (2:47)
04. Harlem Hospitality (2:38)
05. The Lady With The Fan (3:17)
06. Harlem Camp Meeting (3:08)
07. Zaz Zuh Zaz (3:27)
08. Father's Got His Glasses On (3:10)
09. Minnie The Moocher (3:37)
10. The Scat Song (2:46)
11. Kickin' The Gong Around (3:24)
12. There's A Cabin In The Cotton (3:32)
13. I Learned About Love From Her (3:08)
14. Little Town Gal (3:17)
15. 'Long About Midnight (3:05)
16. Moon Glow (3:11)
17. Jitter Bug (3:12)
18. Hotcha Razz-Ma-Tazz (3:15)
19. Margie (3:09)
20. Emaline (2:53)
21. Chinese Rhythm (2:49)
22. Moonlight Rhapsody (3:23)
23. Avalon (3:26)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1934-1937 {The Chronological Classics, 544}

01. Weakness (3:07)
02. Good Sauce From The Gravy Bowl (3:11)
03. Keep That Hi-De-Hi In Your Soul (2:59)
04. Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today) (3:06)
05. I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) (3:06)
06. Nagasaki (2:59)
07. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home? (3:16)
08. I Love To Sing (3:08)
09. You're The Cure For What Ails Me (3:03)
10. Save Me, Sister (3:04)
11. Love Is The Reason (3:15)
12. When You're Smiling (3:21)
13. Jess's Natu'lly Lazy (3:11)
14. Are You In Love With Me Again? (3:11)
15. Copper Colored Gal (2:47)
16. Frisco Flo (3:27)
17. The Wedding Of Mr. And Mrs. Swing (3:21)
18. The Hi-De-Ho Miracle Man (3:17)
19. Don't Know If I'm Comin' Or Goin' (2:44)
20. My Gal Mezzanine (2:42)
21. That Man Is Here Again (2:38)
22. Peckin' (2:59)
23. Congo (2:35)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1937-1938 {The Chronological Classics, 568}

01. Swing, Swing, Swing (2:44)
02. Wake Up And Live (2:31)
03. Manhattan Jam (2:40)
04. Moon At Sea (3:01)
05. I'm Always In The Mood For You (2:58)
06. She's Tall, She's Tan, She's Terrific (2:36)
07. Go South, Young Man (2:13)
08. Mama, I Wanna Make Rhythm (3:06)
09. Hi-De-Ho Romeo (2:51)
10. Queen Isabella (2:47)
11. Savage Rhythm (2:35)
12. Every Day's A Holiday (2:29)
13. Jubilee (2:33)
14. In An Old English Village (3:12)
15. (Just An) Error In The News (2:51)
16. A Minor Breakdown (Rustle Of Swing) (2:28)
17. Bugle Blues (2:28)
18. One Big Union For Two (2:56)
19. Doing The Reactionary (2:42)
20. Rustle Of Swing (3:00)
21. Three Swings And Out (2:16)
22. I Like Music (Played With A Swing Like This) (2:37)
23. Foolin' With You (2:34)
24. Azure (2:49)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1938-1939 {The Chronological Classics, 576}

01. Skrontch (2:54)
02. We're Breakin' Up A Lovely Affair (3:01)
03. Peck-A-Doodle-Do (2:53)
04. At The Clambake Carnival (2:32)
05. Hoy-Hoy (2:53)
06. Miss Hallelujah Brown (2:25)
07. The Congo-Conga (3:03)
08. The Boogie-Woogie (2:39)
09. There's A Sunny Side To Everything (2:27)
10. Shout, Shout, Shout (2:37)
11. Mister Paganini - Swing For Minnie (2:52)
12. Jive (Page One Of Hepster's Dictionary) (3:01)
13. Do You Wanna Jump, Children (2:25)
14. I'm Madly In Love With You (2:59)
15. April In My Heart (2:39)
16. Blue Interlude (2:38)
17. F.D.R. Jones (2:24)
18. Deep In A Dream (3:01)
19. Tee-Um, Tee-Um, Tee-I, Tahiti (2:12)
20. Angels With Dirty Faces (2:59)
21. Long, Long Ago (2:26)
22. Afraid Of Love (2:33)
23. Ratamacue (2:28)
24. Ad-De-Dey (2:44)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1939-1940 {The Chronological Classics, 595}

01. A New Moon And An Old Serenade (2:37)
02. One Look At You (2:47)
03. The Ghost Of Smokey Joe (2:47)
04. Floogie Walk (2:19)
05. Trylon Swing (2:48)
06. Utt Da Zay (The Tailor's Song) (2:56)
07. Crescendo In Drums (2:49)
08. (Hep-Hep!) The Jumpin' Jive (2:50)
09. For The Last Time I Cried Over You (2:51)
10. Twee-Twee-Tweet (2:46)
11. Pluckin' The Bass (2:46)
12. I Ain't Gettin' Nowhere Fast (2:47)
13. Chili Con Conga (3:02)
14. Tarzan Of Harlem (2:49)
15. Jiveformation Please (2:31)
16. Vuelva (2:55)
17. A Bee Gezindt (2:53)
18. Give, Baby, Give (2:37)
19. Sincere Love (2:44)
20. Do It Again (2:55)
21. Pickin' The Cabbage (2:50)
22. Chop, Chop, Charlie Chan (From China) (3:02)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1940 {The Chronological Classics, 614}

01. Paradiddle (3:04)
02. Boog It (2:56)
03. Calling All Bars (2:52)
04. Do I Care, No No (2:53)
05. The Lone Arranger (2:32)
06. Feelin' Tip Top (2:44)
07. Hard Times (3:26)
08. Hi-De-Ho Serenade (2:59)
09. Who's Yehoodi? (3:10)
10. Fifteen Minute Intermission (2:53)
11. Rhapsody In Rhumba (2:49)
12. Come On With The 'Come On' (2:58)
13. (I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance (With You) (3:02)
14. Bye Bye Blues (2:55)
15. Papa's In Bed With His Britches On (2:36)
16. Silly Old Moon (3:07)
17. Boo-Wah Boo-Wah (2:50)
18. Sunset (3:14)
19. Yo Eta Cansa (3:02)
20. Cupid's Nightmare (2:42)
21. Levee Lullaby (3:11)
22. Are You Hep To The Jive? (3:07)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1940-1941 {The Chronological Classics, 629}

01. Goin' Conga (2:53)
02. Hot Air (2:55)
03. Lonesome Nights (3:01)
04. A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird (2:55)
05. The Workers' Train (3:18)
06. North Of The Mohawk Trail (3:26)
07. Make Yourself At Home (2:52)
08. Run Little Rabbit (3:12)
09. Willow Weep For Me (3:24)
10. You Are The One In My Heart (3:13)
11. Are You All Reet? (3:06)
12. Ebony Silhouette (2:49)
13. Hep Cat's Love Song (3:06)
14. Jonah Joins The Cab (2:35)
15. Geechy Joe (3:08)
16. Special Delivery (2:59)
17. Take The 'A' Train (3:05)
18. Chattanooga Choo Choo (2:41)
19. My Gal (2:44)
20. St. James Infirmary (3:20)
21. St. James Infirmary (2:47)
22. We Go Well Together (3:08)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1941-1942 {The Chronological Classics, 682}

01. Hey, Doc! (3:16)
02. I See A Million People (But All I Can See Is You) (3:01)
03. Conchita (Cares Nothing About Love) (2:52)
04. Blues In The Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me) (3:10)
05. Mrs. Finnigan (2:48)
06. My Coo-Coo Bird (Could Swing) (2:52)
07. Says Who? Says You, Says I! (2:28)
08. The Mermaid Song (2:48)
09. Who Calls? (3:11)
10. Nain Nain (No No) (3:16)
11. Tappin' Off (2:43)
12. A Smo-o-o-oth One (3:08)
13. The Moment I Laid Eyes On You (3:17)
14. Virginia, Georgia And Caroline (2:35)
15. Lordy (2:54)
16. I Want To Rock (2:53)
17. I'll Be Around (3:10)
18. Tain't No Good (3:14)
19. Minnie The Moocher (3:16)
20. Let's Go Joe (3:09)
21. Ogeechee River Lullaby (3:38)
22. I Get The Neck Of The Chicken (2:45)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1942-1947 {The Chronological Classics, 996}

01. What's Buzzin', Cousin? (2:42)
02. Chant Of The Jungle (3:23)
03. I'm Making Believe (1:53)
04. Foo A Little Ballyhoo (3:05)
05. Let's Take The Long Way Home (2:40)
06. Foo A Little Bally-hoo (3:04)
07. All At Once (2:54)
08. Dawn Time (3:05)
09. If This Isn't Love (3:00)
10. A Blue Serge Suit With A Belt In The Back (2:29)
11. Here I Go Just Dreamin' Away (2:50)
12. The Honeydripper (2:59)
13. Afternoon Moon (3:13)
14. Hey Now, Hey Now (2:59)
15. I Got A Gal Named Nettie (3:10)
16. Hi-De-Ho Man (3:03)
17. Necessity (2:55)
18. Oh Grandpa (3:02)
19. Don't Falter At The Alter (2:43)
20. Give Me Twenty Nickels For A Dollar (3:04)
21. The Jungle King (3:18)
22. Two Blocks Down, Turn To The Left (3:13)
23. San Francisco Fan (3:21)
24. The Calloway Boogie (3:03)
25. Everybody Eats When They Come To My House (2:46)



Cab Calloway And His Orchestra - 1949-1955 {The Chronological Classics, 1287}

01. Baby It's Cold Outside (2:21)
02. The Huckle-Buck (2:30)
03. Ol' Joe Louis (2:35)
04. Your Voice (2:39)
05. Rooming House Boogie (3:24)
06. I Beeped When I Shoulda Bopped (2:38)
07. The Duck Trot (3:14)
08. Pero Que Jelengue (2:47)
09. The Keeper Of The Blues (2:48)
10. La Mucura (2:55)
11. Que Pasa Chica (2:34)
12. Shot Gun Boogie (3:04)
13. Frosty Morning (2:39)
14. One For My Baby (3:32)
15. I'll Get By (2:50)
16. Minnie The Moocher (3:08)
17. Gambler's Guitar (Gamblers' Blues) (2:34)
18. Hey Joe (2:28)
19. Jilted (2:10)
20. Such A Night (2:10)
21. Unchained Melody (2:49)
22. Learning The Blues (2:36)