Cab Calloway - The Hi-De-Ho Man (His 52 finest 1930-1952) (2024)

The one and only Cabell “Cab” Calloway (1907-1994) is featured in the most comprehensive 2CD album available, covering a great cross-section of his hits and band recordings during his vintage years. When Cab sang “Hi-de-ho” in his trademark Minnie The Moocher audiences always echoed it back, loving this manic, zany character in his extravagant ‘zoot’ suits, who was a barnstorming entertainer for some 60 years. Along with Duke Ellington, he was the star attraction of Harlem’s Cotton Club, going on to become a famous ‘Sportin’ Life’ in Porgy and Bess.
“The Hi-De-Ho Man” is Retrospective’s collection of 52 of his most successful recordings. Included are 23 chart hits such as The Jumpin’ Jive, St. James’ Infirmary, Moonglow and Blues In The Night. Several songs allude to the ubiquitous ‘Minnie’ and her drug-taking habits: Kicking The Gong Around, Reefer Man and Zaz Zuh Zaz. Calloway was also no mean balladeer as his You Are The One In My Heart shows.
Most importantly, Cab’s orchestra was one of the top big bands throughout the 30s and 40s and showcased some of the great jazzmen of the time, emphasised here with 18 instrumental tracks. These feature such as Dizzy Gillespie (Pickin’ The Cabbage), Chu Berry (Ghost Of A Chance), Jonah Jones (Jonah Joins The Cab), Hilton Jefferson (Willow, Weep For Me), Milt Hinton (Plickin’ The Bass) and Cozy Cole (Crescendo In Drums). Above all, Cab Calloway’s music was always full of life.

Tracklist:
1-1. Cab Calloway - Minnie the Moocher (03:16)
1-2. Cab Calloway - Saint Louis Blues (02:55)
1-3. Cab Calloway - Some of These Days (02:59)
1-4. Cab Calloway - Nobody's Sweetheart (03:19)
1-5. Cab Calloway - St. James Infirmary Blues (03:08)
1-6. Cab Calloway - Black Rhythm (03:18)
1-7. Cab Calloway - Six or Seven Times (03:23)
1-8. Cab Calloway - You Rascal, You! (03:15)
1-9. Cab Calloway - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (03:04)
1-10. Cab Calloway - Trickeration (02:53)
1-11. Cab Calloway - Kicking the Gong Around (03:14)
1-12. Cab Calloway - The Scat Song (03:10)
1-13. Cab Calloway - Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day (03:11)
1-14. Cab Calloway - Reefer Man (03:01)
1-15. Cab Calloway - Hot Toddy (02:36)
1-16. Cab Calloway - I've Got the World on a String (03:07)
1-17. Cab Calloway - Beale Street Mama (03:11)
1-18. Cab Calloway - I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues (03:12)
1-19. Cab Calloway - Zaz Zuh Zaz (03:27)
1-20. Cab Calloway - There's a Cabin in the Cotton (03:31)
1-21. Cab Calloway - 'Long About Midnight (03:06)
1-22. Cab Calloway - Moonglow (03:12)
1-23. Cab Calloway - At the Clam-Bake Carnival (02:32)
1-24. Cab Calloway - Ratamacue (02:28)
1-25. Cab Calloway - The Ghost of Smoky Joe (02:48)
1-26. Cab Calloway - Jumpin' Jive (02:52)
1-27. Cab Calloway - Crescendo in Drums (02:50)
1-28. Cab Calloway - Pluckin' the Bass (02:44)
1-29. Cab Calloway - Pickin' the Cabbage (02:50)
1-30. Cab Calloway - Calling All Bars (02:51)
1-31. Cab Calloway - The Lone Arranger (02:33)
1-32. Cab Calloway - Come On with the "Come On" (02:59)
1-33. Cab Calloway - Ghost of a Chance (03:03)
1-34. Cab Calloway - Bye-Bye, Blues (02:55)
1-35. Cab Calloway - Boo-Wah, Boo-Wah (02:51)
1-36. Cab Calloway - Cupid's Nightmare (02:42)
1-37. Cab Calloway - Are You Hep to the Jive? (02:51)
1-38. Cab Calloway - Lonesome Nights (03:01)
1-39. Cab Calloway - Willow, Weep for Me (03:24)
1-40. Cab Calloway - You Are the One in My Heart (03:13)
1-41. Cab Calloway - Jonah Joins the Cab (02:33)
1-42. Cab Calloway - Geechy Joe (03:08)
1-43. Cab Calloway - Special Delivery (02:58)
1-44. Cab Calloway - Take the "A" Train (03:05)
1-45. Cab Calloway, Tyree Glenn - Hey, Doc! (03:17)
1-46. Cab Calloway, The Palmer Brothers - Blues in the Night (03:11)
1-47. Cab Calloway - Tappin' Off (02:44)
1-48. Cab Calloway - A Smo-o-o-oth One (03:10)
1-49. Cab Calloway - The Honeydripper (02:59)
1-50. Cab Calloway - The Calloway Boogie (03:05)
1-51. Cab Calloway - Everybody Eats When They Come to My House (02:47)
1-52. Alexander Smallens - It Ain't Necessarily So (02:49)