VA - My Blue Heaven His 52 finest 1918-1962 (2020)

The very best of Walter Donaldson is presented in a double CD set for a magnificent addition to Retrospective’s invaluable series devoted to the great songwriters of the last century. From the title track, the five-million selling My Blue Heaven, and his breakthrough 1918 hit How Ya Gonna Keep ’Em Down On The Farm?, through to the 1987 hit for Nina Simone, My Baby Just Cares For Me, there are no fewer than 52 fine songs. Little White Lies, You’re Driving Me Crazy, Love Me Or Leave Me, Yes Sir That’s My Baby – so many gems that have never gone away. It’s time to enjoy them all anew. As with each of the songwriter issues, the roster of artists is phenomenal, chosen (mostly) from performers of the time of each song’s publication. They include Ruth Etting, Gene Austin, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby, Nick Lucas, Ted Lewis, Johnny Mercer and many others. One difference this time is that, for some of the best-loved titles, there is the bonus of an additional later version, bringing in such as Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes and The Temperance Seven.

Tracklist:
1-1. Gene Austin - My Blue Heaven (1) (03:37)
1-2. Nora Bayes - How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm After They've Seen Paree? (02:30)
1-3. Henry Burr - My Buddy (1) (02:51)
1-4. Marion Harris - Carolina in the Morning (02:59)
1-5. Nick Lucas - My Best Girl (03:02)
1-6. Gene Austin - Yes Sir, That's My Baby (02:50)
1-7. Henry Burr, Billy Murray - I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight (03:19)
1-8. Ted Lewis - That Certain Party (03:06)
1-9. Charles Kaley - What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry? (1) (03:03)
1-10. Ruth Etting - But I Do You Know I Do (02:46)
1-11. Ted Lewis - Where'd You Get Those Eyes? (02:46)
1-12. Tom Waring - It Made You Happy When You Made Me Cry (03:03)
1-13. "Whispering" Jack Smith, Whispering Jack Smith - There Ain't No Maybe in My Baby's Eyes (02:31)
1-14. Gene Austin - Thinking of You I've Grown So Lonesome (03:18)
1-15. George Olsen - At Sundown When Love Is Calling Me Home (03:13)
1-16. Ruth Etting - Sam, the Old Accordion Man (03:10)
1-17. The Rhythm Boys - Changes (02:56)
1-18. Ruth Etting - Because My Baby Don't Mean Maybe Now (02:39)
1-19. Gene Austin - Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky (02:58)
1-20. Smith Ballew - Out of the Dawn (03:15)
1-21. Ruth Etting - Love Me or Leave Me (Excerpts From "Whoopee!) [1] (03:19)
1-22. Eddie Cantor - Makin' Whoopee (Excerpts From "Whoopee!) (03:10)
1-23. Art Jarrett - My Baby Just Cares for Me (Excerpts From "Whoopee!) [1] (02:43)
1-24. Annette Hanshaw - Little White Lies (1) (02:58)
1-25. Ethel Waters - Without That Man! (02:56)
1-26. Nick Lucas - You're Driving Me Crazy (03:14)
2-27. Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - My Blue Heaven (2) (03:16)
2-28. Jack Teagarden - That's What I Like About You (03:26)
2-29. The Boswell Sisters - An Evening In Caroline (03:02)
2-30. Rollini Adrian, Adrian Rollini - You've Got Everything (02:52)
2-31. The Mills Brothers - Sleepy Head (03:08)
2-32. Ruth Etting - Riptide (02:51)
2-33. Benny Goodman, Ray Hendricks - Clouds (03:08)
2-34. Django Reinhardt, Stéhane Grappelli - I've Had My Moments (03:00)
2-35. Benny Goodman, Helen Ward - It's Been so Long (03:29)
2-36. Tommy Dorsey, Edythe Wright - You (02:52)
2-37. Billie Holiday - Did I Remember? (02:52)
2-38. Johnny Mercer, Benny Goodman - Cuckoo In the Clock (03:02)
2-39. Muggsy Spanier - At Sundown (02:36)
2-40. Lionel Hampton - My Buddy (2) (02:48)
2-41. Bing Crosby, Johnny Mercer - Mister Meadowlark (02:43)
2-42. Ella Fitzgerald - My Heart and I Decided (03:02)
2-43. Al Jolson - My Mammy (02:54)
2-44. Dick Haymes - Little White Lies (2) (03:15)
2-45. Gene Kelly - The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (03:19)
2-46. Doris Day - Love Me or Leave Me (From "Whoopee!) [2] (02:18)
2-47. Matty Matlock - What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry? (2) (02:48)
2-48. Ottilie Patterson - Tain't No Sin (02:30)
2-49. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for Me (Excerpts From "Whoopee!) [2] (03:38)
2-50. The Temperence Seven - You're Driving Me Crazy (03:57)
2-51. Clinton Ford, George Chisholm - My Little Bimbo Down On the Bamboo Isle (02:18)
2-52. Frank Sinatra - By Blue Heaven (02:26)