Harry James - Hits Collection 1938-53 (CD)

Trumpeter and bandleader Harry James was one of the most important, successful and influential personalities of the swing and big band era, his unmistakeable bravura trumpet style providing an inspiration and benchmark for trumpeters across the jazz and orchestral genres. He was hugely popular on radio, as a 'live' attraction and on record with his music not only appealing to cutting edge jazz and big band enthusiasts, but also, through his recordings of "sweeter" orchestral material, featuring the many male and female vocalists who launched their careers with his bands, capturing a wider audience to achieve a remarkable string of big-selling hits from his debut as a bandleader in the late '30s right through into the 1950's just before the dawn of the rock 'n' roll era. This great-value 71-track 3-CD set comprises just about all his records which featured in one form or another of the charts during his career, including the few that were listed as being Top 10 hits before the launch of the record sales charts in Billboard in 1940, and those which featured thereafter in one or other of the published Billboard charts or related listings. It naturally includes his No. 1 hits "Sleepy Lagoon", "I Had The Craziest Dream", "I've Heard That Song Before", "I'll Get By", "I'm Beginning to See the Light" and "It's Been a Long, Long Time". Among the featured vocalists are Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes, Helen Forrest, Kitty Kallen, Johnny McAfee, Buddy DeVito, Betty Grable, Willie Smith, Ginnie Powell, Marion Morgan, Art Lund and Dick Williams, and it also includes Harry's 1950s hits with Doris Day and Rosemary Clooney. It's a hugely entertaining overview of the commercially successful output of one of the great stylists and innovators of the big band era.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. It's the Dreer in Me
2. One O'Clock Jump
3. Ciribiribin
4. Music Makers
5. Flight of the Bumblebee
6. Trumpet Rhapsody (Part)
7. Lent to Love
8. You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)
9. A Sinner Kissed An Angel
10. Misirlou
11. I Don't Want to Walk Without You
12. Skylark
13. Easter Parade
14. Sleepy Lagoon
15. One Dozen Roses
16. Strictly Instrumental
17. But Not for Me
18. He's My Guy
19. I Cried for You (Now It's Your Turn to Cry Over Me)
20. Manhattan Serenade
21. Mister Five By Five
22. I Had the Craziest Dre
23. Daybreak
24. The Devil Sat Down and Cried

Disc: 2

1. I Remember You
2. Flash
3. I've Heard That Song Before
4. Moonlight Becomes You
5. Velvet Moon
6. Prince Charming
7. All or Nothing at All
8. I Heard You Cried Last Night
9. Two O'Clock Jump
10. Cherry
11. Jump Town
12. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)
13. Back Beat Boogie
14. On a Little Street in Singapore
15. Memphis Blues
16. Sleepy Time Gal
17. Every Day of My Life
18. Estrellita (My Little Star)
19. It's Funny to Everyone But Me
20. I'm Beginning to See the Light
21. I Don't Care Who Knows It
22. I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry
23. Yah-Ta-Ta, Yah-Ta-Ta
24. The More I See You

Disc: 3

1. If I Loved You
2. P.M
3. I'll Buy That Dre
4. It's Been a Long, Long Time
5. Autumn Serenade
6. Waitin' for the Train to Come in
7. I Can't Begin to Tell You
8. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
9. Who's Sorry Now'
10. Do You Love Me
11. And Then It's Heaven
12. This Is Always
13. Oh, But I Do
14. Jalousie (Jealousy)
15. Heartaches
16. I Tipped My Hat and Slowly Rode Away
17. Stella By Starlight
18. I Still Get Jealous
19. Mona Lisa
20. Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)
21. Castle Rock
22. You'll Never Know
23. Ruby