Volume One - 1930-1934

Known for his Zoot suits, hep talk and hi-de-ho style, Cab Calloway was one of the major figures of early jazz, who, along with Louis Armstrong, elevated scat singing to great heights. Cab's style is interesting, as most of the great jazz figures of the age seem to have come form New Orlenas (Armstrong, Bechet, Biederbecke, etc), but Calloway came from Harlem, and his music and themes reflect this.This great 4 CD box set collects together 94 tracks form the first 4 years of his career. They show his progression from bandleader covering mainly old standards, to the first success of `Minnie The Moocher', in which he found his own style and set the template for later recordings (many of which were virtual carbon copies of Minnie). Included along the way are definitive versions of `St James Infirmiary', and `You Rascal You'.The tracks have been expertly remastered by R.T Davies, who also did the `Louis Armstrong Complete Hot Fives And Sevens' set. Once again he's done a great job, and these recordings sound as good as they have ever done. Included are short essays about Cab, and full personnel details.Highly recommended for anyone with even the slightest interest in early jazz, and great scat singing. Also check out the previously mentioned Louis Armstrong set, I'd also recommend the Proper box sets of Bix Beiderbecke and Sidney Bechet.

Cab Calloway was born"Cabell "Cab" Calloway III on Chrismas day 25th December 1907 and died on 18th November, 1994.Many younger people, myself included were introduced to Cab via his performance in The Blues Brothers.But of course there was a long career before that for Cab.Now at the time of writing, Amazon have not given us the track listings so here they are.If I've made a mistake just add a note and before you can sing Minnie the Moocher I will correct the mistake and credit you with spotting it.The Label Rell to Reel release these cheap as chips collections, they remaster the sound and that is about it.You get a lot of music for a low price.Track List:1. Gotta Darn Good Reason Now (For Bein' Good)2. St. Louis Blues3. Sweet Jenny Lee4. Happy Feet5. Yaller6. The Viper'S Drag7. Is That Religion?8. Some Of These Days9. Nobody's Sweetheart10. St. James Infirmary11. Dixie Vagabond12. So Sweet13. Minnie The Moocher14. Doin' The Rhumba15. Mood Indigo16. Farewell Blues17. I'm Crazy Bout My Baby18. Creole Love Song19. The Levee Low-Down20. Blues In My Heart21. Black Rhythm22. Six Or Seven Times23. My Honey's Lovin' Arms24. The Nightmare1. It Looks Like Susie2. Sweet Georgia Brown3. Basin Street Blues4. Bugle Call Rag5. You Rascal, You6. Stardust7. You Can't Stop Me From Lovin' You8. You Dog9. Somebody Stole My Gal10. Ain't No Gal In This Town11. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea12. Trickeration13. Kickin' The Gong Around14. Down-Hearted Blues15. Without Rhythm16. Corinne Corinna17. Stack O'Lee Blues18. The Scat Song19. Cabin In The Cotton20. Strictly Cullud Affair21. Aw You Dawg22. Minnie The Moocher's Wedding Day23. Dinah1. How Come You Do Me Like You Do2. Old Yazoo3. Angeline4. I'm Now Prepared To Tell The World It's You5. Swanee Lullaby6. Reefer Man7. Old Man Of The Mountain8. You Gotta Ho-De-Ho (To Get Along With Me)9. Strange As It Seems10. This Times It's Love11. Git Along12. Hot Toddy13. I've Got The World On A String14. Harlem Holiday15. Dixie Doorway16. Wah-Dee-Dah17. Sweet Rhythm18. Beale Street Mama19. That's What I Hate About Love20. The Man From Harlem21. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues22. My Sunday Gal23. Eadie Was A Lady24. Gotta Go Places And Do Things1. Hot Water2. Doin' The New Low-Down3. Evenin'4. Harlem Hospitality5. The Lady With The Fan6. Harlem Camp Meeting7. Zaz Zuh Zaz8. Father's Got His Glasses On9. Minnie The Moocher10. The Scat Song11. Kickin' The Gong Around12. There'S A Cabin In The Cotton13. I Learned About Love From Her14. Little Town Gal15. 'Long About Midnight16. Moon Glow17. Jitter Bug18. Hotcha Razz-Ma-Tazz19. Margie20. Emaline21. Chinese Rhythm22. Moonlight Rhapsody23. Avalon24. Weakness25. The Humba Rhumba.