| Artist |
Song |
Album |
Label |
Comments |
First half of today's show is a tribute to Alberta Hunter! | |
|
| Alberta Hunter w/ Fletcher Henderson's Novelty Orchestra |
Bring Back the Joys |
Alberta Hunter Vol. 1 (1921-1923) |
Document |
rec 1921 this was from Hunter's first recording session, for the Black Swan label |
| Alberta Hunter |
Down Hearted Blues |
Alberta Hunter Vol. 1 (1921-1923) |
Document |
rec 1922 Hunter wrote this song which became a huge hit for Bessie Smith, but the songwriting credits were stolen by Ink Williams who was in charge of "race records" at Paramount. Hunter only ever received $368 in royalties for the song |
| Alberta Hunter & Eubie Blake |
Jazzin' Baby Blues (Take 4) |
Alberta Hunter Vol. 1 (1921-1923) |
Document |
rec 1922 Hunter worked with many of the best musicians of the day including Eubie Blake. She had a grudge against Blake's partner Noble Sissle, because Sissle considered Hunter too dark to hire her for Sissle & Blake's Broadway shows |
| Alberta Hunter & Henderson's Dance Orchestra |
Aggravatin' Papa (Don't You Try to Two-Time Me) |
Aggravatin' Papa (Recordings of 1922-1923) |
|
rec 1923 this was a hit recording for Hunter |
|
| Alberta Hunter |
Bleeding Hearted Blues |
Alberta Hunter Vol. 1 (1921-1923) |
Document |
rec 1923 |
| Alberta Hunter & the Original Memphis Five |
T'Ain'T Nobody's Biz-ness |
Alberta Hunter Vol. 1 (1921-1923) |
Document |
rec 1923 sources disagree over whether this track was recorded with the Original Memphis Five. If it was, Hunter was the first Black woman in the US to make a recording backed by a white band |
| Alberta Hunter w/ The Red Onion Jazz Babies |
Everybody Loves My Baby |
Alberta Hunter Vol. 3 (1924-1927) |
Document |
rec 1924 band included Louis Armstrong & Sidney Bechet |
| Alberta Hunter & Fats Waller |
Beale Street Blues |
Fats Waller Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1 |
JSP |
red 1927 note Hunter says "play that thing Mr. Waller" during the song |
|
| Alberta Hunter w/ Jack Jackson & His Orchestra |
Miss Otis Regrets |
The London Sessions 1934 |
DRG |
rec 1934 this was recorded while Hunter lived in Europe. During this time she starred in Showboat on London's West End; she played Queenie opposite Paul Robeson |
| Alberta Hunter |
You Can't Tell The Difference After Dark |
Alberta Hunter Vol. 4 (1927-c.1946) |
Document |
rec 1935 |
| Alberta Hunter |
Fine and Mellow |
Alberta Hunter Vol. 4 (1927-c.1946) |
Document |
rec 1939 band included Lil Hardin Armstrong on piano |
| Alberta Hunter |
My Castle's Rockin' |
Alberta Hunter Vol. 4 (1927-c.1946) |
Document |
rec 1940 the line "bust your conk" means to work hard to the point of exhaustion, like "break your neck" |
|
| Alberta Hunter |
Remember My Name |
Remember My Name (Original Soundtrack) |
Columbia |
rec 1977 Hunter recorded new music for the soundtrack to this Robert Altman movie. Hunter also had a small role in the movie |
| Alberta Hunter |
The Darktown Strutter's Ball |
Amtrak Blues |
Columbia |
rec 1980 Hunter was 85 when she made this album |
| Alberta Hunter |
Two-Fisted (Double-Jointed Rough and Ready Man) |
Downhearted Blues |
Rockbeat Records |
rec 1981 live recording at the Cookery. Hunter got a regular engagement there in 1977at the age of 82 which revived her career. She stayed at the Cookery for six years & only stopped shortly before her death |
the next hour of the show will be a tribute to bandleader Bennie Moten! | |
|
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Elephant's Wobble |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1923 at Moten's first recording session. He was the first jazz band from Kansas City to record |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Kater Street Rag |
1923-1927 |
Chronological Classics |
rec 1925 an excellent example of Moten's hot music style in the mid-20s |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Thick Lip Stomp, Pt. 1 |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1926 |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
South |
Kansas City Breakdown |
Frog |
rec 1928 this was Moten's biggest hit up to this point |
|
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
The Jones Law Blues |
1929-1930 |
Chronological Classics |
rec 1929 the first recording after Basie (still called "Bill Basie" at this point),Eddie Durham and Hot Lips Page had all joined the band |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Band Box Shuffle |
1929-1930 |
Chronological Classics |
rec 1929 same session as Jones Law Blues. Nice solo by Basie who had co-songwriting credit on this track |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Oh! Eddie |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1929 song highlights trombonist Eddie Durham. also note accordion solo by Bennie Moten's nephew Buster Moten |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra v/ Jimmy Rushing |
Won't You Be My Baby |
1929-1930 |
Chronological Classics |
rec 1930 Jimmy Rushing's first recording with Bennie Moten |
|
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra v/ Jimmy Rushing |
That Too, Do, Pt. 1 |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1930 song highlights trumpeter Hot Lips Page |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra v/ Jimmy Rushing |
Liza Lee |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1930 Jimmy Rushing is the featured performer but this also has a nice muted trumpet solo by Hot Lips Page |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra v/ Bill Basie |
Somebody Stole My Gal |
1929-1930 |
Chronological Classics |
rec 1930 vocals by Count Basie! Still known as "Bill" here, he hadn't picked up the "Count" nickname yet |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra v/ Jimmy Rushing |
When I'm Alone |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1930 |
|
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Moten Swing |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1932 this was written by Eddie Durham, he said he wrote it on the fly when they needed more material for a show. It became a theme song not just for the Bennie Moten orchestra but for Kansas City jazz |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Milenberg Joys |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1932 all songs in this set were recorded at Moten's last session, in Dec 1932 |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Toby |
Big Ben |
Proper UK |
rec 1932 this track features sax player Ben Webster who Moten had recruited into the band |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Prince of Wails |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1932 note Basie's killer solo in the first half |
| Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra |
Lafayette |
The Bennie Moten Collection 1923-32 |
Acrobat |
rec 1932 my favorite track from Moten's final session |
