Customer Reviews

The Early Years: 1930-34

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JSP Records from the U.K. has really been doing a bang-up, first-rate job with these CD box sets of classic swing jazz: they offer complete chronological catalogs of great artists, re-mastered with terrific sound, and sold at amazing prices! I've enjoyed their Django Rheinhardt, Bill Wills, and Louis Jordan box sets, and this collection of Cab Calloway and His Orchestra (the first of two) is another triumph.

This set encompasses the earliest recordings in Cab's incredible career, starting with his first session with the musicians who had once been the Missourians (they changed to the Cab Calloway orchestra when he became their singer) through his years as the top act at the Cotton Club. Before Benny Goodman made swing a commercial smash, Cab and his orchestra were swingin' hard, and you can hear in these first four years of recordings. His band leaps from hot jazz to hard swing to Cab's bizarre slow blues that became his trademark (exemplified in "Minnie the Moocher," heard in two different versions in this set). Cab Calloway was a remarkable showman, a born entertainer, a funny guy, and a unique singer. He was also an exceptional bandleader, and this extensive collection of songs lets you savor the musicianship of the boys in the band in a way that wasn't previously possible.

The first CD shows the band and Cab finding their identity. Cab seems a bit hesitant on the first track, his first recording as a leader, "Gotta Darn Good Reason (For Bein' Good)," but with the second track, a recording of the already old "St. Louis Blues," he finds his groove and starts having fun. And the fun never stops after this.

Here are some of the classic and un-earthed gems and other delightful treasures you'll find here:

Two recordings of "Minnie the Moocher," the first of which is extremely different from what people usually think of the song. (The most famous version wasn't recording until 1942). You'll also hear two of the sequels to "Minnie the Moocher": "Kickin' the Gong Around" (two versions) and "Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day." Cab does some great nonsense scatting with "Zaz Zuh Zaz," "Hotcha Razz-Ma-Tazz," "The Scat Song," and "Wah-Dee-Dah." Some of the songs have strong racial overtones that reflect the kind of shows the Cotton Club put on for the white patrons: "Yaller," "Black Rhythm," and "Strictly Cullud Affair." These are somewhat unpleasant songs if you focus on the lyrics, but extremely interesting from the historical perspective. (The excellent liner notes discuss Cab's opinion about having to sing songs like this.) And then there's the extremely naughty, but red-hot song about marijuana, "Reefer Man." Cab also croons quite well on some very pretty, slow blues numbers, even though ballad singing wasn't his strength: "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues," "Stardust," and "Six or Seven Times" are among the best tracks on these CDs. Some other personal favorites of mine: "Aw You Dog," instrumentals like "Moon Glow" and "Mood Indigo" that show how great a band was backing up Cab, and the defiant "I Gotta Go Places and Do Things," and...

Oh, there's just too much that's good on these CDs! And how can you turn it down at this price? You also get four informative booklets (actually, it's one continuous set of liner notes spread over four booklets) that detail the history of band, it's many exceptional players, and background on the racial situation of the times, which ties very closely into Cab Calloway's music. This information will help you appreciate the genius of Cab Calloway and His Orchestra even more.

And if you like this, make sure to get JSP's Volume 2 set of Cab Calloway, covering 1935-1940.

Anything to do with Cab Calloway I've got it. I'm a fan of his and always will be. These well organized CD's gives out that crisp sound of the 1930's down home jazz melody; that only Cab can sing out. This is the only CD that gives you all of his hits of the 1930's. The first recording of Minnie the moocher, Kickin' the gong around, you gotta hi de ho (To get along with me) and many more. You haven't heard Cab Calloway until you've heard him in his early years. This is a perfect introduction to your jazz collection.

This compilation of early (31-34) Calloway features excellent sound quality and a first-rate band backing up the King of Jive. At a great bargain price, this set is recommended for those who like their 30s swing served hot.

While I'm a big fan of this collection, along with the continuing collection "1935-1940", I'd be really interested in knowing if JSP is planning on putting out a collection of Cab's 1940-1947 stuff. If such a collection exists from JSP & I'm just being ignorant, please let me know!

Cab Calloway fans, you MUST own this! Sit back, close your eyes and imagine you're nodding off in the Cotton Club. I LOVE this collection. Disc 1- St James' Infirmary, worth the price alone.

THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL RECORDINGS THAT CAB CALLOWAY AND HIS BAND (THE MISSOURIANS) DID THAT MADE CAB A STAR, AND IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT WAS BEING PLAYED UP AT THE COTTON CLUB, WHERE CAB CALLOWAY WAS THE FEATURED PERFORMER AFTER THE DUKE ELLINGTON BAND DEPARTED. THE WORD I WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE IT "INFECTUOUS", EVEN WHEN HE SINGS A SAD SONG IT MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPY! IF YOU LOVE CAB CALLOWAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS COLLECTION. AFTER LISTENING FOR AWHILE, YOU'LL FEEL LIKE YOU'RE HANGIN' WITH THE KING OF SWEDEN, YOU'LL BE KICKIN' THE GONG AROUND, CHILLING IN CHINATOWN, CABBING IT UP TO HARLEM, SPENDING TIME WITH SMOKEY JOE (WHO WAS MIGHTY COKEY), LOOKING FOR MINNIE, BECOMING A JITTERBUG AND SAYING HI-DE-HI-DE-HI-DE-HO, WHICH ALL SEEM TO BE RECURRING THEMES IN A LOT THE SONGS, ALONG WITH A LOT OF NONSENSICAL SCAT SINGING, WHICH MAKES THE WHOLE THING SUBLIME AND UNFORGETTABLE.

I'm a very big Calloway fan and this is a very complete collection. Wonderfully put together and sounds just like I'm listening to an actual record. Amazing.

I will highly suggest this four disc set to everyone, a four disc set of one of the greatest jazz/blues singer and performer of the 1930's.