DJ Ryan Swift

Mike’s latest blog reminded me of a post I made on Yehoodi just about 6 years ago on the same topic of starting a swing/jazz collection.  There are a couple repeats with his list (we both love Proper Box Sets), but there are some other “must-haves” here too. 

I’d probably skew towards recommending some more classic swing if I wrote the list today but I think the following list holds up for providing 20 albums that will offer a wide range of popular styles and artists for swing dancing. 

Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington, The Great Summit - The Master Takes (2CD) [MP3] - Classic Duke & Louis at their best. Also available as a one-disc version [MP3].

Count Basie, The Count Basie Story (4CD) - Awesome Proper Box set that covers 100 Old Testament Basie tunes. Great liner notes too, if you ever see a Proper Box set, grab it. See Hamp below.

Count Basie, At Newport Live [MP3] - One of the best examples of New Testament Basie, with a who’s-who of supporting players: Jimmy Rushing, Lester Young, Jo Jones, Illinois Jacquet, Roy Eldridge, Joe Williams, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Freddie Green…

Cab Calloway, Are You Hep to the Jive? [MP3] - Vintage Cab hits with nearly all of the 22 tracks fit for dancing.

Ray Charles, Blues + Jazz (2CD) - Nice compilation of Ray’s stuff, nice for groove/blues flavor.

Duke Ellington, Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band (3CD) [MP3] - I’m trying to pick just one or two from each artist, and it’s hard picking my favorite Duke stuff. The B-W band is considered by many to the the highlight of Duke’s recording career & this has it all.

Ella Fitzgerald, Bluella: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Blues [MP3]- Another compilation, Ella on some great blues tunes, includes Smooth Sailing, Duke’s Place, I’m Walkin’ & Basella - also features great backing bands (incl. Basie’s).

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, Best of Ella & Louis [MP3] - Collects the best of Ella & Louis and Ella & Louis Again. I’ve got both original albums, but for a starter this is a great option.

  Benny Goodman, Sing, Sing, Sing [MP3] or B.G. in Hi-Fi [MP3] - Two of my favorite Goodman CDs, it’s hard to pick between the two.

Lionel Hampton, The Lionel Hampton Story (4CD) - Another Proper Box set, runs the gammut of great Hamp tunes & again has fantastic liner notes

Buddy Johnson, Walk ‘Em: The Decca Sessions - Buddy’s was a house band at the Savoy in the 50’s. Great tunes with some early R&B feel.

Jimmie Lunceford, Lunceford Special [MP3] or Swingsation - Two nice compilations of Lunceford stuff with very little overlap as I recall. Incidentally, the Swingsation series is a nice primer on any artist they covered.

Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Live in Swing City [MP3] - Wynton Marsalis & the gang cover Duke in fine fashion, recorded live at The Supper Club in NYC. You’ve probably heard all of these recordings a million times but they’re still awesome.

Lucky Millinder, Jumpin’ at the Savoy - Great stuff from 1941-1947, with Sister Rosetta Tharpe. You’ve undoubtedly heard “Shout, Sister, Shout” and “Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well” but the rest of the album is nice too. Unfortunately the Jazz Archives stuff is out of print - try grabbing Apollo Jump (2CD) used instead for the same stuff & more.

Barbara Morrison, Live at the 9:20 Special [MP3] - Full of dancers’ favorites & you can’t beat the passion for the music that flows through Barbara’s vocals. I just love that you can tell she’s having fun at this performance.

Joe Salzano & The Blue Devils, Savoy Nites - I highly doubt you can still find this anywhere, but the whole album is great. Plus it’s the first band I danced to live.

Buster Smith, The Legendary Buster Smith [MP3] - The producer dragged Buster out of semi-retirement in the 50’s in Texas to record this gem. It’s a shame it’s all he recorded on his own, and it’s only 7 tracks, but they are all out-of-this-world. Buster played with Basie very early on in K.C.

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, One Hour Mama [MP3] - Great voice, phenominal band, and good song selection from what some still call a neo band. It’s too bad they got clumped in with BBVD & CPD since they are all great jazz artists.

Jonathan Stout & His Campus Five, Crazy Rhythm [MP3] - One of my favorites of the modern era. Great song selection & great reproduction of the Swing Era sound.

Various Artists, An Anthology of Big Bang Swing 1930-1955 by the Decca Label, in my opinion the best compilation out there.

Fats Waller, A Handful of Keys [MP3] - I sure do love me some Fats and this is probably the best compilation of his stuff. I could listen to Yacht Club Swing all day long.

Jimmy Witherspoon, Jazz Me Blues [MP3] - Yet another Best Of compilation. The title pretty much says it all, not straight-forward swing but dancers love the jazz/blues/R&B mix.