AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Albums series with a re-mastered 2CD release from Helen Humes, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details;
“Songs I Like To Sing”; “Swingin’ With Humes”; “Helen Humes” plus a bonus “album” of 14 Classic vintage singles.
AVID will admit we have taken our time in paying tribute to the great Helen Humes, but we wanted to get it right, we wanted to select the best albums that truly captured Miss Hume’s huge vocal talents. We had her first three albums already lined up when she decided to take a break from recording that lasted until 1973! How would we make up our fourth album? How about some of her early singles? Hey presto, with a little bit of searching we found 14 super sides recorded by Miss Humes between 1927 and 1955. Our double album set was complete. We decided to start CD1 with her second and third alums and follow on CD2 with her first release followed by the classic early singles, we think it worked out pretty well. Helen Humes, born in Louisville Kentucky in 1913 was steeped in the blues and gospel music from a young age via the church and this comes across strongly in her vocal performances. She performed with amongst others the Harry James big band, Count Basie’s Orchestra and was accompanied by such musical luminaries as likes of Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson! The high regard she was held in can be seen by the incredible line up of jazz musicians who are featured on these fine selections including the following... Art Pepper, Ben Webster, Teddy Edwards, Al Porcino, Shelly Manne, Stu Williamson, Andre Previn, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, Joe Gordon, Wynton Kelly, Benny Carter, Frank Rosolino, Mel Lewis and on the classic singles she is backed by amongst others Bill Doggett, Count Basie, Buck Clayton, Harry James and Marshall Royal.
Check out:- Ernestine Anderson (AMSC1170); Billie Holiday (AMSC1329); Betty Carter (AMSC1132); Della Reese (AMSC1295); Dakota Staton (AMSC1259); Tony Bennett (AMSC1391); Joe Williams (AMSC1389); Nancy Wilson (AMSC1349); Dinah Washington (AMSC1367); Sarah Vaughan (AMSC1352); Abbey Lincoln (AMSC1302); Teddy Edwards (AMSC1179); Marty Paich (AMSC1173); Wynton Kelly (AMSC1165);
CD1
1-12: ‘Songs I Like To Sing!’
1. If I Could Be With You
2. Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me
3. Mean To Me
4. Every Now And Then
5. I Want A Roof Over My Head
6. St. Louis Blues
7. You’re Driving Me Crazy
8. My Old Flame
9. Million Dollar Secret
10. Love Me Or Leave Me
11. Imagination
12. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone
13-24: ‘Swingin’ With Humes’
13. When Day Is Done
14. Home (When Shadows Fall)
15. There’ll Be Some Changes Made
16. Some Day My Prince Will Come
17. I’m Confessin’
18. S’posin’
19. Pennies From Heaven
20. The Very Thought Of You
21. Baby Won’t You Please Come Home
22. Solitude
23. I Surrender Dear
24. My Blue Heaven
CD2
1-12: ‘Helen Humes’
1. You Can Depend On Me
2. Trouble In Mind
3. Among My Souvenirs
4. Ain’t Misbehavin’
5. Star Dust
6. Bill Bailey
7. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
8. A Good Man Is Hard To Find
9. Bill
10. ‘Taint Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do
11. I Got It Bad And That ‘Aint Good
12. When The Saints Go Marching In
13-26: ‘Classic Singles 1927-55’
13. If Papa Has Outside Lovin’
14. Garlic Blues
15. It’s The Dreamer In Me
16. Blues With Helen
17. Blame It On My Last Affair
18. Fortune Tellin’ Man
19. Be Baba Leba
20. Blue Prelude
21. Central Avenue Boogie
22. They Raided The Joint
23. Today I Sing The Blues
24. Married Man Blues
25. Rock Me To Sleep
26. Real Fine Daddy
