• Artist: Les Paul
• Flags: Compilation (best of)
• Type: Compilation
• Rating:
• Style: Traditional Pop

Review

This would be more properly titled "The Best of Les Paul at Decca," as all 12 of the songs are taken from his slim body of 1944-1947 Decca recordings. That isn't to say that these aren't quality tracks that are of substantial importance to Paul's discography, only that they certainly aren't among his best or most popular, particularly as none of them were done with Mary Ford. That qualification out of the way, these lead off with four good small-combo instrumental jazz sides from 1944, including "Begin the Beguine" and Irving Berlin's "Blue Sides," in which Paul's speedy, nimble runs are already well in evidence. Less interesting to Paul fans, since Paul is less in the forefront, are sides on which he accompanies the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, and Dick Haymes. Filling out the program are more instrumentals, including the 1945 instrumental "Hawaiian Paradise" and four 1947 tracks, among them his versions of "Steel Guitar Rag," "Caravan," and Arthur Smith's "Guitar Boogie." Because Paul had yet to record his pioneering multi-track overdubs, this early work isn't nearly as important as what he would record during his subsequent stint on Capitol, but it does serve to illustrate his solid foundation as a skilled, versatile jazz-pop guitarist. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Blue Skies		Irving Berlin	Les Paul	(2:36)
Begin the Beguine		Cole Porter	Les Paul	(2:59)
Dream Dust		Sol Marcus, Guy Wood, Eddie Seiler	Les Paul	(2:52)
Dark Eyes		Traditional	Les Paul	(2:39)
It's Been A Long, Long Time	...	Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne	Les Paul	(2:57)
Hawaiian Paradise		Harry Owens	Les Paul	(3:02)
Rumors Are Flying	...	Bennie Benjamin, George David Weiss	Les Paul	(2:54)
Steel Guitar Rag		Merle Travis, Leon McAuliffe, Cliffie Stone	Les Paul	(2:53)
Somebody Loves Me		George Gershwin, Buddy DeSylva, Ballard MacDonald	Les Paul	(3:03)
Guitar Boogie		Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith	Les Paul	(2:27)
Caravan		Irving Mills, Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol	Les Paul	(2:32)
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?	...	Frank Loesser	Les Paul	(2:24)

Credits

Les Paul (Main Performer)