The Original V-Disc Collection

• Artist: Various Artists
• Total Time: 146:51
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Jazz

Review

This two-CD set contains 40 selections taken from V-Discs, special recordings made specifically for servicemen abroad during World War II. Since a Musicians Union recording strike was taking place during the period, these performances are even more valuable than usual because they document musicians at a time when they were not on commercial records. Nearly all of the music was previously included in Time/Life's four-CD V-Disc set but those collectors who do not have that reissue will find the selections of great interest. Not all of the performances are jazz (Marian Anderson, Perry Como, Andre Kostelanetz, Josh White, Paul Robeson and Kay Kyser make appearances) but most are and the highlights are many: Hot Lips Page's "The Sheik of Araby," Pee Wee Russell's strange vocal on "Pee Wee Speaks," Louis Jordan's "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby," Tony Pastor's alternate lyrics to "Makin' Whoopee," Johnny Long's "In a Shanty in Old Shantytown," a re-creation of The Original Dixieland Jazz Band's version of "Tiger Rag," Woody Herman's early rendition of "Apple Honey" and Art Tatum's reworking of "Liza." ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
After You've Gone	Turner Layton, Henry Creamer	Benny Goodman & His Orchestra	(3:12)
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child	Traditional	Marian Anderson	(3:25)
Just a Gigolo	Leonello Casucci, Irving Caesar, Julius Brammer	Louis Prima & His Band	(4:23)
Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe	E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Harold Arlen	Woody Herman & His Orchestra	(4:32)
Jack Armstrong Blues	Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden	Louis Armstrong, V-Disc All Stars, Jack Teagarden	(4:52)
Twilight Time	Buck Ram, Al Nevins, Alan Dunn	The Three Suns	(3:24)
Goodbye Sue	Lou Ricca, Jimmy Rule, Jules Loman	V-Disc All Stars, Perry Como	(3:26)
I Love You	Harry Archer, Harlan Thompson	André Kostelanetz & His Orchestra	(4:29)
Just You, Just Me (Lyrics)	Jesse Greer, Raymond Klages		(3:10)
Tail-End Charlie	Bill Finegan		(2:39)
The Sheik of Araby	Francis Wheeler, Harry Beasley Smith, Ted Snyder	V-Disc All Stars, Hot Lips Page	(5:35)
Pee Wee Speaks	Muggsy Spanier, Pee Wee Russell	Muggsy Spanier	(4:56)
Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? (Lyrics)	Louis Jordan, Bill Austin	Tympany G-Five, Louis Jordan	(2:40)
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen	Traditional	Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra, Kay Starr	(3:58)
Come Back to Sorrento	Ernesto de Curtis	Phil Brito	(2:22)
Waltzing Matilda	Marie Cowan, A.B. Paterson	Josh White	(3:33)
My Reverie	Larry Clinton	Bea Wain, Vaughn Monroe	(2:19)
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning	Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers	Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra	(3:58)
Makin' Whoopee	Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson	Tony Pastor & his Orchestra	(4:44)
In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town	Joe Young, Little Jack Little, John Siras	Johnny Long	(2:40)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Flying Home	Sydney Robin, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman	Red Norvo & His Orchestra	(4:15)
Harvard Blues	Count Basie, Tab Smith, George Frazier	Count Basie Orchestra, Jimmy Rushing	(4:31)
If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)	Henry Creamer, James P. Johnson	V-Disc All Stars, Jack Teagarden	(5:49)
I Can't Give You Anything But Love	Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh	Lena Horne, Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra	(3:21)
Paramount on Parade	Jack King, Elsie Janis	Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra	(3:26)
Sharecroppin' Blues		Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra, Kay Starr	(4:01)
Tiger Rag	Larry Shields, James LaRocca, Harry DaCosta, Henry Ragas, Tony Sbarbaro, Eddie Edwards	Original Dixieland Jazz Band	(2:42)
I'm Goin' to Tell God All O' My Troubles	Traditional	Paul Robeson	(2:26)
Pistol Packin' Mama	Al Dexter	Don Redman & His Orchestra	(3:34)
Apple Honey	Woody Herman	Woody Herman & His Orchestra	(4:36)
Stormy Weather	Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler	Glenn Miller	(4:20)
Downhearted Blues	Alberta Hunter, Lovie Austin	Mildred Bailey	(5:09)
Minuet/Mazurka			(3:49)
Honeysuckle Rose	Andy Razaf, Fats Waller	Hazel Scott	(4:00)
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1	Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky	Freddy Martin & His Orchestra	(3:13)
Singin' in the Rain	Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed	Hal McIntyre	(3:07)
Billie's Blues	Billie Holiday	Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday	(4:06)
Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)	Gus Kahn, Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin	Art Tatum	(1:58)
The G.I. Stomp	Buck Clayton	Count Basie Orchestra	(2:15)
Vict'ry Polka	Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn	Kay Kyser & His Orchestra	(1:56)

Credits

Michel Poulain (Producer), Jimmy Emert (Trombone), Freddy Martin & His Orchestra (Performer), Dave Tough (Drums), Paul Robeson (Performer), Vincente Gomez (?), Billy Bauer (Guitar), Jack Teagarden (Trombone), Leonard Atkins (Violin), Conte Candoli (Trumpet), Vernon Brown (Trombone), Bea Wain (?), Jack Steele (Trumpet), Hot Lips Page (Vocals), Joe Newman (Trumpet), Buddy DeFranco (Clarinet), Teddy Wilson (Piano), Cozy Cole (Drums), Aaron Sachs (Sax (Alto)), Charlie Barnet (Sax (Alto)), Yank Lawson (Trumpet), Manny Wishnow (Viola), Al Avola (Guitar), Louis Jordan (Vocals), Woody Herman (Clarinet), Bill Harris (Trombone), Si Zentner (Trombone), Bill Finegan (Arranger), Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra (Performer), Dennis Sandole (Guitar), Weldon Petz (Trombone), Jimmy Stutz (Bass), Herb Ellis (Guitar), Hymie Gunkler (Sax (Alto)), Ralph Tilken (Drums), Lou McGarity (Trombone), Don Paladino (Trumpet), Addison Collins (French Horn), Buddy DeFranco (Sax (Alto)), Jesse "Po" Simpkins (Bass), Sid Cooper (Sax (Alto)), Quartette (Vocals), Jack Martin (Sax (Tenor)), Hal Herzon (Sax (Alto)), Caughey Roberts (Sax (Alto)), Red Rodney (Trumpet), Lawrence Brown (Arranger), Ferd Vonversen (Trombone), Joseph Kowalewski (Violin), George Miller (Piano), Boomie Richmond (Sax (Tenor)), Perry Como (?), Jerry Greco (Trumpet), Sonny Burke (Arranger), Public Domain (?), Phil Brito (Performer), Paul Morsey (Bass), Jack Ferrier (Sax (Alto)), Jim Harwood (Trombone), Dick Munson (Trumpet), Hank Freeman (Sax (Alto)), Frances Wayne (Vocals), Red Norvo & His Orchestra (Performer), 418th AAFTC Orchestra (?), Flip Phillips (Sax (Tenor)), Tommy Dorsey (Trombone), Art Tatum Trio (?), Jack Mootz (Trumpet), Frank Langone (Sax (Alto)), Kurt Bloom (Sax (Tenor)), Barney Kessel (Guitar), Ray McKinley (Drums), Billie Holiday (Performer), Tino Isgrow (Sax (Tenor)), Albert Spaulding (Violin), Ernie Caceres (Sax (Baritone)), Dick Taylor (Trombone), Freddy Guera (Sax (Alto)), Ed Lewis (Trumpet), Roc Hillman (Guitar), Paul Cohen (Trumpet), Deacon Dunn (Sax (Tenor)), Jack Aiken (Sax (Alto)), Louis Prima & His Orchestra (Performer), Phil Cogliano (Violin), Eddie Safranski (Bass), George Seaberg (Trumpet), Ted Sturgis (Bass), Chuck Genduso (Trumpet), Jimmy Dorsey (Clarinet), Roger Jones (Trumpet), Peanuts Hucko (Sax (Tenor)), Bernie Privin (Trumpet), Eddie Heywood (Piano), Red Norvo (Vibraphone), Eddie Rosa (Sax (Alto)), Bobby Hackett (Cornet), Buddy Schutz (Bass), Sonny Lee (Trombone), Jack Fina (Piano), Stewart Anderson (Sax (Tenor)), Trigger Alpert (Bass), Max Williams (Trombone), Hal McIntyre (Sax (Alto)), The Three Suns (?), Jack Washington (Sax (Alto)), Ernie Caceres (Clarinet), Harry Katzman (Violin), Eddie Edwards (Trombone), Benny Goodman (Clarinet), Ray Linn (Trumpet), John Popa (Sax (Tenor)), Len Mirabella (Guitar), Sal Pace (Sax (Alto)), Tony Spargo (Drums), Ormond Downes (Drums), Richard Motylinski (Violin), Vaughn Monroe (Performer), Jack Washington (Sax (Baritone)), Johnny Chance (Bass), Rosy McHargue (Clarinet), Earl Hardy (Trombone), Lyman Vunk (Trumpet), Original Dixieland Jazz Band (Performer), Noni Bernardi (Sax (Alto)), Chuck Richards (Trumpet), Chuck Gentry (Sax (Baritone)), Bobby White (Drums), Glenn Miller (Performer), Felix Giobbe (Bass), Franz Rupp (Piano), Larry Hall (Trombone), Don Redman (Arranger), Alvin Stoller (Drums), Dodo Marmarosa (Piano), Jimmy Rushing (Performer), Buck Clayton (Trumpet), Charles Trotta (Trumpet), Henry Haupt (Sax (Baritone)), Dave Schwartz (Viola), Pee Wee Russell (Vocals), Frank Signorelli (Piano), Tony Pastor (Sax (Tenor)), Bob Dukoff (Sax (Tenor)), Arthur Rollini (Sax (Tenor)), Johnny Hayes (Sax (Tenor)), Shadow Wilson (Drums), Tony Pastor & his Orchestra (Performer), George Duning (Arranger), Al Hall (Bass), Charlie Barnet (Sax (Tenor)), Russ Montcalm (Trumpet), Mildred Bailey (Performer), Ed Kiefer (Trombone), Rudy Rutherford (Sax (Baritone)), Eli Robinson (Trombone), Count Basie Orchestra (Performer), Charles Russo (Sax (Alto)), Cliff Leeman (Drums), Keg Purnell (Drums), Marvin Wright (Piano), Gerald Foster (Trombone), Dicky Wells (Trombone), Lucky Thompson (Sax (Tenor)), Stubby Pastor (Sax (Tenor)), Ray DeGeer (Sax (Alto)), Howard Rumsey (Bass), Hal Hahn (Drums), Brad Gowans (Clarinet), Ralph Burns (Arranger), Johnny Blowers (Drums), Pee Wee Russell (Clarinet), Danny Negri (Piano), Woody Herman (Sax (Alto)), Sam Marowitz (Sax (Alto)), Nathan Kaproff (Violin), Eddie Roane (Trumpet), Tommy Kay (Guitar), Les Burness (Piano), Specs Powell (Drums), Mickey McMickle (Trumpet), Muggsy Spanier (Cornet), Sully Mason (Sax (Baritone)), Bob Ripley (?), Steve Cole (Sax (Alto)), Louis Prima (Vocals), Hymie Schertzer (Sax (Alto)), Louis Armstrong (Performer), Tony Pastor & his Orchestra (?), Arnold Thomas (Piano), Louis Prima & His Orchestra (?), Gene Traxler (Bass), Jess Stacy (Piano), Don Barrett (Sax (Alto)), Lem Davis (Sax (Alto)), Dale Pearce (Trumpet), Sgt. Melvin (Vocals (Background)), Woody Herman & His Orchestra (Performer), Jo Jones (Drums), Vernon Alley (Bass), Burt Johnson (Trombone), Charlie Barnet (Sax (Soprano)), Ralph Pfeffner (Trombone), Reggie Merrill (Sax (Alto)), Nick Caiazza (Sax (Tenor)), Freddy Martin & His Orchestra (?), Rudy Rutherford (Clarinet), Eugene Bergen (Violin), Hot Lips Page (Performer), Sal Pace (Clarinet), Hazel Scott (Performer), Gail Curtis (Sax (Tenor)), Jean-Marc Bel (Coordination), Zolman Martin "Porky" Cohen (Trombone), John White (?), Don Redman (Vocals), Louis Prima (Trumpet), Milton Edelson (Violin), George Wettling (Drums), Skippy de Sair (Sax (Baritone)), Jimmy Priddy (Trombone), Big Sid Catlett (Drums), Jack Teagarden (Vocals), John Turnbull (Sax (Baritone)), Henry Jerome (Trumpet), Bea Wain (Performer), Harry Thomas (Trombone), Charles Frazier (Sax (Tenor)), Vernon Whitney (Trombone), Henderson Chambers (Trombone), Francis "Fran" Ludwig (?), Hy White (Guitar), Maurice Bialkin (Cello), Kay Starr (?), Russ Klein (Saxophone), Marian Anderson (Performer), George Ockner (Concert Master), Barney Bigard (Clarinet), Louis Taylor (Trombone), Ernest Kardos (Violin), Lena Horne (?), Pete Candoli (Trumpet), Sammy Benskin (Piano), Dave Herman (Violin), George Ockner (Violin), Kay Kyser & His Orchestra (?), Turk VanLake (Guitar), Sy Oliver (Arranger), Earle Warren (Sax (Alto)), Ike Carpenter (Drums), Louis Jordan (Performer), Sy Oliver (Vocals (Background)), Tex Mulcahy (Trombone), Tympany G-Five (Performer), Mickey Sabol (Sax (Tenor)), David Sackson (Violin), Clyde Lombardi (Bass), Wolfe Tayne (Sax (Tenor)), Lena Horne (Performer), Chubby Jackson (Guitar), Hot Lips Page (Trumpet), Red Norvo & His Orchestra (?), Bobby Guyer (Trumpet), Bill Forman (Trombone), Hal McIntyre (?), Mary Harris (Trumpet), Ralph Burns (Piano), Pete Mondello (Sax (Tenor)), Tiny Grimes (Guitar), Bob Alexy (Trumpet), Rodney Richardson (Bass), Salvadore LaPertche (Trumpet), Whitney Thomas (Trumpet), Merwyn Bogue (Trumpet), Johnny Martel (Trumpet), Jack Teagarden (Performer), Ted Donnelly (Trombone), Eddie Dell (Drums), Larry Clinton (?), Bobby Nichols (Trombone (Tenor)), V-Disc All Stars (Performer), Perry Como (Performer), Jack Jacobsen (Bass), Bob Funk (Trumpet), Billy Butterfield (Trumpet), Earl Cornwell (Violin), Herbie Harper (Trombone), Sid Block (Bass), Bob Poland (Sax (Baritone)), Count Basie (Piano), Don Byas (Sax (Tenor)), Paul Robeson (?), Chubby Jackson (Bass), Johnny Guarnieri (Piano), Oscar Pettiford (Bass), Bill Clifton (?), Chick Rende (Sax (Tenor)), Jimmy Vincent (Drums), Vic Dickenson (Trombone), Lyman Gandee (?), Irwin "Marky" Markowitz (Trumpet), Gene Allen (Sax (Baritone)), The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (?), Benny Goodman & His Orchestra (?), Jimmy Butts (Bass), Stanley Harris (Viola), Buddy Tate (Sax (Tenor)), Rusty Nichols (Trombone), Roy Eldridge (Trumpet), Kay Kyser & His Orchestra (Performer), Charles Coolidge (Trombone), Gene Kinsey (Sax (Alto)), Zeke Zarchy (Trumpet), Tommy Pederson (Trombone), The Three Suns (Performer), Alex Beller (Violin), Sid Block (Sax (Alto)), Al Killian (Trumpet), Johnny Long (Vocals), Marian Anderson (?), Fred Ostrovsky (Violin), Walter Thomas (Sax (Tenor)), Harry "Sweets" Edison (Trumpet), Art Tatum (Piano), Bob Haggart (Bass), Gene Bird (Trombone), Al Nevins (Guitar), Eddie Pripps (Sax (Tenor)), Jeff Bourgeois (Bass), Jimmy Powell (Sax (Alto)), Kay Starr (Performer), Woody Herman & His Orchestra (?), Neal Hefti (Trumpet), Charlie Probert (Trombone), Al Klink (Sax (Tenor)), Harry McKeehan (Trumpet), Sandy Williams (Trombone), Rosy McHargue (Sax (Tenor)), Peanuts Holland (Trumpet), Bill Wagner (Trumpet), Ward Silloway (Trombone), Joe Wiedman (Trumpet), Mel Powell (Piano), Artie Dunn (Organ (Hammond)), Nick Dimaio (Trombone), Danny Hurd (Arranger), Bill Shine (Sax (Alto)), Rudy Powell (Sax (Alto)), Phil Brito (?), Joe Howerd (Trombone), Aaron Sachs (Clarinet), Bob Lawson (Sax (Baritone)), Eddie Heywood (?), CPL. Henry Brynan (Viola), Art Tatum Trio (Performer), Ray Wetzel (Trumpet), Eddie Williams (Sax (Tenor)), Leon Prima (Trumpet), Johnny Morris (Drums), Don Redman (Sax (Alto)), Ed Fromm (Trombone), Al Casey (Guitar), Count Basie Orchestra (?), Jimmy Dorsey (Sax (Alto)), André Kostelanetz & His Orchestra (?), Joe Meisner (Sax (Alto)), Coleman Hawkins (Sax (Tenor)), Hal McIntyre (Clarinet), Louis Jordan (Sax (Alto)), Freddie Green (Guitar), Marjorie Hyams (Vibraphone), Lawrence Brown (Piano), Phil Belzer (Trumpet), Johnny Long (Performer), Lou McGarity (Vocals), Bruce Branson (Sax (Baritone)), Dave Hallett (Trombone), Glenn Miller (?), Mildred Bailey (?), Gene Krupa (Drums), Benny Goodman & His Orchestra (Performer), Billie Holiday (Vocals), Walter Benson (Trombone), Ray Austin (Arranger), Charles Zimmerman (Trumpet), Carmen Mastren (Guitar), Louis Armstrong (Trumpet), Jim Chapin (Drums), Wilbert Kirk (Drums), Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra (Performer), Johnny Halliburton (Trombone), Carl Swanson (Violin), Andy Russo (Trombone), Charlie Spivak (Trumpet), Josh White (Performer), Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (Performer), Remo Palmieri (Guitar), Bob Ripley (Cello), Charlie Kennedy (Sax (Alto)), Jerry Gray (Arranger), Vince Carbone (Sax (Tenor)), Chauncey Welch (Trombone), Slam Stewart (String Bass), Dick Vance (Trumpet)