James,Harry Hits Collection 1938-53 CD

Trumpeter and bandleader Harry James was one of the most important, successful and influential personalities of the swing and big band era, his unmistakeable bravura trumpet style providing an inspiration and benchmark for trumpeters across the jazz and orchestral genres. He was hugely popular on radio, as a 'live' attraction and on record with his music not only appealing to cutting edge jazz and big band enthusiasts, but also, through his recordings of "sweeter" orchestral material, featuring the many male and female vocalists who launched their careers with his bands, capturing a wider audience to achieve a remarkable string of big-selling hits from his debut as a bandleader in the late '30s right through into the 1950's just before the dawn of the rock 'n' roll era. This great-value 71-track 3-CD set comprises just about all his records which featured in one form or another of the charts during his career, including the few that were listed as being Top 10 hits before the launch of the record sales charts in Billboard in 1940, and those which featured thereafter in one or other of the published Billboard charts or related listings. It naturally includes his No. 1 hits "Sleepy Lagoon", "I Had The Craziest Dream", "I've Heard That Song Before", "I'll Get By", "I'm Beginning to See the Light" and "It's Been a Long, Long Time". Among the featured vocalists are Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes, Helen Forrest, Kitty Kallen, Johnny McAfee, Buddy DeVito, Betty Grable, Willie Smith, Ginnie Powell, Marion Morgan, Art Lund and Dick Williams, and it also includes Harry's 1950s hits with Doris Day and Rosemary Clooney. It's a hugely entertaining overview of the commercially successful output of one of the great stylists and innovators of the big band era.

1. It's the Dreer in Me 2. One O'Clock Jump 3. Ciribiribin 4. Music Makers 5. Flight of the Bumblebee 6. Trumpet Rhapsody (Part) 7. Lent to Love 8. You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It) 9. A Sinner Kissed An Angel 10. Misirlou 11. I Don't Want to Walk Without You 12. Skylark 13. Easter Parade 14. Sleepy Lagoon 15. One Dozen Roses 16. Strictly Instrumental 17. But Not for Me 18. He's My Guy 19. I Cried for You (Now It's Your Turn to Cry Over Me) 20. Manhattan Serenade 21. Mister Five By Five 22. I Had the Craziest Dre 23. Daybreak 24. The Devil Sat Down and Cried 25. I Remember You 26. Flash 27. I've Heard That Song Before 28. Moonlight Becomes You 29. Velvet Moon 30. Prince Charming 31. All or Nothing at All 32. I Heard You Cried Last Night 33. Two O'Clock Jump 34. Cherry 35. Jump Town 36. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) 37. Back Beat Boogie 38. On a Little Street in Singapore 39. Memphis Blues 40. Sleepy Time Gal 41. Every Day of My Life 42. Estrellita (My Little Star) 43. It's Funny to Everyone But Me 44. I'm Beginning to See the Light 45. I Don't Care Who Knows It 46. I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry 47. Yah-Ta-Ta, Yah-Ta-Ta 48. The More I See You 49. If I Loved You 50. P.M 51. I'll Buy That Dre 52. It's Been a Long, Long Time 53. Autumn Serenade 54. Waitin' for the Train to Come in 55. I Can't Begin to Tell You 56. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows 57. Who's Sorry Now' 58. Do You Love Me 59. And Then It's Heaven 60. This Is Always 61. Oh, But I Do 62. Jalousie (Jealousy) 63. Heartaches 64. I Tipped My Hat and Slowly Rode Away 65. Stella By Starlight 66. I Still Get Jealous 67. Mona Lisa 68. Would I Love You (Love You, Love You) 69. Castle Rock 70. You'll Never Know 71. Ruby