Julia Lee – Kansas City Star [1995] (5 x CDs)

JULIA LEE

Julia Lee – Kansas City Star [1995] (5 x CDs)

Julia Lee (October 31, 1902 - December 8, 1958) was an American blues and dirty blues musician. Her most commercially successful number was the US Billboard R&B chart topping hit "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" in 1947. She is best known for her trademark double entendre songs.

Julia Lee – Kansas City Star box set, is a 12" sized 5xCDs set with 106 tracks, released by Bear Family Records in 1995. It contains the complete traceable recordings of Julia Lee, mostly for Capitol between 1944 and 1952, but even earlier and later (1927-1957). The box set also includes a 32-page vinyl-sized book that contains all known photographs of Julia Lee, a biography by Bill Miller, as well as a discography. The box set was released to celebrate and preserve the musical legacy of Julia Lee. It provides a comprehensive overview of her work, making it a valuable resource for fans and researchers alike. 

So, let’s embark on the harmonious voyage of Julia Lee, a luminous beacon from Kansas City. Born amidst the vibrant colors of fall on October 31, 1902, in Boonville, Missouri, Julia was predestined to make the world sway to her rhythm. As she grew up in Kansas City, she swiftly became a cherished icon in the Jazz and Rhythm & Blues community, earning the endearing moniker, the ‘Kansas City Star’.

Her symphony of life began in her early years, performing in her father’s string trio at community gatherings and house parties. In 1917, she embarked on her career as a pianist and singer, playing Ragtime and providing musical accompaniment to silent movies in theatres. In 1920, she became a part of her brother George E. Lee’s orchestra, where she harmonized for 15 years. Her first studio recordings were crafted in 1927 for the Merritt label, arranged and accompanied by Jesse Stone. In 1935, she set off on a solo journey and swiftly rose to stardom in the local Kansas City Jazz scene.

Capitol Records acknowledged her talent and in 1944, featured her in Capitol’s ‘History of Jazz’-series. She soon began performing with popular Rhythm & Blues combos, leading to the formation of her own ensemble, ‘Her Boyfriends’. This band comprised renowned musicians such as Benny Carter, Red Norvo, Tommy Douglas, Red Nichols, and many more. With chartbusters like ‘Come On Over To My House, Baby’ and ‘Gimme Whatcha Got’, Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends quickly gained popularity on jukeboxes and radios, securing her a contract with Capitol Records in 1946.

Her success story continued with ‘Snatch It And Grab It’, which dominated the R&B charts for 12 weeks in 1947! In 1948, her next number 1 hit, ‘King Size Papa’, rocked the R&B charts for 9 weeks. ‘I Didn’t Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song)’ followed in 1949, reaching #4 on the R&B charts. That same year, she was honored with an invitation to perform at the White House by President Harry S. Truman, a fellow Missouri native.

Even with the advent of Rock’n’Roll in the mid-1950s, Julia continued to create music and even had a cameo in a movie called ‘The Delinquency’, filmed in Kansas City in 1957 by Hollywood director Robert Altman. Tragically, Julia Lee succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 56 on December 8, 1958.

Julia Lee is fondly remembered as one of the most popular stars from the Kansas City area. She demonstrated to the world how to seamlessly transition from Kansas City Jazz to Rhythm & Blues, making her a pivotal figure in the history of popular music.

While some of Julia’s work was considered risqué, the release of the groundbreaking boxed set ‘Kansas City Star’ by Bear Family unveiled her as an eloquent jazz and blues stylist in the Kansas City tradition. Julia Lee was one of the few popular postwar R&B singers whose recording career spanned back into the twenties. A long-time performer at Milton’s Tap Room in Kansas City, she sang blues and ballads to an all-white audience, leaving an indelible imprint on the music scene.

So, let’s celebrate Julia Lee for her melodious creations, her passion, and her significant contributions to the world of Jazz and Rhythm & Blues. After all, it’s all about the rhythm of the heart, the music! (B)

===========================================================

ALL 

or

ALL 

===========================================================

Track lists

CD01

01 Julia Lee - Down Home, Syncopated Blues 2:38

02 Julia Lee - Meritt Stomp 3:19

03 Julia Lee - If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight 3:21

04 Julia Lee - Paseo Street 2:39

05 Julia Lee - Ruff Scufflin' 2:58

06 Julia Lee - St. James Infirmary 3:12

07 Julia Lee - He's Tall, Dark And Handsome 3:29

08 Julia Lee - Won't You Come Over To My House 2:51

09 Julia Lee - Come On Over To My House 2:51

10 Julia Lee - Trouble In Mind 2:53

11 Julia Lee - If It's Good 2:54

12 Julia Lee - Show Me Missouri Blues 3:00

13 Julia Lee - Lotus Blossom 3:18

14 Julia Lee - Dream Lucky Blues 3:04

15 Julia Lee - Wee Baby Blues 2:02

16 Julia Lee - If It's Good 2:00

17 Julia Lee - I've Got A Crush On The Fuller Brush Man 2:20

18 Julia Lee - Two Loves Have I 2:19

19 Julia Lee - Some Of These Days 1:59

20 Julia Lee - St. Louis Blues 3:06

21 Julia Lee - Shake That Thing 2:27

22 Julia Lee - Shake It And Break It 1:25

CD02

01 Julia Lee - Julia's Blues 2:36

02 Julia Lee - Lies 2:57

03 Julia Lee - Gotta Gimme Whatcha' Got 2:49

04 Julia Lee - When A Woman Loves A Man 2:42

05 Julia Lee - Oh, Marie 2:53

06 Julia Lee - I'll Get Along Somehow 3:13

07 Julia Lee - A Porter's Love Song To A Chambermaid 2:52

08 Julia Lee - Have You Ever Been Lonely 2:53

09 Julia Lee - Since I've Been With You 2:46

10 Julia Lee - Out In The Cold Again 3:00

11 Julia Lee - Young Girl's Blues 2:47

12 Julia Lee - On My Way Out 2:36

13 Julia Lee - There Goes My Heart 2:43

14 Julia Lee - Snatch And Grab It 2:55

15 Julia Lee - If You Hadn't Gone Away 2:41

16 Julia Lee - Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out 3:05

17 Julia Lee - The Curse Of An Aching Heart 3:05

18 Julia Lee - Bleeding Hearted Blues 2:47

19 Julia Lee - Living Backstreet For You 2:49

20 Julia Lee - Wise Guys 2:39

CD03

01 Julia Lee - Mama Don't Allow It 2:55

02 Julia Lee - Doubtful Blues 3:06

03 Julia Lee - Ain't It A Crime 3:22

04 Julia Lee - Knock Me A Kiss (& Joe Alexander) 2:50

05 Julia Lee - Cold-Hearted Daddy 4:04

06 Julia Lee - My Sin (Take 1) 3:24

07 Julia Lee - My Sin (Take 2) 3:04

08 Julia Lee - My Sin (Take 3) 3:02

09 Julia Lee - My Sin (Take 4) 3:02

10 Julia Lee - When You're Smiling 3:00

11 Julia Lee - I Was Wrong 3:02

12 Julia Lee - Pagan Love Song 2:56

13 Julia Lee - All I Ever Do Is Worry 3:00

14 Julia Lee - Take It Or Leave It 2:47

15 Julia Lee - That's What I Like 2:46

16 Julia Lee - King Size Papa 3:10

17 Julia Lee - Blues For Someone 3:08

18 Julia Lee - I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles 2:49

19 Julia Lee - Breeze (Blowing My Baby Back To Me) 2:46

20 Julia Lee - The Spinach Song (I Didn't Like It The First Time) 2:59

21 Julia Lee - Crazy World 3:00

22 Julia Lee - Tell Me, Daddy 3:24

23 Julia Lee - Christmas Spirits 2:48

24 Julia Lee - Until The Real Thing Comes Along 2:37

CD04

01 Julia Lee - Charmain 3:02

02 Julia Lee - Lotus Blossom 3:10

03 Julia Lee - Marijuana 3:13

04 Julia Lee - Sit Down And Drink It Over 3:24

05 Julia Lee - Away From You 2:51

06 Julia Lee - The Glory Of Love 2:51

07 Julia Lee - Tonight's The Night 3:02

08 Julia Lee - My Man Stands Out 2:14

09 Julia Lee - Do You Want It 2:32

10 Julia Lee - It Comes In Like A Lion 2:40

11 Julia Lee - Don't Come Too Soon 2:59

12 Julia Lee - Ugly Papa 2:54

13 Julia Lee - Don't Save It Too Long 2:26

14 Julia Lee - After Hour Waltz 2:36

15 Julia Lee - You Ain't Got It No More 2:47

16 Julia Lee - When Your Lover Has Gone 2:46

17 Julia Lee - Oh, Chuck It (In A Bucket) 2:56

18 Julia Lee - Decent Woman Blues 2:41

19 Julia Lee - Dragging My Heart Around 3:00

CD05

01 Julia Lee - It Won't Be Long 2:27

02 Julia Lee - You're Gonna Miss It 2:30

03 Julia Lee - Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff 3:02

04 Julia Lee - When A Man Has Two Women 3:01

05 Julia Lee - Scream In The Night 2:29

06 Julia Lee - I Know It's Wrong 2:46

07 Julia Lee - Music, Maestro, Please 3:15

08 Julia Lee - Pipe Dreams 2:27

09 Julia Lee - When Jennie Does That Lowdown Dance 2:00

10 Julia Lee - If I Didn't Care 2:12

11 Julia Lee - Lazy River 2:24

12 Julia Lee - All This Beef And Big Ripe Tomatoes 2:07

13 Julia Lee - Can't Get It Off My Mind 2:05

14 Julia Lee - I Got News For You 2:36

15 Julia Lee - Goin' To Chicago Blues 2:32

16 Julia Lee - Last Call For Alchohol 2:33

17 Julia Lee - Kansas City Boogie 2:17

18 Julia Lee - Love In Bloom 3:21

19 Julia Lee - Keep 'em Barefoot And Busy 2:08

20 Julia Lee - Baby I'm Through 2:11

21 Julia Lee - Scat You Cats 2:58

22 Julia Lee - I Can't See How 2:39

23 Julia Lee - King Size Papa 2:51

24 Julia Lee - Bop And Rock Lullaby 2:49

=============================================================

=============================================================