SUNDAY JAZZ
VARIOUS ARTISTS
VA - Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions [1997] (12 x CDs)
If you’ve ever wondered what Capitol Records was really cooking up behind the scenes during the golden age of jazz, Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions is the deep dive you didn’t know you needed. Released by Mosaic in 1997 as a whopping 12-CD box set, this collection pulls together over 250 tracks from 1942 to 1953, many of them long out of print, and some never released at all.
It’s not just a greatest-hits parade. Mosaic went full archivist mode here, spotlighting lesser-known sessions from artists who didn’t always get top billing. You’ll find Billie Holiday’s haunting “Trav’lin’ Light” with Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra (her only Capitol side), plus rare small-group cuts from Eddie Miller, Jesse Price, and Matty Matlock that feel like secret jazz postcards from another era. Mosaic deliberately left out the big names they’d already covered in other sets, like Nat King Cole and Stan Kenton, so this box feels fresh, not redundant.
What’s cool is how they organized it, not strictly by date, but by vibe. So you get smooth transitions between swing, jump blues, and early modern jazz, while still preserving the chronological flow within each artist’s segment. It’s like flipping through a beautifully curated scrapbook of Capitol’s jazz years.
And of course, Mosaic didn’t skimp on the details top-notch mastering, deep liner notes, and a sense of reverence for the music that makes this feel more like a museum exhibit than a compilation. For anyone chasing the emotional pulse of mid-century jazz, this set is pure gold. (B)
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Track lists
CD01
01 Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra - I Found A New Baby 3:19
02 Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra - The General Jumped at Dawn 3:18
03 Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra - I Got A Girl in Kalamazoo 3:09
04 Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra - Trav'lin' Light 3:14
05 Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra - The Old Music Master 2:56
06 Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra - San 3:23
07 Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra - Wang Wang Blues 3:01
08 Eddie Miller and His Orchestra - The Hour of Parting 3:08
09 Eddie Miller and His Orchestra - Our Monday Date 2:53
10 Eddie Miller and His Orchestra - Yesterdays 2:59
11 Eddie Miller and His Orchestra - (I'm Gonna) Stomp, Mr. Henry Lee (78 TK) 3:00
12 Eddie Miller and His Orchestra - (I'm Gonna) Stomp, Mr. Henry Lee (EP TK) 2:54
13 Eddie Miller - Everything I Have is Yours 3:07
14 Eddie Miller - Who, Me 2:57
15 Jesse Price and His Blues Band - That's The Way She Feels 2:56
16 Jesse Price and His Blues Band - Blue Book Boogie 2:50
17 Jesse Price and His Blues Band - What's Happening 2:53
18 Eddie Miller's Orchestra - Just One More Chance 3:02
19 Jesse Price and His Blues Band - Jump it With A Shuffle 2:48
20 Jesse Price and His Blues Band - Nagasaki 2:33
21 Eddie Miller's Orchestra - You Ought to Be in Pictures 2:55
CD02
01 Eddie Miller's Orchestra - Muskrat Ramble 3:02
02 Nappy Lamare's Louisiana Levee Loungers - At The Jazz Band Ball 2:45
03 Eddie Miller's Orchestra - High Society 2:35
04 Eddie Miller's Crescent City Quartet - Cajun Love Song 3:00
05 Ray Baduc and His Bobcats - Susie 2:51
06 Ray Baduc and His Bobcats - Down in Honky Tonk Town 3:00
07 Ray Baduc and His Bobcats - When My Sugar Walks Down The Street 2:34
08 Ray Baduc and His Bobcats - Li'l Liza Jane 2:41
09 Nappy Lamare's Levee Loungers - South Rampart Street Parade 3:00
10 Nappy Lamare's Levee Loungers - Come Back Sweet Papa 2:41
11 Nappy Lamare's Levee Loungers - Here Comes Your Pappy 3:07
12 Nappy Lamare's Levee Loungers - Mama Inez (Ay Mama Ines) 3:18
13 Marvin Ash's Mason-Dixon Music - Pearl House Rag 3:06
14 Marvin Ash's Mason-Dixon Music - Sweethearts on Parade 2:42
15 Nappy Lamare's Levee Loungers - How Come You Do Me Like You Do? 2:54
16 Nappy Lamare's Levee Loungers - Washington and Lee Swing 2:22
17 Zutty Singleton and His Creole Band - Hot Time in The Old Town Tonight 2:29
18 Nappy Lamare and His Strawhat Seven - This is The Life 2:29
19 Nappy Lamare and His Strawhat Seven - Bag Rag 2:15
20 Nappy Lamare and His Strawhat Seven - It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo' 2:22
21 Nappy Lamare and His Strawhat Seven - Listen to The Mocking Bird 2:52
CD03
01 Wingy Manone's Dixieland Band - The Tailgate Ramble (TK 3) 2:57
02 Wingy Manone's Dixieland Band - The Tailgate Ramble (TK 5) 3:02
03 Wingy Manone's Dixieland Band - Besame Mucho 2:40
04 Wingy Manone's Dixieland Band - Paper Doll 2:49
05 Wingy Manone's Dixieland Band - I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate 2:49
06 Johnny Mercer w; Wingy Manone, The Pied Pipers, Paul Weston and His Orchestra - Tuscaloosa Bus 2:37
07 Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Hello Baby 3:03
08 Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Box Car Blues 2:34
09 Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Box Car Blues 2:40
10 Johnny Mercer, The Skylarks, Ben Pollack and His Pick-A-Rib Boys - At The Jazz Band Ball 2:52
11 Johnny Mercer, The Skylarks, Ben Pollack and His Pick-A-Rib Boys - She's Shimmyin' on The Beach Again 2:41
12 Johnny Mercer, The Skylarks, Ben Pollack and His Pick-A-Rib Boys - Thirteenth Street Rag 2:51
13 Johnny Mercer, The Skylarks, Ben Pollack and His Pick-A-Rib Boys - Royal Garden Blues 2:36
14 Deane Kincaide's Band - Take A Little Tip From Father 2:48
15 Deane Kincaide's Band - Scaddle-De-Mooch 2:59
16 Deane Kincaide's Band - The Junk Man Rag 2:57
17 Deane Kincaide's Band - Rooster Rag 2:45
18 Scatman Crothers with Riff Charles and Friends - Riff's Blues 2:55
19 Scatman Crothers with Riff Charles and Friends - The Thing 3:05
20 Scatman Crothers with Riff Charles and Friends - Mabel The Lush 2:39
21 Scatman Crothers with Riff Charles and Friends - Dead Man's Blues 3:05
CD04
01 Armand Hug - piano solo with Rhythm - Huggin' The Keys 2:17
02 Armand Hug - piano solo with Rhythm - Dixie Rag 2:08
03 Armand Hug - piano solo with Rhythm - Girl of My Dreams 2:11
04 Armand Hug - piano solo with Rhythm - Wild Flower Rag 2:06
05 Armand Hug - Dustin' Off The Ivory 2:45
06 Armand Hug - Sweetheart of All My Dreams 2:32
07 Armand Hug - That Old Gang of Mine 2:15
08 Armand Hug - A Dixie Jam Session (ALT TK) 2:50
09 Armand Hug - A Dixie Jam Session 3:01
10 Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra - You Took Advantage of Me 3:00
11 Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra - Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea 3:00
12 Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra - China Boy 3:01
13 Pud Brown Trio - Take The A Train 2:10
14 Pud Brown Trio - Memories of Me 3:14
15 Bud Freeman with Rhythm Acc. - Margo's Seal 2:38
16 Bud Freeman with Rhythm Acc. - I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans 2:38
17 Bud Freeman with Rhythm Acc. - I Could Write A Book 2:44
18 Bud Freeman with Rhythm Acc. - Blues for Tenor 2:40
19 Bud Freeman with Rhythm Acc. - Sweet Georgia Brown 2:21
20 Bud Freeman with Rhythm Acc. - Three Little Words 2:12
21 Bud Freeman with Rhythm Acc. - Blue Moon 2:43
22 Bud Freeman with Rhythm Acc. - Indian Summer 2:45
CD05
01 Zutty Singleton's Creole Band - Oh, Didn't He Ramble 2:48
02 Zutty Singleton's Creole Band - Crawfish Blues 3:06
03 Zutty Singleton's Trio - Barney's Bounce 3:15
04 Zutty Singleton's Trio - Barney's Bounce (ALT TK) 3:19
05 Zutty Singleton's Trio - Lulu's Mood 2:40
06 Zutty Singleton's Trio - Lulu's Mood (ALT TK) 2:44
07 Bobby Hackett and His Orchestra - Pennies From Heaven 2:53
08 Bobby Hackett and His Orchestra - Pennies From Heaven (ALT TK) 3:33
09 Bobby Hackett and His Orchestra - Rose of The Rio Grande (TK 1) 2:43
10 Bobby Hackett and His Orchestra - Rose of The Rio Grande (TK 2) 2:42
11 Bobby Hackett and His Orchestra - Body and Soul (TK 1) 3:45
12 Bobby Hackett and His Orchestra - Body and Soul (TK 4) 3:07
13 Bobby Hackett and His Orchestra - I Want to Be Happy 2:35
14 Big Sid Catlett's Band - I Never Knew 2:57
15 Big Sid Catlett's Band - Love for Sale 3:07
16 Big Sid Catlett's Band - Just You, Just Me 2:48
17 Big Sid Catlett's Band - Henderson Romp 2:43
18 Al Casey and His Sextet - Sometimes I'm Happy 2:57
19 Al Casey and His Sextet - How High The Moon 2:40
CD06
01 Capitol Jazzmen - Clambake in B Flat 2:51
02 Capitol Jazzmen - Clambake in B Flat (ALT TK) 2:58
03 Capitol Jazzmen - Casanova's Lament (ALT TK) 3:06
04 Capitol Jazzmen - Casanova's Lament 3:01
05 Capitol Jazzmen - Solitude (ALT TK) 3:24
06 Capitol Jazzmen - Solitude 3:00
07 Capitol Jazzmen - I'm Sorry I Made You Cry 2:56
08 Jack Teagarden's Chicagoans - Mighty Lak' A Rose 2:51
09 Jack Teagarden's Chicagoans - Stars Fell on Alabama 3:01
10 Jack Teagarden's Chicagoans - 'Deed I Do (ALT TK) 2:39
11 Jack Teagarden's Chicagoans - 'Deed I Do 2:40
12 Capitol Jazzmen - Sugar (ALT TK) 2:40
13 Capitol Jazzmen - Sugar 2:37
14 Capitol Jazzmen - Ain't Goin' No Place 3:05
15 Capitol Jazzmen - Someday Sweetheart 2:57
16 Capitol Jazzmen - That Old Feeling 2:46
17 Anita O'Day - Them There Eyes 2:41
18 Anita O'Day - Memories of You 3:00
19 Anita O'Day - How Come? 2:43
20 Anita O'Day - I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me 2:48
CD07
01 Giants of Jazz - A Song Was Born (Part One) 2:19
02 Giants of Jazz - A Song Was Born (Part Two) 2:47
03 Ten Cats and A Mouse - Ja-Da 3:08
04 Ten Cats and A Mouse - Three O'Clock Jump 3:08
05 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Poinciana (Song of The Tree) 3:03
06 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Just A Baby's Prayer at Twilight 3:09
07 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Hurry, Hurry (78 TK) 2:53
08 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Hurry, Hurry (LP TK) 2:55
09 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Love for Sale 3:01
10 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - I Can't Escape From You (LP TK) 3:21
11 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - I Can't Escape From You (78 TK) 3:16
12 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - I'm Lost 3:14
13 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - I Can't Get Started (78 TK) 3:00
14 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - I Can't Get Started (LP TK) 2:51
15 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - I Surrender Dear 3:04
16 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - June Comes Around Every Year 3:10
17 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Malibu 3:07
18 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Cuttin' Time 2:39
19 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Forever Blue 3:11
20 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Prelude to A Kiss 3:17
21 Benny Carter and His Orchestra - Just You, Just Me 2:54
CD08
01 Jess Stacy and His Trio - Careless 2:45
02 Jess Stacy and His Trio - I'll Be Seeing You 3:04
03 Jess Stacy and His Trio - Can't We Be Friends 2:29
04 Jess Stacy and His Trio - Imagination 2:44
05 Joe Sullivan - Squeeze Me 2:51
06 Joe Sullivan - I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good 3:04
07 Joe Sullivan - I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good [ALT TK] 3:06
08 Joe Sullivan - Memories of You 3:04
09 Joe Sullivan - Deep Purple 3:04
10 Joe Sullivan - The Moon is Low 2:51
11 Joe Sullivan - Reflections 2:36
12 Joe Sullivan - It's The Talk of The Town 3:01
13 Joe Sullivan - My Silent Love 3:02
14 Mell Powell - Anything Goes 2:40
15 Mell Powell - Way Down Yonder in New Orleans 2:09
16 Mell Powell - You Go to My Head 2:45
17 Mell Powell - You Better Not Mess With Me 2:49
18 Mell Powell - If Dreams Come True 2:30
19 Mell Powell - There's A Small Hotel 2:54
20 Mell Powell - Hallelujah 2:07
21 Mell Powell - Cuban Pete 2:35
22 Mell Powell - Cookin' One Up 2:03
23 Mell Powell - That Old Black Magic 2:30
24 Mell Powell - When A Woman Loves A Man 2:51
25 Mell Powell Septet - Muskrat Ramble 3:08
CD09
01 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Juice Head Baby 3:09
02 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Salt Lake City Bounce 2:52
03 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Jitterbug Serenade 2:41
04 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - House of Joy 3:13
05 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Mood for Coot 3:17
06 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - When My Baby Left Me 2:55
07 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - When My Baby Left Me (ALT TK) 2:54
08 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Everything But You (78 TK) 2:47
09 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Everything But You (LP TK) 2:46
10 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Jumping to Conclusions (Part One) 2:56
11 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Jumping to Conclusions (Part Two) 3:02
12 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Someone I Knew 2:56
13 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - You're The One for Me, Sweetheart 2:41
14 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Stingy Blues 3:02
15 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - He Should'a Flip'd When He Flop'd 3:01
16 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Echoes of Harlem 3:01
17 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - That's The Lick 3:15
18 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Wrong Neighborhood 2:48
19 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Piney's Brown Gone 3:11
20 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - I May Be Easy But I'm No Fool 3:05
21 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - I May Be Easy But I'm No Fool (ALT TK) 3:08
22 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Vibraphobia 3:08
23 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Let's Do The Whole Thing Or Nothing at All 2:35
CD10
01 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Rhapsody in Bass 2:43
02 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Ain't Got No Blues Today 3:09
03 Cootie Williams and His Orchestra - Bring 'Em Down Front 2:49
04 Murray McEachern Band - Someone 2:30
05 Murray McEachern Band - Riding on A Blue Note 3:12
06 Rex Stewart's Big Eight - T'ain't Like That (78 TK) 3:03
07 Rex Stewart's Big Eight - T'ain't Like That (LP TK) 3:03
08 Rex Stewart's Big Eight - Dutch Treat 2:58
09 Rex Stewart's Big Eight - Rexercise 2:53
10 Rex Stewart's Big Eight - Blue Jay 2:37
11 Sonny Greer and The Duke’s Men - Mood Indigo (78 TK) 2:56
12 Sonny Greer and The Duke’s Men - Mood Indigo (LP TK) 3:02
13 Sonny Greer and The Duke’s Men - Bug in A Rug 2:49
14 Sonny Greer and The Duke’s Men - The Mooche 3:06
15 Sonny Greer and The Duke’s Men - The Mooche (ALT TK) 2:57
16 Sonny Greer and The Duke’s Men - Kandylamb 2:56
17 Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars - The Jeep is Jumpin' 3:07
18 Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars - Passion Flower 2:46
19 Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars - Johnny Come Lately 2:47
20 Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars - Sticks 3:20
21 Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars - Punkin' 3:21
22 Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars - Eyes 2:42
23 Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars - Rainbow 2:44
24 Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars - Shadows 2:30
CD11
01 Carl Kress - Jazz in G 2:27
02 Carl Kress - There's A Small Hotel 2:56
03 Carl Kress - Just You, Just Me 2:45
04 Carl Kress - Coquette 2:59
05 Carl Kress - I May Be Wrong 2:51
06 Carl Kress - Blond on The Loose 2:54
07 Carl Kress - Sarong Number 3:06
08 Carl Kress - Walking Behind Miss Lucy 2:55
09 Carl Kress - The Goose From Gander 3:06
10 Carl Kress - Swan of Tonnelle Avenue 2:57
11 Kay Starr with Dave Cavanaugh's Music - I Haven't Changed A Thing 2:48
12 Kay Starr with Dave Cavanaugh's Music - There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth The Salt of My Tears 2:33
13 Kay Starr with Dave Cavanaugh's Music - Snuggled on Your Shoulder 3:05
14 Kay Starr with Dave Cavanaugh's Music - Between A Kiss and A Sigh 2:26
15 Kay Starr with Dave Cavanaugh's Music - Don't Let Your Love Go Wrong 2:55
16 Kay Starr with Dave Cavanaugh's Music - Steady Daddy 2:29
17 Kay Starr with Dave Cavanaugh's Music - Please Love Me 3:06
18 Kay Starr with Dave Cavanaugh's Music - Believe It, Beloved 2:31
CD12
01 Red Norvo - Hollyridge Drive 2:47
02 Red Norvo - Hollyridge Drive (ALT TK) 2:44
03 Red Norvo - Under A Blanket of Blue 3:11
04 Red Norvo Sextet - I'll Follow You 2:31
05 Red Norvo Sextet - Bop 3:03
06 Jesse Price and His Blues Band - Baby, Let's Be Friends 2:50
07 Jesse Price and His Blues Band - My Baby Done Left Me 3:01
08 Red Norvo with Orchestra - Twelfth Street Rag 2:24
09 Red Norvo with Orchestra - Take The Red Car 2:18
10 Red Norvo with Orchestra - I Don't Stand A Ghost of A Chance With You 3:03
11 Red Norvo with Orchestra - Summer Night 3:09
12 Red Norvo with Orchestra - El Rojo 3:06
13 Red Norvo with Orchestra - Band in Boston 2:49
14 Stan Hasselgard and His All Star Six - Swedish Pastry 3:05
15 Stan Hasselgard and His All Star Six - Sweet and Hot Mop (ALT TK) 2:43
16 Stan Hasselgard and His All Star Six - Sweet and Hot Mop 2:49
17 Stan Hasselgard and His All Star Six - Who Sleeps 2:54
18 Stan Hasselgard and His All Star Six - I'll Never Be The Same (ALT TK) 3:16
19 Stan Hasselgard and His All Star Six - I'll Never Be The Same 2:59
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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.
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Fantastic jazz compilation as always - I can see myself buying another hard drive soon!
ReplyDeleteBTW I've just read that Chris Dreja from the Yardbirds has passed - sad news.
Hi Dr Robert,
DeleteThe Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions set is indeed a beast: 12 CDs of deep cuts, rare sides, and smokey brilliance. It’s the kind of collection that demands space, both on the hard drive and in the soul.
I didn't know about Chris Dreja's passing. This is a tough one. A founding member of The Yardbirds, Dreja helped shape the sound of British rock from rhythm guitar to bass and later captured its spirit through photography. He famously turned down a spot in Led Zeppelin to pursue that path, even shooting the back cover of their debut album. His quiet legacy runs deep.
Thanks for marking the moment. Music history just lost another thread in its tapestry. R.I.P. Chris.
Cheers.
Oh my. Once again great stuff. Thank you. Now I have something to do this weekend. I have an old 78 record player with the crank on the side here. Singles by Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and a bunch more . Crank it up once in a awhile and listen to the greats way back then. This reminds me of the music mom and dad used to listen to. Still remember dad telling me the Beatles are noise! Sorry to hear about Chris Dreja. Man they all seem to be passing. Seems like someone is gone every week.
ReplyDeleteH Richard R.
DeleteGlenn Miller and Benny Goodman on shellac feel like time travel in grooves. Revisiting the music our parents cherished is deeply grounding.
Your comment about the loss of Chris Dreja reminds us that the music lives on, especially when we crank it up.
Cheers.
What an astonishingly rich and varied collection this is. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi MichaelR.
DeleteMosaic’s curation here feels more like a museum exhibit than a compilation, with rare tracks from artists who didn’t always get top billing but absolutely delivered the goods.
Cheers.
Incredible. Listening to this as I write (Cootie Williams sides) it is a superb Mosaic jazz compilation. I'm transported by this music. Looking forward to hearing ALL of it. And btw BB your transfers are crystal clear with a full range of sound.. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteHi Richard Bock.
DeleteThat’s a wonderful reflection and Cootie’s sides are pure swing magic. The Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions really does feel like a time capsule, and knowing the transfers are landing with full clarity makes it all the more rewarding. Enjoy the journey through all 12 discs.
Cheers.