Gene Krupa & Harry James - The Complete Capitol Recordings [1999] (7 x CDs)

JAZZ SUNDAY

GENE KRUPA & HARRY JAMES

Gene Krupa & Harry James - The Complete Capitol Recordings [1999] (7 x CDs)

Issued in 1999 by Mosaic Records as a 7CD limited edition box set, The Complete Capitol Recordings of Gene Krupa & Harry James is one of those archival projects that feels both exhaustive and intimate. Spread across four discs devoted to Krupa and three to James, the set compiles 73 tracks recorded between 1946 and 1958, capturing two bandleaders at pivotal points in their post‑war careers. Mosaic’s meticulous approach ensures that listeners aren’t just hearing swing and big band classics but experiencing them in their original Capitol context.

For Krupa, the recordings highlight his transition from the frenetic energy of the 1930s into a more polished, radio‑friendly swing. Tracks like Indiana and Boogie Blues (both cut in February 1946) showcase his ability to balance rhythmic drive with a lighter touch, while Stompin’ at the Savoy and Begin the Beguine remind us of his knack for reinterpreting standards with fresh vitality. The inclusion of theme fragments such as Star Burst (opening, closing, and bridges) offers a rare glimpse into the mechanics of radio programming, underscoring Krupa’s role not just as a drummer but as a band architect.

Harry James’s discs, meanwhile, emphasize the trumpet virtuoso’s lush tone and command of orchestral swing. His Capitol sides feature a rotating cast of top‑flight players, Red Rodney, Juan Tizol, Conrad Gozzo, among others—who bring depth to arrangements that straddle swing and early modern jazz. James’s recordings from the late 1940s and 1950s reveal a bandleader comfortable in both dancehall and concert settings, with Capitol’s production values lending a sheen that distinguishes these sessions from his earlier Columbia work.

What makes this box set essential is its archival completeness (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Gene Krupa - Indiana 2:58

02 Gene Krupa - My Old Flame 2:18

03 Gene Krupa - Wings on My Shoes 3:34

04 Gene Krupa - Up and Atom 2:57

05 Gene Krupa - Boogie Blues 2:49

06 Gene Krupa - Hop, Skip and Jump 4:01

07 Gene Krupa - Out of Nowhere 3:30

08 Gene Krupa - Star Burst (Opening Theme) 0:29

09 Gene Krupa - Star Burst (Closing Theme) 1:33

10 Gene Krupa - Star Burst (Theme Bridge 1) 1:05

11 Gene Krupa - Star Burst (Theme Bridge 2) 1:24

12 Gene Krupa - Body and Soul 4:43

13 Gene Krupa - Limehouse Blues 2:26

14 Gene Krupa - Stompin' at The Savoy 4:09

15 Gene Krupa - These Foolish Things 3:45

16 Gene Krupa - Calling Dr. Gillespie 4:40

17 Gene Krupa - Begin The Beguine 3:16

18 Gene Krupa - They Didn't Believe Me 3:14

19 Gene Krupa - What's This 2:44

20 Gene Krupa - My Ideal 2:38

21 Gene Krupa - Hodge Podge 3:48

CD2

01 Gene Krupa - I'll Never Be The Same 3:43

02 Gene Krupa - Tea for Two 2:18

03 Gene Krupa - Bolero at The Savoy 3:27

04 Gene Krupa - Lover 2:53

05 Gene Krupa - I Hear You Screaming 2:26

06 Gene Krupa - The Man I Love 4:15

07 Gene Krupa - Star Dust 4:35

08 Gene Krupa - 10 Ritchie Drive 3:09

09 Gene Krupa - How High The Moon 3:56

10 Gene Krupa - Dark Eyes 3:49

11 Gene Krupa - Some Day Soon 2:42

12 Gene Krupa - And Then I Looked at You 3:02

13 Gene Krupa - King Porter Stomp 3:04

14 Gene Krupa - Blue Lou 3:24

15 Gene Krupa - Summertime 2:40

16 Gene Krupa - How Deep is The Ocean 1:55

17 Gene Krupa - Up Stepped The Moon 2:20

18 Gene Krupa - Love's in My Heart 2:38

19 Gene Krupa - Leave Us Leap 2:05

CD3

01 Gene Krupa - Yesterdays 3:53

02 Gene Krupa - Baby, Won't You Please Come Home 2:40

03 Gene Krupa - Prisoner of Love 2:18

04 Gene Krupa - U.S.O. 3:07

05 Gene Krupa - John's Other Wife 4:16

06 Gene Krupa - Ain't Nowhere 4:00

07 Gene Krupa - Otto, Make That Riff Staccato 3:40

08 Gene Krupa - Sweet Lorraine 4:03

09 Gene Krupa - Wire Brush Stomp 2:09

10 Gene Krupa - Old Folks at Home 2:43

11 Gene Krupa - You Go to My Head 2:54

12 Gene Krupa - Bird House 3:23

13 Gene Krupa - Lyonaise Potatoes 3:27

14 Gene Krupa - Bugle Call Rag 3:18

15 Gene Krupa - In The Moon Mist 3:41

16 Gene Krupa - Where Or When 2:08

17 Gene Krupa - It's Up to You 2:45

18 Gene Krupa - What is This Thing Called Love 2:55

19 Gene Krupa - Idaho 2:34

CD4

01 Gene Krupa - Ole Devil Moon 3:10

02 Gene Krupa - It Might Have Been A Different Story 3:12

03 Gene Krupa - You Be You 3:06

04 Gene Krupa - All By Myself 2:40

05 Gene Krupa - Dreams Are A Dime A Dozen 3:08

06 Gene Krupa - It's A Good Day 3:16

07 Gene Krupa - Yes, Yes Honey 3:15

08 Gene Krupa - Same Old Blues 2:17

09 Gene Krupa - By The River Ste. Marie 3:15

10 Gene Krupa - Margie 2:57

11 Gene Krupa - Night and Day 2:21

12 Gene Krupa - He's Funny That Way 2:34

13 Gene Krupa - Dear Old Southland 3:17

14 Gene Krupa - Duke Ellington Medley 8:02

CD5

01 Harry James - Cherry 3:08

02 Harry James - Jalousie 3:06

03 Harry James - Sleepy Lagoon 3:06

04 Harry James - You Made me Love You 3:28

05 Harry James - Trumpet Blues 2:39

06 Harry James - I've Heard That Song Before 2:53

07 Harry James - I'm Beginning to See The Light 3:05

08 Harry James - It's Been A Long, Long Time 3:05

09 Harry James - I Cried for You 3:17

10 Harry James - My Silent Love 3:10

11 Harry James - Velvet Moon 3:37

12 Harry James - James Session 5:02

13 Harry James - Music Makers 3:08

14 Harry James - Ciribirribin (Pt. 1 & 2, Medley) 1:36

15 Harry James - Two O'Clock Jump 2:58

16 Harry James - The Mole 2:42

17 Harry James - Keblah 3:38

18 Harry James - Carnival 3:13

19 Harry James - Autumn Serenade 3:58

20 Harry James - Street Scene (Sentimental Rhapsody) 5:34

21 Harry James - April in Paris 3:15

22 Harry James - Walkin' Home 3:03

23 Harry James - Beguine 2:43

CD6

01 Harry James - Ram's Horn 4:12

02 Harry James - Smogbound 3:46

03 Harry James - September Song 4:09

04 Harry James - Blue Again 3:56

05 Harry James - Melancholy Rhapsody 2:59

06 Harry James - These Foolish Things 2:54

07 Harry James - Somebody Loves Me 2:22

08 Harry James - Sleepy Time Girl 1:54

09 Harry James - In A Sentimental Mood 2:20

10 Harry James - Don'cha Go Away Mad 2:56

11 Harry James - Crazy Rhythm 3:09

12 Harry James - Strictly Instrumental 3:11

13 Harry James - Blues on A Count 3:23

14 Harry James - Countin' 2:24

15 Harry James - What Am I Here For 4:18

16 Harry James - Kinda Like The Blues 3:51

17 Harry James - Cotton Pickin' 3:39

18 Harry James - Blues for Harry's Sake 2:53

19 Harry James - Blues for Lovers Only 4:26

20 Harry James - Bee Gee 3:06

21 Harry James - Barn 12 3:51

22 Harry James - Ring for Porter 3:03

CD7

01 Harry James - Andrea 2:26

02 Harry James - Vuelva 2:33

03 Harry James - Just Lucky 3:04

04 Harry James - Fair and Warmer 4:15

05 Harry James - Bangtail 4:40

06 Harry James - Here's One 3:25

07 Harry James - One on The House 4:27

08 Harry James - J. Walkin' 3:49

09 Harry James - Warm Blue Stream 5:24

10 Harry James - Walkin' on Air 4:54

11 Harry James - Bells 2:20

12 Harry James - Blues for Sale 4:59

13 Harry James - Just for Fun 5:10

14 Harry James - Willow Weep for Me 3:08

15 Harry James - Moten Swing 4:29

16 Harry James - Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans 2:51

17 Harry James - You're My Thrill 4:04

18 Harry James - I Want A Little Girl 3:50

19 Harry James - The New Two O'Clock Jump 6:19

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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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