Julia Lee - Blues & Rhythm Series 5144: The Chronological Julia Lee 1947

Size: 173 MB
Time: 70:02
File: FLAC
Released: 2005
Styles: Blues, R&B, Jazz
Art: Full

01. There Goes My Heart (2:43)
02. Snatch It And Grab It (2:56)
03. If You Hadn't Gone Away (2:41)
04. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (3:05)
05. The Curse Of An Aching Heart (3:05)
06. Bleeding Hearted Blues (2:48)
07. Back Street (2:50)
08. Wise Guys (2:41)
09. Mama Don't Allow It (2:56)
10. Doubtful Blues (3:06)
11. Ain't It A Crime (3:08)
12. Knock Me A Kiss (2:51)
13. Cold Hearted-Daddy (3:19)
14. My Sin (3:03)
15. When You're Smiling (3:01)
16. I Was Wrong (3:02)
17. Pagan Love Song (2:56)
18. All I Do Is Worry (3:00)
19. Take It Or Leave It (2:31)
20. That's What I Like (2:47)
21. King Size Papa (2:42)
22. Blues For Someone (3:09)
23. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (2:50)
24. Breeze (2:43)

The second volume in the Classics Julia Lee chronology gathers together 24 of her Capitol recordings made during the summer and autumn of 1947. Her material ranged from snappy barrelhouse novelty jump blues like "Snatch and Grab It," "King Size Papa," and Cow Cow Davenport's "Mama Don't Allow" through lazy wistful ballads and harmless pop tunes to full-fathom blues rituals like Lovie Austin's "Bleeding Hearted Blues" and Ida Cox's "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out." Julia Lee's take on "The Curse of an Aching Heart" is every bit as substantial as Fats Waller's. In addition to her warm voice and facile piano playing, what makes this compilation exceptionally satisfying is the presence of so many gifted jazz musicians. Kansas City's master drummer Baby Lovett is present throughout, with solid support from scintillating xylophonist Red Norvo and bassist Red Callender. The front-line horns are equally impressive: trumpeters Ernie Royal, Bobby Sherwood, and Geechie Smith; cornetist Red Nichols; trombonist Vic Dickenson; and saxophonists Benny Carter and Dave Cavanaugh. This perfectly illustrates the essential role played by seasoned jazz musicians in the development of R&B during the late '40s. Red Norvo's xylophone solos add an unusual dimension to Julia Lee's very accessible jump music. ~arwulf arwulf

The Chronological Julia Lee 1947

---

Julia Lee - Blues & Rhythm Series 5119: The Chronological Julia Lee 1927-46

Size: 219 MB
Time: 77:58
File: FLAC
Released: 2004
Styles: Blues, R&B, Jazz
Art: Full

01. Down Home Syncopated Blues (2:40)
02. Meritt Stomp (3:22)
03. If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight (3:24)
04. Paseo Street (2:43)
05. Ruff Scufflin' (3:02)
06. St. James Infirmary (3:16)
07. He's Tall Dark And Handsome (3:32)
08. Won't You Come Over To My House (2:57)
09. Come On Over To My House (2:54)
10. Trouble In Mind (2:57)
11. If It's Good (2:56)
12. Show Me Missouri Blues (3:03)
13. Lotus Blossom (3:21)
14. Dream Lucky Blues (3:08)
15. Julia's Blues (2:39)
16. Lies (2:58)
17. Gotta Gimme Whatcha' Got (2:49)
18. When A Woman Loves A Man (2:45)
19. Oh Marie (2:56)
20. I'll Get Along Somehow (3:13)
21. A Porter's Love Song To A Chambermaid (2:54)
22. Have You Ever Been Lonely (2:57)
23. Since I've Been With You (2:48)
24. Out In The Cold Again (3:03)
25. Young Girl's Blues (2:50)
26. On My Way Out (2:38)

Although this first volume in the Classics Julia Lee chronology is ostensibly part of the label's Blues & Rhythm vintage R&B series, it begins with eight valuable early jazz recordings made in the notoriously wide-open nonstop party town of Kansas City during the years 1927 and 1928. On the opening track, lifted up off of a dusty old platter that bore the obscure Meritt record label, 25-year-old Julia Lee is heard singing "Down Home Syncopated Blues" with her big brother George E. Lee & His Novelty Singing Orchestra. For the flip side, a stomp named after the record company, the band conjures up something similar to Duke Ellington's "East St. Louis Toodle-O." A series of Brunswick sides cut during November of 1929 features both George E. Lee and a young Albert "Budd" Johnson in the reed section. George Lee sings James P. Johnson's "If I Could Be with You" and Joe Primrose's "St. James Infirmary Blues" in a rather shrill voice not unlike that of the young Cab Calloway. Two instrumentals, "Paseo Street" and "Ruff Scufflin'," provide a piquant taste of Bennie Moten-era Kansas City hot jazz. The pianist on all of these early sides is said to have been Julia Lee and/or legendary Kansas City bandleader and future R&B composer Jesse Stone. All of this serves as a wonderful prelude to the records actually featuring Julia Lee the vocalist. She chortles "He's Tall, Dark and Handsome" in a powerful voice edged with ringing vibrato similar to that which Alberta Hunter would use during the 1930s. In a neat maneuver, Julia Lee's "Won't You Come Over to My House?" of 1929 segues smoothly into her 1944 recording "Come on Over to My House," a jump tune that clearly inspired Nellie Lutcher's 1947 hit record "Hurry On Down." What happened to Julia Lee during those missing 15 years? She is said to have remained in Kansas City working as pianist in her brother's band, gigging steadily but apparently not preserving any of her performances on phonograph records. Her Capitol recordings, which began to materialize in the mid-'40s, show listeners a mature woman who had gradually perfected her casual mannerisms in the 24-hour nightclubs of Kansas City. This is best demonstrated when she belts out the words to Richard M. Jones' "Trouble in Mind" with a band anchored by the world's toughest rhythm section of Jay McShann, Walter Page, and Sam "Baby" Lovett. ~arwulf arwulf

The Chronological Julia Lee 1927-46

---

Julia Lee - Kansas City Star

Size: 722 MB
Time: 5:10:05
File: FLAC
Released: 1995
Styles: Vocal Blues, Jump Blues
Art: Front & Back

CD 1:
01. Down Home Syncopated Blues (2:38)
02. Meritt Stomp (3:20)
03. If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight (3:22)
04. Paseo Street (2:41)
05. Ruff Scufflin' (2:56)
06. St. James Infirmary (3:10)
07. He's Tall, Dark And Handsome (3:30)
08. Won't You Come Over To My House? (2:55)
09. Come On Over To My House (2:51)
10. Trouble In Mind (2:53)
11. If It's Good (2:53)
12. Show Me Missouri Blues (3:00)
13. Lotus Blossom (3:17)
14. Dream Lucky Blues (3:03)
15. Wee Baby Blues (2:02)
16. If It's Good. (2:01)
17. I've Got A Crush On The Fuller Brush Man (2:21)
18. Two Loves Have I (2:21)
19. Some Of These Days (2:00)
20. St. Louis Blues (3:08)
21. Shake That Thing (2:26)
22. Shake It And Break It (1:24)

CD 2:
01. Julia's Blues (2:37)
02. Lies (2:57)
03. Gotta Gimme Whatcha' Got (2:48)
04. When A Woman Loves A Man (2:43)
05. Oh Marie (2:54)
06. I'll Get Along Somehow (3:13)
07. A Porter's Love Song To A Chambermaid (2:52)
08. Have You Ever Been Lonely? (2:55)
09. Since I've Been With You (2:46)
10. Out In The Cold Again (3:01)
11. Young Girl's Blues (2:48)
12. On My Way Out (2:37)
13. There Goes My Heart (2:45)
14. Snatch And Grab It (2:56)
15. If You Hadn't Gone Away (2:42)
16. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (3:06)
17. The Curse Of An Aching Heart (3:06)
18. Bleeding Hearted Blues (2:49)
19. Living Backstreet For You (2:50)
20. Wise Guys (2:38)

CD 3:
01. Mama Don't Allow It (2:54)
02. Doubtful Blues (3:05)
03. Ain't It A Crime (3:21)
04. Knock Me A Kiss (2:50)
05. Cold-Hearted Daddy (4:04)
06. My Sin (Take 1) (3:24)
07. My Sin (Take 2) (3:05)
08. My Sin (Take 3) (3:02)
09. My Sin (Take 4) (3:04)
10. When You're Smiling (3:01)
11. I Was Wrong (3:02)
12. Pagan Love Song (2:57)
13. All I Ever Do Is Worry (3:01)
14. Take It Or Leave It (2:47)
15. That's What I Like (2:47)
16. King Size Papa (3:10)
17. Blues For Someone (3:09)
18. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (2:50)
19. Breeze (2:46)
20. The Spinach Song (2:59)
21. Crazy World (3:00)
22. Tell Me, Daddy (3:24)
23. Christmas Spirits (2:48)
24. Until The Real Thing Comes Along (2:36)

CD 4:
01. Charmaine (3:02)
02. Lotus Blossom (3:11)
03. Marijuana (3:12)
04. Sit Down And Drink It Over (3:25)
05. Away From You (2:52)
06. The Glory Of Love (2:51)
07. Tonight's The Night (3:02)
08. My Man Stands Out (2:14)
09. Do You Want It? (2:32)
10. It Comes In Like A Lion (2:40)
11. Don't Come Too Soon (2:58)
12. Ugly Papa (2:54)
13. Don't Save It Too Long (2:27)
14. After Hours Waltz (2:36)
15. You Ain't Got It No More (2:47)
16. When Your Lover Has Gone (2:45)
17. Oh Chuck It (2:55)
18. Decent Woman Blues (2:40)
19. Dragging My Heart Around (2:59)

CD 5:
01. It Won't Belong (2:29)
02. You're Gonna Miss It (2:30)
03. Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff (3:03)
04. When A Man Has Two Women (3:01)
05. Scream In The Night (2:30)
06. I Know It's Wrong (2:47)
07. Music, Maestro Please (3:16)
08. Pipe Dreams (2:28)
09. When Jennie Does That Lowdown Dance (2:00)
10. If I Didn't Care (2:11)
11. Lazy River (2:24)
12. All This Beef And Big Ripe Tomatoes (2:06)
13. Can't Get It Off My Mind (2:04)
14. I Got News For You (2:38)
15. Goin' To Chicago Blues (2:33)
16. Last Call For Alcohol (2:34)
17. Kansas City Boogie (2:16)
18. Love In Bloom (3:22)
19. Keep'em Barefoot And Busy (2:09)
20. Baby I'm Through (2:11)
21. Scat You Cats (2:59)
22. I Can't See How (2:41)
23. King Size Papa Alt. (2:53)
24. Bob And Rock Lullaby (2:48)

Singer and pianist Julia Lee (1902-1958) is the heroine of Bear Family's five-CD set Kansas City Star, a 109-track anthology of classic jazz, small band swing, and jump blues recordings that map this woman's professional activities over a 25-year period with a thoroughness that is unparalleled anywhere else in her entire discography. Lee made her first records for the Merritt and Brunswick labels with her big brother George E. Lee & His Novelty Singing Orchestra in 1927 and 1929. Although consistently active as a performer in the famously wide-open Kansas City music scene, she did not record again until signing on with Capitol in 1944. By this time Lee was a seasoned performer who specialized in jump blues and swingy rhythm numbers, often cheerfully peppered with hedonistic lyrics. Winners in this category include "Snatch and Grab It," "I've Got a Crush on the Fuller Brush Man," "The Spinach Song (I Didn't Like It the First Time)," "Sit Down and Drink It Over," "All This Beef and Big Ripe Tomatoes," and the attractively titled "Oh Chuck It (In a Bucket)." Her "Won't You Come Over to My House?," forged in 1929 and revamped at her first Capitol recording date in 1944, reappeared as Nellie Lutcher's hit record of 1947, "Hurry On Down." Noteworthy instrumentalists who are audible on Kansas City Star include Jay McShann, Walter Page, Baby Lovett, and xylophonist Red Norvo. ~arwulf arwulf

Kansas City Star Part 1
Kansas City Star Part 2

---

Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends - Kansas City’s First Lady Of The Blues

Size: 161,0+165,4 MB
Time: 67:43+69:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Blues, Blues Jazz
Art: Full

CD 1:
01. Come On Over To My House (2:51)
02. Trouble In Mind (2:52)
03. If It's Good (2:52)
04. Show Me The Missouri Blues (2:58)
05. Lotus Blosson (3:19)
06. Dream Lucky Blues (3:02)
07. Julia's Blues (2:34)
08. Lies (2:54)
09. Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got (2:47)
10. When A Woman Loves A Man (2:40)
11. Oh Marie (2:51)
12. I’ll Get Along Somehow (2:42)
13. A Porter's Love Song To A Chambermaid (2:50)
14. Since I've Been With You (2:43)
15. Out In The Cold Again (2:58)
16. Young Girl Blues (2:45)
17. On My Way Out (2:33)
18. There Goes My Heart (2:40)
19. Snatch And Grab It (2:53)
20. If Hadn't Gone Away (2:38)
21. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (3:02)
22. Bleeding Hearted Blues (2:45)
23. Living Backstreet For You (2:46)
24. Wise Guys (You're A Wise Guy) (2:38)

CD 2:
01. Mama Don’t Allow It (2:53)
02. Doubiful Bues (3:03)
03. Ain't It A Crime (3:04)
04. Cold-Hearted Daddy (3:17)
05. My Sin (Take 4) (3:00)
06. When You're Smiling (2:58)
07. I Was Wrong (2:59)
08. Pagan Love Song (2:54)
09. All I Ever Do Is Worry (2:57)
10. Take It Or Leave It (2:31)
11. That's What I Like (2:43)
12. King Size Papa (2:39)
13. Blues For Someone (3:09)
14. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (2:47)
15. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) (2:43)
16. I Didn't Like It The First Time (2:56)
17. Crazy World (2:57)
18. Tell Me, Daddy (2:47)
19. Christmas Blues (2:45)
20. Until The Real Thing Comes Along (2:35)
21. Charmain (3:00)
22. Lotus Blossom (3:08)
23. Sit Down And Drink It Over (2:54)
24. The Glory Of Love (2:48)

Julia Lee, a talented singer and pianist from Kansas City, first recorded in the 1920s with her brother George E. Lee's Orchestra, plus two titles of her own. She continued working in Kansas City through the decades, not recording again until 1944, when she signed with Capital. This two-CD set has all of her 1944-1947 studio recordings (other than alternates and a few unreleased performances later released by Bear Family) and features her in peak form. Lee, who became known for her slightly risqué numbers, was actually a well-rounded swing pianist and singer, and these 48 selections find her performing blues, standards, and some originals. Her backup musicians are quite impressive, featuring mostly local musicians but also including pianist Jay McShann (on the first two numbers), bassist Walter Page, tenor saxophonist Henry Bridges, trumpeter Karl George, trombonist Vic Dickenson, altoist Benny Carter (who is also heard on his only recordings on trombone), trumpeter Bobby Sherwood, vibraphonist Red Norvo, and cornetist Red Nichols. Among the many highlights are "Lotus Blossom" (heard in two versions), "A Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid," "Mama Don't Allow It," "Ain't It a Crime," "King Size Papa," and "The Spinach Song." Highly recommended. ~by Scott Yanow

Kansas City’s First Lady Of The Blues

---