Description:
Feet Draggin' Blues, 1944 1947 showcases 20 songs by Harry James and his band. The band is occasionally accompanied by a large string section, and the album features several tracks recorded by his small groups. The strings and the accompanying heavy James vibrato is employed for such ballads as the hauntingly beautiful "Stella by Starlight." The hot stuff is seen mostly on tunes arranged and composed with Ray Conniff, like "Friar Rock" where the James vibrato is far less conspicuous. Conniff was doing the bulk of the arranging at this time and there is a hint of the style he later adopted when leading his own band, but fortunately for James, at this point in time, Conniff's arrangements were still interesting. The small group is heard on such numbers as "I'm Confessin." That James had at least a feel for the blues is shown on "East Coast Blues." |
 I'm Beginning To See The Light
I'm Confessin'
I Wish I Knew
Friar Rock
Who's Sorry Now
The Beaumont Ride
Do You Love Me
Easy
Keb-Lah
Moten Swing
Feet Draggin' Blues (Parts 1 & 2)
Stella By Starlight
East Coast Blues
The Last Mile
Blue Turning Grey Over You
Cotton Tail
Pagan Love Song
Vine Street Blues (Parts 1 & 2)
Redigal Jump
September Song |
Vocals: Kitty Kallen, Ginnie Powell, Willie Smith Personnel: Willie Smith, Arnold Ross, Allan Reuss, Ed Mihelich, Carl Maus, Lenny Corris, Lou Fromm, Ernest Karpati, Nick Pisani, more |
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