Grazing In The Grass’ was first an intstumental hit for South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The Philemon Hou composition received lyrics and was re-recorded by Harry Elston and his band, The Friends Of Distinction in 1969. This fresh, groovy 60’s take was an immediate hit — reaching the Top 10 on both the Pop and R&B charts. It’s a great song that encapsulates easy, breezy summer days!
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Legendary R&B composer Titus Turner penned this hit in 1956. Turner’s groovy number was recorded by the late, great Ray Charles on his 1958 album ‘Yes Indeed!’ for Atlantic Records. Turner’s style rang true with Charles’ voice — the two had a number of successful follow-up collaborations, notably the 1960 recording of ‘Sticks & Stones’.
Choo Choo Ch’Boogie’ is one of the many hits associated with Louis Jordan and his ‘zany’ Tympany Five. Jordan’s combination of Blues hooks, and Jump Swing jives introduced listeners to the first grooves of Rhythm and Blues and later, Rock ‘N Roll. This hit for the band spent 18 weeks at the top of the R&B charts starting in August 1946 — and can be viewed as a ‘calling card’ for Louis Jordan’s brand of R&B.
Caldonia has been a groundbreaking tune: first as a 1945 hit for the King of Jump Blues, Louis Jordan and again in ’45 when Erskine Hawkins’ version laid down the first hints of the ‘Rock ‘n Roll’ revolution to come. The writing of this blues classic is attributed to Jordan’s then wife, Fleecie Moore and has the unforgettable line – “Caldonia! Caldonia! What makes your big head so hard?!?”. The song has seen treatments by many artists from B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Woody Herman and James Brown but the Louis Jordan original can’t be beat!
With ‘Buzz Me’ the writing team of Danny Baxter and Fleecie Moorie took Louis Jordan down a notch with a heavy swingin’, fun blues number. It must have hit the ‘sweet spot’ as Jordan’s single rocketed to the #1 spot on the R&B charts in 1946. The great B.B. King revisited the blues number with a cover for his 1999 tribute album to Louis Jordan titled ‘Let The Good Times Roll: The Music Of Louis Jordan’. King’s take stays true to the original, but modernizes it with his bluesy vocal stylings.
Louis Jordan teamed up with R&B hitmaker Jessie Mae Robinson and came up with this one in the Fall of 1950. ‘Blue Light Boogie’ went on to steal the number #1 spot on the US R&B charts for both September and October of that year. It’s classic Jordan — with a picture painted of a great night out all in his characteristic Boogie Blues style. Grab this one and “Boogie real slow with the blue lights way down low”!
This Jump Blues classic was made famous by the great Louis Jordan, but this take from the Joe Morris Orchestra take’s the cake! The original 1949 recording included such luminaries as Phillly Joe Jones and sax man Johnny Griffin. You’ll definitely be able to make things swing with this Freddie Clark and Fleecie Moore R&B hit. This chart includes some band vocals and the choice of multiple verses for lots of flexibility!
This Big Band swinger was the well-loved theme song for Dick Clark’s ‘American Bandstand’ for many years. ‘Bandstand Boogie’, written by Charles Abertine saw many renditions through the run of the show, but none more famous than this live version performed by the Les Elgart Band. This tune is a great dance number — a must for any Big Band library and a great intstrumental for Blues and Function groups!
This song; one of Rolling Stone’s ‘500 Greatest Songs Of All Time’ epitomizes the best of Paul McCartney in the post-Beatles phase of his career — and is the calling card for his tableau of that period — ‘Wings’. The Rock ‘n Roll tour-de-force from the album of the same name, reached #1 on the US charts on three separate occasions. Slap on your Wings and get on the run!
Frank Loesser’s 1944 duet was never intended as a Christmas Carol, but has been adopted by holiday revellers all the same. ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ is a swingin’ love duet that’s an homage to cuddling up by the fire. The song has seen many covers, but none as successful as the R&B chart-topping, 1961 take by Ray Charles and Betty Carter from their album of the same name. This ‘holiday’ classic is perfect for a pair at any time of year!