Acrobat Music

Melodisc Records of Hollywood 1945-46
Melodisc Records of Hollywood 1945-46

Various Artists
Styles: Jazz
Catalogue Number: ADDCD3066
Daniel F. O’Brien at Melodisc Records on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard took one of the clearest “audio pictures” we have of Los Angeles’ jazz activity on Central Avenue during the mid-1940s. O’Brien cut just under 40 platters that were released between June 1945 and autumn 1946. This flurry of activity matched the urgency and raw excitement going on in the halls and venues around Hollywood. Clubs no longer booked New Orleans revival bands to fill seats but picked up on fashionable be-boppers, who with their new-found harmonic sophistication and rhythmic complexities, competed with blues and boogie-based small swing units and honkers, in an economic climate inhospitable to the maintenance of orchestras and large bands. This anthology by celebrated archivist, collector and writer Opal Louis Nations is a fascinating insight into a highly entertaining strand of musical history. Please note that these recordings have been transferred from original 78s, some in poor condition. The tracks have been cleaned as far as practical in re-mastering, but where this would have prejudiced the essential character and integrity of the performance, we have chosen to minimize the de-noising process, and some tracks therefore retain clicks and surface noise. We are sure collectors would prefer to have them in this form than not at all.

Disk 1:
Track Title Artist
1 Abernathy’s Voo-T Voo It Marion Abernathy with Georges Dukes & Duchess
2 Night Mist Howard McGhee Orch.
3 The Hour Of Parting George’s Dukes & Duchess w/ Lucky Thompson
4 Abernathy’s Boogie Marion Abernathy w/ George’s Dukes & Duchess
5 Slowin’ Down The Blues Marion Abernathy w/ George’s Dukes & Duchess
6 Cherokee George’s Dukes & Duchess w/ Lucky Thompson
7 Mellow Reeni Riff King Perry & The Pied Pipers
8 Puttin’ You Down Blues King Perry & The Pied Pipers
9 Voot Rock King Perry & The Pied Pipers
10 Baby Baby Blues King Perry & The Pied Pipers
11 Laughing At Life King Perry & The Pied Pipers
12 Till The Very End Of My Days King Perry & The Pied Pipers
13 That’s All She Wrote, ‘Cause The Pencil Broke George Crawford & The Four Blazes
14 Let’s Boogie George Crawford & The Four Blazes
15 The Big Leg Mama’s Fine George Crawford & The Four Blazes
16 I Never Had A Dream To My Name George Crawford & The Four Blazes
17 Boogin’ At Berg’s Slim Gaillard Quartet
18 Laguna Slim Gaillard Quartet
19 Dunkin’s Bagel Slim Gaillard Quartette
20 Don’t Blame Me Slim Gaillard Quartette
21 Lonely Blues Marion Abernathy & George’s Dukes & Duchess
22 Ink Splink Marion Abernathy & The Buddy Banks Orch.
23 Roses Of Picardy Marion Abernathy & The Buddy Banks Sextet
Disk 2:
Track Title Artist
1 Goin’ For The Okey Doke Marion Abernathy & The Buddy Banks Sextet
2 Hey Lawdy Mama Flennoy Trio
3 My Honey Chile Flennoy Trio
4 Poor Butterfly Dan Grissom & The Flennoy Trio Singing Big Fat Butterfly
5 Cherry Dan Grissom & The Flennoy Trio
6 Ride, Red, Ride The Counts & Countess
7 Rip Up The Joint The Counts & Countess
8 King Perry Blues King Perry Quintet
9 The Man I Love King Perry Quintet
10 A Chicken Ain’t Nothin’ But A Bird King Perry Quintet
11 Song Of The Islands King Perry Quintet
12 Silver Symphony Jack McVea All Stars
13 Scrub Sweep And Mop Jack McVea All Stars
14 New Deal Jack McVea All Stars
15 Fightin’ Mama Blues Jack McVea All Stars
16 Grand Slam Karl George Octet
17 Baby It’s Up To You Karl George Octet
18 Peek-A-Boo Karl George Octet
19 How Am I To Know Karl George Octet
20 Don’t Blame Me Joe Thomas & His Orch.
21 For Boobs Only Joe Thomas & His Orch.
22 You’re Buggin’ Me Joe Thomas & His Orch.
23 Sequence Joe Thomas & His Orch.
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