"They were the forerunners, between swing and bebop. They were right there. And their records prove this. One of the greatest bands of all time.” - Gerald Wilson

PERSONNEL & DATES:

(A) Eddie Tompkins (tp, vcl), Tommy Stevenson (tp), Sy Oliver (tp, vcl, arr), Russell Bowles (tb),
Henry Wells (tb, vcl), Willie Smith (cl, as, vcl, arr), Laforet Dent (cl, as), Joe Thomas (cl, ts),
Earl Carruthers (cl, as, bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, arr), Al Norris (g), Moses Allen (b),
Jimmy Crawford (d, vib, tympani, glockenspiel), Jimmie Lunceford (dir, arr).
NYC, September 4, 1934

(B) Same as (A). Some discographies claim that Lunceford (as) is added on "stratosphere".
NYC, September 5, 1934

(C) Same as (A).
NYC, October 29, 1934

(D) Same as (A) except add Allen (tu) and Lunceford (as) on <SC>solitude<XC>.
NYC, November 7, 1934

(E) Same as (A).
NYC, December 17, 1934

(F) Same as (A).
NYC, December 18, 1934

(G) Eddie Tompkins (tp, vcl), Paul Webster (tp), Sy Oliver (tp, vcl, arr), Russell Bowles, Elmer Crumbley (tb),
Eddie Durham (tb, g, arr), Willie Smith (cl, as, bari, vcl, arr), Laforet Dent (as), Dan Grissom (cl, as, vcl),
Joe Thomas (cl, ts), Earl Carruthers (cl, as, bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, cel, arr), Al Norris (g, vln),
Moses Allen (b), Jimmy Crawford (d, vib, glockenspiel, bells), Jimmie Lunceford (dir).
NYC, May 29, 1935

(H) Same as (G).
NYC, September 23, 1935

(I) Same as (G).
NYC, September 24, 1935

(J) Same as (G).
NYC, September 30, 1935

(K) Same as (G).   
NYC, December 23, 1935

(L) Same as (G) except Ed Brown (cl, as, ts) replaces Dent.
NYC, August 31, 1936

(M) Same as (L).

(N) Same as (L) except Al Norris replaces Eddie Tompkins in the vocal trio (as “Lunceford Trio” on the label of Decca 1219).
NYC, October 14, 1936

(O) Same as (L).
NYC, October 26, 1936

(P) Same as (L).
NYC, January 18, 1937

(Q) Eddie Tompkins (tp, vcl), Paul Webster (tp), Sy Oliver (tp, vcl, arr), Russell Bowles, Elmer Crumbley (tb),
Eddie Durham (tb, g, arr), Willie Smith (cl, as, vcl, arr), Ed Brown (cl, as, ts), Dan Grissom (cl, as, vcl),
Joe Thomas (cl, ts, vcl), Earl Carruthers (cl, as, bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, cel, arr), Al Norris (g, vcl), Moses Allen (b),
Jimmy Crawford (d, vib, glockenspiel), Jimmie Lunceford (dir).
NYC, January 20, 1937

(R) Same as (Q).
NYC, January 26, 1937

(S) Same as (Q).
NYC, June 15, 1937

(T) Same as (Q).
NYC, July 8, 1937

(U) Eddie Tompkins (tp, vcl), Paul Webster (tp), Sy Oliver (tp, vcl, arr), Russell Bowles, Elmer Crumbley (tb),
Trummy Young (tb, vcl), Willie Smith (cl, as), Ted Buckner (as), Dan Grissom (as, vcl), Joe Thomas (ts),
Earl Carruthers (bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, arr), Al Norris (g), Moses Allen (b), Jimmy Crawford (d),
Eddie Durham, Leon Carr (arr), Jimmie Lunceford (dir).
LA, November 5, 1937

(V) Same as (U).
NYC, January 6, 1938

(W) Same as (U).
NYC, April 12, 1938

(X) Paul Webster, Snooky Young (tp), Gerald Wilson (tp, vcl, arr), Russell Bowles, Elmer Crumbley (tb),
Trummy Young (tb, vcl), Willie Smith (cl, as, vcl, arr), Ted Buckner (cl, as, fl), Dan Grissom (as, vcl),
Joe Thomas (cl, ts, vcl), Earl Carruthers (cl, as, bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, cel, arr), Al Norris (g)
Moses Allen (b), Jimmy Crawford (d, vib), Billy Moore, Roger Segure (arr), Jimmie Lunceford (dir).
NYC, March 26, 1941

(Z) Same as (X).
LA, June 23, 1941

(AA) Same as (X) except Truck Parham (b) replaces Allen.
NYC, August 26, 1941

(BB) Same as (X) except add Ray Heindorf (arr).
NYC, December 22, 1941

(CC) Same as (X) except add Earle Warren (arr).
NYC, December 23, 1941

(DD) Same as (X) except add Tadd Dameron (arr).
NYC, April 14, 1942

(EE) Freddie Webster, Paul Webster (tp), Harry Jackson (tp, arr), Russell Bowles, Fernando Arbello (tb),
Trummy Young (tb, vcl), Willie Smith (as, vcl), Dan Grissom (as, vcl), Joe Thomas (ts, vcl), Benny Waters (ts),
Earl Carruthers (bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, arr), Al Norris (g), Truck Parham (b), Jimmy Crawford (d),
Tadd Dameron, Gerald Wilson (arr), Jimmie Lunceford (dir).
LA, June 26, 1942

(FF) Same as (EE) except add Bob Mitchell (tp) and Benny Waters doubles on alto.
LA, July 14, 1942

(GG) Russell Green, Melvin Moore, Bob Mitchell, William Scott (tp),
Fernando Arbello, Russell Bowles, Earl Hardy, John Ewing (tb), Omer Simeon (cl, as), Kirt Bradford (as),
Joe Thomas (cl, ts, vcl), Ernest Purce (ts), Earl Carruthers (cl, as, bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, arr), Al Norris (g),
Truck Parham (b), Joe Marshall (d), Claude Trenier (vcl), Horace Henderson, Billy Moore, Sy Oliver, Roger Segure (arr),
Jimmie Lunceford (dir).
NYC, February 8, 1944

(HH) Same as (GG) except add Bud Estes (arr).
NYC, February 9, 1944

(II) Russell Green, Melvin Moore, Ralph Griffin, William Scott (tp), Fernando Arbello, Russell Bowles,
Earl Hardy, John Ewing (tb), Omer Simeon (cl, as), Kirt Bradford (as), Joe Thomas (cl, ts, vcl), Ernest Purce (ts),
Earl Carruthers (cl, as, bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, arr), John Mitchell (g), Truck Parham (b), Joe Marshall (d),
Bill Darnell, Claude Trenier (vcl), Lonnie Wilfong (arr), Jimmie Lunceford (dir).
NYC, December 27, 1944

(JJ) Russell Green, Rostelle Reese, Les Current, William Scott or Bob Mitchell (tp),
Fernando Arbello, Russell Bowles, Earl Hardy, Joe Williams (tb), Omer Simeon (cl, as), Kirt Bradford (as),
Joe Thomas (cl, ts), Ernest Purce (ts), Earl Carruthers (cl, as, bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, arr), John Mitchell (g),
Truck Parham (b), Joe Marshall (d), Claude Trenier, Cliff Trenier (vcl), Lonnie Wilfong (arr), Jimmie Lunceford (dir, arr).
NYC, February 27, 1945

(KK) Russell Green, Charles Stewart, William Scott (tp), Bob Mitchell (tp, vcl), Joe Williams, James Williams (tb),
Omer Simeon (cl, as), Kirt Bradford (as), Joe Thomas (cl, ts), Earl Carruthers (bari), Eddie Wilcox (p, arr),
John Mitchell (g), Truck Parham (b), Joe Marshall (d), Nick Brooks, Delta Rhythm Boys (vcl), Joe Liggins (arr),
Jimmie Lunceford (dir).
LA, August 9, 1945

Album Index:

12” LPs
Circle CLP 92  Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra 1944
Conifer CHD 132  Oh Boy
Decca DL 79239  For Dancers Only
First Time Records 1506   Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra 1941-1943

CDs
Classics 1082  Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra 1945-1947
MCA GRD 645 For Dancers Only
Masters Of Jazz MJCD 71   Jimmie Lunceford Volume 4 1936-1937

TRACKS:

DISC I
01. Sophisticated Lady (A)
02. Mood Indigo (A)
03. Rose Room (A)
04. Black And Tan Fantasie (B)
05. Stratosphere (B)
06. Nana (B) 
07. Miss Otis Regrets (She’s Unable To Lunch Today) (B)
08. Unsophisticated Sue (B)
09. Star Dust (B)
10. Dream Of You (C)
11. Stomp It Off (C)
12. Call It Anything (It Wasn’t Love) (C)
13. Because You’re You (D)
14. Chillun, Get Up! (D)
15. Solitude (D)
16. Rain (E)
17. Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down (E)
18. Jealous (E)
19. Rhythm Is Our Business (E)
20. Mood Indigo (alt tk.-A) (A)
21. Star Dust (alt tk.-B) (B)  
22. Because You’re You (alt tk.-B) (D)
23. Rhythm Is Our Business (alt tk.-B) (E)

DISC II
01. Shake Your Head (F)
02. I’m Walking Through Heaven With You (F)
03. Sleepy Time Gal (G)
04. Bird Of Paradise (G)
05. Rhapsody Junior (G)
06. Runnin’ Wild (G)
07. Four Or Five Times (G)
08. (If I Had) Rhythm In My Nursery Rhymes (G)
09. Babs (H)
10. Swanee River (H)
11. Thunder (H)
12. Oh Boy (H)
13. Charmaine (matrix 60000) (I)
14. You Take The East, Take The West, Take The North, I’ll Take The South (J)
15. Avalon (J)
16. Charmaine (matrix 60015) (J)
17. Hittin’ The Bottle (J)
18. Four Or Five Times (alt tk.-B) (G)

DISC III   
01. My Blue Heaven (K)
02. I’m Nuts About Screwy Music (K)
03. The Best Things In Life Are Free (K)
04. The Melody Man (K)
05. Organ Grinder’s Swing (L)
06. On The Beach At Bali-Bali (M)
07. Me And The Moon (M)
08. Living From Day To Day (M)
09. ‘Tain’t Good (M)
10. Muddy Water (N)
11. I Can’t Escape From You (N)
12. Harlem Shout (N)
13. My Last Affair (O)
14. Running A Temperature (O)
15. Honey Keep Your Mind On Me (matrix 61531) (P)
16. Count Me Out (P)
17. I’ll See You In My Dreams (Q)
18. My Blue Heaven (alt tk.-B) (K)
19. The Melody Man (alt tk.-B) (K)

DISC IV
01. He Ain’t Got Rhythm (R)
02. Linger Awhile (R)
03. Honest And Truly (R)
04. Slumming On Park Avenue (R)
05. Coquette (S)
06. The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down (S)
07. Raggin’ The Scale (S)
08. Hell’s Bells (S)
09. For Dancers Only (S)
10. Posin’ (T)
11. The First Time I Saw You (T)
12. Honey Keep Your Mind On Me (matrix 62346) (T)
13. Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet (T)
14. Pigeon Walk (U) 
15. Like A Ship At Sea (U)
16. Teasin’ Tessie Brown (U)
17. Annie Laurie (U)
18. ‘Frisco Fog (U)  
19. Honest And Truly (alt tk.-B) (R)
20. Coquette (alt tk.-B) (S)
21. The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down (alt tk.-B) (S)
22. Raggin’ The Scale (alt tk.-B) (S)
23. Pigeon Walk (alt tk.-C) (U)

DISC V
01. Margie (V)
02. The Love Nest (V)
03. I’m Laughing Up My Sleeve (V)
04. Down By The Old Mill Stream (W)
05. My Melancholy Baby (W)
06. Sweet Sue – Just You (W)
07. By The River Sainte Marie (W)
08. Blue Prelude (X) 
09. Twenty-Four Robbers (X)
10. I Had A Premonition (X)
11. Battle Axe (X)
12. Peace And Love For All (Y)
13. Chocolate (Y) 
14. I’m Walking Through Heaven With You (Z)
15. You’re Always In My Dreams (Z)
16. Flamingo (Z)
17. Siesta At The Fiesta (Z)
18. Gone (AA)  
19. Hi Spook (AA)
20. Yard Dog Mazurka (AA)
21. Impromptu (AA)

DISC VI     
01. Blues In The Night (Part 1) (BB)
02. Blues In The Night (Part 2) (BB)
03. I’m Losing My Mind (CC)
04. Life Is Fine (CC)
05. It Had To Be You (DD)
06. I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (Part 1) (DD)
07. I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (Part 2) (DD)
08. Strictly Instrumental (EE))
09. Knock Me A Kiss (EE)  
10. Keep Smilin’ Keep Laughin’, Be Happy (EE)
11. I Dream A Lot About You (FF)
12. Easy Street (FF)
13. Back Door Stuff (Part 1) (GG)
14. Back Door Stuff (Part 2) (GG)
15. The Goon Came On (GG)
16. Just Once Too Often (GG)
17. Jeep Rhythm (GG)
18. Charmaine (GG)
19. Solitude (GG)
20. Down By The Old Mill Stream (GG)
21. Like A Ship At Sea (GG)
22. For Dancers Only (GG)
23. Jeep Rhythm (alt tk.-1) (GG)

DISC VII
01. The Chicks I Pick Are Slender, Tender And Tall (HH)
02. By The River Sainte Marie (HH)
03. Pretty Eyes (HH)
04. Margie (HH)
05. Sleepy Time Gal (HH)
06. My Melancholy Baby (HH)
07. I’m Gonna See My Baby (II)
08. That Someone Must Be You (II)
09. Oh Gee, Oh Gosh, Oh Pshaw (II)
10. I’m In A Jam (With Baby) (II)
11. What A Difference A Day Made (II)
12. I Passed Through Memphis Last Night (JJ)
13. Buzz-Buzz-Buzz (JJ)
14. This Is My Confession To You (JJ)
15. I Need A Lift (JJ)
16. Baby Are You Kiddin’ (KK)
17. Where’s The Melody (KK)
18. The Honeydripper (KK)
19. I’ve Got Those Carolina Blues (KK)