Collectors of recordings by piano great Art Tatum are frustrated by the many haphazard, poorly documented, and often incomplete collections of his work; this four-CD set by the English label Definitive attempts to collect all of his known recordings for Decca, but there are a few surprising twists. Tatum recorded many of his piano solos with several different takes, so as many as 23 alternate takes remain unissued (and are most likely either lost or unusable) according to Tatum discographer Arnold Laubich. But this is made up by the fact that all of his sessions with singer Adelaide Hall for Brunswick (including four previously unissued alternate takes, one of whose existence was not previously known) and every song he waxed with blues singer Joe Turner are present. Tatum's virtuoso performances -- especially his solos of "Tiger Rag," "Elegie," and "Body and Soul" -- are still amazing many decades after they were first released. The 24-bit sound of this compilation is richer than the earlier MCA and GRP CD reissues, so the release of this thorough collection may cause more than a few Tatum fans to trade up.
Disc 1
1. Tiger Rag (2:01)
2. Strange as It Seems (3:06)
3. It'll Never Be the Same (3:13)
4. You Gave Me Everything but Love (3:10)
5. This Time It's Love (3:11)
6. Tea for Two (3:15)
7. St. Louis Blues (2:40)
8. Tiger Rag (2:21)
9. Sophisticated Lady (3:18)
10. Moonglow (2:43)
11. Emaline (2:39)
12. Love Me (2:57)
13. Cocktails for Two (2:50)
14. After You've Gone (3:03)
15. Stardust (3:18)
16. Ill Wind (2:58)
17. The Shout (2:49)
18. Strange as It Seems (3:06)
19. It'll Never Be the Same (3:11)
20. You Gave Me Everything but Love (3:12)
21. This Time It's Love (3:11)
Disc 2
1. Beautiful Love (2:53)
2. Liza (2:52)
3. I Would Do Anything for You (2:40)
4. When a Woman Loves a Man (2:44)
5. After You've Gone (2:50)
6. I Ain't Got Nobody (3:24)
7. Liza (3:10)
8. Boots and Saddle (3:11)
9. Body and Soul (3:10)
10. Wit Plenty of Money and You (2:44)
11. What Will I Tell My Heart (3:10)
12. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (3:04)
13. Gone Wit the Wind (2:54)
14. Stormy Weather (3:14)
15. Chloe (3:27)
16. The Sheik of Araby (2:47)
17. Beautiful Love (3:19)
18. When a Woman Loves a Man (3:04)
19. Body and Soul (3:09)
20. Wit Plenty of Money and You (2:44)
21. Chloe (3:04)
Disc 3
1. Tea for Two (2:39)
2. Deep Purple (3:17)
3. Elegie (3:18)
4. Humoresque (3:07)
5. Seet Lorraine (3:04)
6. Get Happy (2:48)
7. Lullaby of the Leaves (3:09)
8. Tiger Rag (2:17)
9. Sweet Emalina, My Gal (2:54)
10. Emaline (2:23)
11. Moonglow (3:01)
12. Love Me (2:45)
13. Cocktails for Two (2:53)
14. St. Louis Blues (2:34)
15. Begin the Beguine (2:46)
16. Rosetta (2:54)
17. Indiana (3:03)
18. Deep Purple (3:18)
19. Sweet Emalina, My Gal (2:59)
Disc 4
1. Wee Baby Blues (2:55)
2. Stompin' at the Savoy (3:17)
3. Last Goodbye Blues (3:14)
4. Battery Bounce (2:33)
5. Lucille (3:27)
6. Rock Me Mama (2:59)
7. Corrine Corrina (2:30)
8. Lonesome Graveyard Blues (3:13)
9. I Got Rhythm (2:19)
10. Cocktails for Two (2:41)
11. I Ain't Got Nobody (2:35)
12. After You've Gone (2:29)
13. Moonglow (2:37)
14. Deep Purple (3:05)
15. I Woiuld Do Anything for You (2:34)
16. Liza (1:59)
17. Tea for Two (2:07)
18. Honeysuckle Rose (2:23)
19. Lucille (3:05)
20. Lonesome Graveyard Blues (3:14)
