The world has been waiting for a digital-era box set focusing on Johnny Mercer, and the Mosaic label -- which has obliged countless times for other vital jazz artists -- comes through again. A three-disc collection scanning Mercer's recordings for Capitol (the label he founded), Mosaic Select: Johnny Mercer purposefully concerns itself with his "jazz flavored" releases between 1942 and 1947, close to a third of which turn out to be transcription sessions. (Granted, all of these were recorded with a full band and compare favorably to the other sides.) Mercer's pop hits are understandably neglected (only "G.I. Jive" and "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" are present), and listeners should prepare for a parade of excellent unreleased or long unavailable sides -- more than 20 in all -- featuring bands led by Wingy Manone (including an uproarious "The Tailgate Ramble"), Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole, Cootie Williams, and most often, Paul Weston. Mercer's way with a novelty vocal is infectious, and now that it's arrived, it's hard to quibble. Granted, this is more of the Georgia gentleman's riches than have appeared on three discs.
CD1 {71:29}
01. They Didn't Believe Me (2:48)
02. The Old Music Master (2:56)
03. G.I. Jive (3:21)
04. Dixieland Band (2:44)
05. Jamboree Jones (3:13)
06. San Fernando Valley (2:55)
07. Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah (2:46)
08. The Tailgate Ramble (2:56)
09. (Love's Got Me in A) Lazy Mood (3:05)
10. Duration Blues (3:09)
11. Sam's Got Him (2:41)
12. It Ain't Necessarily So (2:49)
13. Evelina (3:09)
14. I'm Gonna See My Baby (2:33)
15. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive (2:49)
16. Camptown Races (2:47)
17. Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (2:40)
18. Surprise Party (3:11)
19. If I Knew Then (2:27)
20. Sweet Lorraine (3:00)
21. By the River St. Marie (2:26)
22. He Should'a Flip'd When He Flop'd (3:02)
23. Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (2:35)
24. Li'l Augie Is a Natural Man (2:43)
25. It's a Good Day (2:44)
CD2 {70:11}
01. I May Be Wrong (1:57)
02. By the River St. Marie (2:17)
03. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You (2:45)
04. Mindin' My Business (1:56)
05. Sugar (2:48)
06. The Object of My Affection (2:43)
07. Button Up Your Overcoat (2:36)
08. Sunbonnet Sue (2:20)
09. Indiana (1:35)
10. I Never Knew (1:36)
11. I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan (2:42)
12. The Object of My Affection (2:54)
13. Ugly Chile (2:39)
14. My Sugar Is So Refined (2:43)
15. Baby I'm True to You (2:58)
16. Sugar Blues (2:45)
17. Minding My Business (2:29)
18. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) (3:09)
19. Sweet Georgia Brown (2:34)
20. When the Bloom Is on the Sage (2:02)
21. Sweet Lorraine (3:06)
22. Crazy Rhythm (1:56)
23. Margie (1:59)
24. Louisville Lou (2:46)
25. Lulu's Back in Town (2:32)
26. I Can't Get the One I Want (1:44)
27. Love Is Just Around the Corner (2:03)
28. Someday Sweetheart (1:49)
29. Huggin' and a Chalkin' (2:48)
CD3 {70:56}
01. Tuscaloosa Bus (2:37)
02. Possum Song (2:59)
03. It Takes Time (3:13)
04. Moon-Faced, Starry-Eyed (3:05)
05. Tallahassee (2:44)
06. Cecilia (2:44)
07. Box Car Blues (2:40)
08. Country Boy Blues (2:49)
09. Don't Take Your Meanness Out on Me (3:11)
10. School Days (3:02)
11. Why Should I Cry over You? (3:12)
12. Save the Bones for Henry Jones (2:41)
13. My Baby Likes to Be-Bop (2:28)
14. You Can't Make Money Dreamin' (2:30)
15. The Freedom Train (3:13)
16. That's the Way He Does It (2:56)
17. Never Make Eyes (At the Gal with the Guys Who Are Bigger Than You) (2:45)
18. I Don't Care If It Rains All Night (2:28)
19. Hooray for Love (3:00)
20. I've Been Hit (3:03)
21. The Peanut Vendor (3:12)
22. The Hills of California (2:34)
23. Limehouse Blues (2:42)
24. Down Among the Sheltering Palms (2:37)
25. Would Ya? (2:31)
