An early jazz singer with a sweet voice, Mildred Bailey balanced a good deal of popular success with a hot jazz-slanted career that saw her billed as Mrs. Swing (her husband, Red Norvo, was Mr. Swing). Born Mildred Rinker in Washington state in 1907, Bailey began performing at an early age, playing piano and singing in movie theaters during the early '20s. By 1925, she was the headlining act at a club in Hollywood, doing a mixture of pop, early jazz tunes, and vaudeville standards. Influenced by Ethel Waters, Bessie Smith, and Connie Boswell, she developed a soft, swinging delivery that pleased all kinds of nightclub audiences in the area. After sending a demonstration disc in to Paul Whiteman in 1929, she gained a spot with one of the most popular dance orchestras of the day.
The added exposure with Whiteman soon gave Bailey her own radio program. She had already debuted on a recording date with guitarist Eddie Lang in 1929, but in 1932 she gained fame by recording what became her signature song, "Rockin' Chair" -- written especially for her by Hoagie Carmichael -- with a Whiteman small group. While recording for Vocalion during the 1930s, Bailey often utilized her husband, xylophonist/vibraphonist Red Norvo. She also appeared on his recordings of the late '30s, and the arrangements of Eddie Sauter proved a perfect accompaniment to her vocals.
Though she and Norvo later divorced, Bailey continued to perform and record during the 1940s. She appeared on Benny Goodman's Camel Caravan radio program, and gained her own series again during the mid-'40s. Hampered by health problems during the late '40s, she spent time in the hospital suffering from diabetes and died of a heart attack in 1951.
Disc 1
01. When Day is done [0:03:26.53]
02. I've Got My Love To Keep me Warm [0:02:55.53]
03. Rockin' Chair [0:03:10.49]
04. Thanks for the Memory [0:02:41.13]
05. Rock it for me [0:02:52.25]
06. Daydreaming [0:02:37.51]
07. A Cigarette and a Silhouette [0:03:02.22]
08. You leave me Breathless [0:02:47.40]
09. Savin' Myself for you [0:03:07.68]
10. Put your Heart in a Song [0:02:51.63]
11. Wigwammin' [0:02:50.05]
12. The Sunny Side of Things [0:02:45.27]
13. How can I thank you? [0:02:36.30]
14. Garden of the Moon [0:02:54.39]
15. Now it can be told [0:02:38.01]
16. Jumps Jumps Here [0:02:55.12]
17. I haven't changed a Thing [0:02:44.45]
18. Love is where you find it [0:02:43.22]
19. I Used to be Colour blind [0:02:18.35]
20. A Tisket, A Tasket [0:03:02.19]
21. This is Madness [0:02:53.22]
22. Who blew out the Flame [0:03:03.36]
23. St. Louis Blues [0:02:35.69]
24. Have you Forgotten so soon? [0:02:44.42]
Disc 2
01. Tain't what you do [0:02:37.61]
02. Barrelhouse Music [0:02:58.48]
03. Arkansas Blues [0:03:00.66]
04. There'll be some Changes made [0:03:11.24]
05. A Ghost of a Change [0:03:11.41]
06. Darm that Dream [0:03:00.66]
07. Peace, Brother! [0:02:39.62]
08. Fools Rush in [0:03:19.62]
09. From another World [0:02:45.45]
10. I'm Nobodys Baby [0:02:59.46]
11. Give me Tie [0:03:05.49]
12. How can i ever be alone [0:02:40.52]
13. Tennessee Fish Fry [0:02:38.70]
14. I'll pray for you [0:03:06.38]
15. Blue [0:03:02.29]
16. When that Man is dead and gone [0:02:48.11]
17. Jenny [0:03:17.70]
18. Georgia on my Mind [0:03:22.21]
19. Rockin' Chair [0:02:37.13]
20. Sometimes i'm happy [0:03:09.25]
21. I'm afraid of Myself [0:03:14.19]
22. Everything depends on you [0:03:09.46]
Disc 3
01. Lover, Come Back to me [0:02:57.05]
02. All too soon [0:03:25.23]
03. It's so Peaceful in the Countray [0:03:13.26]
04. Sometimes [0:02:38.59]
05. Wherever you are [0:02:33.22]
06. I Think of you [0:02:59.57]
07. More Than you know [0:02:41.05]
08. Rockin' Chair [0:04:20.40]
09. Sunday, Monday or always [0:03:44.74]
10. Scrap You Fat [0:04:20.44]
11. More Than You Know [0:03:01.46]
12. Someday, Sweetheart [0:03:48.43]
13. Hold on [0:02:54.52]
14. Evaline [0:02:37.25]
15. It Had To Be You [0:01:55.66]
16. I never knew [0:02:01.16]
17. Please don't talk about me when i'm gone [0:01:41.64]
18. I dindn't know about you [0:03:56.66]
19. I'll get by [0:01:45.50]
20. St. Louis Blues [0:02:34.31]
21. Lover come back to me [0:02:36.42]
22. These Foolish Things [0:03:09.56]
Disc 4
01. Can't Help Lovin' That Man [0:03:03.15]
02. Summertime [0:02:52.10]
03. All That Glitters Is Not Gold [0:06:00.47]
04. In Love In Vain [0:03:07.74]
05. It's A Woman Prerogativ [0:03:00.46]
06. Penthouse Serenade [0:02:48.20]
07. I'll Close My Eyes [0:03:06.72]
08. Ma And The Blues [0:03:08.23]
09. At Sundown [0:03:23.25]
10. Lover, Come Back TO Me [0:03:13.14]
11. All of Me [0:03:05.50]
12. Almost Like Being in Love [0:03:06.36]
13. Heather On The Hills [0:03:13.62]
14. You Started Something [0:03:02.70]
15. Born To Be Blue [0:02:52.55]
16. Can't We Be Friends [0:03:07.04]
17. Don't Worry Bout Stranger [0:03:01.39]
18. Gone On That Guy [0:03:18.46]
19. That ain't right [0:03:04.60]
20. I don't want to miss Mississippi [0:03:24.02]
21. I'll Close My Eyes [0:03:05.64]
22. That Ain't Right [0:02:58.21]
23. Lover, Come Back to me [0:01:46.28]
