The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra has always been a bit difficult to evaluate. Contemporary observers rated Lunceford's big band at the top with Duke Ellington and Count Basie but, when judging the music solely on their records (and not taking into account their visual show, appearance, and showmanship), Lunceford's ensemble has to be placed on the second tier. His orchestra lacked any really classic soloists (altoist Willie Smith and trombonist Trummy Young came the closest), and a large portion of the band's repertoire either featured the dated vocals of Dan Grissom, or were pleasant novelties. And yet, the well-rehearsed ensembles were very impressive, some of the arrangements (particularly those of Sy Oliver) were quite original, and the use of glee-club vocalists and short, concise solos were pleasing and often memorable. Plus Lunceford's was the first orchestra to feature high-note trumpeters (starting with Tommy Stevenson in 1934) and had a strong influence on the early Stan Kenton Orchestra.
Although he was trained on several instruments and was featured on flute on "Liza" in the 1940s, Jimmie Lunceford was much more significant as a bandleader than as a musician. While teaching music at Manassa High School in Memphis in 1927, Lunceford organized a student band called the Chickasaw Syncopators, recording two songs that year and a pair in 1930. After leaving Memphis, the band (known by then as the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra) played in Cleveland and Buffalo and cut two songs in 1933 that were not issued until decades later. 1934 was the breakthrough year. The orchestra made a strong impression playing at New York's Cotton Club, waxed a few notable songs for Victor, and then started recording regularly for Decca. Their tight ensembles and colorful shows made them a major attraction throughout the remainder of the swing era. Among their many hits were "Rhythm Is Our Business," "Four or Five Times," "Swanee River," "Charmaine," "My Blue Heaven," "Organ Grinder's Swing," "Ain't She Sweet," "For Dancers Only," "'Tain't What You Do, It's the Way That Cha Do It," "Uptown Blues," and "Lunceford Special." The stars of the band included arranger Sy Oliver (on trumpet and vocals), Willie Smith, Trummy Young (who had a hit with "Margie"), and tenor saxophonist Joe Thomas.
In 1939, it was a major blow when Tommy Dorsey lured Sy Oliver away (although trumpeters Gerald Wilson and Snooky Young were important new additions). Unfortunately, Lunceford underpaid most of his sidemen, not thinking to reward them for their loyalty in the lean years. In 1942 Willie Smith was one of several key players who left for better-paying jobs elsewhere, and the orchestra gradually declined. Jimmie Lunceford was still a popular bandleader in 1947 when he suddenly collapsed; rumors have persisted that he was poisoned by a racist restaurant owner who was very reluctant about feeding his band. After Lunceford's death, pianist/arranger Ed Wilcox and Joe Thomas tried to keep the orchestra together, but in 1949 the band permanently broke up.
Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1930-1934 {The Chronological Classics, 501} [75:26]
01. In Dat Mornin' (3:23)
02. Sweet Rhythm (2:43)
03. Flaming Reeds And Screaming Brass (3:00)
04. While Love Lasts (3:08)
05. White Heat (2:31)
06. Jazznocracy (2:44)
07. Chillun Get Up (3:17)
08. Leavin' Me (3:13)
09. Swingin' Uptown (2:39)
10. Breakfast Ball (3:02)
11. Here Goes (A Fool) (2:49)
12. Remember When (3:20)
13. Sophisticated Lady (3:09)
14. Mood Indigo (2:53)
15. Rose Room (3:02)
16. Black And Tan Fantasy (2:47)
17. Stratosphere (2:15)
18. Nana (3:07)
19. Miss Otis Regrets (2:44)
20. Unsophisticated Sue (3:09)
21. Stardust (3:06)
22. Dream Of You (3:21)
23. Stomp It Off (3:18)
24. Call It Anything (It Wasn't Love) (3:20)
25. Because You're You (3:25)
Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1934-1935 {The Chronological Classics, 505} [68:53]
01. Chillun, Get Up (3:13)
02. Solitude (3:15)
03. Rain (3:17)
04. Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down (3:29)
05. Jealous (3:05)
06. Rhythm Is Our Business (3:13)
07. I'm Walking Through Heaven With You (3:14)
08. Shake Your Head (From Side To Side) (2:46)
09. Sleepy Time Gal (3:11)
10. Bird Of Paradise (3:18)
11. Rhapsody Junior (3:23)
12. Runnin' Wild (3:10)
13. Four Or Five Times (3:11)
14. (If I Had) Rhythm In My Nursery Rhymes (3:06)
15. Babs (3:10)
16. Swanee River (2:48)
17. Thunder (3:05)
18. Oh Boy (3:12)
19. (You Take The East, Take The West, Take The North) I'll Take The South (2:41)
20. Avalon (3:09)
21. Charmaine (2:54)
22. Hittin' The Bottle (3:04)
Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1935-1937 {The Chronological Classics, 510} [69:30]
01. My Blue Heaven (3:15)
02. I'm Nuts About Screwy Music (3:06)
03. The Best Things In Life Are Free (3:24)
04. The Melody Man (3:04)
05. Organ Grinder's Swing (2:40)
06. On The Beach At Bali-Bali (3:00)
07. Me And The Moon (3:05)
08. Living From Day To Day (3:06)
09. 'Tain't Good (Like A Nickle Made Of Wood) (3:14)
10. Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan) (2:57)
11. I Can't Escape From You (3:02)
12. Harlem Shout (3:00)
13. (This Is) My Last Affair (2:50)
14. Running A Temperature (3:00)
15. Count Me Out (3:15)
16. I'll See You In My Dreams (2:47)
17. He Ain't Got Rhythm (2:46)
18. Linger Awhile (2:37)
19. Honest And Truly (3:02)
20. Slumming On Park Avenue (3:04)
21. Coquette (3:12)
22. The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down (2:53)
23. Ragging The Scale (3:10)
Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1937-1939 {The Chronological Classics, 520} [68:00]
01. Hell's Bells (3:10)
02. For Dancers Only (2:43)
03. Posin' (3:01)
04. The First Time I Saw You (2:47)
05. Honey, Keep Your Mind On Me (3:10)
06. Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet (2:49)
07. Pigeon Walk (2:41)
08. Like A Ship At Sea (2:47)
09. Teasin' Tessie Brown (2:57)
10. Annie Laurie (3:13)
11. Frisco Fog (3:13)
12. Margie (3:09)
13. The Love Nest (3:04)
14. I'm Laughing Up My Sleeve (Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha) (2:54)
15. Down By The Old Mill Stream (3:00)
16. My Melancholy Baby (3:06)
17. Sweet Sue - Just You (2:49)
18. By The River Sainte Marie (3:16)
19. Rainin' (3:00)
20. 'Tain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It) (3:06)
21. Cheatin' On Me (2:47)
22. Le Jazz Hot (2:43)
23. Time's A-Wastin' (2:33)
Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1939 {The Chronological Classics, 532} [70:15]
01. Baby Won't You Please Come Home? (2:52)
02. You're Just A Dream (2:53)
03. The Lonesome Road (2:33)
04. You Set Me On Fire (2:40)
05. I've Only Myself To Blame (2:48)
06. What's This Thing Called Swing? (2:28)
07. Mixup (2:21)
08. Shoemaker's Holiday (2:53)
09. Blue Blazes (2:52)
10. Mandy (2:55)
11. Easter Parade (2:42)
12. Ain't She Sweet? (2:29)
13. White Heat (2:24)
14. Oh Why, Oh Why (2:52)
15. Well, All Right Then (2:43)
16. You Let Me Down (2:54)
17. I Love You (2:48)
18. Who Did You Meet Last Night? (2:38)
19. You Let Me Down (2:49)
20. Sassin' The Boss (2:47)
21. I Want The Waiter (With The Water) (2:45)
22. I Used To Love You (But It's All Over Now) (2:47)
23. Belgium Stomp (2:31)
24. You Can Fool Some Of The People (Some Of The Time) (2:23)
25. Think Of Me, Little Daddy (2:44)
26. Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away) (2:40)
Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1939-1940 {The Chronological Classics, 565} [69:14]
01. Put It Away (2:42)
02. I'm Alone With You (2:40)
03. Rock It For Me (2:40)
04. I'm In An Awful Mood (2:48)
05. Wham (Re Bop Boom Bam) (2:51)
06. Pretty Eyes (2:45)
07. Uptown Blues (2:56)
08. Lunceford Special (2:50)
09. Bugs Parade (2:31)
10. Blues In The Groove (2:35)
11. I Wanta Hear Swing Songs (2:57)
12. It's Time To Jump And Shout (2:55)
13. What's Your Story, Mornin' Glory? (3:13)
14. Dinah - Part I (2:17)
15. Dinah - Part II (2:17)
16. Sonata By L. Van Beethoven ("Pathetique" Op. 13) (3:18)
17. I Got It (2:56)
18. Chopin's Prelude No. 7 (2:51)
19. Swingin' On C (2:23)
20. Let's Try Again (2:54)
21. Monotony In Four Flats (2:54)
22. Barefoot Blues (2:45)
23. Minnie The Moocher Is Dead (2:29)
24. I Ain't Gonna Study War No More (2:57)
25. Pavanne (2:48)
Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra - 1940-1941 {The Chronological Classics, 622} [68:12]
01. Whatcha Know Joe? (2:41)
02. Red Wagon (2:35)
03. You Ain't Nowhere (2:56)
04. Please Say The Word (2:41)
05. Okay For Baby (3:11)
06. Flight Of The Jitterbug (2:30)
07. Blue Afterglow (3:15)
08. Blue Prelude (3:02)
09. Twenty-Four Robbers (3:13)
10. I Had A Premonition (2:59)
11. Battle Axe (2:50)
12. Peace And Love For All (Prayer For Moderns) (3:19)
13. Chocolate (3:00)
14. I'm Walking Through Heaven With You (3:15)
15. You're Always In My Dreams (2:47)
16. Flamingo (3:06)
17. Siesta At The Fiesta (3:03)
18. Gone (3:10)
19. Hi Spook (2:58)
20. Yard Dog Mazurka (3:18)
21. Impromptu (2:54)
22. Blues In The Night - Part 1 (2:39)
23. Blues In The Night - Part 2 (2:49)
