In 2005, Saga Jazz released a 62-track anthology of Charlie Parker recordings under the title Retrospective 1940-1953. It's a good strong shot of vintage bop, but like so many compilations it suffers slightly from chronologic scrambling.
The oldest material, which happens to be the earliest known recording of Charlie Parker, shows up on track 24; "Honeysuckle Rose/Body & Soul" was recorded in Kansas City, KS on May 11, 1940. Placing this chestnut more than one-third of the way into an almost chronological collection is incongruous and will not assist anyone who is trying to savor the man's artistic development over a stated span of thirteen years. That, after all, is what chronologies (and historic jazz collections) are for. The next-to-oldest recordings appear closer to where one would expect them to be -- at the very beginning of the collection. "Swingmatism" and the "Hootie Blues" were recorded for the Decca label in Dallas, TX on April 30, 1941 by Jay McShann & His Orchestra. Something like a chronological progression does manage to materialize, more or less, and when Bird isn't leading his own groups he is heard sitting in with bands led by Red Norvo, Slim Gaillard, and Dizzy Gillespie. While it's very nice to know that these great recordings continue to circulate, it's a damned shame they didn't place the titles in chronological sequence, for Charlie Parker's progress occurred swiftly and very dramatically and there's nothing quite like hearing him evolve, session by session and note by note.
Disc 1 - 1940-1947
1. Swingmatism
2. Hootie Blues
3. Tiny's Tempo
4. Groovin' High
5. All The Things You Are
6. Dizzy Atmosphere
7. Salt Peanuts
8. Shaw 'Nuff
9. Hot House
10. Hallelujah
11. Slam Slam Blues
12. Congo Blues
13. Billie's Bounce
14. Ko Ko
15. Slim's Jam
16. Yardbird Suite
17. Ornithology
18. Swingmatism Night In Tunisia
19. Famous Alto Break
20. Cool Blues
21. Birds Nest
22. Relaxin' At Camarillo
23. Chasin' The Bird
24. Honeysuckle Rose/Body And Soul
Disc 2 - 1947-1951
1. Donna Lee
2. Milestones
3. Little Willie Leaps
4. Hymn
5. Srapple From The Apple
6. My Old Flame
7. Don't Blame Me
8. Bongo Beep
9. How Deep Is The Ocian
10. Bird Gets The Worm
11. Barbados
12. Ah Leu Cha
13. Parker's Mood
14. Perhaps
15. Marmaduke
16. Visa
17. April In Paris
18. Bloomdido
19. Leap Frog
20. Out Of Nowhere
21. Au Privave
22. Star Eyes
23. My Little Suede Shoes
24. Lover Man
Disc 3 - Broadcasts And Live 1947-1953
1. Ko Ko
2. Hot House
3. On A Slow Boat To China
4. Confirmation
5. Embraceable You
6. Cheryl
7. Bird Of Paradise
8. Blue 'n' Boogie
9. Anthropology
10. 'Round Midnight
11. Leaster Leaps In
12. Cool Blues
13. Salt Peanuts
