Buster's Back Room

Over the 17 years this blog has been around, I've posted many hundreds of transfers and compilations. But I've also developed a habit of taking projects up to a certain point and then putting them aside or starting over. And then forgetting about them.

Case in point: years ago I began working on three compilations of all Sarah Vaughan's early recordings, everything she did until she joined Columbia. There are 56 such tracks. The problem is that the sound quality can be rough, so I've never been happy with them, despite three passes at the files. So there they sit.

Other times, I figured the interest in the certain recordings would be limited to me (i.e., the ocarina and vocal group The Foursome), or thought that the music is over-exposed (who needs more Mahler?) or I didn't feel like writing about the subject (composer Kay Swift).

On the chance that some of you might be interested in these projects, I've developed a list, which I present below. Leave me a comment if one appeals to you. I can't promise immediate service (I can be finicky about things), nor that I will write my usual elaborate commentary on the music, but I'll post 'em sooner or later. Assuming I don't forget.

• Anita Ellis - a comprehensive view of this fine vocalist's work in the 1940s - commercial recordings, transcriptions, film dubs, etc. In all, 42 tracks.

• Balakirev - Overture on Themes of Three Russian Songs, Music to King Lear - conducted by Ginzburg and Anosov on Melodiya

• Beecham conducts Delius - the complete 1946 Delius Festival recordings

• Bloch - Trois poèmes juifs conducted by Hendl and Herbert - Cello Concerto with Bernard Greenhouse, conducted by Schoenherr

• Bob Manning - his pre-Capitol recordings, dating from 1947-50

• Bobby Hackett on Commodore - his 1938 and 1944 recordings with Eddie Condon, Bud Freeman and the usual culprits

• Karl Böhm conducts Brahms Symphony No. 1. A 1959 recording with the Berlin Philharmonic.

• Buddy Clark - Lucky Strike and Associated Transcriptions from 1938-41

• Charles LaVere's Chicago Loopers - the 1944-50 Jump recordings with Billy May, Joe Venuti and the gang

• Charlie Cochran - Presenting Charlie Cochran. An excellent 1963 LP by the cabaret singer.

• Czech music - Slavický - Moravian Dance Fantasies, Janáček - Lachian Dances, Bakala and Ančerl conduct

• Eleanor Steber - Songs at Eventide with Howard Barlow

• Gloria Wood - various 1940s and 50s singles from this fine vocalist

• Jane Powell at M-G-M - 23 tracks spanning her career with the legendary studio.

• Kay Swift - her complete oeuvre on record

• Mahler - Symphony No. 1 in the original version (conducted by Wyn Morris) and the revision (conducted by Jascha Horenstein)

• Martinon conducts Debussy - Noctures and Prélude a l'après-midi d'un faune, with the ORTF from 1973

• Marty Paich - two LPs: Jazz Studio 2 from Hollywood and The Marty Paich Octet

• Private Hell No. 36 - Leith Stevens' score to the 1954 film noir

• Robert Shaw - Mozart Requiem

• Sarah Vaughan - Her complete early recordings, pre-Columbia = 56 tracks

• Sue Raney - An expanded version of the previously posted collection of her Capitol singles, now complete at 23 songs. Also, two sets of transcriptions from The Navy Swings and Treasury Dept. Guest Star programs.

• Ted Straeter's New York - the 1955 Atlantic LP by the cabaret singer-pianist

• The Foursome - the singing ocarina players in their semi-complete recordings with Bing, Dick Powell and others. 22 tracks.

• They All Sang (and Played) Willard Robison - 55 selections as presented by bands, vocalists, country artists and others

• Thurl Ravenscroft - 25 songs from the 1950s by the famous studio bass, voice of Tony the Tiger, etc.

• Tommy Wolf - the two LPs released by the singer-pianist who wrote many fine songs, largely with lyricist Fran Landesman

There are quite a few more, but this will give you some idea.