Cab Calloway & His Orchestra - Cab Calloway Best of the Big Bands

The songs are great but not the sound quality

I'm aware that these are very old recordings (1937-39 vintage) but there really is a TON of hiss on this CD. That, plus the fact that the overall signal level is low (it's "quiet" compared to other CDs of the era I've heard) make it not a great buy.

If you've been looking at this because of the specific tracks on it, every one of these is available on a 4 CD JSP box set (for $28.98 new, about $21 used) called EARLY YEARS (ASIN B000095IY9) and the sound is better if you compare sound samples.

If you're new to Cab and don't want to plunk down the dough for a multi-disc set, the best single disc compilation I've heard thus far is ARE YOU HEP TO THE JIVE? (ASIN B0000029FN). That one is a fantastic selection of songs with informative liner notes, good sound, and a few interesting rarities.

BOTTOM LINE: By all means get some Cab Calloway for your collection but don't buy THIS particular CD. March 31, 2005

great stuff.,

this is a great CD, although the compilation on the CD "Are You Hep To The Jive" is just a wee bit better.........fortunately, the only song that is on both of them is Minnie the Moocher, so if you get them both, you've got a lot of great stuff. December 27, 2003

Great Calloway Compilation!

This is the first of four Cab Calloway compilations I bought, and it reigns as my favorite. This series starts off with Calloway's coolest rendition of "Minnie the Moocher," followed by "Beale Street Mama," one of those hep songs with an upbeat melody but sorrowful lyrics. Why this tune didn't make the rounds on more Cab Calloway compilations puzzles me; his rendition is one of those great examples of Calloway's smooth yet rambling vocals.

"Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day" is an awesome follow up to the original tune. This works opposite the "Beale Street Mama" tune: Calloway sings about Minnie's upcoming wedding in wealthy spectacular description, yet there is something haunting - almost funereal- in the melody. This seems like one of those songs that many would cover, but without Calloway and his orchestra's sweet touch, it would lose the overall little spirit.

The majority of songs on this CD are all-around upbeat numbers like "Wake Up and Live" and "Dinah." These are some of those happy-go-lucky melodies that have the magic touch of entering your cerebral database, leaving you humming the melody as you go about your day.

While this is my favorite Cab Calloway CD, there is a diverse selection of compilations that are just as solid; this just happens to be my personal pick. I would highly recommend it if you want to get a diverse sampling of his work. January 24, 2002

Good music

I never really liked Jazz until I heard Cab Calloway's Minnie the Moocher. Now that I've heard the rest of his songs, I'm starting to consider Jazz. January 16, 2002

Cab Calloway:An Essential CD

I am a big fan of big band and jazz music, but I must admit I never really collected any music by Cab Calloway. However, last week I saw the movie "The Blues Brothers"(1980), which featured Calloway singing part of "Minnie The Moocher". I had get a CD of Calloway, and this one was it!

This is the PERFECT CD for the casual Cab Calloway listener, and the price is great as well! The highpoint of the CD was Calloway's 1942 version of "Minnie The Moocher" which is his best version. It is also interesting to hear a great version of the Duke Ellington theme "Take The A-Train". Take it from me, I am not the biggest Cab Calloway fan, but this is the CD to get for the essentials of this jazz great... August 11, 2000

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