Fats Waller – A Handful Of Fats - Original 1929-1942 Recordings

 

Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and singer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid much of the basis for modern jazz piano. A widely popular star in the jazz and swing eras, he toured internationally, achieving critical and commercial success in the United States and Europe. His best-known compositions, "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose", were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1984 and 1999.

Waller copyrighted over 400 songs, many of them co-written with his closest collaborator, Andy Razaf. Razaf described his partner as "the soul of melody... a man who made the piano sing... both big in body and in mind... known for his generosity... a bubbling bundle of joy". It is likely that he composed many more popular songs than he has been credited with. When in financial difficulties, he had a habit of selling songs to other writers and performers who claimed them as their own.

1 Handful Of Keys

2 Ain't Misbehavin'

3 I'm Crazy About My Baby

4 Viper's Drag

5 Twelfth Street Rag

6 Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now

7 Tea For Two

8 The Joint Is Jumpin'

9 Two Sleepy People

10 Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood Mama)

11 Honey Hush

12 Your Feet's Too Big

13 Squeeze Me

14 Darktown Strutter's Ball

15 Honeysuckle Rose

16 Georgia On My Mind

17 Rockin' Chair

18 Carolina Shout

19 The Jitterbug Waltz

20 Come And Get It

Fats Waller – A Handful Of Fats

Swing Groups 1931 To 1936 - various artists

 

1 The Benny Goodman Quartet– My Melancholy Baby

2 The Charleston Chasers– Beale Street Blues

3 Red Nichols And His Five Pennies– Fan It

4 Wingy Manone & His Orchestra– Never Had No Lovin'

5 Red Norvo And His Swing Sextet– Tomboy

6 Freddie Jenkins And His Harlem Seven– Toledo Shuffle

7 Bud Freeman And His Windy City Five– The Buzzard

8 The Mound City Blue Blowers– Muskrat Ramble

9 Gene Krupa's Swing Band*– Swing Is Here

10 Jimmie Noone And His New Orleans Band– The Blues Jumped A Rabbit

11 Mezz Mezzrow And His Swing Band– Mutiny In The Parlour

12 Barney Bigard And His Jazzopators*– Frolic Sam

13 Teddy Wilson And His Orchestra– Warmin' Up

14 Bunny Berigan & His Orchestra– Rhythm Saved The World

15 Fats Waller & His Rhythm– Paswonky

16 Jones-Smith Incorporated– Shoe Shiney Boy

Swing Groups 1931 To 1936 

Billie Holiday – Lady Sings The Blues (reissue)

 

1 Say It Isn't So 3:01

2 I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 3:55

3 I Wished On The Moon 6:48

4 Always 3:57

5 Everything Happens To Me 6:20

6 Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me 5:00

7 Ain't Misbehavin' 4:38

8 Trav'lin Light 3:07

9 I Must Have That Man! 3:04

10 Some Other Spring 3:36

11 Lady Sings The Blues 3:44

12 Strange Fruit 3:01

13 God Bless The Child 3:58

14 Good Morning Heartache 3:29

15 No Good Man 3:18

16 God Bless The Child (Rehearsal For) 15:38

Billie Holiday – Lady Sings The Blues

Jerry Lewis – The Capitol Collector's Series

 

1 Jerry Lewis [Child Star] With Billy May And His Orchestra– Are You For Real 2:42

2 Jerry Lewis [Child Star] With Billy May And His Orchestra– I Love A Murder Mystery 2:57

3 Jerry Lewis With Billy May And His Orchestra– Sunday Driving 2:37

4 Jerry Lewis With Billy May And His Orchestra– I'm A Little Busybody 2:50

5 Jerry Lewis – Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa Polka 2:01

6 Jerry Lewis – I Like It-I Like It 2:43

7 Jerry Lewis – I'll Tell A Policeman On You 2:39

8 Jerry Lewis – Lay Something On The Bar (Besides Your Elbows) 2:30

9 Jerry Lewis – I Love Girls 2:45

10 Jerry Lewis – North Dakota, South Dakota 2:17

11 Jerry Lewis – I've Had A Very Merry Christmas 2:34

12 Jerry Lewis – The Book Was So Much Better Than The Picture 2:29

13 Jerry Lewis – I Can't Carry A Tune 2:40

14 Jerry Lewis – Strictly For The Birds 2:38

15 Jerry Lewis – Crazy Words - Crazy Tune (Vo-Do-De-O) 2:20

16 Jerry Lewis – They Go Wild Simply Wild Over Me 2:29

17 Jerry Lewis – I Keep Her Picture Hanging Upside Down 3:02

18 Jerry Lewis – Y-Y-Y-Yup! 2:08

19 Jerry Lewis – Candelabra Boogie 2:06

20 Jerry Lewis – Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody 2:33

Jerry Lewis – The Capitol Collector's Series

Another Lazy Sunday - Volumes Three and Four - various jazz artists

 

Another Lazy Sunday - Volume Three

Another Lazy Sunday - Volume Four

Ces Fabuleuses Années 30 - Frehel (Those Fabulous 30's - Frehel)

 

Fréhel (born Marguerite Boulc'h; 13 July 1891 – 3 February 1951) was a French singer and actress.

Born in Paris to a poor and dysfunctional Breton family, Marguerite Boulc'h was a child left to a life on the streets in the sordid side of Paris. In her teens, she got a break when she met one of the female music-hall performers who heard her sing and introduced her to show business promoters.

She began performing under the stage name Pervenche, and soon met and married Robert Hollard, a performer who used the nom de guerre "Roberty". Alcohol entered her life at an early age and her drinking became a problem for her husband. Their marriage did not last long and her husband left her for another Parisian singer, Damia. Fréhel then began a relationship with Maurice Chevalier but that too did not last long and after he left her for the much older megastar Mistinguett. At 19 years old, she attempted suicide.

Following her suicide attempt, in 1911 she tried to escape her pain and travelled to Bucharest, Turkey and then to Russia where she remained for more than ten years. She suffered from alcoholism and drug addiction, and returned to Paris in 1923. She then signaled a new beginning by switching to the stage name "Fréhel", taking the name from Cap Fréhel in Brittany where her parents had been born. Singing as Fréhel, at the Paris Olympia in 1924 she gave a powerful performance and was soon headlining at the most popular venues in the country. As part of what is now referred to as the bal musette, Fréhel often sang accompanied by bagpipes and/or an accordion player.

In the 1930's, she appeared in several motion pictures, almost always portraying a singer in a minor or supporting role. The most notable films in which she performed were 1931's Cœur de Lilas, based on the Tristan Bernard play, and Pépé le Moko that starred Jean Gabin. While her alcohol abuse continued, she nevertheless was a major show business force of 1930s France. Of all her songs, her 1939 La Java Bleue, with music by Vincent Scotto, proved her most popular.

Despite being one of Europe's most sought-after performers, her addictions led her to drop out of public view for years. She died in 1951, alone in a hotel in Pigalle. She was interred in the Cimetière de Pantin, near Paris.

Her 1934 recording Si tu n'étais pas là was featured in the 2001 soundtrack of the film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (Amélie).

She is portrayed by Yolande Moreau in the Gainsbourg bio pic Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life - in which she encounters the young Serge Gainsbourg and accompanies him in a song.

Ces Fabuleuses Années 30 - Frehel

Fred Astaire – A Portrait Of Fred Astaire

 

1-1 Fascinating Rhythm

1-2 Hang On To Me

1-3 I'd Rather Charleston

1-4 The Half Of It, Dearie Blues

1-5 Swiss Miss

1-6 Funny Face

1-7 The Babbitt And The Bromide

1-8 High Hat

1-9 My One And Only

1-10 Louisiana

1-11 Not My Girl

1-12 Crazy Feet

1-13 Puttin' On The Ritz

1-14 I Love Louisa

1-15 New Sun In The Sky

1-16 I've Got You On My Mind

1-17 Night And Day

1-18 After You - Who?

1-19 Flying Down To Rio

1-20 Music Makes Me

1-21 Cheek To Cheek

1-22 No Strings

1-23 Isn't This A Lovely Day?

1-24 Top Hat, White Tie And Tails

2-1 The Piccoling

2-2 I'd Rather Lead A Band

2-3 I'm Building Up To An Awful Let-Down

2-4 I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket

2-5 Let Yourself Go

2-6 Let's Face The Music And Dance

2-7 We Saw The Sea

2-8 Never Gonna Dance

2-9 Pick Yourself Up

2-10 The Way You Look Tonight

2-11 A Fine Romance

2-12 Bojangles Of Harlem

2-13 They Can't Take That Away From Me

2-14 They All Laughed

2-15 (I've Got) Beginner's Luck

2-16 Let's Call The Whole Thing Off

2-17 Shall We Dance?

2-18 Slap That Bass

2-19 A Foggy Day

2-20 Things Are Looking Up

2-21 I Can't Be Bothered Now

2-22 Nice Work If You Can Get It

2-23 I Used To Be Colour Blind

2-24 The Yam

A Portrait Of Fred Astaire

Another Lazy Sunday - Volumes One and Two - various jazz artists

 

Another Lazy Sunday - Volume One

Another Lazy Sunday - Volume Two

Tea Dance: 1920's, 30's, 40's Vintage Tea Party - various artists compilation

 

1 Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli– Tea For Two 3:13

2 The Ink Spots– Java Jive 3:01

3 Benny Goodman Orchestra*– Sugar Foot Stomp 2:58

4 Fats Waller & His Rhythm– My Very Good Friend The Milkman 3:32

5 Jan Savitt & His Top Hatters*– Jersey Bounce 3:07

6 Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra*– Happy Feet 2:59

7 Artie Shaw & His Orchestra*– Begin The Beguine 3:15

8 The Boswell Sisters / Dorsey Brothers' Orchestra*– When I Take My Sugar To Tea 3:12

9 Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra*– For Dancers Only 2:41

q Billie Holiday / Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra*– Sugar 2:48

11 Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra*– Flying Home 2:55

12 Frankie Trumbauer / Bix Beiderbecke / Eddie Lang– Singin' The Blues 2:59

13 Annette Hanshaw– Lovable And Sweet 2:51

14 The Mills Brothers– Sweeter Than Sugar 1:56

15 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra*– I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo 3:13

16 Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli– The Lambeth Walk 2:46

17 Benny Goodman Trio– China Boy 2:32

18 Fred Astaire– Let's Face The Music And Dance 2:27

19 Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli– It Don't Mean A Thing - If It Ain't Got That Swing 3:04

20 Hutch – Moonlight Cocktail 3:14

21 Helen Ward / Benny Goodman & His Orchestra*– Sing Me A Swing Song 2:23

22 Hoagy Carmichael– Rockin' Chair 3:25

23 Fats Waller & His Rhythm– Shortnin' Bread 2:42

24 Jack Teagarden / Benny Goodman & His Orchestra*– Texas Tea Party 3:18

25 The Bud Freeman Trio*– Three Little Words 3:02

26 Sam Costa / Peter Yorke & His Orchestra*– A Nice Cup Of Tea 2:20

Tea Dance: 1920's, 30's, 40's Vintage Tea Party

George Shearing – Latin Lace / Latin Affair

 

Latin Lace

1 The Story Of Love (Historia De Un Amor) 2:29

2 Serenata 2:44

3 Tu Mi Delirio 2:04

4 Cali Mambo 2:49

5 Rondo 2:51

6 To The Ends Of The Earth 2:44

7 The Moon Was Yellow (And The Night Was Young) 2:40

8 Wonder Struck 2:32

9 Sand In My Shoes 2:07

10 Mambo Caribe 2:58

11 It's Not For Me To Say 1:49

12 Mambo No. 2 2:44

Latin Affair

13 All Or Nothing At All 2:53

14 Let's Call The Whole Thing Off 1:55

15 Afro No. IV 2:31

16 Magic 2:18

17 It's Easy To Remember 2:09

18 Estampa Cubana 2:56

19 You Stepped Out Of A Dream 2:10

20 Mambo Balahu 2:24

21 Dearly Beloved 2:14

22 Juana Pelangana 2:26

23 This Is Africa 2:59

24 Anywhere 2:42

Latin Lace / Latin Affair

Ella Fitzgerald Gold

 

1-1 Let's Fall In Love 4:03

1-2 Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye 3:32

1-3 Summertime 4:52

1-4 A Fine Romance 3:36

1-5 The Very Thought Of You 2:45

1-6 Mack The Knife (Live In Berlin) 4:57

1-7 Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) 3:32

1-8 Cheek To Cheek 3:48

1-9 The Lady Is A Tramp 3:22

1-10 Get Happy 3:30

1-11 I Get A Kick Out Of You 4:00

1-12 Misty 2:51

1-13 Embraceable You 4:51

1-14 I Love Paris 4:57

1-15 I Can't Give You Anything But Love 3:29

1-16 Georgia On My Mind 3:29

1-17 But Not For Me 2:04

1-18 Blue Skies 3:44

1-19 Someone To Watch Over Me 4:33

2-1 Manhattan 2:49

2-2 'S Wonderful 3:28

2-3 They Can't Take That Away From Me 4:38

2-4 I've Got You Under My Skin 2:44

2-5 Stormy Weather 5:13

2-6 My Funny Valentine 3:52

2-7 Bewitched 7:01

2-8 These Foolish Things 7:35

2-9 With A Song In My Heart 2:44

2-10 There's A Small Hotel 2:47

2-11 Night And Day 3:05

2-12 Let's Face The Music And Dance 2:55

2-13 Puttin' On The Ritz 2:15

2-14 Blue Moon 3:10

2-15 Isn't This A Lovely Day 3:25

2-16 Love Is Here To Stay 3:52

2-17 I Only Have Eyes For You 2:37

2-18 The Man I Love 3:51

2-19 Tenderly 5:06

2-20 Too Darn Hot 3:00

Ella Fitzgerald Gold

The Blues 1923 To 1933 - various artists compilation

 

1 Ida Cox– Give Me A Break Blues

2 Cleo Gibson With Her Hot Three– Nothin' But Blues

3 Rosa Henderson– Barrel House Blues

4 Frances Hereford With The Levee Serenaders– Midnight Mama

5 Memphis Jug Band– Kansas City Blues

6 Ma Rainey And Her Tub Jug Washboard Band– Prove It On Me Blues

7 Issie Ringgold– Be On Your Merry Way

8 Jimmie Rodgers With Louis Armstrong, Lil Armstrong*– Blue Yodel No. 9

9 Bessie Smith– Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out

10 Mamie Smith– Jenny's Ball

11 Victoria Spivey– Moaning The Blues

12 Eva Taylor With Williams' Jug Band*– Organ Grinder

13 Ethel Waters With Clarence Williams– Get Up Off Your Knees

14 Margaret Webster, Clarence Williams' Washboard Band*– I've Got What It Takes

15 Margaret Whitmire– That Thing's Done Been Put On Me

16 Lena Wilson With The Nubian Five– He Used To Be Your Man

The Blues 1923 To 1933

We'll Have Manhattan (The Rodgers & Hart Songbook) - various artists

 

Joe Williams– Thou Swell 2:19

Shirley Horn– This Can't Be Love 2:52

Anita O'Day– I Didn't Know What Time It Was 3:40

Louis Armstrong– Have You Met Miss Jones? 4:35

Blossom Dearie– Manhattan 4:10

Dinah Washington– I Could Write A Book 4:26

Sarah Vaughan– My Funny Valentine 2:58

Mel Tormé– Blue Moon 3:42

Ella Fitzgerald– A Ship Without A Sail 4:07

Bing Crosby– Mountain Greenery 3:38

Billie Holiday– You Took Advantage Of Me 3:08

Frank Morgan Quartet– Ten Cents A Dance 5:22

Helen Merrill– Falling In Love With Love 3:53

Sarah Vaughan– It Never Entered My Mind 3:36

Nina Simone– Little Girl Blue 4:18

Ella Fitzgerald– The Lady Is A Tramp 3:21

We'll Have Manhattan (The Rodgers & Hart Songbook)

Marty Robbins – The Essential Marty Robbins 1951-1982

 

1-1 Tomorrow You'll Be Gone 2:43

1-2 I'll Go On Alone 2:39

1-3 I Couldn't Keep From Crying 2:45

1-4 Pain And Misery 2:19

1-5 That's All Right 2:34

1-6 Maybellene 2:30

1-7 Tennessee Toddy 3:14

1-8 I Can't Quit 2:25

1-9 Singing The Blues 2:26

1-10 Knee Deep In The Blues 2:09

1-11 Mister Teardrop 2:47

1-12 The Story Of My Life 2:31

1-13 A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation) 2:29

1-14 She Was Only Seventeen (He Was One Year More) 2:21

1-15 Just Married 2:07

1-16 Ain't I The Lucky One 2:14

1-17 Kaw-Liga 2:27

1-18 The Hanging Tree 2:51

1-19 El Paso 4:39

1-20 Big Iron 3:53

1-21 Song Of The Bandit 2:30

1-22 Cool Water 3:10

1-23 A Little Sentimental 2:55

1-24 September In The Rain 1:59

1-25 All The Way 2:56

1-26 Unchained Melody 2:19

1-27 Don't Worry 3:09

2-1 Devil Woman 2:50

2-2 Ruby Ann 1:59

2-3 Smokin' Cigarettes And Drinkin' Coffee Blues 2:41

2-4 I'm Gonna Be A Cowboy 1:50

2-5 (Ghost) Riders In The Sky 3:34

2-6 San Angelo 5:33

2-7 Man Walks Among Us 3:04

2-8 Beautiful Dreamer 1:53

2-9 Beyond The Reef 3:06

2-10 The Hawaiian Wedding Song 2:15

2-11 Yours (Quiereme Mucho) 2:37

2-12 Tonight Carmen 2:44

2-13 Ribbon Of Darkness 2:31

2-14 Feleena (From El Paso) 8:16

2-15 Hello Heartache 3:59

2-16 Begging To You 2:26

2-17 I Walk Alone 3:17

2-18 You Gave Me A Mountain 4:02

2-19 My Woman, My Woman, My Wife 3:31

2-20 Among My Souvenirs 2:33

2-21 Return To Me 2:52

2-22 Some Memories Just Won't Die 3:12

2-23 El Paso City 4:22

The Essential Marty Robbins 1951-1982

Mahalia Jackson – Queen Of Gospel

 

1 Get Away Jordan

2 (I'm) On My Way (To Canaan)

3 I Can Put My Trust In Jesus

4 Said He Would

5 He's My Light

6 Move On Up A Little Higher

7 Run All The Way

8 Up In Jerusalem

9 The Lord's Prayer

10 Beautiful Tomorrow

11 Walk With Me

12 In The Upper Room

13 I'm Glad Salvation Is Free

14 His Eye Is On The Sparrow

15 Jesus Is With Me

16 These Are They

17 Just As I Am

18 How I Got Over

19 I Bow On My Knees

20 Prayer Changes Things

21 Go Tell It On The Mountains

Mahalia Jackson – Queen Of Gospel

Bob Crosby & The Bobcats – March Of The Bobcats

 

1 Christopher Columbus 2:44

2 Ooh! Looka There Ain't She Pretty? 2:25

3 Muskrat Ramble 2:19

4 Dixieland Shuffle 3:14

5 Come Back, Sweet Papa 2:30

6 Royal Garden Blues 3:07

7 The Old Spinning Wheel 2:41

8 Little Rock Getaway 2:35

9 Squeeze Me 3:13

10 Who's Sorry Now 2:51

11 Panama 2:35

12 Grand Terrace Rhythm 2:56

13 Wolverine Blues 2:55

14 March Of The Bobcats 2:31

15 Big Foot Jump 2:36

16 The Big Crash From China 2:41

17 I'm Prayin' Humble 3:12

18 I'm Free (What's New?) 3:02

19 Stomp Off, Lets Go 3:13

20 Smokey Mary 3:00

21 Eye Opener 3:06

22 South Rampart St. Parade 2:53

Bob Crosby & The Bobcats – March Of The Bobcats

Jack Hylton - Turn On the Heat

 

Born in 1892 in Bolton, Lancashire, Jack Hylton was a major recording artist during the jazz age when bands like the Original Dixieland Jazz Band were creating a sensation playing at the Hammersmith Palais, and yet he was not really a part of the scene. Jack was known as the "English Paul Whiteman". This 25 track CD contains a selection of re-mastered, first-class Tin Pan Alley tunes expertly played by Hylton & His Orchestra, and wonderfully sung by the likes of Sam Browne, The Swingettes, Alice Mann and June Malo.

1 You're the Cream in My Coffee

2 That's My Weakness Now

3 The Breakaway: Big City Blues

4 Wir Wollen Tun, Als Ob Wir Freunde Waren

5 Lucky Day

6 Turn on the Heat

7 Diga Diga Doo

8 I Want to Be Bad

9 Tiger Rag

10 High and Low

11 The Varsity Drag

12 Herr Lehmann, Herr Lehmann, Was Macht Die Frau Gemahlin in Marienbad?

13 Ain't That a Grand and Glorious Feeling?

14 Limehouse Blues

15 Ich Bin So Scharf Auf Erika

16 Me and Jane in a Plane

17 My Lucky Star

18 Chinatown, My Chinatown

19 You Turned the Tables on Me

20 Sing, Baby, Sing

21 One, Two, Button Your Shoe

22 Music Maestro Please

23 Swing Is in the Air

24 Why Doesn't Somebody Tell Me These Things?

25 Boom! (Why Does My Heart Go Boom?)

Jack Hylton - Turn On the Heat

The Best Of Robert Parker (Engineer) - Jazz Classics In Digital Stereo - various artists

 

Robert Parker, an Australian sound engineer and broadcaster, is internationally acclaimed for the development of a unique system for extracting high quality stereo from early 78rpm records.

1 Intro (Robert Parker) / Mckinney's Cotton Pickers / Louis Armstrong & Earl Hines– Milenburg Joys/Weather Bird 1:37

2 Louis Armstrong / Earl Hines– Weather Bird 2:43

3 Coleman Hawkins & His Orchestra*– Body And Soul 3:00

4 Pete Johnson / Albert Ammons– Boogie Woogie Man 2:41

5 Count Basie & His Orchestra*– One O'Clock Jump 3:03

6 Bud Freeman & His Famous Chicagoans*– Jack Hits The Road 2:58

7 Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra*– Ring Dem Bells 3:20

8 Lew Stone & His Band*– I Ain't Got Nobody 3:07

9 King Oliver's Jazz Band– Sweet Lovin' Man 2:45

10 Clarence Williams & His Novelty Four*– In The Bottle Blues 2:54

11 Muggsy Spanier & His Ragtime Band*– Lonesome Road 2:58

12 Henry Allen & His Orchestra*– Patrol Wagon Blues 3:17

13 Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra*– Blue Juice 3:14

14 Jelly-Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers*– Doctor Jazz 3:23

15 J.C. Cobb & His Grains Of Corn*– Shake That Jelly-Roll 2:57

16 Charlie Johnson & His Orchestra– Hot Bones And Rice 3:23

17 Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five– West End Blues 3:16

18 Fats Waller & His Buddies*– Harlem Fuss 3:19

19 Bix Beiderbecke & His Gang*– Since My Best Girl Turned Me Down 3:03

20 Bessie Smith & Her Blue Boys*– Young Woman's Blues 3:07

21 Duke Ellington & His Orchestra*– Bundle Of Blues 3:10

22 Joe Venuti's Blue Four– Four String Joe 2:55

23 Ma Rainey & Her Tub Jug Washboard Band*– Prove It On Me Blues 2:39

Jazz Classics In Digital Stereo

Nellie Melba - Aria and Song 1904-1921

 

Dame Nellie Melba GBE (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 1861 – 23 February 1931) was an Australian operatic lyric coloratura soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th century, and was the first Australian to achieve international recognition as a classical musician. She took the pseudonym "Melba" from Melbourne, her home town.

Melba studied singing in Melbourne and made a modest success in performances there. After a brief and unsuccessful marriage, she moved to Europe in search of a singing career. Failing to find engagements in London in 1886, she studied in Paris and soon made a great success there and in Brussels. Returning to London she quickly established herself as the leading lyric soprano at Covent Garden from 1888. She soon achieved further success in Paris and elsewhere in Europe, and later at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, debuting there in 1893. Her repertoire was small; in her whole career she sang no more than 25 roles and was closely identified with only ten. She was known for her performances in French and Italian opera, but sang little German opera.

During the First World War, Melba raised large sums for war charities. She returned to Australia frequently during the 20th century, singing in opera and concerts, and had a house built for her near Melbourne. She was active in the teaching of singing at the Melbourne Conservatorium. Melba continued to sing until the last months of her life and made a large number of "farewell" appearances. Her death, in Australia, was news across the English-speaking world, and her funeral was a major national event. The Australian $100 note features her image.

---------------

This title attempts to convey the distinctive voice of Dame Nellie Melba, re-recorded and mastered by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia utilising an innovative process. The original disc recordings were played using archival Gramophone equipment, and the music recorded through ambient microphones. The recordings took place in the Senate Chamber of Old Parliament House in Canberra - a location already associated with Melba as she sang in person at the opening of Parliament House in 1927.

PART 1 - Arias from Operas (15 tracks)

1. God Save the King (Trad)

2. Puccini: LA BOHÈME: Mi chiamano Mimi

3. Puccini: LA BOHÈME: O soave fanciulla

4. Puccini: LA BOHÈME: Donde lieta uscì al tuo grido d'amore

5. Mozart: IL RE PASTORE: l'amero saro costante

6. Mozart: LE NOZZE DE FIGARO voi che sapete

7. Mozart: LE NOZZE DE FIGARO porgi amor

8. Massenet: DON CÉSAR DE BAZAN: À Séville, belle Señoras (Sevillana),

9. Lalo: LE ROI D'YS: Puisqu'on ne peut fléchir… Vainement, ma bien aimée (Aubade)

10. Verdi: RIGOLETTO: Caro nome

11. Verdi LA TRAVIATA: Ah! Fors'è lui… Follie! Follie!... Sempre libera

12. Donizetti: LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR: Del ciel clemente un riso (Mad Scene)

13. Charpentier: LOUISE: Depuis de jour

14. Wagner: LOHENGRIN: Sola ne miei prim anni (Elsa's Dream)

15. Rimsky-Korsakov: SADKO: Les diamants chez nous… (Chanson Hindoue)

PART 2 - Songs (16 tracks)

1. Arditi: Se saran rose

2. Hahn: Si mes vers avaient des ailes

3. Bemberg: Sur le lac

4. Bemberg: Chant hindou

5. Bemberg: Les anges pleurent

6. Lottie: Pur dicesti, o bocca, bocca bella

7. Bizet: Pastorale

8. Hahn: D'une prison

9. Hue: Soir paiën

10. Debussy: (i) Romance (ii) Mandoline

11. Duparc: Chanson triste

12. Chausson: Le temps des lilas

13. Ronald: The White Sea Mist

14. White: Andersen. My Jo

15. Lehmann: Magdalen at Michael's Gate

16. Dvorak: Songs my mother taught me

Nellie Melba - Aria and Song 1904-1921