78 RPM: Count Basie & His Orchestra - Decca 2325

At The Famous Door, New York City, July 1938

Thursday

written by Dorothy Sachs, Irvin Graham and Louis Haber

performed by Count Basie & His Orchestra,

vocal by Helen Humes

recorded 4 February 1939

Buck Clayton, Ed Lewis, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Shad Collins - trumpets

Benny Morton, Dan Minor, Dickie Wells - trombones

Lester Young, Chu Berry, Earl Warren, Jack Washington - reeds

Count Basie - piano

Freddie Green - guitar

Walter Page - bass

Jo Jones - drums

This was to be Basie's second master from the band's last Decca session.  With their contract was up, John Hammond was free to moved them over to Columbia.  As for this record, itself, it took some serious attention to even get it sounding this clean.  It will do until I can secure an upgrade.

Shorty George

written by William Basie

performed by Count Basie & His Orchestra

recorded 16 November 1938

Buck Clayton, Ed Lewis, Harry "Sweets" Edison - trumpets

Benny Morton, Dan Minor, Dickie Wells - trombones

Lester Young, Herschel Evans, Earl Warren, Jack Washington - reeds

Count Basie - piano

Freddie Green - guitar

Walter Page - bass

Jo Jones - drums

Luckily, this side was little cleaner than "Thursday."  One of my personal favorites from Basie's Decca years,  this would be one of Herschel Evans' last recording.

At a one night stand in Hartford, Evans collapsed on the bandstand.  Rushed to New York's Wadsowrth Hospital, the problem was diagnosed as heart disease.  The session from the 3rd and 4th of February, that produced "Thursday," Basie's utilized a quick substitution of Chu Berry on tenor.  Quickly back out on the road, word  reached them that Herschel Evans had passed away on 9 February 1939.  He was only 29 years old! 

Released as Decca 2325 in March 1939