Jazz/Pop Vocals (1920

Jazz/Pop Vocals (1920–40s)

The Andrews Sisters

Greatest Hits: 60th Anniversary Collection [1937–50, MCA], A–
Capitol Collectors Series [1956–58, Capitol], B

Fred Astaire (1899–1987)

Top Hat: Hits from Hollywood [(1994), Columbia/Legacy], A–

Mildred Bailey (1903–51)

The Incomparable Mildred Bailey [1933–42, Columbia/Legacy], A
Mrs. Swing [1929–42, Proper, 4CD], A
The Rockin' Chair Lady [1931–50, Decca], B+
Rockin' Chair: The Legendary V-Disc Sessions [1943–51, Vintage Jazz Classics], B

The Boswell Sisters [1925–1932]

That's How Rhythm Was Born [1931–34, Sony], B+

Cab Calloway (1907–94)

Cab Calloway and The Missourians [1929–30, JSP], A–
The Hi-De-Ho Man: 1930–1933 [1930–33, Jazz Legends], A
Best of Big Bands: Featuring Chu Berry [1937–39, Columbia], B
Are You Hep to the Jive? [1939–47, Columbia], A–

Hoagy Carmichael (1899–1981)

Stardust and Much More [1927–34, RCA], A–

Rosemary Clooney (1928–2002)

The Essential Rosemary Clooney [1947–56, Columbia/Legacy], B+
Come On-a My House: The Very Best of Rosemary Clooney [1951–60, Bluebird/Legacy], B+(***)
Love [1961, Reprise], B+
Sings the Music of Harold Arlen [1983, Concord], B+
Girl Singer [1992, Concord], B

Nat King Cole (1917–65)

Sweet Lorraine: The Complete Early Transcriptions [1938–41, Vintage Jazz Classics, 4 CD], B–
Hit That Jive Jack [1940–41, Decca], B+
Live at the Circle Room [1946, Capitol], B+
Hit That Jive: 1936–1946 [1936–46, Jazz Legends], A–
w/Charlie Shavers, Jonah Jones, Budd Johnson, Willie Smith: The Keynoters with Nat King Cole: The Essential Keynote Collection 9 [1944–46, Mercury], A–
Straighten Up and Fly Right: Live Radio Rarities, 1942–1948 [1942–48, Vintage Jazz Classics], B+
Jumpin' at Capitol: The Best of the Nat King Cole Trio [1939–51, Rhino], A–
The Complete After Midnight Sessions [1956, Capitol], A–
Just One of Those Things (And More) [1957, Capitol], A–
Big Band Cole [1950–58, Capitol], B+
The Capitol Collector's Series [1943–64, Capitol], B
The World of Nat King Cole [1943–91, Capitol], A

The Comedian Harmonists

The Comedian Harmonists [(1999), Hannibal], A–

Bing Crosby (1903–77)

Lost Columbia Sides 1928–1933 [1928–33, Collectors' Choice], B
The Essential Bing Crosby: The Columbia Years [1931–34, Columbia/Legacy], B+
The Best of Bing Crosby: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection [1944–57, MCA], A–

Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–90)

Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis Jr. Story [1949–77, Rhino, 4 CD], C

Billy Eckstine (1914–93)

No Cover No Minimum [1960, Roulette], B+

Cliff Edwards (1895–1971)

Singin' in the Rain [1924–42, ASV], B+

Ella Fitzgerald (1917–96)

The War Years 1941–1947 [1941–47, Decca, 2 CD], B
Pure Ella [1950–54, Decca], B–
75th Birthday Celebration: The Original Decca Recordings [1939–55, Decca, 2 CD], A–
w/Louis Armstrong: Ella and Louis [1956, Verve], A
w/Louis Armstrong: Ella and Louis Again [1957, Verve], A+
w/Louis Armstrong: Ella and Louis Again [1957, Verve, 2CD], A
w/Louis Armstrong: Best of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong on Verve [1956–57, Verve], A–
w/Louis Armstrong: For Lovers [1956–57, Verve], B
Day Dream: Best of the Duke Ellington Songbook [1956–57, Verve], B+
Ella Swings Lightly [1958, Verve], A–
Our Love Is Here to Stay: Ella and Louis Sing Gershwin [1956–59, Verve], B+
The Complete Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife [1960, Verve], B+
w/Nelson Riddle: Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson [1959–61, Verve], B+
Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook [1963, Verve], B+
First Lady of Song [1956–63, Verve, 3 CD], A–
The Best of Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song [1956–63, Verve], A+
Ken Burns Jazz [1938–63, Verve], A+
Love Songs: Best of the Verve Song Books [1956–63, Verve], A
Ella at Juan-Les-Pins [1964, Verve, 2CD], A–
The Complete Song Books [1956–64, Verve, 16 CD], A–
The Best of the Songbooks [1956–64, Verve], A
Ella and Duke at The Côte D'Azur [1966, Verve, 2 CD], A–
Whisper Not [1966, Verve], B+
The Concert Years [1953–83, Pablo, 4 CD], A–
Love Letters From Ella [1973–83, Concord/Starbucks], B

Slim Gaillard (1916–90)

w/Slam Stewart: The Groove Juice Special [1938–42, Columbia], B+
Slim's Jam [1945–46, Drive], B+
Laughing in Rhythm [1937–52, Proper, 4CD], A–
Laughing in Rhythm: The Best of the Verve Years [1946–54, Verve], A–

Teddy Grace (1905–92)

Teddy Grace [1937–40, Timeless], B+

Billie Holiday (1915–59)

The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 1 [1936, Columbia], B+
The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 2 [1936, Columbia], A–
The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 3 [1937–38, Columbia], A
The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 4 [1937, Columbia], A
The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 5 [1937–38, Columbia], A
The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 6 [1938, Columbia], A–
The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 7 [1938–39, Columbia], A–
The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 8 [1939–40, Columbia], A–
Love Songs 2 [1936–41, Columbia/Legacy], A–
The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 9 [1940–42, Columbia], A–
Love Songs [1937–42, Columbia], A
God Bless the Child: The Very Best of Billie Holiday [1935–42, Columbia/Legacy], A
Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles [1935–42, Columbia/Legacy, 4 CD], A+
Commodore Jazz Classics [1939–44, Commodore], B+
The Commodore Master Takes [1939–44, Polygram], B+
The Complete Decca Recordings [1944–50, Decca, 2 CD], A–
Billy Crystal Remembers Billie Holiday [1939–50, Verve], A–
Solitude [1952, Verve], B+
All or Nothing at All [1956–57, Verve, 2 CD], A
w/Lester Young: A Musical Romance [1937–57, Columbia/Legacy], A+
Lady in Satin [1958, Columbia], C
The Legacy [1933–58, Columbia, 3 CD], A–
Lady in Autumn: The Best of the Verve Years [1946–59, Verve, 2 CD], A–

Bob Hope (1903–2003)

Thanks for the Memories [1938–57, Decca/MCA], B+

Lena Horne (1917– )

Stormy Weather: The Legendary Lena [1941–58, RCA Bluebird], B
Seasons of a Life [2005, Blue Note], B

Eddy Howard (1914–63)

The Best of Eddy Howard: The Mercury Years [1946–54, Mercury], B

Helen Humes (1913–81)

Helen Humes 1927–1945 [1927–45, Classics], B
Be-Baba-Leba [1944–52, Whiskey Women and...], A–
'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do [1959, Contemporary OJC], B+
Songs I Like to Sing [1960, Contemporary OJC], A–
Let the Good Times Roll: The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions [1973, Black & Blue], A–

The Ink Spots [1936–1950]

Greatest Hits: The Original Decca Recordings [1939–46, Decca/MCA], B+
The Anthology [1936–50, MCA, 2 CD], B

Al Jolson (1885–1950)

Let Me Singg and I'm Happy: Al Jolson at Warner Bros. 1926–1936 [1926–36, Rhino], B+

Louis Jordan (1908–75)

The Best of Louis Jordan [1942–45, MCA], A+
Number Ones [1942–48, Geffen/Chronicles], A
Jivin' With Jordan [1939–51, Proper, 4CD], A
Let the Good Times Roll: Anthology 1938–1953 [1938–53, MCA, 2 CD], A–
Five Guys Named Moe: Vol. 2 [1939–55, MCA], A
One Guy Named Louis [1954, Capitol], B
Just Say Moe! Mo' of the Best of Louis Jordan [1942–73, Rhino], B+

Julia Lee (1902–58)

A Proper Introduction to Julia Lee: That's What I Like [1944–52, Proper], A–

Peggy Lee (1920–2002)

w/Benny Goodman: The Complete Recordings 1941–1947 [1941–47, Columbia/Legacy, 2 CD], B
Black Coffee [1953–56, Verve], A–
w/George Shearing: Beauty and the Beat [1959, Capitol], B+
The Best of Miss Peggy Lee [1945–69, Capitol], B+

Ted Lewis (1892–1971)

Is Everybody Happy? [1925–38, ASV/Living Era], B+(***)

Johnny Mercer (1909–76)

Collector's Series [1944–49, Capitol], B+

The Mills Brothers (1931– )

The Essential Mills Brothers: Four Boys and a Guitar [1931–34, Columbia], B+

Ella Mae Morse (1924–99)

The Very Best of Ella Mae Morse [1942–57, Collectables], B

Anita O'Day (1919–2006)

w/Gene Krupa: Let Me Off Uptown! [1941–45, Sony], B+
Pick Yourself Up [1956, Verve], B+
Anita Sings the Most [1956, Verve], B+
w/Billy May: Swings Cole Porter With Billy May [1952–60, Verve], B
w/Billy May: Swing Rodgers and Hart [1960, Verve], B
Rules of the Road [1993, Pablo], B
Indestructible! [2004–6, Kayo Stereophonic], B+(**)

Les Paul (1915– )

How High the Moon [1937–51, ASV], B+
w/Mary Ford: The Best of the Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition [1948–57, Capitol], A–

Louis Prima (1911–78)

Let's Swing It [1934–35, Charly], B+
Say It With a Slap [1947–49, Buddha], B+
w/Keely Smith: Breaking It Up [1951–53, Columbia/Legacy], B–
w/Keely Smith: Live From Las Vegas [1958, Capitol], A–
The Capitol Collector's Series [1956–62, Capitol], A–

Jimmy Rushing (1903–72)

The Band Singer [1929–40, Jazz Archives], A–
The Essential Jimmy Rushing [1954–57, Vanguard], B+
Cat Meets Chick / The Jazz Odyssey of James Rushing Esq. [1955–56, Collectables], A
Oh Love [1956–58, Vanguard], A–
Every Day [1956–58, Vanguard], A–
Rushing Lullabies [1958–59, Columbia], A
Five Feet of Soul [1963, Collectables], A–
Every Day I Have the Blues [1967, Impulse], A–
Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You [1967, New World], B+
The You and Me That Used to Be [1971, RCA], A+
w/Champion Jack Dupree: Dynamic Duo [(1996), Magnum America], B+

Dinah Shore (1917–94)

The Dinah Shore Collection [1941–48, Vocalion, 2 CD], B
The Essential RCA Recordings [1940–57, Taragon/BMG], B+

Frank Sinatra (1915–2003)

The Popular Frank Sinatra, Vol. 1 [1940–41, RCA], A–
The Popular Frank Sinatra, Vol. 2 [1940–42, RCA], B
The Popular Frank Sinatra, Vol. 3 [1940–42, RCA], B+
w/Tommy Dorsey: It's All So New! [1940–42, Buddha], B
w/Tommy Dorsey: Learn to Croon [1940–42, Buddha], B
The Essential Frank Sinatra With the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra [1940–42, RCA/Legacy, 2 CD], B
The Essential Frank Sinatra: The Columbia Years [1944–52, Columbia/Legacy], A–
A Voice in Time (1939–1952) [1939–52, Columbia/RCA Victor/Legacy, 4 CD], B+(*)
Songs for Swingin' Lovers [1956, Capitol], A+
A Swingin' Affair [1956, Capitol], B+
Where Are You [1957, Capitol], B
Only the Lonely [1958, Capitol], B
With Red Norvo Quintet: Live in Australia [1959, Capitol], A–
80th: All the Best [1954–60, Capitol, 2 CD], B+
Come Swing With Me! [1961, Capitol], A–
Strangers in the Night [1966, Reprise], A–
Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits! [1964–67, Reprise], B+
Everything Happens to Me [1961–81, Reprise], B+

Kate Smith (1907–86)

16 Most Requested Songs [1940–45, Columbia/Legacy], B–

Maxine Sullivan (1911–87)

A Proper Introduction to Maxine Sullivan: Moments Like This [1937–47, Proper], B+
w/Bob Wilber: Close as Pages in a Book [1969, Audiophile], B+

Mel Tormé (1925–99)

Spotlight on Mel Torme [1949–51, Capitol], B–
Mel Torme Swings Shubert Alley [1960, Verve], B+

Sarah Vaughan (1924–90)

Love Songs [1949–52, Columbia/Legacy], B–
16 Most Requested Songs [1949–53, Columbia], B–
w/Clifford Brown: Sarah Vaughan [1954, Emarcy], B+
Swingin' Easy [1954–57, Emarcy], B+
The Benny Carter Sessions: The Explosive Side of Sarah Vaughan / The Lonely Hours [1962–63, Roulette], B
¡Viva! Vaughan [1964, Verve], B+
Crazy and Mixed Up [1982, Pablo], B+
Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Sarah Vaughan [1944–85, Verve], B–
Send in the Clowns: The Very Best of Sarah Vaughan [1949–87, Columbia/Legacy], B–

Dinah Washington (1924–63)

Mellow Mama [1945, Delmark], A–
The Best in Blues [1943–53, Verve], A–
For Those in Love [1955, Emarcy], A–
The Dinah Washington Story [1943–61, Mercury, 2 CD], A
The Complete Roulette Dinah Washington Sessions [1962–63, Mosaic, 5 CD], B+

Ethel Waters (1896–1977)

Ethel Waters 1921–1923 [1921–23, Classics], B
The Incomparable Ethel Waters [1925–40, Columbia/Legacy], A–
An Introduction to Ethel Waters: Her Best Recordings 1921–1940 [1921–40, Best of Jazz], A–

Leo Watson (1898–1950)

The Original Scat Man [(1999), Indigo], A–

Ted Weems (1901–63)

Greatest Hits [1923–33, Collectors' Choice Music], B+

Lee Wiley (1915–75)

The Complete Young Lee Wiley 1931–1937: I've Got You Under My Skin [1931–37, Vintage Jazz Classics], B
Sings the Songs of George and Ira Gershwin and Cole Porter [1939–40, Audiophile], B+
Night in Manhattan [1950, Sony], B

Various Artists

Billboard Pop Memories: The 1920s [(1994), Rhino], B–
Billboard Pop Memories: The 1930s [1930–39, Rhino], B+
Billboard Pop Memories: 1940–1944 [(1994), Rhino], B
The Birth of a Dream: Capitol's Early Hits [1942–49, Capitol], B+
Closer than a Kiss: Crooner Classics [1942–69, Rhino], B+
Cole Porter: A Centennial Celebration [1932–87, RCA], B–
Down in the Basement: Joe Bussard's Treasure Trove of Vintage 78s [1926–37, Old Hat], A
Joe Franklin Presents . . . The Roaring '20s Roar Again [1922–33, Columbia], B+
The Legendary Big Band Singers [1931–51, Decca], A–
Masters of Jazz, Vol. 5: Female Vocal Classics [1937–62, Rhino], B+
Masters of Jazz, Vol. 6: Male Vocal Classics [1930–69, Rhino], B
Pop Music: The Early Years 1890–1950 [1890–1950, Columbia/Legacy, 2 CD], A–
The Prewar Vocal Jazz Story [1923–45, Best of Jazz, 2 CD], A
Real Ragtime: Disc Recordings From Its Heyday [1898–1919, Archeophone], B+(**)
Sentimental Journey: Pop Vocal Classics, Vol. 1 (1942–1946) [1942–46, Rhino], B
Sentimental Journey: Pop Vocal Classics, Vol. 2 (1947–1950) [1947–50, Rhino], B+
Songs That Got Us Through WWII [1941–45, Rhino], B+
Songs That Got Us Through WWII Vol. 2 [1942–45, Rhino], A–
Stomp and Swerve: American Music Gets Hot [1897–1925, Archeophone], A–
30 #1 Hits of the '30s [1930–39, Collectors' Choice, 2 CD], A–
20 #1 Hits of the '20s [1920–29, Collectors' Choice], A–
West Coast Jive [1945–46, Delmark], B+
Women of Substance [1945–2002, Savoy Jazz], B–
Yes Sir, That's My Baby: The Golden Years of Tin Pan Alley: 1920–1929 [1920–29, New World], B+

Introduction