Various Artists - Blue York Blue York (1996)

BLUE SERIES MONTH (FEBRUARY, 2025)

European import

A compilation loosely based on New York(ish) song titles. And while it starts strong, it is indeed the mixed bag you'd expect from a theme that considers only titles - cocktail jazz, big band, string arrangements, vocal quartet, bebop, easy listening, soul/R&B, blues, even a Tom Waits cover. Plus the tracks were recorded during an usually wide time span: five decades of the 20th century. The album doesn't really work when taken as a whole, but there's some tracks worth discovering.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. New York Times - Bobbi Humphrey ✔
   From the 1974 album, Satin Doll
2. On Broadway - Reuben Wilson ✔
   From the 1968 album, On Broadway
3. Hackensack - Jimmy Smith ✔
   From the 1965 album, Softly As A Summer Breeze
4. Stomping At The Savoy - Jim Hall ✔
   From the 1957 album, Jazz Guitar
5. Lullaby Of Birdland - George Shearing
   From the 1961 album, The Swingin's Mutual!
6. Skating In Central Park - Modern Jazz Quartet
   From the 1960 album, Music From 'Odds Against Tomorrow'
7. Blue Harlem - Ike Quebec
   1944 single
8. Take The A Train - The King Sisters
   From the 1958 album, Imagination
9. 52nd Street Theme - Bud Powell
   b-side of Dance Of The Infidels single, 1950
10. Broadway - Dakota Staton
    From the 1957 album, The Late, Late Show
11. City Lights - Lee Morgan ✔
    From the 1958 album, City Lights
12. 116th & Lenox - Jackie McLean
    From the 1960 album, Swing, Swang, Swingin'
13. Jersey Girl - Holly Cole
    From the 1995 album, Temptation
14. Sugar Hill - The Three Sounds
    From the 1968 album, Elegant Soul
15. Harlem River Drive - Bobbi Humphrey ✔
    From the 1974 album, Blacks & Blues. Also included in the series on Blue Break Beats.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Jump Blue (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)	Midnight Blue (1999)
Blue Valentines (1999)	Blue Movies (1999)
So Blue So Funky (1991)	Blue 'N' Groovy Vol 2 (1999)
So Blue So Funky Vol 2 (1994)	California Cool (1993)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Blue 'N' Soul (2001)
Blue Break Beats Vol 3 (1996)	Blue '70s (2000)

Various Artists - Blue Break Beats, Vol. 3 (1996)

BLUE SERIES MONTH (FEBRUARY, 2025)

One of three follow-up releases to Volume 1, which spotlights songs from the Blue Note vaults that have since been sampled for various tracks. Chicago's most excellent record store Dusty Groove writes that

the music here is very strongly oriented in the mode of "breaks," or tracks that were sampled for later hip hop and club recordings -- classic jazz tunes from the glory days of Blue Note that have gone onto live again, thanks to the keen ears and inventive work of more contemporary DJs and producers. After all these years, The Blue Break Beats series still stands as one of the best illustrations of the funkier side of the label..."

Back in the '90s, many of these funky soul-jazz tracks had not yet been released on CD, so they were seeing digital release for the first time on these compilations. As one would expect, there's at least a few bars in each cut that can easily be sampled and repeated, but taken as a whole, it's a groovy compilation.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks, with links to whosampled.com and my favorites indicated (and I very easily could have checked every track):

1. Walk Tall - Cannonball Adderley ✔
   From the 1967 album, 74 Miles Away/Walk Tall
2. You've Made Me So Very Happy - Lou Rawls
   From the 1970 album, You've Made Me So Very Happy
3. Ode To Billie Joe - Lou Donaldson
   From the 1967 album, Mr. Shing-A-Ling
4. Sho-Nuff Mellow - Reuben Wilson ✔
   From the 1971 album, Set Us Free
5. Howlin' For Judy - Jeremy Steig
   From the 1970 album, Legwork
6. Light My Fire - Shirley Bassey ✔
   From the 1970 album, Something
7. It's Your Thing - Lou Donaldson ✔
   From the 1969 album, Hot Dog
8. Put On Train - Gene Harris & The Three Sounds
   From the 1971 album, Gene Harris & The Three Sounds
9. Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey - Gene Harris
   From the 1974 album, Astralsignal
10. Dominoes - Donald Byrd ✔
    From the 1975 album, Places And Spaces
11. Mystic Brew - Ronnie Foster ✔
    From the 1972 album, Two Headed Freap
12. Get Out Of My Life Woman - Joe Williams with Thad Jones & Mel Lewis
    From the 1966 album, Presenting Joe Williams And Thad Jones - Mel Lewis, The Jazz Orchestra
13. Ground Hog - Duke Pearson
    From the 1968 album, Introducing Duke Pearson's Big Band
14. Soul - Jackie McLean
    From the 1968 album, 'Bout Soul

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Jump Blue (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)	Midnight Blue (1999)
Blue Valentines (1999)	Blue Movies (1999)
So Blue So Funky (1991)	Blue 'N' Groovy Vol 2 (1999)
So Blue So Funky Vol 2 (1994)	California Cool (1993)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Blue 'N' Soul (2001)
	Blue '70s (2000)

Various Artists - Blue '70s: Blue Note Got Soul (2000)

BLUE SERIES MONTH (FEBRUARY, 2025)

In the 1970s, Blue Note artists strayed from hard bop and soul-jazz and into more fusionish, funky R&B sounds. Jazz purists hated the move and denounced the label, but it helped keep Blue Note afloat for a while. Whatever the reason, I sure dig this stuff and this is a fine compilation - one of my favorites in the series.

Tracks:

1. Can't Hide Love - Carmen McRae
   From the 1976 album, Can't Hide Love. Also included in the series on Capitol Rare, Vol. 2 and Blue 'N' Soul.
2. Think Twice - Donald Byrd
   From the 1975 album, Stepping Into Tomorrow
3. Una Esta - Bobbi Humphrey
   From the 1975 album, Fancy Dancer
4. Acuphuncture - Eddie Henderson
   From the 1976 album, Heritage
5. Feel Like Makin' Love - Marlena Shaw
   From the 1975 album, Who Is This Bitch, Anyway?. Also included in the series on Blue 'N' Soul.
6. Music Is My Sanctuary - Gary Bartz
   Taken from the 1977 album, Music Is My Sanctuary. Also included in the series on Capitol Rare (1999).
7. Spinning Wheel - Lonnie Smith
   Taken from the 1970 album, Drives
8. Wind Parade - Donald Byrd
   Taken from the 1975 album, Places And Spaces
9. Friend And Strangers - Ronnie Laws
   Taken from the 1977 album, Friends & Strangers
10. V-O - Chico Hamilton
    Taken from the 1975 album, Peregrinations
11. Down Here On The Ground - Grant Green
    Taken from the 1970 album, Alive!

This is the space where I normally pick the top tracks of an album, but since all these tracks are scratching me right where I itch, I'm simply gonna say hit that play button and enjoy the grooves.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Jump Blue (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)	Midnight Blue (1999)
Blue Valentines (1999)	Blue Movies (1999)
So Blue So Funky (1991)	Blue 'N' Groovy Vol 2 (1999)
So Blue So Funky Vol 2 (1994)	California Cool (1993)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Blue 'N' Soul (2001)

Various Artists - Jump Blue: Rockin' The Jukes (1999)

BLUE SERIES MONTH (FEBRUARY, 2025)

Usually the Blue Series focuses on jazzier releases, but this disc is an all-out celebration of original R&B 45s straight from the ol' juke joints. The devil's music. These classic singles were released for the purpose of dancing and letting go on a Saturday night after a long week of 10-12 hour work days. A few instrumentals included but most cuts have vocals with lyrics about drinkin', dancin', lovin', and cheatin'. Lots of the old record labels represented here, including Imperial, Aladdin, Philo, United Artists, Sue, Capitol, 7-11, Colony, and, of course, Blue Note. Plus the best collection of nicknames I've seen in a while.

Tracks:

Title	Artist	Year
Jump Children	Dave Bartholomew	1954
King Kong	Big 'T' Tyler	1957
Hucklebuck With Jimmy	The Five Keys	1951
Flying Home (Pt. 1)	Illinois Jacquet & His All Stars	1945
Deacon Rides Again	Big Jay McNeeley	1951
Safronia B	Calvin Boze & His All-Stars	1950
Messy Bessy	Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five	1954
I Ain't Drunk	Jimmy Liggins with Band	1954
Fine Brown Frame	Nellie Lutcher & Her Rhythm	1948
See See Rider	'Pigmeat' Alamo Markham with Oliver 'Rev.' Mesheux's Blue Six	1945
He May Be Your Man	Helen Humes with Bill Doggett Octet	1945
Yes It's You	The Clovers	1960
Daybreak	Pee Wee Crayton	1951
When I'm In My Tea	Jo-Jo Adams with Maxwell Davis & His Band	1946
I Got Loaded	'Peppermint' Harris with Maxwell Davis & His All-Stars	1951
A Fool In Love	Ike & Tina Turner	1960
Sax Shack Boogie	Amos Milburn & His Aladdin Chickenshackers	1950
Cleo's Boogie	Cleo Brown	1949
Great Big Eyes	Archibald	1952
Let The Four Winds Blow	Roy Brown	1957
Teenage Baby	T-Bone Walker	1954
Don't Leave Me Baby	Lowell Fulson & His Orchestra	1953
Wine Wine Wine	Floyd Dixon	1952
Let The Good Times Roll	Shirley & Lee	1956
I Need You, I Want You	Jack (The Bear) Parker Featuring Emmet Davis	1952
Midnight Rockin'	Joe Turner accompanied by Dave Bartholomew And His Orchestra	1951

Intended for juke box play, most of these tunes run around 2 minutes long so we're treated to 26 tracks in only 68 minutes. Best taken as a whole. The opening track asks, "Do you wanna jump?" and you'd better holler YES!, get on your feet, and start moving. Next thing you know, you're done with your cardio for the day.

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)	Midnight Blue (1999)
Blue Valentines (1999)	Blue Movies (1999)
So Blue So Funky (1991)	Blue 'N' Groovy Vol 2 (1999)
So Blue So Funky Vol 2 (1994)	California Cool (1993)

Various Artists - California Cool (1993)

BLUE SERIES MONTH (FEBRUARY, 2025)

UK import

"Presenting the hip jazz sounds of the West Coast"

Here's how the theme of this particular compilation is explained in the liner notes:

While somewhat familiar with most of the artists on this disc, it reminds me that my knowledge of West Coast jazz (a.k.a. "cool" jazz) is greatly lacking when compared to jazz of the time coming out of New York and New Jersey. Guess I'll start with the books mentioned above. In the meantime, this compilation - along with the few Chet Baker and Dave Brubeck albums I own - will have to serve as a primer.

Tracks:

	Title	Artist	Year
1	This Could Be The Start Of Something	Mark Murphy	1959
2	Main Title From The Man With The Golden Arm	Billy May	1956
3	Black Nightgown	Gerry Mulligan & Shelly Manne	1958
4	The Squimp	Chico Hamilton Quintet	1956
5	But Not For Me	Chet Baker	1954
6	Ironic	Jimmy Guiffre	1959
7	I Hear Music	Hampton Hawes Trio	1955
8	Lover Man	Lee Konitz with The Gerry Mulligan Quartet	1953
9	Hey Bellboy	Gloria Wood with Pete Candoli	1953
10	Diablo's Dance	Art Pepper & Shorty Rogers	1957
11	Our Love Is Here To Stay	Teddy Edwards with Les McCann Ltd	1959
12	Route 66	Bobby Troup	1956
13	Two Can Play	Bob Gordon & Jack Montrose	1954
14	Take Five	Bud Shank	1966
15	Jimmy's Theme	Chet Baker & Bud Shank Orchestra	1956
16	Something Cool	June Christy	1954
17	Mambo De La Pinta	Art Pepper Quartet	1956
18	Do I Love You?	Peggy Lee with George Shearing	1959
19	Katanga	Curtis Amy with Dupree Bolton	1963
20	Handful Of Stars	Serge Chaloff	1956
21	West Coast Blues	Sonny Criss	1956

My top picks on today's listen are tracks 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 17, 20, & 21.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)	Midnight Blue (1999)
Blue Valentines (1999)	Blue Movies (1999)
So Blue So Funky (1991)	Blue 'N' Groovy Vol 2 (1999)
So Blue So Funky Vol 2 (1994)

Various Artists - So Blue, So Funky (1991)

BLUE SERIES MONTH (FEBRUARY, 2025)

UK import

This compilation is subtitled "Heroes of the Hammond" and all the big names from the drawbar organ world of the 1960s are accounted for here: Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, Lonnie Smith, etc. Sort of celebration of the Hammond organ leaving its church roots to inhabit the local R&B and jazz clubs and, in some cases, the pop charts. Back when we looked at So Blue, So Funky, Vol. 2, I wrote that compilation contained "'60s instrumental R&B (heavy on the B) tunes that feature the Hammond organ" and this disc is the same, just as one would expect. And if you can sit still while listening to these grooves, I don't think we should see each other anymore.

Peak on the US Billboard 200 chart: Not released in US

Tracks (links to Wikipedia provided for purposes of identifying personnel):

1. All About My Girl - Jimmy McGriff
   From the 1962 album, I've Got A Woman
2. The Silver Metre - "Big" John Patton
   From the 1963 album, Along Came John
3. I'm Movin' On - Jimmy Smith
   From the 1967 album, I'm Movin' On
4. Brown Sugar - Freddie Roach
   From the 1964 album, Brown Sugar
5. Hootin' 'N Tootin' - Fred Jackson
   Taken from the 1962 album, Hootin' 'N Tootin'
6. Face To Face - "Baby Face" Willette
   Taken from the 1961 album, Face To Face
7. Plaza De Toros - Larry Young
   Taken from the 1965 album, Into Somethin'
8. Boop Bop Bing Bash - George Braith
   Taken from the 1964 album, Soul Stream
9. Fat Judy - "Big" John Patton
   Taken from the 1965 album, Oh Baby!
10. Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On) - Lou Donaldson
    Taken from the 1970 album, Everything I Play is Funky
11. Butter (For Yo' Popcorn) - "Brother" Jack McDuff
    Taken from the 1969 album, Down Home Style
12. Ain't It Funky Now - Grant Green
    Taken from the 1970 album, Green Is Beautiful

My favorites today are tracks 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, & 12.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)	Midnight Blue (1999)
Blue Valentines (1999)	Blue Movies (1999)
So Blue So Funky, Vol. 2 (1994)	Blue 'N' Groovy, Vol 2 (1999)

Various Artists - Smooth Grooves: Soulful Duets (2002)

From the back cover: "the music on this package creates a hip, smooth, groove-oriented tapestry, offering the very best in the sophisticated-soul experience." Long form, late night mood-setters in full force. When I finished spinning this compilation, my CD player asked for a cigarette and the rest of the day off.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks, with my top picks checked:

Song	Artists	Year	R&B	Pop
Fire And Desire	Rick James (feat. Teena Marie)	1981
Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This	Rachelle Ferrell (feat. Will Downing)	1994	72		✔
If This World Were Mine	Cheryl Lynn (with Luther Vandross)	1982	4		✔
Is It Still Good To Ya	Ashford & Simpson	1978	12
You Don't Have To Cry	René & Angela	1985	2	75
Feel The Fire	Teddy Pendergrass & Stephanie Mills	1980
Can't We Fall In Love Again	Phyllis Hyman & Michael Henderson	1981	9		✔
Hope That We Can Be Together Soon	Sharon Paige & Harold Melvin/Blue Notes	1975	1	42	✔
Love Changes	Kashif & Meli'sa Morgan	1987	2
Between You Baby And Me	Curtis Mayfield & Linda Clifford	1979	14		✔
That's What Love Is	Miki Howard (with Gerald Levert)	1988	4
Tonight, I Celebrate My Love	Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack	1983	5	16	✔

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Ask me tomorrow.

Previously revisited for the blog:

A Sensual Collection, Volume 1 (1995)	Smooth Grooves Live (2001)
A Sensual Collection, Volume 3 (1995)	Smooth Grooves: After Hours (2000)
A Sensual Collection, Volume 4 (1995)	Smooth Jazz, Vol. 1 (2000)
A Sensual Collection, Volume 6 (1996)	Smooth Jazz, Vol. 2 (2000)
A Sensual Collection, Volume 8 (1996)	Smooth Jazz, Vol. 3 (2000)
Smooth Grooves: Steppin' Out (2001)