Vanguard 1950's Jazz LPs

[mikeweil]

To help speculations about the contents of the upcoming second Mosaic box set of 1950's Vanguard manistream jazz sessions, I compiled a list of 10" and 12" LPs of the series. It is an expansion of the list from the Mosiac website plus my researches in the Lord Discography. Titles with an * are in the first box; my speculations about the contents of the second are marked with + - all by Mel Powell, the Ruby Braff & Elis Larkins duets, Sir Charles Thompson, Bobby Henderson, Ronnell Bright, and Jo Jones with Ray Bryant.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

10” LP
VRS-8001 Vic Dickenson Septet Vol.1 *
VRS-8002 Vic Dickenson Septet Vol.2 *
VRS-8003 Sir Charles Thompson Sextet *
VRS-8004 Mel Powell Septet +
VRS-8005 Brother John Sellers Sings Folk and Blues Songs
VRS-8006 Sir Charles Thompson Quartet  +
VRS-8007 Joe Newman And His Band *
VRS-8008 Ruby Braff / Buck Clayton – Buck Meets Ruby *
VRS-8009 Sir Charles Thompson And His Band *
VRS-8010 Urbie Green and his Band
VRS-8011 Jimmy Rushing’s All Stars – Goin’ To Chicago *
VRS-8012 Vic Dickenson Septet Vol.3 *
VRS-8013 Vic Dickenson Septet Vol.4 *
VRS-8014 Sam Most Sextet
VRS-8015 Mel Powell Bandstand +
VRS-8016 Don Elliott - Doubles in Brass
VRS-8017 Nat Pierce Band 
VRS-8018 Sir Charles Thompson Trio +
VRS-8019 Ruby Braff - Two-Part Inventions in Jazz Vol.1 +
VRS-8020 Ruby Braff - Two-Part Inventions in Jazz Vol.2 +

12” LP
VRS-8501 Mel Powell - Borderline +
VRS-8502 Mel Powell - Thigamagig +
VRS-8503 Jo Jones Special *
VRS-8504 Ruby Braff Sextet – Ruby Braff Special *
VRS-8505 Jimmy Rushing And His All Stars *
VRS-8506 Mel Powell - Out On A Limb +
VRS-8507 Ruby Braff - Two By Two: Music of Rodgers and Hart +
VRS-8508 Various Artists – A Night At Count Basie’s *
VRS-8509 Hans Koller - Hans Across the Sea
VRS-8510 Rolf Kühn - Streamline
VRS-8511 Bobby Henderon - Handful of Keys +
VRS-8512 Ronnell Bright - Bright Flight +
VRS-8513 Jimmy Rushing – Listen To The Blues *
VRS-8514 Buck Clayton – Buckin’ The Blues *
VRS-8515 Ted Brown - Free Wheeling
VRS-8516 Ruby Braff & Ellis Larkins - Pocketful of Dreams (reissue of 8019 & 8020) +
VRS-8517 Buck Clayton & Mel Powell (reissue of 8004 & 8008) 
VRS-8518 Jimmy Rushing (reissue of 8011) *
VRS-8519 Nat Pierce - Easy Swing (reissue of 8017) 
VRS-8520 Vic Dickenson Showcase Vol.1 (reissue of 8001 & 8002) *
VRS-8521 Vic Dickenson Showcase Vol.2 (reissue of 8012 & 8013) *
VRS-8522 Don Elliott & Sam Most - Doubles in Jazz (reissue of 8014 & 8016)
VRS-8523/24 From Spirituals to Swing
VRS-8525 - Jo Jones Plus Two +
 

Edited Wednesday at 12:15 AM by mikeweil

[king ubu]

Most helpful, thanks!

[mikeweil]

That list contains some surprises, like the Brother John Sellers 10" LP. Look at the rhythm section: 

https://www.discogs.com/release/12253788-Brother-John-Sellers-Brother-John-Sellers-Sings-Blues-And-Folk-Songs/image/SW1hZ2U6MzUxNjA3NTc=

[medjuck]

Wow! There's a rumour/myth that one of the versions of Bob Dylan's first single, Mixed Up Confusion, was with a "Dixieland band".  Given that John Hammond was the producer, if it really happened it might have been pretty interesting. 

[tranemonk]

23 hours ago, mikeweil said:

To help speculations about the contents of the upcoming second Mosaic box set of 1950's Vanguard manistream jazz sessions, I compiled a list of 10" and 12" LPs of the series. It is an expansion of the list from the Mosiac website plus my researches in the Lord Discography. Titles with an * are in the first box; my speculations about the contents of the second are marked with + - all by Mel Powell, the Ruby Braff & Elis Larkins duets, Sir Charles Thompson, Bobby Henderson, Ronnell Bright, and Jo Jones with Ray Bryant.

Additions and corrections are welcome.

10” LP
VRS-8001 Vic Dickenson Septet Vol.1 *
VRS-8002 Vic Dickenson Septet Vol.2 *
VRS-8003 Sir Charles Thompson Sextet *
VRS-8004 Mel Powell Septet +
VRS-8005 Brother John Sellers Sings Folk and Blues Songs
VRS-8006 Sir Charles Thompson Quartet  +
VRS-8007 Joe Newman And His Band *
VRS-8008 Ruby Braff / Buck Clayton – Buck Meets Ruby *
VRS-8009 Sir Charles Thompson And His Band *
VRS-8010 Urbie Green and his Band
VRS-8011 Jimmy Rushing’s All Stars – Goin’ To Chicago *
VRS-8012 Vic Dickenson Septet Vol.3 *
VRS-8013 Vic Dickenson Septet Vol.4 *
VRS-8014 Sam Most Sextet
VRS-8015 Mel Powell Bandstand +
VRS-8016 Don Elliott - Doubles in Brass
VRS-8017 Nat Pierce Band 
VRS-8018 Sir Charles Thompson Trio +
VRS-8019 Ruby Braff - Two-Part Inventions in Jazz Vol.1 +
VRS-8020 Ruby Braff - Two-Part Inventions in Jazz Vol.2 +

12” LP
VRS-8501 Mel Powell - Borderline +
VRS-8502 Mel Powell - Thigamagig +
VRS-8503 Jo Jones Special *
VRS-8504 Ruby Braff Sextet – Ruby Braff Special *
VRS-8505 Jimmy Rushing And His All Stars *
VRS-8506 Mel Powell - Out On A Limb +
VRS-8507 Ruby Braff - Two By Two: Music of Rodgers and Hart +
VRS-8508 Various Artists – A Night At Count Basie’s *
VRS-8509 Hans Koller - Hans Across the Sea
VRS-8510 Rolf Kühn - Streamline
VRS-8511 Bobby Henderon - Handful of Keys +
VRS-8512 Ronnell Bright - Bright Flight +
VRS-8513 Jimmy Rushing – Listen To The Blues *
VRS-8514 Buck Clayton – Buckin’ The Blues *
VRS-8515 Ted Brown - Free Wheeling
VRS-8516 Ruby Braff & Ellis Larkins - Pocketful of Dreams (reissue of 8019 & 8020) +
VRS-8517 Buck Clayton & Mel Powell (reissue of 8004 & 8008) 
VRS-8518 Jimmy Rushing (reissue of 8011) *
VRS-8519 Nat Pierce - Easy Swing (reissue of 8017) 
VRS-8520 Vic Dickenson Showcase Vol.1 (reissue of 8001 & 8002) *
VRS-8521 Vic Dickenson Showcase Vol.2 (reissue of 8012 & 8013) *
VRS-8522 Don Elliott & Sam Most - Doubles in Jazz (reissue of 8014 & 8016)
VRS-8523/24 From Spirituals to Swing
VRS-8525 - Jo Jones Plus Two +
 

Wait so now I'm really confused. We've got the Classic Vanguard Small Group Sessions (just coming out), a second set focused on piano settings.  And then a third on big-band Vanguard recordings?  Do I have that right? All from the Vanguard label?

[jazzbo]

I think as far as Vanguard goes only a piano centered Vanguard set is planned yet to come. A big band V-Disk box has been mentioned. . . I think that rather than a big band Vanguard is what we'll have forthcoming.

Edited Wednesday at 01:06 AM by jazzbo

[mikeweil]

I do not know of any big band recordings on Vanguard from the 1950's or 1960's. After the Jazz Showcase series there were the two Dave Burns LPs in 1962/63. (Who produced these, btw?)

Next jazz albums came in the Seventies.

[Dan Gould]

12 hours ago, mikeweil said:

That list contains some surprises, like the Brother John Sellers 10" LP. Look at the rhythm section: 

https://www.discogs.com/release/12253788-Brother-John-Sellers-Brother-John-Sellers-Sings-Blues-And-Folk-Songs/image/SW1hZ2U6MzUxNjA3NTc=

I went looking at Vanguard releases on discogs myself and wondered immediately about that one.

 

I did spot this title and decided to order thru ebay/Craig Moerer records:

https://www.discogs.com/release/12439744-Buck-Clayton-And-Mae-Barnes-Buck-And-Mae-?srsltid=AfmBOoo59DaKQnuaJTQlw7SeVG1SKGCR6CLQDUKsRdf0SamZRjFakzlv

 

[mikeweil]

2 hours ago, Dan Gould said:

I did spot this title and decided to order thru ebay/Craig Moerer records:

https://www.discogs.com/release/12439744-Buck-Clayton-And-Mae-Barnes-Buck-And-Mae-?srsltid=AfmBOoo59DaKQnuaJTQlw7SeVG1SKGCR6CLQDUKsRdf0SamZRjFakzlv

 

Lord shows there were 14 tracks recorded, all reissued on Vanguard LP 9039:

https://www.discogs.com/master/723817-Mae-Barnes-Mae-Barnes/image/SW1hZ2U6MTE2ODQzNTA3

Edited Wednesday at 03:07 PM by mikeweil

[JSngry]

Isn't there a Bill English record?

And a live thing from the Apollo as well. George Kirby and Moms Mabley are the highlights, and the Basie band is in there.

[Dan Gould]

22 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

Lord shows there were 14 tracks recorded, all reissued on Vanguard LP 9039:

https://www.discogs.com/master/723817-Mae-Barnes-Mae-Barnes/image/SW1hZ2U6MTE2ODQzNTA3

Well shoulda figured there was more ... 🤔

I guess if I like the four tracks on their way here I can look for the rest on the LP.

Thanks Mike.

[mikeweil]

17 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

Well shoulda figured there was more ... 🤔

I guess if I like the four tracks on their way here I can look for the rest on the LP.

Thanks Mike.

You're welcome. The whole LP is on YouTube!

25 minutes ago, JSngry said:

Isn't there a Bill English record?

https://www.discogs.com/master/898321-Bill-English-Bill-English

Dave Burns is on this LP. Together with his two albums it would make a nice double CD.

Like the Bluesville and Swingville sessions, the combinations of black blues, folk, and gospel singers  with swing veterans always seems to work nicely.

Edited Wednesday at 03:49 PM by mikeweil

[mikeweil]

On 11/20/2024 at 1:04 AM, mikeweil said:

That list contains some surprises, like the Brother John Sellers 10" LP. Look at the rhythm section: 

https://www.discogs.com/release/12253788-Brother-John-Sellers-Brother-John-Sellers-Sings-Blues-And-Folk-Songs/image/SW1hZ2U6MzUxNjA3NTc=

There is a reissue of the material on the Britsih Ace label:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/brother-john-sellers-sings-blues-and-folk-songs with samples

Edited Thursday at 02:12 AM by mikeweil

[HutchFan]

6 hours ago, mikeweil said:

After the Jazz Showcase series there were the two Dave Burns LPs in 1962/63. (Who produced these, btw?)

I have Burns' second LP, Warming Up, since it includes an early Bobby Hutcherson sideman appearance.  The album sleeve doesn't mention a producer.

 

59 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

Dave Burns is on this LP. Together with his two albums it would make a nice double CD.

Good idea!   

 

[clifford_thornton]

I have the Ted Brown and Hans Koller Vanguards, and had a reissue of Mel Powell "Thingamagig." 

The Bill English is really good, as are the Dave Burns LPs -- heard, but never owned.

[Niko]

One Clarence Bullard is listed as producer for the English LP and the other Burns album on discogs

[clifford_thornton]

I suppose the Burns/English material is from the 1960s.

[Dan Gould]

Mike Weil working overtime! You da man.

[Daniel A]

The Bill English and Dave Burns Vanguard titles are available on streaming platforms (including YouTube) as part of the Vanguard "Digital Vault" series.

[mikeweil]

9 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

I suppose the Burns/English material is from the 1960s.

1962 and 1963

[JSngry]

This is not really a "music" album, but it's an invaluable document. From 1956:

It very much has a natural, almost eavesdropping feel to it, right down to including an Amateur Night segment that is indeed that.