Until 1999, finding recordings of the work of this principally 1940s jive/R&B combo was problematic. It took the effort of a small European label, Germany's Dee Jay Jamboree, to resurrect their work and make it available on CD. This 3 CD Series provides us with the complete output of this aggregation under the "Cats & the Fiddle" name on the various labels for which they recorded.
The Cats are in the tradition of the Spirits of Rhythm as much as they are in that of the Ink Spots and Mills Brothers. The group originally consisted of lead singer Austin Powell, bass Chuck Barksdale, first tenor Jimmie Henderson and second tenor Ernie Price. The members were all also proficient musicians on guitar, bass, and tipple, and thus a self-contained unit. Henderson died of meningitis in mid-1940 and was replaced by Herbie Miles for a few months. Miles was then replaced by Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes.
Chuck Barksdale died in mid-1941 and was replaced by George Steinback. "Tiny" Grimes left the Cats in 1942 and was replaced by Mifflin "Peewee" Branford. In 1943, Powell was drafted into the Army and was replaced by Hank Haslett for 2 years. When Haslett left the group in 1945, his place was taken by a returning Herbie Miles, now singing lead.
With Powell's discharge from the Army in 1946, he re-joined the group and "Peewee" Branford left. Herbie Miles left again in 1947, and was replaced by Emitt Slay, who was, in turn replaced by Shirley Moore. Johnny Davis joined as a fifth member in 1948. In late 1949 Shirley Moore was replaced by Doris Knighton. The group fell apart by June of 1950, and Powell formed a new group of "Cats" consisting of himself, Johnny Davis, Stanley Gaines, Beryl Booker and Dottie Smith. No recordings were made by the Cats & the Fiddle after 1950.
This series of CDs is a worthy addition to any vocal group harmony collection. However, it appears that the first 2 volumes are already "out of print" and may be difficult to obtain.
Vol. 1 - Killin' Jive - 1939-1940 (Dee Jay Jamboree CD 55101 - Released in 1999):
1. Gang Busters (Sep 1939)
2. Chant Of the Rain (Apr 1940)
3. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water (Apr 1940)
4. Nuts To You (Aug 1939)
5. Killin' Jive (Aug 1939)
6. Please Don't Leave Me Now (Sep 1939)
7. Mister Rhythm Man (Jun 1940)
8. When I Grow Too Old To Dream (May 1940)
9. Public Jitterbug No. 1 (May 1940)
10. That's On, Jack, That's On (Aug 1940)
11. Gone (Jun 1940)
12. Just A Roamer (Aug 1940)
13. I Miss You So (May 1940)
14. Left With The Thought Of You (May 1940)
15. You're So Fine (Nov 1940)
16. Hush-A-Bye Love (Dec 1940)
17. Swing The Scales (Dec 1940)
18. Pig's Idea (Nov 1940)
19. Thursday Evening Swing (Nov 1939)
20. That's All I Mean To You (Oct 1940)
21. In The Midst Of A Dream (Sep 1940)
22. We Cats Will Swing For You (Dec 1939)
23. Till The Day I Die (Dec 1939)
24. Nothing (Oct 1940)
25. Hep Cats Holiday (Sep 1940)
26. Killer Diller Man From The South (Nov 1939)
Vol. 2 - Hep Cats Swing - 1941-1946 (Dee Jay Jamboree CD 55102 - Released in 1999):
1. I'll Always Love You Just The Same (Feb 1941)
2. I'm Singing (So Help Me) (May 1941)
3. One Is Never Too Old To Swing (Feb 1941)
4. Until I Met You (may 1941)
5. I'm Gonna Pull My Hair (Let My Wig Come Down) (Apr 1941)
6. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire (Nov 1941)
7. Another Day (Jan 1942)
8. Stomp, Stomp (Jan 1942)
9. Lawdy-Clawdy (Dec 1941)
10. My Darling (May 1941)
11. Part Of Me (Feb1942)
12. If I Dream Of You (Apr 1941)
13. Blue Skies (Nov 1941)
14. Crawlin' Blues (May 1941)
15. Sighing And Crying (Dec 1941)
16. Life's Too Short (To Worry About That) (Feb 1942)
17. I Miss You So (Feb 1946)
18. Romance Without Finance (Jun 1946)
19. Life's Too Short (Jun 1946)
20. My Sugar's Sweet To Me (Feb 1946)
21. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water (Dec 1946)
22. Please Don't Leave Me Now (Aug 1946)
23. Shorty's Got To Go (Aug 1946)
24. Gin Misery Blues with June Davis (Aug 1946)
25. J.D. Blues with June Davis (Aug 1946)
Vol. 3 - Start Jive Talkin' - 1947-1950 (Dee Jay Jamboree CD 55106 - Released in 2000):
1. I'm Gonna Pull My Hair (Jul 1947)
2. When Elephants Roost In Bamboo Trees (Mar 1947)
3. That's My Desire (Mar 1947)
4. They Don't Understand (Mar 1947)
5. Where Are You (Jul 1947)
6. I'm Stuck With You (Mar 1947)
7. You're So Fine (Aug 1947)
8. Darling, Can't We Make A Date (Aug 1947)
9. That's What I Thought You Said (Sep 1948)
10. Honey, Honey, Honey (Feb 1948)
11. I'm Afraid Of You (Feb 1948)
12. New Look Blues (Sep 1948)
13. I'll Never, Never Let You Go (alternate take - Sep 1949)
14. Start Talking, Baby (alternate take - Sep 1949)
15. Do You (Really) Love Me (Apr 1950)
16. Movin' Out Today (Apr 1950)
17. I'll Never, Never Let You Go (Sep 1949)
18. Start Talking, Baby (Sep 1949)
19. Wine Drinker (May 1950)
20. Lover Boy (May 1950)
