Released in 2001 by England's Proper Records Ltd., this 4-CD package covers the career of "Mr. Blues" from his first recordings with Lucky Millinder in 1944 through the end of 1950.
Each CD contains at least 20 tracks (the last one has 21), for a total of 81 songs, Harris' entire released output recorded during the period covered. Harris cut recordings for the Decca, Philo, Apollo, Hamp-Tone, Bullet, Aladdin and King labels, and some out-takes were subsequently released on other labels as well - you'll find them all here.
Tracks are in chronological order, enabling you to track the first seven years of Harris' career, recording-by-recording. Liner notes are extensive, if not necessarily exhaustive - a 52-page booklet detailing the life and careeer of the man who could legitimately claim to be the world's number one blues shouter.
Reasonably priced, this is a definite "must" if you haven't already acquired the Harris releases on the French (Chronological Jazz) Classics label.
Tracks are arranged chronologically by recording date.
Disc 1 - Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well (Proper CD # P1177):
1. Hurry Hurry - (Decca 18609) - Lucky Millinder & his Orchestra - 1944
2. Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well - (Decca 18674) - Lucky Millinder & his Orchestra - 1944
3. Around The Clock, Pt. 1 - (Philo 103) - 1945
4. Around The Clock, Pt. 2 - (Philo 103) - 1945
5. Cock-A-Doodle-Doo - (Philo 104) - 1945
6. Yonder Goes My Baby - (Philo 105) - 1945
7. Wynonie's Blues - (Apollo 362) - 1945
8. Here Comes The Blues - (Apollo 363) - 1945
9. Straighten Him Out - (Apollo 360) - 1945
10. Young Man's Blues -(Apollo 360) - 1945
11. Baby Look At You - (Apollo 361) - 1945
12. She's Gone With The Wind - (Apollo 363) - 1945
13. Somebody Changed The Lock On My Door - (Apollo 362) - 1945
14. That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch - (Apollo 361) - 1945
15. I Gotta Lyin' Woman - (Apollo 387) - 1945
16. Rebecca's Blues - (Apollo 387) - 1945
17. Everybody's Boogie - (Apollo 378) - 1945
18. Time To Change Your Town - (Apollo 378) - 1945
19. I Gotta Lyin' Woman (alternate take) - (Delmark DE-683) - 1945
20. Everybody's Boogie (alternate take) - (Delmark DE-683) - 1945
Disc 2 - Playful Baby (Proper CD # P1178):
1. Playful Baby - (Apollo 372) - 1945
2. Take Me Out Of The Rain - (Apollo 381) - 1945
3. Papa Tree Top - (Apollo 372) - 1945
4. Young And Wild - (Apollo 381) - 1945
5. Good Morning Corrine - (Hamp-Tone 103) - 1946
6. Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop, Pt. 1 - (Hamp-Tone 100) - 1946
7. Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop, Pt. 2 - (Hamp-Tone 100) - 1946
8. In The Evenin' Blues - (Hamp-Tone 103) - 1946
9. Dig This Boogie - (Bullet 251) - 1946
10. Lightnin' Struck The Poor House - (Bullet 251) - 1946
11. My Baby's Barrel House - (Bullet 252) - 1946
12. Drinkin' by Myself - (Bullet 252) - 1946
13. Mr. Blues Jumped The Rabbit - (Aladdin 171) - 1946
14. Rugged Road - (Aladdin 172) - 1946
15. Come Back, Baby - (Aladdin 172) - 1946
16. Whiskey And Jelly-Roll Blues - (Aladdin 171) - 1946
17. You Got To Get Yourself A Job, Girl - (Aladdin 208) - 1947
18. Hard Ridin' Mama - (Aladdin 208) - 1947
19. Big City Blues - (Aladdin 196) - 1947
20. Ghost Of A Chance - (Aladdin 196) - 1947
Disc 3 - Good Rockin' Tonight (Proper CD # P1179):
1. Battle Of The Blues, Pt. 1 with Big Joe Turner - (Aladdin 3036) - 1947
2. Battle Of The Blues, Pt. 2 with Big Joe Turner - (Aladdin 3036) - 1947
3. Goin' Home - (Pathe Marconi LP 1561431) - 1947
4. Blues - (Pathe Marconi LP 1561431) - 1947
5. Love Is Like Rain - (King 4217) - 1947
6. Rose Get Your Clothes - (King 4202) - 1947
7. Wynonie's Boogie - (King 4202) - 1947
8. Your Money Don't Mean A Thing - (King 4217) - 1947
9. Good Morning Mr. Blues - (King 4210) - 1947
10. Blow Your Brains Out -(King 4226) - 1947
11. Blowin' to California - (King 4252) - 1947
12. Crazy Love - (Polydor 623273) - 1947
13. From Bad To Good Blues - (Blue Boar CD 1010) - 1947
14. Bite Again, Bite Again - (King 4252) - 1947
15. Good Rockin' Tonight - (King 4210) - 1948
16. Lollipop Mama - (King 4226) - 1948
17. I Believe I'll Fall In Love - (King 4445) - 1948
18. Grandma Plays The Numbers - (King 4276) - 1948
19. She Just Won't Sell No More - (King 4292) - 1948
20. I Want My Fanny Brown - (King 4304) - 1948
Disc 4 - All She Wants To Do Is Rock (Proper CD # P1180):
1. I Feel That Old Age Coming On - (King 4276) - 1948
2. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee - (King 4292) - 1949
3. All She Wants To Do Is Rock - (King 4304) - 1949
4. I Can't Take It No More - (King 4342) - 1949
5. Sittin' On It All The Time - (King 4330) - 1949
6. I Like My Baby's Pudding - (King 4342) - 1949
7. Triflin' Woman - (Charly 272) - 1949
8. Baby, Shame On You - (King 4330) - 1949
9. Rock Mr. Blues - (King 4389) - 1950
10. Stormy Night Blues - (King 4378) - 1950
11. Good Morning Judge - (King 4378) - 1950
12. Be Mine My Love - (King 4389) - 1950
13. Mr. Blues Is Coming to Town - (King 4402) - 1950
14. I Want To Love You Baby - (King 4402) - 1950
15. Put It Back - (King 4415) - 1950
16. Oh Babe - (King 4418) - 1950
17. Teardrops From My Eyes - (King 4419) - 1950
18. A Love Untrue - (King 4445) - 1950
19. Triflin' Woman - (King 4415) - 1950
20. Man Have I Got Troubles - (King 4468) - 1950
21. Confessin' The Blues - (King 4461) - 1950
