This series, released by the Document label of Austria in 1999, is not QUITE what its title proclaims. However the liner notes do indicate that the Relic label's 1996 CD "Yesteryear's Memories," reviewed below, contains the recordings which the group made for the Apollo label that are required to achieve "completeness."
The 4 Vagabonds were formed in 1933 and consisted of lead tenor John Jordan, baritone Norval Taborn, first tenor Robert O'Neal and bass and guitarist Ray Grant, Jr. The group achieved considerable fame through their radio broadcasts and personal appearances. Into the mid-1940s they appeared regularly on such radio shows as Don McNeil's Breakfast Club, Durward Kirby and Garry Moore's Club Matinee, Amos 'N' Andy, the Tin Pan Alley of the Air, the Curt Massey Show, and Perry Como's Chesterfield Supper Club. However their recording career did not begin until 1941, when they signed with RCA's Bluebird subsidiary.
It is a pity that much of their radio work has been "lost," because the Vagabonds were masters of the vocal group techniques of their era, close harmony, vocal "instrumentation" in the style of the Mills Brothers, etc., etc.
The Document series includes all of their commercial recordings for the Bluebird, Mercury, Atlas, and Miracle labels (but excludes the Apollo sides), plus their work for Standard Transcriptions (records made exclusively for sale to and use by radio stations), including their backup work for female artists Patti Clayton and Janette.
Since these were mastered from "best available" 78 r.p.m. records and transcriptions, surface noise and surface echo appear on some tracks. Still, this compilation is a worthwhile acquisition.
To learn more about this group see Marv Goldberg's in-depth article about the Four Vagabonds.
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Volume 1 - 1941-1951 (Document 5635)
Commercial Recordings (1941-1951)
1. Slow And Easy (RCA Bluebird - 17 Dec 1941)
2. The Duke Of Dubuque (RCA Bluebird - 17 Dec 1941)
3. I Had The Craziest Dream (RCA Bluebird - 15 Jan 1943)
4. Rose Ann Of Charing Cross (RCA Bluebird - 15 Jan 1943)
5. Rosie The Riveter (RCA Bluebird - 15 Jan 1943)
6. Ten Little Soldiers (RCA Bluebird - 15 Jan 1943)
7. It Can't Be Wrong (RCA Bluebird - 26 May 1943)
8. Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer (RCA Bluebird - 26 May 1943)
9. A G.I. Wish (RCA Victor - 12 May 1945)
10. If I Were You (RCA Victor - 12 May 1945)
11. Taking My Chance With You (Mercury - Feb 1946)
12. When The Old Gang's Back On The Corner (Mercury - Feb 1946)
13. Oh, What A Polka (Atlas - Jul 1945)
14. I Can't Make Up My Mind (Atlas - Jul 1945)
15. My Heart Cries (Miracle - Sep 1949)
16. Mighty Hard To Go Thru Life Alone (Miracle - Sep 1949)
17. The Object Of My Affection with Ralph Marterie (Mercury - Nov 1951)
Standard Transcription X-126 (1942 or 1943)
18. Move It Over
19. There Are Such Things
20. Steam Is On The Beam
21. Stop Telling Lies
22. Rosie The Riveter
23. Big Fat Mama
24. Massachusetts
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Volume 2 - 1942-1943 (Document 5636)
Standard Transcription X-126 (1942 or 1943)
1. I Had The Craziest Dream
2. Yeah Man
3. Juke Box Saturday Night
Standard Transcription X-127 (1942 or 1943)
4. Hip Hip Hooray
5. Can't Get Out Of This Mood with Patti Clayton
6. Slender Tender And Tall
7. Three Dreams with Patti Clayton
8. Take It From There
9. Hasta Luego
10. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To with Patti Clayton
11. Moonlight Mood
12. Why Don't You Fall In Love With Me with Patti Clayton
13. I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City
14. I've Heard That Song Before with Patti Clayton
Standard Transcription X-128 (1943)
Standard Transcription X-131 (1943)
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Standard Transcription X-131 (1943)
Standard Transcription X-132 (1943)
Standard Transcription X-133 (1943)
Standard Transcription X-134 (1943)
NOTE: Marv Goldberg and I have determined that "Janette" is Janette Davis who was a mainstay of Red Skelton's radio shows for many years.
15. Saving Myself For Bill with Patti Clayton
16. Hit The Road To Dreamland
17. Could It Be You? with Patti Clayton
18. It Can't Be Wrong with Patti Clayton
19. Can't Get Stuff In Your Cuff
20. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
21. Sharp As A Tack
22. Stick To Your Knittin' Kitten
23. Hey Good Lookin'
24. I Don't Want Anybody
Volume 3 - 1943 (Document 5637)
1. "Murder" He Says
2. There's A Ray Of Sunshine
3. Jumpin' With A G.I. Gal
4. Four Buddies
5. Old Man Romance
6. On The Alamo
7. Cabin In The Sky
8. Hit That Jive, Jack
9. Just A Dream Of You
10. The Right Kind Of Love with Janette
11. You'll Never Know with Janette
12. On Time Janette
13. I Never Mention Your Name with Janette
14. Lonesome Mama Blues with Janette
15. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea with Janette
16. Lonesome with Janette
17. More Than Anything In The World with Janette
18. St. Louis Blues with Janette
19. In The Blue Of The Evening with Janette
20. You Linger Near
21. Sho 'Nuff
22. Thru The Darkness
23. I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes
24. Tain't A Fit Night Out
