Fletcher Henderson - The Chronological Classics '1990-1994

Tracks list

Fletcher Henderson was very important to early jazz as leader of the first great
jazz big band, as an arranger and composer in the 1930s, and as a masterful
talent scout. Between 1923-1939, quite an all-star cast of top young black jazz
musicians passed through his orchestra, including trumpeters Louis Armstrong,
Joe Smith, Tommy Ladnier, Rex Stewart, Bobby Stark, Cootie Williams, Red Allen,
and Roy Eldridge; trombonists Charlie Green, Benny Morton, Jimmy Harrison, Sandy
Williams, J.C. Higginbottham, and Dickie Wells; clarinetist Buster Bailey;
tenors Coleman Hawkins (1924-1934), Ben Webster, Lester Young (whose brief stint
was not recorded), and Chu Berry; altoists Benny Carter, Russell Procope, and
Hilton Jefferson; bassists John Kirby and Israel Crosby; drummers Kaiser
Marshall, Walter Johnson, and Sid Catlett; guest pianist Fats Waller; and such
arrangers as Don Redman, Benny Carter, Edgar Sampson, and Fletchers younger
brother Horace Henderson. And yet, at the height of the swing era, Hendersons
band was little-known.

Fletcher Henderson had a degree in chemistry and mathematics, but when he came
to New York in 1920 with hopes of becoming a chemist, the only job he could find
(due to the racism of the times) was as a song demonstrator with the Pace-Handy
music company. Harry Pace soon founded the Black Swan label, and Henderson, a
versatile but fairly basic pianist, became an important contributor behind the
scenes, organizing bands and backing blues vocalists. Although he started
recording as a leader in 1921, it was not until January 1924 that he put
together his first permanent big band. Using Don Redmans innovative
arrangements, he was soon at the top of his field. His early recordings
(Henderson made many records during 1923-1924) tend to be both futuristic and
awkward, with strong musicianship but staccato phrasing. However, after Louis
Armstrong joined up in late 1924 and Don Redman started contributing more
swinging arrangements, the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra had no close competitors
artistically until the rise of Duke Ellington in 1927. By then, Hendersons band
(after a period at the Club Alabam) was playing regularly at the Roseland
Ballroom but, due to the bandleader being a very indifferent businessman, the
all-star outfit recorded relatively little during its peak (1927-1930).

With the departure of Redman in 1927, and the end of interim periods when Benny
Carter and Horace Henderson wrote the bulk of the arrangements, Fletcher himself
developed into a top arranger by the early 30s. However, the Depression took its
toll on the band, and the increased competition from other orchestras (along
with some bad business decisions and the loss of Coleman Hawkins) resulted in
Henderson breaking up the big band in early 1935. Starting in 1934, he began
contributing versions of his better arrangements to Benny Goodmans new orchestra
(including King Porter Stomp, Sometimes Im Happy, and Down South Camp Meeting),
and ironically Goodmans recordings were huge hits at a time when Fletcher
Hendersons name was not known to the general public. In 1936, he put together a
new orchestra and immediately had a hit in Christopher Columbus, but after three
years he had to disband again in 1939. Henderson worked as a staff arranger for
Goodman and even played in B.G.s Sextet for a few months (although his skills on
the piano never did develop much). He struggled through the 1940s, leading
occasional bands (including one in the mid-40s that utilized some arrangements
by the young Sun Ra). In 1950, Henderson had a fine sextet with Lucky Thompson,
but a stroke ended his career and led to his death in 1952. Virtually all of
Fletcher Hendersons recordings as a leader (and many are quite exciting) are
currently available on the Classics label and in more piecemeal fashion
domestically.


Tracks:



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1921-1923 {The Chronological Classics,
794} 

 01. Pretty Ways (2:57)
 02. There Aint No Nothin (Gonna Take The Place Of You) (3:14)
 03. My Oriental Rose (3:03)
 04. Baby Girl (2:49)
 05. Unknown Blues (2:47)
 06. Fancies (3:07)
 07. Say It While Dancing (3:00)
 08. Love Days (2:56)
 09. Bamboo Isle (3:02)
 10. Blue (3:14)
 11. Chime Blues (3:33)
 12. I Want To (3:25)
 13. Farewell Blues (2:46)
 14. Wet Yo Thumb (3:14)
 15. Down by the River (3:07)
 16. Trot Along (2:55)
 17. Beale Street Mamma (3:13)
 18. Dont Think Youll Be Missed (2:49)
 19. Down Hearted Blues (2:56)
 20. Gulf Coast Blues (3:06)
 21. When You Walked Out Someone Else Walked Right In (3:19)
 22. Gulf Coast Blues (3:20)
 23. Midnight Blues (3:18)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1923 {The Chronological Classics, 697} 

 01. Papa Better Watch Your Step (3:20)
 02. My Sweetie Went Away (She Didnt Say Where - When - Or Why) (2:54)
 03. Gulf Coast Blues (3:03)
 04. Down Hearted Blues (2:49)
 05. Dicty Blues (2:39)
 06. Do Doodle Oom (2:44)
 07. Dicty Blues (3:02)
 08. Do Doodle Oom (3:07)
 09. Just Hot (2:59)
 10. Down South Blues (3:06)
 11. Dicty Blues (2:48)
 12. Charleston Crazy (3:00)
 13. Do Doodle Ooom (2:40)
 14. West Indian Blues (2:58)
 15. Youve Got To Get Hot (2:51)
 16. Old Black Joes Blues (3:05)
 17. 31st Street Blues (3:09)
 18. Shake Your Feet (4:27)
 19. Linger Awhile (4:13)
 20. Dixie Moon (4:08)
 21. My Papa Doesnt Two-Time No Time (4:26)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1923-1924 {The Chronological Classics,
683} 

 01. Charleston Crazy (2:46)
 02. Im Gonna See You (When Your Troubles Are Just Like Mine) (2:49)
 03. Chattanooga (Down In Tennessee) (2:54)
 04. Lonesome Journey Blues (2:39)
 05. Bull Blues (2:32)
 06. Old Black Joes Blues (2:47)
 07. Potomac River Blues (3:07)
 08. Shake Your Feet (3:07)
 09. Swanee River Blues (2:50)
 10. It Wont Be Long Now (2:46)
 11. Warhorse Mama (intro Triflin Man) (3:02)
 12. Oh! Sister, Aint That Hot (3:03)
 13. Steppin Out (2:55)
 14. Mammas Gonna Slow You Down (2:58)
 15. Old Black Joes Blues (3:01)
 16. House Rent Ball (2:52)
 17. Darktown Has A Gay White Way (2:46)
 18. Mistreatin Daddy (3:22)
 19. Cotton Pickers Ball (2:57)
 20. Lots OMama (3:01)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1924 {The Chronological Classics, 673} 

 01. Chicago Blues (2:50)
 02. Why Put The Blame On You? (3:11)
 03. Sud Bustin Blues (3:08)
 04. War Horse Mama (2:53)
 05. Wish I Had You (And Im Gonna Get You Blues) (3:10)
 06. Just Blues (2:53)
 07. Im Crazy Over You (2:48)
 08. I Wish I Could Make You Cry (3:23)
 09. Say Say Sadie (3:03)
 10. Chicago Blues (2:56)
 11. Feelin The Way I Do (3:03)
 12. Chattanooga (Down In Tennessee) (3:18)
 13. Ghost Of The Blues (3:04)
 14. Tea Pot Dome Blues (3:01)
 15. Mobile Blues (3:09)
 16. My Papa Doesnt Two-Time No Time (3:19)
 17. Somebody Stole My Gal (3:02)
 18. After The Storm (3:11)
 19. Driftwood (3:12)
 20. Feeling The Way I Do (3:08)
 21. Red Hot Mama (3:06)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1924, Vol. 2 {The Chronological Classics,
657} 

 01. I Dont Know And I Dont Care (3:01)
 02. Strutters Drag (3:04)
 03. Do That Thing (3:07)
 04. Those Broken Busted (Cant Be Trusted Blues) (3:09)
 05. Oh! Eva (Aint You Coming Out Tonight?) (2:58)
 06. Jimminy Gee (3:10)
 07. Jealous (3:08)
 08. Waitll You See My Gal (2:56)
 09. I Cant Get The One I Want (3:14)
 10. You Know Me, Alabam (3:15)
 11. Houston Blues (3:09)
 12. Muscle Shoals Blues (3:23)
 13. Hard Hearted Hannah (2:50)
 14. Where The Dreamy Wabash Flows (3:10)
 15. The Grass Is Always Greener (In The Other Fellows Yard) (3:03)
 16. Charley, My Boy (3:06)
 17. The Gouge Of Armour Avenue (3:01)
 18. Hard Hearted Hannah (3:04)
 19. Thats Georgia (3:08)
 20. Youll Never Go To Heaven With Those Eyes (3:03)
 21. A New Kind Of Man (With A New Kind Of Love For Me) (3:00)
 22. The Meanest Kind O Blues (3:13)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1924, Vol. 3 {The Chronological Classics,
647}

 01. Hes The Hottest Man In Town (3:00)
 02. I Never Care Bout Tomorrow (2:55)
 03. Forsaken Blues (3:10)
 04. Cold Mamas (Burn Me Up) (3:08)
 05. Manda (3:13)
 06. Go Long, Mule (3:04)
 07. Tell Me, Dreamy Eyes (3:09)
 08. My Rose Marie (2:52)
 09. Dont Forget Youll Regret Day By Day (3:15)
 10. Shanghai Shuffle (3:21)
 11. Words (2:55)
 12. Copenhagen (2:55)
 13. Shanghai Shuffle (2:47)
 14. Naughty Man (3:15)
 15. One Of These Days (2:59)
 16. My Dream Man (2:54)
 17. The Meanest Kind Of Blues (2:59)
 18. Naughty Man (2:53)
 19. How Come You Do Me Like You Do? (3:15)
 20. Araby (3:00)
 21. Everybody Loves My Baby (vocal) (3:08)
 22. Everybody Loves My Baby (instr.) (3:07)
 23. Naughty Man (2:42)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1924-1925 {The Chronological Classics,
633} 

 01. Prince Of Wails (3:06)
 02. Mandy Make Up Your Mind (3:04)
 03. Ill See You In My Dreams (2:59)
 04. Why Couldnt It Be Poor Little Me? (3:04)
 05. Bye And Bye (2:59)
 06. Play Me Slow (3:12)
 07. Alabamy Bound (3:14)
 08. Swanee Butterfly (3:16)
 09. Poplar Street Blues (3:18)
 10. 12th Street Blues (3:12)
 11. Me Neenyah (My Little One) (3:08)
 12. Memphins Bound (2:57)
 13. When You Do What You Do (2:59)
 14. Ill Take Her Back If She Wants To Come Back (3:05)
 15. Money Blues (3:02)
 16. Sugar Foots Stomp (2:53)
 17. What-Cha-Call-Em Blues (2:53)
 18. I Miss My Swiss (2:58)
 19. Alone At Last (3:06)
 20. T.N.T. (2:51)
 21. Carolina Stomp (3:12)
 22. Sleepy Time Gal (3:03)
 23. Then Ill Be Happy (3:00)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1925-1926 {The Chronological Classics,
610} 

 01. Spanish Shawl (3:01)
 02. Clap Hands! Here Comes Charley! (3:05)
 03. Peaceful Valley (3:03)
 04. Hay Foot, Straw Foot (2:53)
 05. Nobodys Rose (3:00)
 06. Pensacola (3:05)
 07. Florida Stomp (2:59)
 08. Get It Fixed (3:02)
 09. Chinese Blues (3:14)
 10. Panama (3:16)
 11. Dinah (3:08)
 12. I Want Somebody To Cheer Me Up (2:54)
 13. I Want To See A Little More Of What I Saw In Arkansas (2:54)
 14. Let Me Introduce You To My Rosie (3:04)
 15. I Found A New Baby (3:13)
 16. Nervous Charlie Stomp (3:11)
 17. Black Horse Stomp (3:05)
 18. Tampeekoe (2:59)
 19. Hi-Diddle-Diddle (2:53)
 20. Hard-To-Get Gertie (3:08)
 21. Honeybunch (3:06)
 22. When Spring Comes Peeping Through (3:11)
 23. Dynamite (2:58)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1926-1927 {The Chronological Classics,
597} 

 01. Jackass Blues (3:15)
 02. Static Strut (3:06)
 03. The Stampede (3:17)
 04. Jackass Blues (3:12)
 05. Off To Buffalo (2:51)
 06. Brotherly Love (2:58)
 07. Alabamy Stomp (3:11)
 08. The Henderson Stomp (2:53)
 09. The Chant (2:57)
 10. Sweet Thing (3:12)
 11. I Need Lovin (3:13)
 12. Clarinet Marmalade (2:50)
 13. Hot Mustard (2:41)
 14. Sweet Thing (3:07)
 15. Baby, Wont You Please Come Home? (2:57)
 16. Some Of These Days (3:00)
 17. Have It Ready (2:48)
 18. Aint She Sweet? (2:57)
 19. Snag It (3:11)
 20. Rocky Mountain Blues (2:47)
 21. Tozo! (2:57)
 22. Stockholm Stomp (2:57)
 23. Have It Ready (2:47)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1927 {The Chronological Classics, 580} 

 01. Shuffling Sadle (3:04)
 02. Fidgety Feet (2:59)
 03. Sensation (2:50)
 04. Wabash Blues (3:02)
 05. The Wang-Wang Blues (2:54)
 06. St. Louis Shuffle (3:01)
 07. Swamp BLues (2:59)
 08. Off To Buffalo (2:55)
 09. St. Louis Shuffle (2:53)
 10. Variety Stomp (3:06)
 11. P.D.Q. Blues (2:43)
 12. Livery Stable Blues (2:51)
 13. Whiteman Stomp (2:47)
 14. Im Coming Virginia (3:07)
 15. Cornfed! (2:51)
 16. Variety Stomp (3:05)
 17. The St. Louis Blues (3:06)
 18. Hop Off (3:21)
 19. Rough House Blues (3:13)
 20. Black Maria (2:51)
 21. Goose Pimples (3:02)
 22. Baltimore (3:06)
 23. A Rythmic Dream (3:12)
 24. Hop Off (2:55)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1927-1931 {The Chronological Classics,
572} 

 01. Dear, On A Night Like This (2:48)
 02. Theres A Rickety Rackety Shack (By A Rickety Rockety Road) (3:12)
 03. Sorry (3:08)
 04. King Porter Stomp (2:54)
 05. D Natural Blues (3:26)
 06. Oh, Baby! (2:48)
 07. Feelin Good (3:28)
 08. Im Feelin Devilish (Oh By Golly Oh) (2:47)
 09. Hop Off (2:47)
 10. Old Black Joes Blues (2:26)
 11. Come On, Baby! (2:55)
 12. Easy Money (3:06)
 13. Freeze And Melt (3:07)
 14. Raisin The Roof (2:41)
 15. Blazin (2:57)
 16. The Wang-Wang Blues (3:04)
 17. Chinatown, My Chinatown (3:03)
 18. Somebody Loves Me (3:03)
 19. Keep A Song In Your Soul (3:21)
 20. What Good Am I Without You? (3:20)
 21. Ive Found What I Wanted In You (3:21)
 22. My Gal Sal (3:30)
 23. My Pretty Girl (3:23)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1931 {The Chronological Classics, 555} 

 01. Sweet And Hot (3:28)
 02. Clarinet Marmalade (3:14)
 03. Sugar Foot Stomp (3:21)
 04. Hot And Anxious (3:22)
 05. Comin And Going (3:11)
 06. After Youve Gone (3:07)
 07. Stardust (3:00)
 08. Tiger Rag (3:18)
 09. Somebody Stole My Gal (3:11)
 10. Im Crazy Bout My Baby (And My Babys Crazy Bout Me) (3:14)
 11. Sugar Foot Stomp (3:12)
 12. Just Blues (3:11)
 13. Singin The Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home) (2:50)
 14. Sugar Foot Stomp (3:09)
 15. Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On (3:05)
 16. Moan, You Moaners (3:19)
 17. Singin The Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home) (3:13)
 18. Low Down On The Bayou (3:06)
 19. The House Of David Blues (3:11)
 20. Radio Rhythm (3:03)
 21. You Rascal, You (3:07)
 22. Oh, It Looks Like Rain (2:34)
 23. Sweet Music (3:12)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1931-1932 {The Chronological Classics,
546} 

 01. My Sweet Tooth Says I Wanna (But My Wisdom Tooth Says No) (3:09)
 02. Malindas Weddin Day (2:44)
 03. You Rascal, You (3:10)
 04. Blue Rhythm (2:52)
 05. Sugar Foot Stomp (2:58)
 06. Low Down On The Bayou (3:01)
 07. 12th Street Rag (3:03)
 08. Millenberg Joys (2:43)
 09. Singin The Blues (3:07)
 10. Its The Darndest Thing (2:54)
 11. Blues In My Heart (3:24)
 12. Sugar (3:01)
 13. Business In F (3:14)
 14. Strangers (3:22)
 15. Take Me Away From The River (3:20)
 16. Say That You Were Teasing Me (2:48)
 17. Take A Picture Of The Moon (3:03)
 18. I Wanna Count Sheep (Till The Cows Come Home) (3:04)
 19. Poor Old Joe (2:59)
 20. Cosa Loma Stomp (3:14)
 21. Blue Moments (2:52)
 22. How Am I Doin, Hey Hey (3:13)
 23. Goodbye Blues (3:02)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1932-1934 {The Chronological Classics,
535} 

 01. Honeysukle Rose (3:13)
 02. New King Porter Stomp (3:08)
 03. Underneath The Harlem Moon (3:15)
 04. Yeah Man! (2:56)
 05. King Porters Stomp (2:57)
 06. Queer Notions (2:50)
 07. Can You Take It? (2:51)
 08. Queer Notions (2:34)
 09. Its The Talk Of The Town (3:34)
 10. Night Life (3:27)
 11. Nagasaki (3:28)
 12. Hocus Pocus (3:19)
 13. Phantom Fantasie (3:16)
 14. Harlem Madness (3:31)
 15. Tidal Wave (3:04)
 16. Limehouse Blues (2:40)
 17. Shanghai Shuffle (3:05)
 18. Big Johns Special (2:51)
 19. Happy As The Day Is Long (2:48)
 20. Tidal Wave (3:06)
 21. Down South Camp Meetin (2:59)
 22. Wrappin It Up (2:44)
 23. Memphis Blues (2:34)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1934-1937 {The Chronological Classics,
527} 

 01. Wild Party (3:04)
 02. Rug Cutters Swing (3:04)
 03. Hotter Than Ell (2:53)
 04. Liza (All The Clouds ll Roll Away) (2:39)
 05. Christopher Columbus (3:04)
 06. Big Chief De Sota (3:02)
 07. Blue Lou (3:09)
 08. Stealin Apples (3:01)
 09. Im A Fool For Loving You (2:41)
 10. Moonrise On The Lowlands (2:46)
 11. Ill Always Be In Love With You (3:04)
 12. Jangled Nerves (2:38)
 13. Where Theres You Theres Me (2:29)
 14. Do You Or Dont You Love Me? (3:04)
 15. Grand Terrace Rhythm (2:44)
 16. Riffin (2:25)
 17. Mary Had A Little Lamb (2:51)
 18. Shoe Shine Boy (3:35)
 19. Sing, Sing, Sing (2:35)
 20. Until Today (2:34)
 21. Knock, Knock Whos There? (2:59)
 22. Jim Town Blues (2:46)
 23. You Can Depend On Me (3:32)
 24. What Will I Tell My Heart? (3:30)



Fletcher Henderson And His Orchestra - 1937-1938 {The Chronological Classics,
519} 

 01. Its Wearin Me Down (2:54)
 02. Slumming On Park Avenue (2:30)
 03. Rhythm Of The Tambourine (2:42)
 04. Stampede (3:09)
 05. Back In Your Own Backyard (2:34)
 06. Rose Room (In Sunny Roseland) (3:01)
 07. Great Caesars Ghost (2:24)
 08. If You Ever Should Leave (3:03)
 09. Posin (2:48)
 10. All Gods Chillun Got Rhythm (2:43)
 11. Chris And His Gang (3:05)
 12. Let Er Go (2:27)
 13. Worried Over You (3:16)
 14. Whats Your Story (Whats Your Jive) (2:38)
 15. Trees (3:04)
 16. If Its The Last Thing I Do (2:48)
 17. Sing Your Sinners (2:44)
 18. Youre In Love With Love (3:07)
 19. Stealin Apples (3:04)
 20. Dont Let The Rhythm Go To Your Head (2:31)
 21. (Ive Been) Saving Myself For You (2:53)
 22. Theres Rain In My Eyes (2:40)
 23. What Do You Hear From The Mob In Scotland? (3:00)
 24. Its The Litlle Things That Count (2:39)
 25. Moten Stomp (2:44)



Horace Henderson & Fletcher Henderson - 1941 {The Chronological Classics, 648} 

 01. Shufflin Joe (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:42)
 02. Oh Boy, Im In The Groove (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:57)
 03. Kitty On Toast (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:48)
 04. I Got Rhythm (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:33)
 05. Youre Mine, You! (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:45)
 06. Honeysuckle Rose (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:48)
 07. Chloe (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:59)
 08. Swingin and Jumpin (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:48)
 09. They Jittered All The Time (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:46)
 10. Sultan Serenade (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:37)
 11. Ginger Belle (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:47)
 12. Do Re Mi (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:48)
 13. When Dreams Come True (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:51)
 14. I Still Have My Dreams (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (3:08)
 15. Turkey Special (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:53)
 16. Flinging A Whing-Ding (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:58)
 17. Coquette (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:42)
 18. You Dont Mean Me No Good (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (3:04)
 19. Smooth Sailing (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:58)
 20. Aint Misbehavin (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (3:02)
 21. Ill Always Be In Love With You (Horace Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:41)
 22. Lets Go Home (Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra) (3:04)
 23. A Pixie From Dixie (Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:40)
 24. We Go Well Together (Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:26)
 25. I Like My Sugar Sweet (Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra) (2:29)

Related artists