Born in Mississippi in 1915, Al Hibbler, who was blind from birth, was a baritone vocalist whose career transcended the divide between big band jazz, rhythm and blues and sophisticated pop. Starting with the band of Jay McShann, he became the vocalist with Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1943, recording memorable hits with him and staying with Ellington until 1951, but along the way also forging a career as a solo recording artist, enjoying a string of R&B and pop hits, both in the USA and the UK. This 75-track 3-CD set comprises most of his A and B sides on the Aladdin, Sunrise/Miracle, Chess, Atlantic, Mercury/Clef/Norgran and Decca labels during this era. It includes all his career chart entries, most notably his US No. 3, R&B No. 1 and UK No. 2 in 1955 with "Unchained Melody" and his US pop Top 10 hits with "He" and "After The Lights Go Down Low", plus Top 10 R&B hits with "Trees", "Lover Come Back To Me", "Danny Boy" and "What Will I Tell My Heart". It includes a couple of fine recordings with the Count Basie Orchestra. Al Hibbler occupies a unique place in American popular music, and this substantial and comprehensive overview of his primary career as a chart-focused artist provides an enjoyable showcase for his smooth and distinctive vocal style.
7 Sent for You Yesterday (And Here You Come Today)
8 Goin' to Chicago
9 There Is No Greater Love
10 It Must Be True
11 As Time Goes By
12 I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
13 Anne
14 I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
15 I'm Just a Lucky So and So
16 Every Hour on the Hour
17 Flamingo
18 It Shouldn't Happen to a Dream
19 Unchained Melody
20 Daybreak
21 They Say You're Laughing at Me (While I'm Crying for You)
22 I Can't Put My Arms Around a Memory
23 He
24 Breeze (Blow My Baby Back to Me)
- Disc 3 -
1 11th Hour Melody
2 Let's Try Again
3 Never Turn Back
4 Away All Boats
5 After the Lights Go Down Low
6 I Was Telling Her About You
7 I'm Free
8 Trees
9 The Town Crier
10 Sweet Slumber
11 Because of You
12 I Complain
13 Around the Corner from the Blues
14 When Will I Forget You
15 Be Fair
16 Wish
17 I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore
18 My Heart Tells Me
19 Ain't Nothing Wrong with That Baby
20 Softly, My Love (Etude)
21 Love Land
22 Love Me Long, Hold Me Close, Kiss Me Warm and Tender
23 Warm Heart - Cold Feet
24 Mine All Mine
25 What Tis? What Tis? Tis Spring
Born in Mississippi in 1915, Al Hibbler, who was blind from birth, was a baritone vocalist whose career transcended the divide between big band jazz, rhythm and blues and sophisticated pop. Starting with the band of Jay McShann, he became the vocalist with Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1943, recording memorable hits with him and staying with Ellington until 1951, but along the way also forging a career as a solo recording artist, enjoying a string of R&B and pop hits, both in the USA and the UK. This 75-track 3-CD set comprises most of his A and B sides on the Aladdin, Sunrise/Miracle, Chess, Atlantic, Mercury/Clef/Norgran and Decca labels during this era. It includes all his career chart entries, most notably his US No. 3, R&B No. 1 and UK No. 2 in 1955 with "Unchained Melody" and his US pop Top 10 hits with "He" and "After The Lights Go Down Low", plus Top 10 R&B hits with "Trees", "Lover Come Back To Me", "Danny Boy" and "What Will I Tell My Heart". It includes a couple of fine recordings with the Count Basie Orchestra. Al Hibbler occupies a unique place in American popular music, and this substantial and comprehensive overview of his primary career as a chart-focused artist provides an enjoyable showcase for his smooth and distinctive vocal style.
