ONE SWEET LETTER FROM YOU |
SEPTEMBER 11, 1939
Monday |
VICTOR Records |
|
32 BARS (AABA) |
Key of |
|
D♭ |
Quarter Note = |
|
102 |
Time: |
|
3:17 |
|
4-Bar Intro + 2 ½ CHORUSES: |
|
|
16 bars
tenor sax |
(over ens) |
|
|
8 bars
tenor sax |
(over ens) |
|
♪ |
30 bars vocal |
(with CC chord obbl) |
|
|
8 bars
vibes |
[bridge] |
(over ens) |
|
|
4 bars
vibes |
(over ens) |
|
Lionel Hampton and Orchestra |
|
|
COLEMAN HAWKINS |
tenor sax (ts solo) |
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LIONEL HAMPTON |
vibes, vocal |
Composed by: |
Harry Warren lyrics by Lew Brown & Sidney Clare |
C&A:
An extraordinary studio recording session led by Lionel Hampton for the
Victor label leads off with a most beautiful rendition of When Lights Are Low
composed and arranged by Benny Carter, the leading arranger of the era –
Carter was just about as far ahead of his peers in the field of orchestral arranging as
Christian was in his own domain. This
is the first of two distinct recording dates led by Hampton with Charlie
Christian on guitar – one in September and one in October of 1939.
Charles does not solo on this session but he does get to
provide the featured backing for Hampton’s vocal on One Sweet Letter from
You, also arranged by maestro Carter.
This is Charles’ first studio session and he makes the most of his chordal
accompaniment to the leader’s only vocal on the date. It is the epitome of
tasteful acoustic guitar complement, mostly fills connecting the vocal
phrases. The single take closes out with a magnificent Carter arrangement
for the superb ad-hoc ensemble. The rhythm section on this gig is equal to Basie’s,
especially on the two referenced tunes and most certainly on the first named.
The only time they worked together! – Christian, Hart, Hinton, Cole –
amazing; they enthrall the listener with an ethereal, incredible unity. Same
goes for the whole band for that matter. This was an unpredictable but truly
fortuitous confluence of kindred colleagues.
note: Two days after this session the Goodman orchestra recorded this same song
for Columbia, with a different arrangement (Fletcher Henderson) and a
different vocalist (Louise Tobin) – and with contrasting results.
Neither Charles nor Hampton participated on this band date.
|
|
[ 78 ] |
Victor |
26393 |
(b/w Early Session Hop) |
|
|
V Disc |
360A |
(p/w
LH orch
Sweethearts on Parade) |
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[ LP ] |
Bluebird |
AXM6-5536 |
(side G, track 4) |
|
|
Musica Jazz |
2MJP 1058 |
(side A, track 2) |
|
|
RCA |
430.248 |
(side A, track 2) |
|
|
RCA Black & White |
731.048 |
(side A, track 2) |
|
|
RCA Black & White |
PM 42417 |
(side A, track 4) |
|
|
RCA Camden |
CAL-517 |
(side B, track 3) |
|
|
RCA Camden |
CDN-138 |
(side B, track 3) |
|
[ CD ] |
Acrobat |
ACRCD 189 |
(track 20) |
|
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Avid |
AMSC 612 |
(disc 2, track 3) |
|
|
Bluebird |
6458-2-RB |
(track 19) |
|
|
Bluebird |
66617-2 |
(disc 1, track 10) |
|
|
Chrisly |
CR 80007 |
(disc 2, track 16) |
|
|
DeAgostini |
MJ 1011-1 |
(track 10) |
|
|
Definitive |
DRCD11122 |
(track 4) |
|
|
Definitive |
DRCD11176 |
(disc 1, track 2) |
|
|
Disconforme |
GV1359 |
(track 4) |
|
|
Documents / Membran |
231048 |
(track 18) |
|
|
Encyclopedia |
EN 516 |
(track 12) |
|
|
Frémeaux |
FA 211 |
(disc 1, track 13) |
|
|
Fuel 2000 |
302 061 167 2 |
(track 6) |
|
|
Giants of Jazz |
53050 |
(track 12) |
|
|
History |
20.1960-HI |
(vol. 19, disc 1, track 14) |
|
|
History |
20.1979-HI |
(disc 1, track 14) |
|
|
Jazz Archives / EPM |
15737 2 |
(track 21) |
|
|
Jazz Archives / EPM |
15825 2 |
(track 18) |
|
|
Jazzterdays |
JTD 102408 |
(track 16) |
|
|
Laserlight / Delta |
15 714 |
(track 5) |
|
|
Makin’ Friends / BMG |
14170 2 |
(disc 1, track 14) |
|
|
Masters of Jazz |
MJCD 24 |
(track 3) |
|
|
Masters of Jazz |
MJCD 9004 |
(disc 1, track 3) |
|
|
Masters of Jazz |
R2CD 8017 |
(disc 1, track 14) |
|
|
Mosaic |
MD5-238 |
(disc 3, track 13) |
|
|
Mosaic |
MD8-251 |
(disc 5, track 9) |
|
|
Music Memoria |
30417 |
(track 10) |
|
|
Music Memoria |
88081 2 |
(track 10) |
|
|
Naxos Jazz Legends |
8.120621 |
(track 12) |
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Proper |
PROPERBOX 12 |
(disc 1, track 18) |
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Proper / Musisoft |
EMCD 07 |
(track 5) |
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Proper / Retro |
R2CD 40-87 |
(disc 2, track 2) |
|
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RCA Jazz Tribune
Nº 74 |
22614 2 |
(disc 2, track 3) |
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RCA Jazz Tribune
Nº 52 |
ND 89277 |
(disc 1, track 7) |
|
|
RCA Victor |
84190-2 |
(track 19) |
|
|
Topaz Jazz / Pavilion |
TPZ 1017 |
(track 1) |
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