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Preface

* About Mercury
* About This Site



* Label Varitations
* Matrix Variations
* Innersleeve Variations

* Columns

* blog (not only Merc.)



Mercury Series

* 10000 Series
* 15000 Series (10")
* 20000 Series A
   (-20599)
* 20000 Series B
   (20600-)
* 25000 Series (10")
* 30000 Series (10")
* 35000/JATP/MGC
* 40000 Golden Lyre
* Living Presence
* 80000 Custom
* 90000 Tono
* PPS Series
* SRM Series
* Demo/Sampler



Subsidiaries

* EmArcy 26000 (10")
* EmArcy 36000 (12")
* EmArcy MGE/SRE
* EmArcy EMS
* Wing 12000
* Wing 12100/16100
* Wing 14000/18000
* Wing 60000
* Limelight
* Philips U.S.
* Fontana U.S.
* Smash
* Blue Rock
* Cumberland
* ...



Compact
(33rpm 7")


* Mercury 200/600
* Limelight 300
* Smash 700
* Fontana 750
* Philips 800/2700



Extended Play
(45rpm 7")


* Mercury EP 3000
* Mercury EP 4000
* Mercury EP 5000
* EmArcy EP 6000
* Wing EP 16000
* Mercury MEP
* Childcraft/Playcraft
* miscellaneous


Singles
(45/78rpm)


* Mercury 2000
* Mercury 3000
* Mercury 5000
* Mercury 6000
* Mercury 8000
* Mercury 8900
* Mercury 11000
* Mercury 70000
* Mercury 89000
* EmArcy 16000
* Limelight
* Wing
* Blue Rock
* ...



Index by Artists

Miscellaneous



Links



[In Association with Amazon.com]

Thelma Gracen Discography on Mercury

[Miss Thelma Gracen]

Thelma Gracen (January 6, 1922 - October 24, 1994) started her professional singing career in the '40s with dance bands such as Gay Claridge, Shep Fields, Tommy Dorsey, Jan Garber and Jimmy Palmer. Back in 1955, Maynard Ferguson (EmArcy recording artist) dropped into a Los Angeles night club where Thelma was singing and was so impressed with her artistry, the next night he brought a Mercury talent scout with him. That is how Thelma Gracen became a Mercury recording artist.

However, Gracen's releases were not from Mercury or EmArcy (a Mercury subsidiary), but from the Wing label (another Mercury subsidiary, which Bob Shad started in 1955). Her first recording was as a guest vocalist with the Freddie Slack band, which can be heard on “Boogie Woogie On The 88” (Wing MGW-60003). Next she recorded her first and only album “Thelma Gracen” (Wing MGW-60005), which became a true masterpiece.

Gracen's brilliant and fascinating singing style is reminiscent of the great female vocalists; Anita O'Day, June Christy and Chris Connor. Her great voice was further enhanced by talented Los Angeles based studio musicians who added their expertise to match Gracen's unique singing style.

Unfortunately, Thelma Gracen has very few recordings in her catalogue - two Wing LPs (a year later both were reissued from EmArcy), and older 78rpms with the Shep Fields Orchestra. That is why her Wing LP is very precious and invaluable.

Addendum (Jul. 30, 2007) : I came across an interesting 45rpm single by Thelma Gracen back in 1957 - take a look.

The right photograph is courtesy of Miss Jorie B. Gracen, (Thelma's niece). Included here with her permission.
Furthermore, this text, originally written by myself (who is not a native English speaker) was reviewed and edited by Jorie, to make the grammer sound better. So many thanks for her help!

The period Thelma Gracen recorded on Mercury: 1955.



[English] [Japanese]



The Thelma Gracen Release Listing on Mercury

No.
(Mono)
No.
(Stereo)
Title Artist(s) Jacket (Note)
EmArcy
MG-36094
- Boogie Woogie On The 88    Freddie Slack    [MG-36094] reissue of MGW-60003
EmArcy
MG-36096
- Thelma Gracen Thelma Gracen [MG-36096] reissue of MGW-60005
Wing
MGW-60003
- Boogie Woogie On The 88 Freddie Slack [MGW-60003] blue Wing
same as MG-36094
Wing
MGW-60005
- Thelma Gracen Thelma Gracen    [MGW-60005] blue Wing
same as MG-36096



The Thelma Gracen Discography on Mercury


Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

Freddie Slack Octet
Shorty Sherlock (tp), Herbie Harper (tb), Justin Gordon (ts), Bob Poland (bs),
Freddie Slack (p, arr), Al Hendrickson (g), Morty Corb (b), Jack Sperling (ds),
Thelma Gracen (vo), Benny Carter (arr).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA on August 25, 1955.
(master no.) (track title) (45rpm release no.) (LP release no.)
W217 (12012) Cow Cow Boogie Wing EPW-1-6003 Wing MGW-60003
EmArcy MG-36094
W219 (12014) Between 18th And 19th On Chestnut Street   Wing MGW-60003
EmArcy MG-36094



Freddie Slack Quartet
Freddie Slack (p, vo), Al Hendrickson (g), Morty Corb (b), Jack Sperling (ds),
Thelma Gracen (vo).
Recorded Los Angeles, CA on August 26, 1955.
(master no.) (track title) (45rpm release no.) (LP release no.)
W224 (12027) Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar   Wing MGW-60003
EmArcy MG-36094



Thelma Gracen
Quen Anderson (tb), Georgie Auld (ts),
Lou Levy (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Comfort (b), Sid Bulkin (ds),
Thelma Gracen (vo).
Recorded in Hollywood, CA on November 9, 1955.
(master no.) (track title) (45rpm release no.) (LP release no.)
W361 (12383) I'm Yours   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W362 (12384) People Will Say We're In Love   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W363 (12385) More Than You Know   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W364 (12386) Let There Be Love   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096



Thelma Gracen
Quen Anderson (tb), Georgie Auld (ts),
Lou Levy (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Comfort (b), Sid Bulkin (ds),
Thelma Gracen (vo).
Recorded in Hollywood, CA on November 10, 1955.
(master no.) (track title) (45rpm release no.) (LP release no.)
W365 (12379) I'll Remember April   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W366 (12380) Out Of Nowhere   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W367 (12381) Solitude   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W368 (12382) Just You, Just Me   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W369 (12397) I'll Get By   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W370 (12398) Night And Day   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W371 (12399) I'll Never Be Free   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096
W372 (12400) Tea For Two   Wing MGW-60005
EmArcy MG-36096



MATSUBAYASHI 'Shaolin' Kohji <shaolin@rhythmaning.org>
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