MG-25090: Herb Jeffries Sings

	Label Type :	black/gold Mercury type A
	Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	MG 25090A
		SIDE-B	MG 25090B

Comments

a true 1st pressing with thin paper sleeve.

Inside The Groove

Great vocal stylist Herb Jeffries' album, from original Exclusive recording.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Mercury purchased (or leased) Herb Jeffries' 1945-1947 recordings which were originally made on Exclusive label. Then Mercury released a number of 78rpms, 45rpms and 10-inch LPs. This 10-inch LP is one of them (others include MG-25089, MG-25091 and MG-25092).

Herb Jeffries was a singing cowboy hero in the 1930s, and also famous as a featured male vocalist of Duke Ellington's Orchestra. His unique singing style is reminiscent of another great male vocalist, Billy Eckstine. However, Herb Jeffries sings in more mellow and sweet way.

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

8 out of 10

Track Listing

Personnel

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

Even the Ruppli's discography doesn't have more detailed information. Anyway, I auditioned the tracks several times and noted obvious instruments as “unknown”, as shown below.

B-2:
Herb Jeffries (vo) with Joe Liggins' Honeydrippers, including:
Little Willie Jackson (as, bs), James Jackson (ts),
Joe Liggins (p), Frank Pasley (g), Eddie Davis (b), Peppy Prince (ds).
Recorded in Los Angeles, 1945.

A-2, A-4, B-1:
Herb Jeffries (vo) with Buddy Baker's Trombone Octet, including:
unknown (4 tb), unknown (p), unknown (g), unknown (b), unknown (ds).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, 1946.

B-4:
unknown (p, celeste), unknown (vib), unknown (g), unknown (b),
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, 1946.

A-3:
Herb Jeffries (vo),
unknown (p, celeste), unknown (vib), unknown (g), unknown (b),
Recorded probably in Los Angeles, CA, 1947.

A-1:
Herb Jeffries (vo) with unknown choir.
Recorded probably in Los Angeles, CA, 1947.

B-3:
Herb Jeffries (vo),
unknown (p, celeste) unknown (g), unknown (b),
Recorded date/place unknown.