Decca's Sepia series

For today, one more special on Decca's Sepia series, that was dedicated to African-American artists with some crossover potential to the general audience. It had some swing, lighter blues, pop material and a lot of piano artists. Several great artists of the forties had releases on this series - Louis Jordan, Nat King Cole, Joe Turner and Hot Lips Page. They're all in today's show.

That is, you won't find Joe Turner in the playlist. He's on two recordings billed to Art Tatum. How come, that not the singer but the backing pianist is credited on the label - I will explain in this show.

Transcript

Playlist

1. Joe Brown - Beaumont Street Blues (Decca 8521)
2. Maurice Rocco & his Rockin' Rhythm - Rocco's Boogie Woogie (8523)
3. Erskine Butterfield - (Jivin' The) Missouri Waltz (8524)
4. Louis Jordan - Pinetop's Boogie Woogie (8525)
5. Art Tatum - Wee Baby Blues (8526)
6. Clarence Profit - Dark Eyes (8527)
7. Skeets Tolbert & His Gentlemen Of Swing - Jumpin' Like Mad (8528)
8. Eddie Durham - Fare Thee Honey Fare Thee Well (8529)
9. Delta Rhythm Boys - Stardust (8530)
10. Hot Lips Page - Harlem Rumbain' the Blues (8531)
11. Sonny Boy Williams - Poppin' (8532)
12. Skeets Tolbert & His Gentlemen Of Swing - Sammy's Chopping Block (8534)
13. Nat King Cole - Gone With The Draft (8535)
14. Art Tatum - Last Goodbye Blues (8536)
15. Louis Jordan - Pan-Pan (8537)
16. Al Cooper - See What I Mean (8540)
17. Nat King Cole - Babs (8541)

Outtro:

• Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce

• Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
• Maurice Rocco & his Rockin' Rhythm - Tonky Blues (Decca 8523)
• Art Tatum - Battery Bounce (8526)
• Eddie Durham - Magic Carpet (8529)
• Skeets Tolbert & His Gentlemen Of Swing - Four O'Clock Blues (8534)
• Nat King Cole - Honeysuckle Rose (8535)
• Art Tatum - Stompin' at the Savoy (8536)