About This Item
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 InchUnchained MelodyInch and his US pop Top 10 hits with InchHeInch and InchAfter The Lights Go Down LowInch, plus Top 10 R&B hits with InchTreesInch, InchLover Come Back To MeInch, InchDanny BoyInch and InchWhat Will I Tell My HeartInch. 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. Album Tracks 1. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good 2. How Long Blues 3. S'posin' 4. Don't Take Your Love from Me 5. I Surrender Dear 6. Solitude 7. My Little Brown Book 8. My Ev'a Lovin' Baby 9. Summertime 10. Trees 11. Lover, Come Back to Me 12. Poor Butterfly 13. Hey Baby 14. By the River Sainte Marie 15. It Don't Mean a Thing 16. What Will I Tell My Heart 17. I Love You 18. Danny Boy 19. Song of the Wanderer 20. If I Knew You Were There 21. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen 22. Stormy Weather 23. Cherry 24. Star Dust 25. Hon
