Andy Kirk & The 12 Clouds of Joy (1994)

About this title: Amidst the day's heavy hitters -- Ellington, Basie, and Goodman -- Andy Kirk's band made a name for themselves with some of the tightest swing of the '30s. Their prime stretch came in the latter half of the decade, as pianist and arranger Mary Lou Williams became a dominant force in the group. This fine ASV overview tells part of the story with 22 of the group's best cuts. And while highlights like "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" and "The Lady Who Swings the Band" are omitted, the disc makes up for it with the solid likes of "Mary's Idea," "Floyd's Guitar Blues," and an excellent cover of ... read more

Tracks:

1. Mess-A-Stomp [Williams]
2. Corky Stomp [Kirk/Williams]
3. Froggy Bottom [Williams]
4. Loose Ankles [Kirk/Williams]
5. Gettin' off a Mess [Williams]
6. Walkin' and Swingin' [Williams]
7. Moten Swing [Moten]
8. Lotta Sax Appeal [Williams]
9. Bear Cat Shuffle [Williams]
10. Steppin' Pretty [Williams]
11. Puddin' Head Serenade [Hart]
12. Wednesday Night Hop [Akins/Kirk]
13. In the Groove [Williams/Wilson]
14. A Mellow Bit of Rhythm [Williams/Walder]
15. Twinklin' [Williams]
16. Little Joe from Chicago [Williams/Wells]
17. Toadie Toddle [Williams/Pease]
18. Jump Jack Jump [Roberts]
19. Dunkin' a Doughnut [Williams]
20. Mary's Idea [Williams]
21. Close to Five [Williams]
22. Floyd's Guitar Blues [Smith/Columbo/Weiga]
23. Margie [Davis/Conrad/Robins]
24. Big Jim Blues [Williams/Lawson]
25. Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam!) [Miller/Durham]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.