Sidney Bechet, “The Sidney Bechet Story” (Proper, 2001; tracks recorded 1923-50)

Review:
Sidney Bechet was one of the great figures in the history of jazz, and many of the songs included in this compilation are genuine classics. The sound quality is also excellent considering the dates that they were recorded. When Bechet performs old standards (Summertime, Limehouse Blues, St. Louis Blues, etc.), his versions are often among the best ever recorded. Duke Ellington himself said that Bechet's version of "The Mooche" was the best he'd heard, including the one by his own band (which was a classic in its own right). I'm sure that anyone who enjoys early jazz would love this great 4-CD set.

Tracklist:
Disc: 1
1. Wild Cat Blues
2. Kansas City Man Blues
3. House Rent Blues [The Stomp]
4. Texas Moaner Blues
5. Mandy, Make up Your Mind
6. I'm a Little Blackbird Looking for a Bluebird
7. Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning
8. Early Every Mornin'
9. Cake Walking Babies from Home
10. Pickin' on Your Baby
11. Sweetie Dear
12. I Want You Tonight
13. I Found a New Baby
14. Lay Your Racket
15. Shag
16. Maple Leaf Rag
17. Polka Dot Rag
18. Tain't a Fit Night Out for Man or Beast
19. I'm Just Wild About Harry
20. Dear Old Southland
21. Okey-Doke
22. Characteristic Blues
23. Blackstick
24. Southern Sunset

Disc: 2
1. Jazz Me Blues
2. Blue Horizon
3. Muskrat Ramble
4. Jeepers Creepers
5. Jackass Blues
6. Milenberg Joys
7. Up in Sidney's Flat
8. House Party
9. Blood on the Moon
10. Ole Miss
11. Gone Away Blues
12. Out of the Gallion
13. Blame It on the Blues
14. Old Stack O'Lee Blues
15. Love for Sale
16. Laura
17. Tommy's Blues
18. I'm Speaking My Mind
19. I Found a New Baby
20. Fidgety Feet
21. At a Georgia Camp Meeting

Disc: 3
1. Old Man Blues
2. Wild Man Blues
3. Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning
4. Blues in Thirds
5. Save It, Pretty Mama
6. Stompy Jones
7. Egyptian Fantasy
8. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
9. Sheik of Araby
10. I Know That You Know
11. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
12. I'm Coming Virginia
13. Limehouse Blues
14. Georgia Cabin
15. Strange Fruit
16. Blues in the Air
17. Mooche
18. Twelfth Street Rag
19. Mood Indigo
20. Rose Room
21. Oh, Lady Be Good
22. What Is This Thing Called Love?
23. After You've Gone
24. V-Disc Blues (Bugle Call Rag/Ole Miss Rag)
25. St. Louis Blues

Disc: 4
1. Sweet Patootie
2. Trixie's Blues
3. Hold Tight [Want Some Seafood Mama]
4. Jungle Drums
5. Ja-Da
6. Really the Blues
7. When You and I Were Young, Maggie
8. Weary Blues
9. Summertime
10. Pounding Heart Blues
11. Oh, Didn't He Ramble?
12. High Society
13. I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say
14. Winin' Boy Blues
15. Indian Summer
16. One O'Clock Jump
17. Preachin' Blues
18. Sidney's Blues
19. Four or Five Times
20. Lazy River
21. China Boy
22. Perdido Street Blues
23. Shake It and Break It