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Released 2007

The world has been waiting for a digital-era box set focusing on Johnny Mercer, and the Mosaic label -- which has obliged countless times for other vital jazz artists -- comes through again. A three-disc collection scanning Mercer's recordings for Capitol (the label he founded), Mosaic Select: Johnny Mercer purposefully concerns itself with his "jazz flavored" releases between 1942 and 1947, close to a third of which turn out to be transcription sessions. (Granted, all of these were recorded with a full band and compare favorably to the other sides.) Mercer's pop hits are understandably neglected (only "G.I. Jive" and "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" are present), and listeners should prepare for a parade of excellent unreleased or long unavailable sides -- more than 20 in all -- featuring bands led by Wingy Manone (including an uproarious "The Tailgate Ramble"), Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole, Cootie Williams, and most often, Paul Weston. Mercer's way with a novelty vocal is infectious, and now that it's arrived, it's hard to quibble. Granted, this is more of the Georgia gentleman's riches than have appeared on three discs. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

TRACKS

1. They Didn't Believe Me
2. The Old Music Master
3. G.I. Jive
4. Dixieland Band
5. Jamboree Jones
6. San Fernando Valley
7. Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah
8. The Tailgate Ramble
9. (Love's Got Me in A) Lazy Mood
10. Duration Blues
11. Sam's Got Him
12. It Ain't Necessarily So
13. Evelina [#]
14. I'm Gonna See My Baby
15. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive
16. Camptown Races
17. Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch [#]
18. Surprise Party
19. If I Knew Then
20. Sweet Lorraine [#]
21. By the River St. Marie [#]
22. He Should'a Flip'd When He Flop'd
23. Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home
24. Li'l Augie Is a Natural Man
25. It's a Good Day

DISC 2

26. I May Be Wrong
27. By the River St. Marie
28. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You
29. Mindin' My Business
30. Sugar
31. The Object of My Affection
32. Button Up Your Overcoat
33. Sunbonnet Sue
34. Indiana
35. I Never Knew
36. I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan
37. The Object of My Affection [#]
38. Ugly Chile
39. My Sugar Is So Refined
40. Baby I'm True to You [#]
41. Sugar Blues
42. Minding My Business
43. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)
44. Sweet Georgia Brown
45. When the Bloom Is on the Sage
46. Sweet Lorraine
47. Crazy Rhythm
48. Margie
49. Louisville Lou
50. Lulu's Back in Town
51. I Can't Get the One I Want
52. Love Is Just Around the Corner
53. Someday Sweetheart
54. Huggin' and a Chalkin'

DISC 3

55. Tuscaloosa Bus
56. Possum Song
57. It Takes Time
58. Moon-Faced, Starry-Eyed
59. Tallahassee
60. Cecilia
61. Box Car Blues
62. Country Boy Blues
63. Don't Take Your Meanness out on Me
64. School Days
65. Why Should I Cry Over You?
66. Save the Bones for Henry Jones
67. My Baby Likes to Be-Bop
68. You Can't Make Money Dreamin'
69. The Freedom Train
70. That's the Way He Does It
71. Never Make Eyes (At the Gal with the Guys Who Are Bigger Than You)
72. I Don't Care If It Rains All Night
73. Hooray for Love
74. I've Been Hit
75. The Peanut Vendor [#]
76. The Hills of California
77. Limehouse Blues
78. Down Among the Sheltering Palms
79. Would Ya?

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