Sarah Vaughan - The Pablo Years (1984) [6-LP Box Set, Vinyl Rip 16/44 & mp3-320 + DVD] Re-up

Possessor of one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century, Sarah Vaughan ranked with Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday in the very top echelon of female jazz singers. She often gave the impression that with her wide range, perfectly controlled vibrato, and wide expressive abilities, she could do anything she wanted with her voice. Although not all of her many recordings are essential (give Vaughan a weak song and she might strangle it to death), Sarah Vaughan's legacy as a performer and a recording artist will be very difficult to match in the future.

Vaughan sang in church as a child and had extensive piano lessons from 1931-39; she developed into a capable keyboardist. After she won an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater, she was hired for the Earl Hines big band as a singer and second vocalist. Unfortunately, the musicians' recording strike kept her off record during this period (1943-44). When lifelong friend Billy Eckstine broke away to form his own orchestra, Vaughan joined him, making her recording debut. She loved being with Eckstine's orchestra, where she became influenced by a couple of his sidemen, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, both of whom had also been with Hines during her stint. Vaughan was one of the first singers to fully incorporate bop phrasing in her singing, and to have the vocal chops to pull it off on the level of a Parker and Gillespie.

Other than a few months with John Kirby from 1945-46, Sarah Vaughan spent the remainder of her career as a solo star. Although she looked a bit awkward in 1945 (her first husband George Treadwell would greatly assist her with her appearance), there was no denying her incredible voice. She made several early sessions for Continental: a December 31, 1944 date highlighted by her vocal version of "A Night in Tunisia," which was called "Interlude," and a May 25, 1945 session for that label that had Gillespie and Parker as sidemen. However, it was her 1946-48 selections for Musicraft (which included "If You Could See Me Now," "Tenderly" and "It's Magic") that found her rapidly gaining maturity and adding bop-oriented phrasing to popular songs. Signed to Columbia where she recorded during 1949-53, "Sassy" continued to build on her popularity. Although some of those sessions were quite commercial, eight classic selections cut with Jimmy Jones' band during May 18-19, 1950 (an octet including Miles Davis) showed that she could sing jazz with the best.

During the 1950s, Vaughan recorded middle-of-the-road pop material with orchestras for Mercury, and jazz dates (including Sarah Vaughan, a memorable collaboration with Clifford Brown) for the label's subsidiary, EmArcy. Later record label associations included Roulette (1960-64), back with Mercury (1963-67), and after a surprising four years off records, Mainstream (1971-74). Through the years, Vaughan's voice deepened a bit, but never lost its power, flexibility or range. She was a masterful scat singer and was able to out-swing nearly everyone (except for Ella). Vaughan was with Norman Granz's Pablo label from 1977-82, and only during her last few years did her recording career falter a bit, with only two forgettable efforts after 1982. However, up until near the end, Vaughan remained a world traveler, singing and partying into all hours of the night with her miraculous voice staying in prime form. The majority of her recordings are currently available, including complete sets of the Mercury/Emarcy years, and Sarah Vaughan is as famous today as she was during her most active years.

by Scott Yanow, allmusic

Tracklist LP1. Sarah Vaughan - How Long Has This Been Going On? 1978:

A1 I've Got The World On A String (05:33)
A2 Midnight Sun (04:36)
A3 How Long Has This Been Going On? (05:52)
A4 You're Blase (05:05)
A5 Easy Living (04:36)
B1 More Than You Know (06:43)
B2 My Old Flame (06:10)
B3 Teach Me Tonight (03:01)
B4 Body And Soul (03:38)
B5 When Your Lover Has Gone (02:52)

– Sarah Vaughan - vocals
– Oscar Peterson - piano
– Joe Pass - guitar
– Ray Brown - bass
– Louie Bellson - drums

Recorded on April 25, 1978 at Group IV Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Originally released in 1978 by Pablo Records (US), LP - 2310-821



Tracklist LP2. Sarah Vaughan : Duke Ellington - Song Book One 1980:

A1 In A Sentimental Mood (04:18)
A2 I'm Just A Lucky So And So (04:25)
A3 Solitude (04:20)
A4 I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (03:29)
A5 I Didn't Know About You (04:05)
B1 All Too Soon (03:44)
B2 Lush Life (04:27)
B3 In A Mellow Tone (03:14)
B4 Sophisticated Lady (04:01)
B5 Day Dream (05:01)

Personnel:
– Sarah Vaughan - vocals
Soloists:
– Waymon Reed - trumpet, flugelhorn
– J. J. Johnson - trombone
– Frank Foster & Zoot Sims – tenor saxophone
– Frank Wess - flute, tenor saxophone
Rhythm section:
– Jimmy Rowles & Mike Wofford – piano
– Joe Pass & Bucky Pizzarelli – guitar
– Andy Simpkins – bass
– Grady Tate – drums
– Billy Byers (Big Band Sides) – arranger & conductor

Recorded on August 15 & 16, 1979 at Group IV Studios, Hollywood, CA and September 12 & 13, 1979 at RCA Studios, NY
Originally released in 1980 by Pablo Records (US), LP - 2312-111



Tracklist LP3. Sarah Vaughan : Duke Ellington - Song Book Two 1980:

A1 I Ain't Got Nothin But The Blues (04:28)
A2 Black Butterfly (02:56)
A3 Chelsea Bridge (03:28)
A4 What Am I Here For (03:27)
A5 Tonight I Shall Sleep (03:53)
A6 Rocks In My Bed (05:18)
B1 I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (04:27)
B2 Everything But You (05:25)
B3 Mood Indigo (04:58)
B4 It Don't Mean A Thing (02:19)
B5 Prelude To A Kiss (05:56)

Personnel:
– Sarah Vaughan - vocals
Soloists:
– Waymon Reed - trumpet, flugelhorn
– Frank Wess - flute
– Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson - vocal & alto sax
Rhythm section:
– Mike Wofford, Jimmy Rowles & Lloyd Glenn – piano
– Joe Pass, Bucky Pizzarelli & Pee Wee Crayton – guitar
– Andy Simpkins & Bill Walker – bass
– Grady Tate & Charles Randell – drums
– Billy Byers (Big Band Sides) – arranger & conductor

Recorded on August 15 & 16, 1979 at Group IV Studios, Hollywood, CA and September 12 & 13, 1979 at RCA Studios, NY
Originally released in 1980 by Pablo Records (US), LP - 2312-116



Tracklist LP4. Sarah Vaughan - Copacabana 1981:

A1 Copacabana (03:36)
A2 The Smiling Hour (Abra Alas) (04:17)
A3 To Say Goodbye (Pra Dizer Adeus) (03:47)
A4 Dreamer (Vivo Sonhando) (03:39)
A5 Gentle Rain (02:48)
B1 Tete (04:39)
B2 Dindi (05:29)
B3 Double Rainbow (Chovendo Na Roseira) (03:31)
B4 Bonita (04:09)

– Sarah Vaughan - vocals
– Helio Delmiro - acoustic & electric guitars
– Edson Frederico - arranger
And unidentified Brazilian rhythm section and singers

Recorded October 1-5, 1979 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Originally released in 1981 by Pablo Records (US), LP - 2312-125



Tracklist LP5. Sarah Vaughan and The Count Basie Orchestra - Send In The Clowns 1981:

A1 I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (05:00)
A2 Just Friends (03:21)
A3 If You Could See Me Now (04:47)
A4 Ill Wind (03:58)
A5 When Your Lover Has Gone (02:36)
B1 Send In The Clowns (06:17)
B2 I Hadn't Anyone Till You (04:05)
B3 All The Things You Are (03:46)
B4 Indian Summer (03:29)
B5 From This Moment On (02:32)

– Sarah Vaughan - vocals
with Count Basie Orchestra:
– Sam Nestico - arranged & conducted
– Allyn Ferguson - arranged
– George Gaffney - piano
– Freddie Greene - guitar
– Andy Simpkins - bass
– Harold Jones - drums
– Sonny Cohn, Frank Szabo, Willie Cook, Bob Summers & Dale Carley - tpumplets
– Mitchell "Booty" Wood, Bill Hughes, Dennis Wilson & Grover Mitchell - trombones
– Kenny Hing, Eric Dixon, Bobby Plater, Danny Turner & Johnny Williams - saxophones

Recorded on February 16, 18, & May 16, 1981 at Group IV Studios, Hollywood, CA
Originally released in 1981 by Pablo Records (US), LP - 2312-130



Tracklist LP6. Sarah Vaughan - Crazy And Mixed Up 1982:

A1 I Didn't Know What Time It Was (03:58)
A2 That's All (04:04)
A3 Autumn Leaves (05:30)
A4 Love Dance (03:26)
B1 The Island (04:24)
B2 Seasons (05:16)
B3 In Love In Vain (03:04)
B4 You Are Too Beautiful (03:38)

– Sarah Vaughan - vocals
– Roland Hanna - piano
– Andy Simpkins - bass
– Harold Jones - drums
– Joe Pass - guitar

Recorded on March 1 & 2, 1982 at Group IV Studios, Hollywood, CA
Originally released in 1982 by Pablo Records (US), LP - 2312 137