Are You Hep to the Jive?

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The influence of Cab Calloway simply cannot be understated. He was present at the genesis of R&B, rock, hip-hop, swing, and jazz, and his contributions shaped the way the world hears pop music. Thankfully, this task fell upon the zoot-suited shoulders of an artist of wit, intelligence, energy, and the ability to connect one-on-one with his audience. This collection includes tracks from the late '30s up to the late '40s and offers listeners a taste of all Calloway's incredible talents. From his hepster raps like "Are You All Reet?" to his hits like "Minnie the Moocher," Calloway's performances are carefully orchestrated yet loose-limbed and sparkling with humor, and for recordings in mono, the sound is surprisingly good. Highly recommended. --S. Duda

Are You Hep to the Jive?, Music, Cab Calloway, Big Band, Big Band/Swing, Jazz, Jazz Music, Jive, Pop, Swing, United States of America, Vocal Jazz

Average customer rating:

All reet!

essential

Just an amazing album to hear and have!

A Serious Artist Having A Jiving Good Time For All Circa 1939

These Cats Can Swing!

Are You Hep to the Jive?
Cab Calloway
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jive Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
CDs $7 - $10 | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain Titles | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
CDs $7 - $10 | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain Titles | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Best of Louis Jordan

The Very Best of Fats Waller

The Hi-De-Ho Man: 1930-1933

The Very Best of Big Joe Turner

Let The Good Times Roll: The Anthology 1938-1953

ASIN: B0000029FN
Release Date: 1994-08-09

Boo-Wah Boo-Wah
Are You All Reet?
Hey Now, Hey Now
Everybody Eats When They Come To My House
Are You Hep To The Jive?
The Calloway Boogie
Hep Cat's Love Song
Papa's In Bed With His Britches On
Song Of The Islands: What's Buzzin' Cousin
Twee-Twee-Tweet
Come On With The 'Come On'
Chant Of The Jungle
I Want To Rock
Oh! Gram'pa
The Jungle King (You Ain't Done A Doggone Thing)
Don't Falter At The Alter
Who's Yehoodi?
A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird
Tarzan Of Harlem
Minnie The Moocher
Boog It
Foo A Little Bally-Hoo

Amazon.com

The influence of Cab Calloway simply cannot be understated. He was present at the genesis of R&B, rock, hip-hop, swing, and jazz, and his contributions shaped the way the world hears pop music. Thankfully, this task fell upon the zoot-suited shoulders of an artist of wit, intelligence, energy, and the ability to connect one-on-one with his audience. This collection includes tracks from the late '30s up to the late '40s and offers listeners a taste of all Calloway's incredible talents. From his hepster raps like "Are You All Reet?" to his hits like "Minnie the Moocher," Calloway's performances are carefully orchestrated yet loose-limbed and sparkling with humor, and for recordings in mono, the sound is surprisingly good. Highly recommended. --S. Duda

Customer Reviews:

All reet!.......2007-03-07

The twenty-two tracks on CAB CALLOWAY * ARE YOU HEP TO THE JIVE? were recorded between 1939 and 1947, and are drawn from the COLUMBIA, OKEH and VOCALION archives. One wonders why 1950's "Jumpin' Jive" isn't here as well-- it would fit nicely. Three songs within this set, "What's Buzzin' Cousin," "Chant Of The Jungle" and "Don't Falter At The Altar" are previously unreleased material.

These old 78s have been meticulously remastered, and the transfers have a lot of presence. Truth is, the pre-hi-fi records of the 1940's sounded darn good, as this album clearly demonstrates. Regarding the performances: the mature Calloway was as vital as in his Cotton Club days, but with the advantage of clean sound and a little polish. Widely dismissed as a novelty act for the masses by contemporary jazz critics, Cab clearly deserves a reassessment. He had it all: popularity, pizzazz, presence and poise. Whether zoot-suited or in a spotless white tux, Calloway was always nothing less than great. He was a groovy cat, Jackson-- are you hep?

The twelve-page booklet contains a bio, vintage photos and recording dates for all tracks. Recommended for all fans of swing, jive and '40s dance music.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 62:47

essential.......2007-01-10

A good representation of the man and his underrated music. He expresses parts of music unfamiliar to modern ears; showmanship, kindness and good humor. A chicken ain't nothin but a bird knocks me out.

Just an amazing album to hear and have!.......2005-11-17

If you've never heard of Cab Calloway, or even if you are quite familiar with him; this CD is for you if you don't have it yet.

This CD collection is packed with some of the most toe-tapping, sing-along, swinging songs you could ever hope to find. If it doesn't get you out of your seat and dancing to the wonderful melodies, check your pulse because you might not be breathing.

I have quite a nice sized collection of different Cab Calloway CD's in my music collection, and this one has them all beat with a great song selection that I haven't seen elsewhere. Everyone should find a few songs here that they recognize. "Minnie the Moocher" from "The Blues Brothers" movie, "Everyone Eats When they Come to My House" was used a few years ago in a TV commercial.

I couldn't recommend this wonderful sounding CD more highly then I do!

A Serious Artist Having A Jiving Good Time For All Circa 1939.......2005-08-22

Not only are we talking shuck and jive but great American music swinging away freely fronted by the unique Cab..a cross between a huckster and true band leader making no bones about his wit and value.The music is great jazz not unlike Ellington and Basie in their swing but in the attitude that so preceeded the idea of being some cool cat so emulated later by rock stars such as David Johanson, Peter Wolf even Mick Jagger's posturing incorporating their own rap and lingo but clearly influenced by the self promotion of this man,Cab.Yet,the music swings like a Basie or Duke with GREAT musicians.
These songs are all killer material...Cab was already recording 10 years earlier..these tracks are all from 1939 -1947..an interesting time indeed...if you are a not a serious fan of Jazz or Big Band but appreciate anachronistic culture and the sense of the 1940's you have to check this long playing bargain cd.

These Cats Can Swing!.......2005-05-21

If you own only one Cab Calloway CD this should be the one. This band kicks the back beat & never lets go & Cab himself is so cool. What impressed me was the generous amount of CD cuts for the price. the quality of the playing/singing by Cab coupled with absolutely terrific audio quality much better than other original period swing band CD's. Listen to the jive brother!

Music: