The Complete RCA Victor Recordings


The Complete RCA Victor Recordings is a 1995 compilation 2-CD set of sessions led by Jazz trumpeter and composer Dizzy Gillespie recorded for the RCA Victor label between 1937 and 1949.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, Richard S. Ginell states: "Although the sheer scope of this double-CD roundup of all of Dizzy's Victor sessions places it most obviously within the evolution of bebop, it is absolutely essential to Latin jazz collections as well".
Music historian and Arts Administrator for the National Endowment for the Arts, A. B. Spellman recommended the album for the NPR Basic Jazz Record Library, stating: "Primarily, I say this for the big band, but that's not all that's on here. You have some very early Dizzy, when he's playing with the Teddy Hill Orchestra or with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. You have some small group stuff from the 52nd Street time, when he was playing all the clubs there. And you also have a very interesting couple of tunes from the Metronome All-Stars, which put him with a wide array of jazz talents of the period. But, mainly you've got Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band here working, and that's a band that is very important for everybody to know about".
The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the compilation a "Crown" signifying a recording that the authors "feel a special admiration or affection for".

Track listing

All compositions by Dizzy Gillespie except where noted.
Disc one
  1. "Manteca" – 3:06
  2. "Anthropology" – 2:53
  3. "King Porter Stomp" – 3:04
  4. "Yours and Mine" – 2:41
  5. "Blue Rhythm Fantasy" – 2:42
  6. "Hot Mallets" – – 2:17
  7. "52nd Street Theme" – 3:13
  8. "52nd Street Theme" – 3:05
  9. "A Night in Tunisia" – 3:07
  10. "A Night in Tunisia" – 2:05
  11. "Ol' Man Rebop" – 2:44
  12. "Anthropology" – 2:37
  13. "Ow!" – 2:56
  14. "Oop-Pop-A-Da" – 3:12
  15. "Two Bass Hit" – 2:56
  16. "Stay On It" – 3:13
  17. "Algo Bueno (Woody 'n You)" – 2:59
  18. "Cool Breeze" – 2:48
  19. "Cubana Be" – 2:41
  20. "Cubana Bop" – 3:17
  21. "Ool-Ya-Koo" – 2:52
  22. "Minor Walk" – 2:44
Disc two
  1. "Good Bait" – 2:46
  2. "Guarachi Guaro" – 3:12
  3. "Duff Capers" – 3:10
  4. "Lover, Come Back to Me" – 3:32
  5. "I'm Be Boppin' Too" – 2:18
  6. "Swedish Suite" – 2:56
  7. "St. Louis Blues" – 3:07
  8. "I Should Care" – 3:03
  9. "That Old Black Magic" – 2:40
  10. "You Go to My Head" – 3:01
  11. "Jump Did-Le Ba" – 2:28
  12. "Dizzier and Dizzier" – 3:06
  13. "I'm Be Boppin' Too" Take 2 – 2:22
  14. "Hey Pete! Let's Eat More Meat" – 3:01
  15. "Jumpin' with Symphony Sid" – 3:03
  16. "If Love Is Trouble" – 3:43
  17. "In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee" – 2:36
  18. "Overtime" – 3:06
  19. "Overtime" – 4:31
  20. "Victory Ball" – 2:40
  21. "Victory Ball" – 4:12
Notes

Personnel