Julia Lee – King Size Papa – The Julia Lee Collection 1927-52 – 3CD

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1902, pianist and singer Julia Lee grew up singing and playing in the musical hotbed of that city’s jazz scene in the ‘20s and ‘30s, developing a style that featured “the songs my mother taught me not to sing” – risqué material with unsubtle double entendres - and in 1944 signed to the fledgling, but already successful Capitol label. This great-value 72-track 3-CD collection comprises early recordings with the orchestra of her brother George Lee and then with Jay McShann, followed by most of her A & B sides with Her Boy Friends on Premier/Mercury and Capitol from this era. It features all her career hits, including her R&B No. 1s “Snatch It And Grab It” and “King Size Papa”, and her Top 10 hits “Gotta Gimme Watcha Got”, I’ll Get Long Somehow”, “Tell Me Daddy”, “That’s What I Like”, “You Ain’t Git It No More” and “I Didn’t Like It The First Time”. She was a highly distinctive performer, and hugely entertaining, and this collection, as well as being a substantial and reasonably comprehensive overview of the primary era of her recording career, is a thoroughly enjoyable showcase for her very personal brand of R&B.

Track Listing:

CD1: George E. Lee And His Novelty Singing Orchestra: 1. Down Home Syncopated Blues -   2. The Merritt Stomp -   George Lee & His Orchestra: 3. Ruff Scufflin' -   4. St James Infirmary -   George E. Lee And His Orchestra: 5. If I Could Be With You -   George Lee & His Orchestra: 6. Paseo Strut -   Julia Lee: 7. He's Tall, Dark And Handsome -   8. Won't You Come Over To My House? -   Jay Mcshann's Kansas City Stompers featuring Julia Lee: 9. Come On Over To My House -   10. Trouble In Mind -   Julia Lee & Tommy Douglas' Orchestra: 11. If It’s Good -   12. Show Me Missouri Blues -   13. Lotus Blossom -   Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends: 14. Dream Lucky Blues  -   15. Gotta Gimme What'cha Got -   16. Lies -   17. Julia’s Blues -   18. When A Woman Loves A Man -   19. Oh Marie -   20. On My Way Out -   21. I'll Get Along Somehow -   22. Young Girl’s Blues -   23. Since I've Been With You -   24. A Porter's Love Song -

CD2: Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends: 1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It -   2. I Was Wrong -   3. My Sin -   4. Doubtful Blues -   5. King Size Papa -   6. When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You) -  Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends: 7. That's What I Like -   8. Crazy World -  Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends: 9. Wise Guys (You're A Wise Guy) -   10. All I Ever Do Is Worry -  Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends: 11. Tell Me, Daddy -   12. (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along -  Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends: 13. Charmaine -   14. Christmas Spirits -   15. Cold Hearted Daddy -   16. Living On The Back Street For You -   17. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) -   18. Sit Down And Drink It Over -   Julia Lee And Her Boy Friends: 19. The Glory Of Love -   20. Take It Or Leave It -   21. Tonight’s The Night -   22. After Hours Waltz -   23. Oh, Chuck It (In A Bucket) -   24. You Ain’t Got It No More -

CD3: Julia Lee And Her Boy Friends: 1. Draggin’ My Heart Around -   2. Blues For Someone -   Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends: 3. Don't Save It Too Long -   4. Ain't It A Crime? -   5. Decent Woman Blues -   6. Do You Want It -   7. There Goes My Heart -   8. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out -   9. My Man Stands Out -   10. Don't Come Too Soon -   11. Pagan Love Song -   12. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles -   Julia Lee: 13. Bleeding Heart Blues -   Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends: 14. It Won't Be Long -   Julia Lee: 15. Pipe Dreams (Up On Cloud Nine) -   Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends: 16. Ugly Papa -   Julia Lee: 17. I Know It’s Wrong -   Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends: 18. Mama Don't Allow It -   19. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) -   Julia Lee: 20. Scream In The Night -   Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends: 21. If You Hadn't Gone Away (I Wouldn't Be Where I Am) -   22. Out In The Cold Again -   Julia Lee: 23. Goin' To Chicago Blues -   24. Last Call For Alcohol -