3-CD Box Set · 36-Pages Booklet
Comprehensive liner notes by Gregg Akkerman
Includes detailed personnel, recording dates, photos and memorabilia
Johnny Hartman (1923–1983)—born in Houma, Louisiana, and raised on Chicago’s South Side—is best remembered for his velvety-rich baritone on the landmark John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman album of 1963. Before that, he had already served as a singing soldier during World War II, performing at U.S. Army camps with
drummer Louie Bellson. After his discharge in 1946, he returned to Chicago, won a talent contest at the El Grotto Supper Club, and soon began recording his first singles for Sunbeam Records before joining Earl “Fatha” Hines. The Chicago Defender hailed him as a “singing sensation” and “Chicago’s newest bronze Sinatra.”
By 1949,Hartman’s reputation grew through touring and recording with the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band. In the early 1950s, he moved ahead as a soloist, recording substantial bodies of work with Mercury, Apollo, and finally RCA Victor. Along the way, he also laid down some of his finest material for smaller labels including Sunrise, Regent, MGM, Jubilee, and Herald—all originally conceived as singles during the classic era of 78 and 45 rpm records.
Although Regent originally issued only four of Hartman’s recordings as singles, all the titles from those sessions were in fact conceived for release on 78 rpm discs. The complete set remained unissued until 1957, when Savoy (Regent’s new parent company) gathered them for the LP Johnny Hartman Sings...Just You, Just Me.
Across this 3-CD collection, all of Hartman’s singles are presented—together with every recording originally intended for single release, plus live performances and other rarities from the same era. This comprehensive anthology, Johnny Hartman: The Last Balladeer –The Complete Singles, Rarities and Live Recordings, reveals a goldmine of early performances, capturing Hartman at his most expressive during the formative years that would culminate in his celebrated collaboration with John Coltrane.
Tracklist
CD 1
01. Always To-Gether (Evelyn Washington) 2:42
02. The Songs you Sing (Hill-Young) 2:45
03. Midnight in New Orleans (Hines-Melrose) 2:46
04. When I Dream of You (Hines-Carpenter) 3:08
05. Ain't Misbehavin' (Waller-Razaf-Brooks) 2:48
06. I Need A Shoulder to Cry (Johnson-Dobson) 2:49
07. Ain't Misbehavin' (Waller-Razaf-Brooks) 6:13
08. Why Was I Born? (Kern-Hammerstein II) 2:49
09. Why Was I Born? (Kern-Hammerstein II) Alt. Take 2:49
10. Why Must I Be Tormented (Will Hudson) 2:56
11. What's to Become of Me? (Frederick Loewe) 3:06
12. Just Awearyin' For you (Carrie Jacobs-Bond) 2:40
13. I’ll Never Smile Again (Ruth Lowe) 2:49
14. Just You, Just Me (Greer-Klages) 2:33
15. Just You, Just Me (Greer-Klages) Alt. take 2:44
16. A Woman Always Understands (Alfred-Fisher) 2:39
17. I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart (Ellington-Nemo-Mills-Redmond) 2:38
18. Sometime Remind Me to Tell You (Greene-Harline) 2:38
19. Sometime Remind Me to Tell You (Greene-Harline) Alt. Take 2:42
20. There Goes My Heart (Silver-Davis) 3:02
21. There Goes My Heart (Silver-Davis) Alt. Take 3:02
22. I Should Care (Weston-Cahn-Stordahl) 5:17
23. S'Posin' (Razaf-Denniker) 3:41
24. But Beautiful (Van Heusen-Burke) 5:12
CD 2
01. They Say It's Wonderful (Irving Berlin) 4:18
02. I Should Care (Weston-Cahn-Stordahl) 3:01
03. That Old Black Magic (Arlen-Mercer) 2:41
04. That Lucky Old Sun (Gillespie-Smith) 3:18
05. S'Posin' (Razaf-Denniker) 2:39
06. Goodbye (Gordon Jenkins) 2:24
07. Everything Depends on You (Hines-Carpenter-Dunlop) 2:34
08. Close Your Eyes (Bernice Petkere) 2:29
09. You Go to My Head (Coots-Gillespie) 3:02
10. If Love is Trouble (Handy-Segal) 3:43
11. Remember (Irving Berlin) 2:44
12. Easy to Remember (Rodgers-Hart) 2:58
13. September in the Rain (Warren-Dubin) 3:08
14. Home (Van Steeden-Clarkson) 3:10
15. Nightingale (Cugat-Rosner-Wise) 2:55
16. Nobody's Got it Better Than Me (Unknown) 3:13
17. Six P.M. (Mossman-Shelley) 2:32
18. Only For You, Lucia (Unknown) 3:03
19. Worry Bird (Benjamin-Weiss-Singer) 2:37
20. Out of the Night (Benjamin-Weiss-Ford-O’Keefe) 2:58
21. I’m Afraid (Paul Insetta) 2:38
22. Wheel of Fortune (Benjamin-Weiss) 2:28
23. I Ran All the Way Home (Benjamin-Weiss) 3:04
24. Lemme Go (Bush-Pober) 2:12
25. Wild (Cy Coben) 2:35
26. Safari (Unknown) 2:51
CD 3
01. Lift Every Voice and Sing (Johnson-Johnson) Alt. Take 2:58
02. Black Shadows (Howard-Hughes) 3:00
03. I Feel Like Crying (Biggs-Thomas) 2:58
04. Don't Talk Darling (Unknown) 3:11 Unissued
05. Stormy Afternoon (Unknown) 2:39
06. Lift Every Voice and Sing (Johnson-Johnson) 3:10
07. Battle Hymn of the Republic (Steffe-Ward Howe) 2:42
08. There Is A Way (Unknown) 3:08
09. My Task (Ray-Pickup-Ashford/P.D.) 3:17
10. April in Paris (Duke-Harburg) 5:28
11. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody (Irving Berlin) 2:46
12. When I Dream of You (Hines-Carpenter) 2:31
13. I’ll Step Aside (Benjamin-Weiss) 2:58
14. The World Was Mine (Barr-Schiff) 2:41
15. Teach Me How to Cry (Phil Tuminello) 2:09
16. Bye, Baby, Bye (Phil Tuminello) 2:14
17. No Tears Tomorrow (Rogers Simon) 2:35
18. Durango (Unknown) 2:20
19. You Gotta Believe (And Be Happy) (B. Bowser) 2:26
20. Somebody Loves Me (Gershwin-DeSylva-MacDonald) 2:29
21. Stella by Starlight (Young-Washington) 3:50
22. You Came A Long Way From St. Louis (Brooks-Russell) 2:52
23. Misty (Garner-Burke) 3:06
Album details
Sources CD 1:
Tracks #1-2, from Sunbeam S 108
Track #3, from MGM 10329-B
Track #4, from Sunrise 2014 A
Tracks #5-6, from Bravo (Eng.) LP 12”K134
Track #7, Live performance
Tracks #8-21, on Regent LP 12” MG-6048, except #15, 19 and 21
Track #22, from Alto 703
Track #23, from AFRS Electrical Transcription 313
Track 24, Unissued
Sources CD 2:
Track #1, Unissued
Track #2, from RCA Victor 20-3457 B
Track #3, from RCA Victor 20-3481 A
Track #4, Unissued
Tracks # 5 & 8, from Mercury 8141
Tracks # 6 & 7, from Mercury 8149
Track #9, from RCA Victor 5785-4-RB
Track #10, from RCA Victor 20-3538 B
Tracks #11 & 13, from Mercury 5378
Tracks #12 & 14, from Mercury 5352
Tracks 15 & 17, from Apollo 1168
Tracks 16 & 18, from Apollo 1162
Tracks #19-20, from RCA Victor 22-0132
Tracks #21-22, from RCA Victor 20-4349
Tracks #23-24, from RCA Victor 20-4254
Track #25, from RCA Victor 20-4433
Track #26, RCA Victor Unknown
Sources CD 3:
Track #1, alternate take
Tracks #2-3, from RCA Victor 20-4637
Tracks #4-5, Unissued
Track #6 & 8, from RCA Victor 20-4767
Track #7 & 9, from RCA Victor 20-5003
Track #10, Live performance
Track #11, from King 4682
Track #12, from King 4667
Tracks #13-14, from Jubilee 45-5193
Tracks #15-16, from ABC-Paramount 45-9870
Tracks #17 & 19, from Herald H-522
Track #18, from Mount Vernon Music MVN 109
Tracks #20-23, from VGM LP 0011
JOHNNY HARTMAN, vocals, accompained by
Personnel on CD 1:
#1-2: MARL YOUNG’s String Ensemble
Marl Young, conductor, arranger & piano; Melvin Moore, trumpet; unknown strings.
Recorded at United Broadcasting Studios, Chicago, IL, February 1947
#3: EARL “FATHA” HINES and Orchestra with Johnny Hartman
Charlie Anderson, Willie Cook, Palmer ‘Fats’ Davis, Vernon ‘Geechie’ Smith, trumpets, Gordon Alston, Bennie Green, Walter Harris, Cliff Smalls, trombones; Thomas Crump, Ernie Wilkins, alto saxes; Scoops Carey, clarinet & alto sax; Budd Johnson, tenor sax, Wallace Brodis, baritone sax; Clifton ‘Skeeter’ Best, guitar; Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass, Rudy Traylor, drums.
Recorded in Chicago, November 1947
#4-7: EARL “FATHA” HINES and his Orchestra with Johnny Hartman
Charlie Anderson, Willie Cook, Palmer ‘Fats’ Davis, Vernon ‘Geechie’ Smith, trumpets; Gordon Alston, Bennie Green, Walter Harris, Cliff Smalls, trombones; Scoops Carey, Thomas Crump, alto saxes; Budd Johnson, Ernie Wilkins, tenor saxes, Wallace Brodis, baritone sax; Bill Dougherty, violin (#5-7); Bill Thompson, vibes; Ernest Ashley, guitar, Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines, piano & conductor; Calvin Ponder, bass; Gus Johnson, drums.
Recorded in Chicago, probably November 1947
#8-9: SANFORD GOLD Quartet
Ray Abrams, tenor sax; Sanford Gold, piano; John Simmons, bass, Cozy Cole, drums.
Recorded at RKO Pathé Studios, New York City, November 29, 1947
#10-13: Orchestra under the direction of DANNY MENDELSOHN
Joe Coleman, Furma Fidelman, Max Polikoff, violins; Max Serbin, viola; Rudy Simms, cello, Laura Newell, harp; Tony Mottola, guitar; Sanford Gold, piano & celeste; John Simmons, bass, Cozy Cole, drums.
Recorded at Majestic Studios, New York City, December 12, 1947
#14-21: Orchestra under the direction of DANNY MENDELSOHN
Jerry Burshard, trumpet (#16); Tyree Glenn, vibes & trombone (#17); Hy White, guitar; Sanford Gold, piano, John Simmons, bass; Cozy Cole, drums.
Recorded at Majestic Studios, New York City, December 18, 1947
#22-24: DIZZY GILLESPIE and His Orchestra featuring Johnny Hartman
Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet & conductor; Willie Cook, Dave Burns, Elmon Wright, trumpets; Andy Duryea, Jesse Tarrant, trombones; John Brown, Ernie Henry, alto saxes; Joe Gayles, James Moody, tenor saxes; Cecil Payne, baritone sax; James Foreman, piano, Nelson Boyd, bass; Teddy Stewart, drums; Chano Pozo, conga.
Recorded live at Royal Roost, October 2 (#22) and 9 (#23 & 24), 1948
Personnel on CD 2:
#1: DIZZY GILLESPIE and His Orchestra featuring Johnny Hartman
Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet & conductor; Willie Cook, Dave Burns, Elmon Wright, trumpets; Andy Duryea, Jesse Tarrant, trombones; John Brown, Ernie Henry, alto saxes; Joe Gayles, James Moody, tenor saxes; Al Gibson, baritone sax; James Foreman, piano; Nelson Boyd, bass; Teddy Stewart, drums; Chano Pozo, conga.
Recorded live at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY., November 5, 1948
#2-3: DIZZY GILLESPIE and His Orchestra featuring Johnny Hartman
Dizzy Gillespie, claves, conductor & arranger (#2); Willie Cook, Benny Harris, Elmon Wright, trumpets; Andy Duryea, Sam Hurt, Jesse Tarrant, trombones; John Brown, Ernie Henry, alto saxes; Joe Gayles, Yusef Lateef, tenor saxes; Al Gibson, baritone sax; James Foreman, piano; Al McKibbon, bass; Teddy Stewart, drums; Vince Guerra, conga; Jimmy Mundy, arranger (#3).
Recorded in Chicago, April 14, 1949
#4: ARCHIE BLEYER and his Orchestra
Large orchestra (strings, woodwinds, brass), unknown personnel.
Recorded live at Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts CBS Radio broadcast,
New York City, April 24, 1949
#5-8: Jazz Orchestra Conducted by JIMMY CARROLL
Featuring: Budd Johnson, tenor sax; Tyree Glenn, trombone; Bobby Tucker, piano;
plus, string section.
Recorded in New York City, May 1949
#9-10: DIZZY GILLESPIE and His Orchestra featuring Johnny Hartman
Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet & conductor; Willie Cook, Benny Harris, Elmon Wright, trumpets; Andy Duryea, Sam Hurt, Jesse Tarrant, trombones; John Brown, Ernie Henry, alto saxes; Joe Gayles, Yusef Lateef, tenor saxes; Al Gibson, baritone sax; James Forman, piano; Al McKibbon, bass; Teddy Stewart, drums; Vince Guerra, conga.
Recorded in Chicago, May 6, and July 6, 1949
#11-14: ERROLL GARNER Trio
Erroll Garner, piano; Leonard Gaskin, bass; Charlie Smith, drums.
Recorded in New York City, August 23, 1949
#15-18: GEORGE WILLIAMS’ Orchestra
Octavio Desano, French horn; Bernard Kaufman, Babe Russin, Hymie Schertzer, Art Ralston, woodwinds; Eddie Brown, oboe; Tony Gattuso, guitar; Stan Freeman, piano; Phil Stevens, bass; Jimmy Crawford, drums; and chorus.
Recorded in New York City, May 2, 1950
#19-20: Orchestra Arranged and Conducted by NORMAN LEYDEN
Chuck Genduso, Bernie Privin, Ruby Weinstein, trumpets; Roland Dupont, Felix Giardina, trombones; Art Drellinger, Paul Ricci, Hymie Schertzer, Milt Yaner, reeds and woodwinds; Tommy Kay, guitar; Sanford Gold, piano; Harry Patent, bass; Terry Snyder, drums; Bunny Shawker, bongos; and chorus.
Recorded in New York City, May 21, 1951
#21-24: Choir and Orchestra Conducted by NORMAN LEYDEN
Joe Ferrante, Chris Griffin, Mike McMickle, trumpets; Irv Dinkin, Henry Singer, trombones; Sid Cooper, Art Drellinger, Romeo Penque, Murray Williams, woodwinds; Earl Cornwell, Maurice Hershaft, Stanley Kraft, Harry Melnikoff, Raoul Poliakin, Max Weiser, violins; Henry Brynan, George Grossman, violas; Art Ryerson, guitar; Dennis Vaughan, piano and celeste; Homer Mensch, bass; Marty Grupp, drums; Bunny Shawker, bongos.
Recorded in New York City August 6, 1951
#25-26: PÉREZ PRADO Orchestra
Pérez Prado, conductor; Al Derisi, Jack Mootz, Roger Mozian, Jimmy Nottingham, Myron Shain, trumpets; Humberto Gelabert, trombone; Toni Farina, George Furman, alto saxes; Joe D’Addario, tenor sax; Irv Greenberg, baritone sax; Mike Cardona, bass; Sonny Rivera, drums; Ramon ‘Mongo’ Santamaria, conga; Francisco “Chino” Pozo, bongos; Paquito Sosa, maraccas.
Recorded in New York City, September 25, 1951
Personnel on CD 3:
#1-3: HOWARD BIGGS Orchestra
Howard Biggs (aka Maceo Howard), conductor; Taft Jordan, Bernie Privin, Irving Randolph, trumpets; Tyree Glenn, Claude Jones, trombones; Eddie Barefield, Art Drellinger, alto saxes; Budd Johnson, Joe Thomas, tenor saxes; Sterling Malone, guitar; Billy Taylor, piano; Billy Taylor Sr., bass; Kansas Fields, drums; and chorus.
Recorded in New York City, February 18, 1952
#4-5: Howard Biggs (aka Maceo Howard), conductor; Taft Jordan, Irving Randolph, Dick Vance, trumpets; Tyree Glenn, Claude Jones, trombones; Eddie Barefield, Art Drellinger, alto saxes; Budd Johnson, Joe Thomas, tenor saxes; Jimmy Cannady, guitar; Bill Doggett, piano; Abie Baker, bass; Kelly Martin, drums.
Recorded in New York City, March 3, 1952
#6-7: Howard Biggs (aka Maceo Howard), conductor; Taft Jordan, Bernie Privin, Irving Randolph, trumpets; Henderson Chambers, Claude Jones, trombones; Art Drellinger, Jack Fulton, alto saxes, flutes; Eddie Barefield, Budd Johnson, tenor saxes; Billy Taylor, piano; Abie Baker, bass; Gus Johnson, Charlie Smith, drums; and chorus.
Recorded in New York City, April 30, 1952
#8-9: Howard Biggs (aka Maceo Howard), conductor; Taft Jordan, Irving Randolph, Lamar Wright, trumpets; Henderson Chambers, Claude Jones, George Matthews, trombones; Art Drellinger, Jack Greenberg, Romeo Penque, Milt Yaner, woodwinds; Everett Barksdale, guitar; Bill Doggett, piano; Abie Baker, bass; Charlie Smith, drums; Jack Allison, Ralph Brewster, Francine Carroll, Joyce DeYount, Blanche Divigard, Gabe Drake, James Farmer, Marvin Goodis, Lou Hurst, Bernadine Reed, Lila Spaeth, Miriam Walker, chorus.
Recorded in New York City, May 14, 1952
#10: STUFF SMITH Quartet
Stuff Smith, violin; Ike Royal, piano; John Brown, bass; Jack ‘The Bear’ Parker, drums.
Recorded live at the Onyx Club, New York City, May 24, 1953
#11-12: EARL HINES Orchestra with Johnny Hartman
Vernon ‘Geechie’ Smith, trumpet; Henderson Chambers, trombone; Morris Lane, tenor sax; Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines, piano; Carl Pruitt, bass; Eddie Bourne, drums; and chorus.
Recorded in New York City, August 19, 1953
#13-14: FRANK HUNTER Orchestra
Frank Hunter, conductor; Bernie Glow, trumpet (#14); others unknown.
Recorded in New York City, ca. 1955
#15-16: Orchestra Conducted by O.B. MASINGILL
Recorded in New York City, 1957
#17-19: Unknown orchestral and choir accompaniment.
Recorded in New York City, 1958
#20-23: ANDREW HILL Trio
Andrew Hill, piano; John Mixon, bass; Gene Gammage, drums.
Recorded live at Jorgie’s Jazz Club, St. Louis, MO, May 1961
Compiled by Will Friedwald
Discographical research by Gregg Akkerman and Jordi Pujol
Liner notes by Gregg Akkerman
Photos: © Fresh Sound Records Archive
Mastered by Pieter De Wagter
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
© 2025 by Fresh Sound Records
Mono · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas S.L.
