Starting out as a trumpeter as well as vocalist, Billy Eckstine led one of the most innovative big bands during the early 1940s, with many future bebop stars passing through his ranks as he had a number of R&B hits on the National label before he disbanded his orchestra and became a solo singer – this earlier era is covered in our existing Acrobat release Billy Eckstine – Jukebox Hits (ACMCD4019).
As a solo performer, he became a popular, sophisticated and highly-regarded crooner, racking up a string of hits during the late ‘40s and through into the rock ’n’ roll era.
This 74-track set comprises selected A- and B-sides from his releases on the MGM, RCA and Mercury labels during these years, and features all his twenty and more hits on those labels his US pop and R&B chart entries in this era, and his UK hits, including the Top 10 successes Bewildered, Fools Rush In, Temptation, Sitting By The Window, My Foolish Heart, I Wanna Be Loved, If, I Apologize, Kiss Of Fire, No One But You and Gigi plus his duet hit with Sarah Vaughan Passing Strangers.
It’s a substantial overview of a core 15-year period of his career, including at least one side of a significant proportion of his releases, and providing an entertaining showcase for his versatility as a performer and for his distinctive and unmistakable vocal styling.
REVIEWS
This 74 track three CD set is a more than worthy anthology of one of the finest artists of the post war era... one of the all time greats in a set that comes highly recommended. - Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 347)
This is certainly a glimpse into a major part of his career. Soulful ballads galore, early rhythm and blues here as well, will keep his legacy going. - Colin Campbell (Blues Matters March 2021)
Disc 1 |
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Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
This Is The Inside Story |
Billy Eckstine |
2 |
The Wildest Gal In Town |
Billy Eckstine |
3 |
Fool That I Am |
Billy Eckstine |
4 |
True |
Billy Eckstine |
5 |
Intrigue |
Billy Eckstine |
6 |
Mr B's Blues |
Billy Eckstine |
7 |
Everything I Have Is Yours |
Billy Eckstine |
8 |
Blue Moon |
Billy Eckstine |
9 |
Fools Rush In |
Billy Eckstine |
10 |
Bewildered |
Billy Eckstine |
11 |
Caravan |
Billy Eckstine |
12 |
Somehow |
Billy Eckstine |
13 |
Temptation |
Billy Eckstine |
14 |
Crying |
Billy Eckstine |
15 |
Good Bye |
Billy Eckstine |
16 |
Body And Soul |
Billy Eckstine |
17 |
Fool's Paradise |
Billy Eckstine |
18 |
Sitting By The Window |
Billy Eckstine |
19 |
Someone To Watch Over Me |
Billy Eckstine |
20 |
My Old Flame |
Billy Eckstine |
21 |
My Foolish Heart |
Billy Eckstine |
22 |
Baby Won't You Say You Love Me |
Billy Eckstine |
23 |
My Destiny |
Billy Eckstine |
24 |
You're All I Need |
Billy Eckstine & Sarah Vaughan |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
I Wanna Be Loved |
Billy Eckstine |
2 |
The Show Must Go On |
Billy Eckstine |
3 |
Be My Love |
Billy Eckstine |
4 |
I've Never Been In Love Before |
Billy Eckstine |
5 |
I'm So Crazy For Love |
Billy Eckstine |
6 |
If |
Billy Eckstine |
7 |
I Apologize |
Billy Eckstine |
8 |
I Left My Hat In Haiti |
Billy Eckstine & Woody Herman |
9 |
I'm Yours To Command |
Billy Eckstine |
10 |
I'm A Fool To Want You |
Billy Eckstine |
11 |
Pandora |
Billy Eckstine |
12 |
Enchanted Land (Song Of India) |
Billy Eckstine |
13 |
Out In The Cold Again |
Billy Eckstine |
14 |
Taking A Chance On Love |
Billy Eckstine & George Shearing |
15 |
A Weaver Of Dreams |
Billy Eckstine |
16 |
I Love You |
Billy Eckstine & Sarah Vaughan |
17 |
Room With A View |
Billy Eckstine |
18 |
Hold Me Close To You |
Billy Eckstine |
19 |
Kiss Of Fire |
Billy Eckstine |
20 |
Be Fair |
Billy Eckstine |
21 |
Until Eternity |
Billy Eckstine |
22 |
Coquette |
Billy Eckstine |
23 |
Send My Baby Back To Me |
Billy Eckstine |
24 |
St. Louis Blues |
Billy Eckstine |
Disc 3 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
I Can Read Between The Lines |
Billy Eckstine |
2 |
Rendezvous |
Billy Eckstine |
3 |
Lost In Loveliness |
Billy Eckstine |
4 |
No One But You |
Billy Eckstine |
5 |
You Leave Me Breathless |
Billy Eckstine |
6 |
Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me |
Billy Eckstine |
7 |
Love Me |
Billy Eckstine |
8 |
What More Is There To Say |
Billy Eckstine |
9 |
Love Me Or Leave Me |
Billy Eckstine |
10 |
September Song |
Billy Eckstine |
11 |
La De Do De Do (Honey Bug Song) |
Billy Eckstine |
12 |
You'll Get Yours |
Billy Eckstine |
13 |
The Bitter With The Sweet |
Billy Eckstine |
14 |
Your Eyes Say Yes, My Heart Says No |
Billy Eckstine |
15 |
Condemned For Life |
Billy Eckstine |
16 |
The Chosen Few |
Billy Eckstine |
17 |
Oh My Pretty Pretty |
Billy Eckstine |
18 |
Passing Strangers |
Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine |
19 |
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams |
Billy Eckstine |
20 |
Gigi |
Billy Eckstine |
21 |
Vertigo |
Billy Eckstine |
22 |
Prisoner Of Love |
Billy Eckstine |
23 |
Alexander's Ragtime Band |
Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine |
24 |
(Main Theme From) "Exodus" |
Billy Eckstine |
25 |
Jeannie |
Billy Eckstine |
26 |
Guilty |
Billy Eckstine |