Earl Coleman was one of a coterie of fine African-American jazz and R&B crooners who came to the fore during the post-war era, and which included Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hartman, and later examples like Brook Benton. Unlike some of those artists, however, his career never quite scaled the heights that his talent promised or merited, although he made some excellent records with notable artists along the way.

This 2CD collection comprises as many of his recordings as Acrobat could amass – he was not a prolific recording artist, and some of his sides are hard to locate, and his work has not been very thoroughly compiled over the years. It features a significant proportion of his studio recordings during this era, both on singles for the Dial, Atlantic, Mercury, Jade and Prestige labels, and albums, including the titles from his album for the Prestige label Earl Coleman Returns and his performances with the Sonny Rollins Quartet for the Rollins’ album Tour De Force. Other notable bandleaders and musicians featured in the recordings are Miles Davis, Gene Ammons, Charlie Parker, Erroll Garner, Milt Jackson, Red Callender, Howard McGhee, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, Junior Mance, Linton Garner, Fats Navarro, Art Farmer, Gigi Gryce, Hank Jones, Oscar Pettiford, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach and other noted musicians.

The willingness of those stars to invite him to record with them underlines the respect in which he was held. It’s a collection which offers a rare showcase for a stylish performer who should have had much more success and recognition than he enjoyed over the years.

TRACKS

CD 1
1. DON'T SING ME THE BLUES Earl Coleman With the Miles Davis Sextet 1946 
2. DON'T EXPLAIN TO ME BABY Earl Coleman With the Miles Davis Sextet 1946 
3. DARK SHADOWS The Charlie Parker Quartet Feat. Earl Coleman  (Dial  1014) 1947 
4. THIS IS ALWAYS Earl Coleman With The Charlie Parker Quartet (Dial  1019) 1947 
5. HOLD THAT MONEY Earl Coleman Gene Ammons Sextet with Earl Coleman (Mercury 8062) 1947 
6. I HADN'T ANYONE TILL YOU Earl Coleman With Linton Garner's All Stars (Atlantic 872) 1948 
7. YARDBIRD SUITE Earl Coleman And His All Stars  (Dial  753) 1948 
8. A STRANGER IN TOWN Earl Coleman And His All Stars  (Dial  753) 1948 
9. GUILTY Earl Coleman And His All Stars  (Dial  756) 1948 
10. AS TIME GOES BY Earl Coleman And His All Stars  (Dial  1049) 1948 
11. SEARCHING BLUES Earl Coleman  (Jade 704) 1948 
12. NIGHTINGALE Earl Coleman  (Jade 704) 1948 
13. THIS IS ALWAYS Gene Ammons & His Band with Earl Coleman  (Prestige 910) 1955 
14. HAVEN'T CHANGED A THING Gene Ammons & His Band with Earl Coleman  (Prestige 921) 1955

CD 2
1. NO LOVE, NO NOTHIN' Earl Coleman  (From the album 'Earl Coleman Returns' Prestige 7045) 1956 
2. IT'S YOU OR NO ONE Earl Coleman  (From the album 'Earl Coleman Returns' Prestige 7045) 1956 
3. COME RAIN OR COME SHINE Earl Coleman  (From the album 'Earl Coleman Returns' Prestige 7045) 1956 
4. SOCIAL CALL Earl Coleman  (From the album 'Earl Coleman Returns' Prestige 7045) 1956 
5. REMINISCING Earl Coleman  (From the album 'Earl Coleman Returns' Prestige 7045) 1956 
6. SAY IT ISN'T SO Earl Coleman  (From the album 'Earl Coleman Returns' Prestige 7045) 1956 
7. MY IDEAL The Sonny Rollins Quartet with Earl Coleman   (From the album 'Tour De Force' Prestige 7126) 1956 
8. TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS The Sonny Rollins Quartet with Earl Coleman   (From the album 'Tour De Force' Prestige 7126) 1956 From the album “Evening In Casablanca” (Prestige PR7017)