Twenty-five
Cab Calloway jams from the '30s and '40s when he had one of the most cooking bands this side of Ellington's or Armstrong's. It should be stated right from the jump that the compilers at Proper could care less whether the records they issue are representative of an artist's whole career, so those looking for something definitive in terms of retrospective should look elsewhere. What is here are the 25 most solid cuts that made Cab "The Zoot Suit Man". These are not inferior - quite the opposite - to his later Columbia sides. "Minnie the Moocher" is here, as is his burning "
Swing, Swing, Swing" and the absolutely classic "
Jive (Page One of the Hepster's Dictionary)". Sound is good to very good, and the material is absolutely top-notch.
The most important recordings of Cab Calloway (cd2) review by allmusic.com