Traumulus (1936)

Rosa Ponselle - On The Air, Volume 2, 1936-1937 {2CD Set Marston 52032-2 rel 1999}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 449 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 366 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 49 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1936-37, 2000 Marston | 52032-2
Classical / Vocal / Historical

Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981) was arguably this century's greatest soprano. Artists such as Callas and Caruso acknowledged her vocal supremacy. Ponselle's voice had volume, beauty, emotion, sure intonation and remarkable flexibility. This two-CD set chronicles the second volume of her on the air recordings from 1936-1937. By Ponselle's own account, her broadcasts captured her true voice and she preferred these performances to her numerous commercial recordings. This set has been produced in association with the Rosa Ponselle Foundation and a portion of the sales will go to the Rosa Ponselle Scholarship Fund.

Les Paul - The Complete Decca Trios - Plus, 1936-1947 (1997) {2CD Set Decca–MCA Records MCAD2-11708}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 496 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 337 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 193 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1936-47, 1997 Decca / MCA Records | MCAD2-11708
Jazz / Swing / Guitar

More than just a roundup of the Les Paul Trio's Decca recordings – which by themselves wouldn't add up to a single CD, let alone two – this 50-track set is a bewilderingly diverse compendium of Paul's adventures in show business prior to his string of hits with Mary Ford. In doing so, MCA has made amends for at least four decades of neglect, unearthing ten previously unreleased tracks as part of the deal.

All of the Duke Ellington Orchestra's recordings from 1935 plus their first two sessions from 1936 are on this enjoyable CD. The rise of the swing era may have resulted in many competing big bands being formed, but Ellington occupied his own private musical world and continued to flourish artistically and to an extent commercially. By 1935, his orchestra featured major soloists in Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, Tricky Sam Nanton, Lawrence Brown, Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, and the leader on piano. During the era Ellington experimented by frequently using both Hayes Alvis and Billy Taylor on bass. Among the memorable selections that are on this disc are "In a Sentimental Mood," "Accent on Youth," "Clarinet Lament" (featuring Bigard), "Echoes of Harlem," and the melancholy four-part "Reminiscing in Tempo"…