This four CD collection represents the first phase of Ellis’s solo career when he acted as leader or co-leader through an era which is generally considered the great man’s glory years. Featuring eight stunning and extraordinary albums released originally between the mid-1950s and mid 1960s, this provides a perfect starting point for newcomers and everyone else.
– Disc 1 –
1 Sweetheart Blues
2 Somebody Loves Me
3 It Could Happen to You
4 Pogo
5 Detour Ahead
6 Ellis in Wonderland
7 Have You Met Miss Jones
8 A Simple Tune
9 Pap’s Blues
10 Big Red’s Boogie Woogie
11 Tin Roof Blues
12 Soft Winds
13 Royal Garden Blues
14 Patti Cake
15 Blues for Janet
16 Blues for Junior
– Disc 2 –
1 Goose Grease
2 When Your Lover Has Gone
3 Remember
4 Patricia
5 A Country Boy
6 You Know
7 My Old Flame
8 People Will Say We’re in Love
9 One Note Samba
10 Toni
11 Like Someone in Love
12 Jim’s Blues
13 John Brown’s Body
14 Detour Ahead
15 You Better Be Ready
16 Gravy Waltz
– Disc 3 –
1 You Stepped Out of a Dream
2 Bossa Nova #2
3 But Beautiful
4 Bossa Nova Samba
5 Leave It to Me
6 I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out!
7 Sweet Dreams
8 Low Society Blues
9 Gravy Waltz
10 Detour Ahead
11 Skip It
12 Alone Together
13 Blues for Janet
14 How Come You Do Me Like You Do
15 Get Acquainted Blues
16 Hillcrest
– Disc 4 –
1 No Moon at All
2 Bye Bye Blackbird
3 Life Is a Ball
4 It’s Easy to Remember
5 You’re Impossible
6 Oh What a Beautiful Morning
7 I Know You Oh So Well
8 Intersection
9 Like Someone in Love
10 Don’t Sing
11 Se Todos Fossem Iquais a Voce
12 Chung King
13 Carolina in the Morning
14 Three Quarter Blues
15 Take Care of Yourself
16 St. Louis Blues
17 Jazz ‘N’ Samba
18 Oh, Lady Be Good
19 Things Ain’t What They Used to Be
20 A Hundred Years from Today
21 Bluesette