Harry James- the Lost MGM recordings July 21, 1961

In 1959, Harry James signed a recording contract with MGM.

It was a hopeful relationship for both James and MGM, as the hope was that Harry could rekindle some of his old magic, resulting in record sales.

For Harry James’ part, he was given a free rein to record music that HE wanted to record, including several “concept” albums centered around a common theme throughout the album.

In 1961, Harry James commissioned famed arranger/composer Ralph Burns to write enough charts for an album.

For 15 years, Burns wrote or arranged many of the Woody Herman band's major hits including "Bijou", "Northwest Passage" and "Apple Honey", and on the longer work "Lady McGowan's Dream" and the three-part Summer Sequence.

He also wrote and conducted for many great Jazz artists, Broadway, and Motion Picture soundtracks..

Apart from three charts, which were released in 1995 on the CD “Harry James Verve Masters 55”, these compositions were never released on an album. In fact, only two of the tunes were inserted into the James book for performances.

The tracks were recorded in one session on July 21, 1961 in Hollywood.

The tracks are:

1. Tippin
2. Homage to Sweet Pea
3. Mae & Rae
4. Rosebud
5. Blues for Napoli
6. Moonchild
7. HO? (untitled)
8. WHO O-O? (untitled)


Hardcore Jazz fans will recognize “Moonchild” as being ripped in whole cloth from “Summer Sequence” which Ralph Burns wrote for Woody Herman in 1946.

Band personnel for this session were:

Trumpets-Rob Turk, Nick Buono, Bud Billings, Vern Guertin
Trombones-Ray Sims, Dick Hyde, Dick McQuardy
Saxophones-Willie Smith, Pat Chartrand, Sam Firmature, Modesto Briseno, Ernie Small
Terry Rosen-guitar
Jack Perciful-piano
Tony DiNicola-drums
Russ Phillips-bass

Many thanks to my Friend Dean Pratt for tracking down this great session!