Gene Krupa & His Orchestra - Okeh 6210 (1941)

Fifteen years ago or thereabouts, when I was just getting into Big Band / Swing music, I found one of those greatest hits budget cds by various band leaders. On it was Krupa's Let Me Off Uptown. Hearing it once was all it took and it became a personal favorite from then on.

Recorded during the first session Roy Eldridge joined Krupa's band (replacing Shorty Sherock), it showcased Eldridge and Anita O'Day in a vocal conversation.

Like the earlier Artie Shaw post featuring Roy Eldridge, this song ranks right up there for me as a Swing Era favorite.

Gene Krupa d, dir / Roy Eldridge t, v / Graham Young, Torg Halten, Norman Murphy t / Babe Wagner, Jay Kelliher, John Grassi tb / Mascagni Ruffo, Clint Neagley as / Sam Musiker, Walter Bates ts / Bob Curtis p / Ray Biondi g / Biddy Bastien sb / Anita O'Day, Howard DuLaney v.

Recorded in New York on May 8, 1941.