Dorothy Dandridge - Recordings

Recordings

Dandridge first gained fame as a solo artist from her performances in nightclubs, usually accompanied by Phil Moore on piano. As well known as she became from renditions of songs such as "Blow Out the Candle", "You Do Something To Me", and "Talk Sweet Talk To Me", she recorded very little on vinyl. Whether it was because of personal choice or lack of opportunity is unknown.

In 1940, as part of the Dandridge Sisters singing group, Dandridge recorded four songs with the Jimmy Lunceford band:

• "You Ain't Nowhere" (Columbia #28007)
• "That's Your Red Wagon" (Columbia #28006)
• "Ain't Going To Go To Study War No More" (Columbia #26938)
• "Minnie The Moocher is Dead" (Columbia #26937A)

In 1944, she recorded a duet with Louis Armstrong from the film Pillow to Post:

• "Watcha Say" (Decca L-3502)

In 1951, she recorded a single for Columbia Records:

• "Blow Out the Candle/Talk Sweet Talk To Me" (catalogue # unknown)

In 1953, she recorded a song for the film Remains to Be Seen:

• "Taking a Chance On Love" (MGM Records, catalogue # unknown)

In 1958, she recorded a full length album for Verve Records featuring Oscar Peterson with Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Alvin Stoller (Catalogue #314 547-514 2) that remained unreleased in the vaults until a CCD release in 1999. This CD also included four tracks from 1961 (with an unknown orchestra) that included one 45 rpm record single and another aborted single:

• "It's Easy To Remember" (21942-3)
• "What Is There To Say" (21943-6)
• "That Old Feeling" (21944-4)
• "The Touch of Your Lips" (21945-12)
• "When Your Lover Has Gone" (21946-1)
• "The Nearness Of You" (21947-7)
• "(In This World) I'm Glad There Is You" (21948-10)
• "I've Grown Accustomed To Your Face" (21949-4)
• "Body and Soul" (21950-2)
• "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (21951-6)
• "I've Got a Crush on You" (21952-3)
• "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" (21953-3)
• "Somebody" (recorded in 1961) (23459-2)
• "Stay with It" (recorded in 1961) (23460-4)

(above two tracks released on Verve Records single #Verve V 10231)

• "It's a Beautiful Evening" (recorded in 1961) (23461-5)
• "Smooth Operator" (recorded in 1961) (23462-2)

(above two tracks were aborted for release as a single and remained unreleased until the Smooth Operator CD release in 1999). These are the only known songs Dandridge recorded on vinyl. Several songs she sang were recorded on Soundies. These songs, which include her version of "Cow-Cow Boogie", are not included on this list.