I Hadn't Anyone Till You (1938)

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From the inception of his big band in 1935, Benny Goodman always had a “band-within-the band”-- trio, quartet or sextet. A radio broadcast from Boston in 1938 has the quartet augmented by vocalist Martha Tilton for their version of “I Hadn’t Anyone...,” the only time it was ever recorded by Goodman. Nevertheless they do an engaging rendition and Tilton is in excellent form.

By 1950 pianist Earl Hines had given up leading a big band in favor of working with smaller groups. His trio version of “I Hadn’t Anyone...” is typical of his remarkable style -full, two-handed piano leaning slightly to the Harlem stride school of “Fats” Waller and James P. Johnson.

The impressive guitarist Kenny Burrell is onboard a 1958 Prestige date led by tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. Hawk is in fine fettle, and the group has a nice arrangement of “I Hadn’t Anyone...”

Chris Tyle - Jazz Musician and Historian

Benny Goodman On the Air Sony 48836

Earl Hines 1949-1952. Classics 1288

Coleman Hawkins Soul Original Jazz Classics 96

Additional information on “I Hadn't Anyone Till You” may be found in:

• American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950 by Alec Wilder

4 paragraphs including the following types of information: music analysis.

• Reading Lyrics by Robert Gottlieb, Robert Kimball

Includes the following types of information: song lyrics.