Decca DL 4973 (Album)
Jo Stafford’s Greatest Hits
Also issued as a stereo album, Decca DL 74973
Issued May 1968 – 33 rpm LP
Side 1:
Shrimp Boats
with the Norman Luboff Choir
Issued before on Columbia 39581 (Single, October 1951), Columbia CL-6268 (Album 'A Musical Portrait Of
New Orleans', August 1953), Columbia CL-578 (re-issue of the Album 'A Musical Portrait Of New Orleans',
9th August 1954), Columbia B-2526 ('Hall of Fame' EP, 1957), and on Columbia CL 1228 (Album ‘Jo's Greatest Hits’, November 1958)
Matrix No. RHCO 4554 * Recorded 18th July 1951
I’ll Be Seeing You
Issued before on Columbia CL 1262 (Album 'I’ll Be Seeing You', 2nd February 1959)
Matrix No. RHCO 40902 * Recorded 1st August 1958
St. Louis Blues
with the Starlighters
Issued before on Columbia 40538 (Single, 18th July 1955)
Matrix No. RHCO 33338 * Probably recorded 15th June, 1954
You’ll Never Know
Issued before on Columbia CL 1262 (Album 'I’ll Be Seeing You', 2nd February 1959)
Matrix No. RHCO 40941 * Recorded 29th August 1958
Little Man With A Candy Cigar
Issued before on Columbia B-1880 (EP 'Thank You For Calling', September 1954), and on Columbia CL 2591
(Album 'A Gal Named Jo', 1956)
Matrix No. RHCO 10584 * Recorded 13th August 1953
Make Love To Me
Issued before on Columbia 40143 (Single, 21st December 1953), Columbia CL-578 (re-issue of the album
'A Musical Portrait of New Orleans', 9th August 1954), Columbia 4-50039 (Single, September 1954), Columbia B-2527 ('Hall of Fame' EP, 1957), and on Columbia CL 1228 (Album 'Jo's Greatest Hits', November 1958)
Matrix No. RHCO 10660 * Recorded 8th December 1953
Side 2:
You Belong to Me
Issued before on Columbia 39811 (Single, August 1952), Columbia B-1649 (EP 'Jo Stafford Spotlite', April 1953), Columbia 4-50008 (Single, September 1954), Columbia B-2526 ('Hall of Fame' EP, 1957), and on Columbia CL 1228 (Album 'Jo's Greatest Hits', November 1958)
Matrix No. RHCO 10204 * Recorded 24th June 1952
Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
with the Norman Luboff Choir
Issued before on Columbia 39838 (Single, September 1952), Columbia B-1649 (EP 'Jo Stafford Spotlite', April 1953), Columbia CL-6268 (Album 'A Musical Portrait Of New Orleans', August 1953), Columbia CL-578 (re-issue of the album 'A Musical Portrait of New Orleans', 9th August 1954), Columbia 4-50039 (Single, September 1954), Columbia B-2526 ('Hall of Fame' EP, 1957), and on Columbia CL 1228 (Album 'Jo's Greatest Hits', November 1958)
Matrix No. RHCO 10260 * Recorded 20th July 1952
Come Rain Or Come Shine
Issued before on Columbia CL-6238 (Album ‘Jo Stafford Sings Broadway’s Best’, January 1953), Columbia B-1660
(EP ‘Broadway’s Best’, 1953), and on Columbia CL-584 (re-issue of the album 'Jo Stafford Sings Broadway’s Best',
9th August 1954)
Matrix No. RHCO 10198 * Recorded 27th June 1952
Keep It a Secret
Issued before on Columbia 39891 (Single, December 1952), Columbia B-1649 (EP 'Jo Stafford Spotlite', April 1953), Columbia 4-50008 (Single, September 1954), Columbia B-2526 ('Hall of Fame' EP, 1957), and on Columbia CL 1228 (Album 'Jo's Greatest Hits', November 1958)
Matrix No. RHCO 10316 * Recorded 10th October 1952
A-Round The Corner
with the Norman Luboff Choir
Issued before on Columbia 39653 (Single, March 1952)
Matrix No. RHCO 10046 * Recorded 10th December 1951
NOTES
Decca DL 4973 was listed under the heading ‘New Album Releases’ in the May 18, 1968 issue of Billboard magazine.
It was first mentioned in the May 11, 1968 issue of Cash Box magazine. Billboard, meanwhile, wrote that ‘Also in Decca’s album program for May are a package of Jo Stafford’s hits made on the Columbia label, the tapes of which have been acquired by Decca’ (Billboard, May 11, 1968). All these facts prove that this album was released in May, 1968.
The stereo version, Decca DL 74973, is marked ‘Enhanced for stereo’ – which means that an artificial stereo effect was added to the original mono sources.
The Norman Luboff Choir are called ‘The Norman Luboff Singers’ on the album’s cover. However, ‘Norman Luboff Choir’ was the choir’s name in 1951-1952, when ‘Shrimp Boats’, ‘Jambalaya’ and ‘A-Round The Choir’ were recorded.
The Starlighters – who accompanied Ms Stafford in ‘St. Louis Blues’ – are not mentioned at all.
For more information on the recording date of 'St. Louis Blues': see my note on the single Columbia 40538.