Chris Connor discography | |
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Studio albums | 37 |
Live albums | 2 |
Compilation albums | 6 |
Singles | 24 |
Other contributions | 22 |
This is the discography of singer Chris Connor. Connor recorded approximately 42 albums and several singles between the years 1949 to 2003. This discography lists all known first-release EPs, LPs and CDs released by the singer, and includes some live recordings released on CD containing her 1950s radio performances.
Early studio recordings (1949–1953)
Chris Connor moved to New York in 1949 and secured a job as a big band singer, working with Claude Thornhill and his vocal group The Snowflakes. Connor toured with Thornhill off and on until 1952, when she joined the Jerry Wald Orchestra. After a brief period with Wald, she landed her dream job as a replacement for June Christy in Stan Kenton's orchestra. Including an alternate recording of All About Ronnie, Chris Connor only recorded 8 songs in the Capitol Records studio with Kenton's band. After non-stop touring in the United States and performing live on radio, she left the Kenton band in late 1953 to establish herself as a solo performer.
Recorded | Title | Label | Release | Catalogue No. | Issued | Band |
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1949 | There's a Small Hotel (with the Snowflakes)/Sleepy Serenade (instrumental) | RCA-Victor | 78 rpm | RCA-20-3391 | 1949 | Claude Thornhill |
I Don't Know Why(with the Snowflakes)/Lullaby Of The Rain (instrumental) | 78 rpm | RCA-20-3392 | ||||
1952 | You're The Cream In My Coffee/Cherokee | Decca | 78 rpm | Decca-28203 | 1952 | Jerry Wald |
45 rpm | Decca-9-28203 | |||||
Pennies from Heaven/Raisins and Almonds | 78 rpm | Decca-29575 | ||||
45 rpm | Decca-9-29575 | |||||
Terremoto/The Thrill Is Gone (instrumental) | 78 rpm | Decca-28554 | ||||
45 rpm | Decca-9-28554 | |||||
1953 | And The Bull Walked Around, Olé/Jeepers Creepers | Capitol | 78 rpm | Capitol-2388 | 1953 | Stan Kenton |
45 rpm | Capitol F-2388 | |||||
All About Ronnie/Baia | 78 rpm | Capitol-2511 | ||||
45 rpm | Capitol F-2511 | |||||
1953 | If I Should Lose You | Unreleased | Capitol 11120 | Stan Kenton | ||
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen | Unissued/Lost | Capitol 11353 | ||||
I Get A Kick Out Of You | Unreleased | Capitol 11559-23 | ||||
All About Ronnie (alternate take) | Unreleased | Capitol ? | ||||
1953 | Stan Kenton: The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Holman And Russo Charts | Capitol Records/Mosaic Records | 4 CD box | MD4-136 | 1991 | Stan Kenton
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Early live recordings (selected) (1952–1953)
Recorded | Location | Album title | Orchestra | Label | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued | # of Connor Songs | Titles |
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10/1952 | Statler Hotel, NYC | The Great Ladies on V-Disc, Vol. 3 | Claude Thornhill | Dan Records (Japan) | LP | VC-5016 | 1979 | 4 |
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Tokuma Records (Japan) | CD | TKCF-77076 | 2001 | 4 | CD version contains the same tracks as listed on above LP. | ||||
2/19/1953 | National Guard Armory, Eugene, OR | Stan Kenton: Eugene Armory (Part 1) | Stan Kenton | Magic/Submarine (England) | CD | 796 | 2009 | 5 |
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Stan Kenton: Eugene Armory (Part 2) | Stan Kenton | Magic/Submarine (England) | CD | 799 | 2009 | 4 |
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Stan Kenton: Eugene Armory (Part 3) | Stan Kenton | Magic/Submarine (England) | CD | 802 | 2010 | 5 |
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3/17/53 | Trianon Ballroom, Oklahoma City, OK | Stan Kenton: Concert In Miniature (Episodes 38 & 39) | Stan Kenton | Vintage Radio Classics | CD | 54365 | 2007 | 1 |
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3/27/53-4/9/53 | Blue Note, Chicago, IL | Stan Kenton: Concert Encores (Episodes 9 & 10) | Stan Kenton | Vintage Radio Classics | CD | 54465 | 2007 | 2 |
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In True '52 Stereo: Direct from the Famous Blue Note Jazz Club | Stan Kenton | Dynaflow | CD | DNYF-2007-1 | 2007 | 2 |
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Stan Kenton: Concert Encores (Episodes 11 & 12) | Stan Kenton | Vintage Radio Classics | CD | 54466 | 2007 | 1 |
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4/22/53-5/6/53 | Birdland Club, NYC | Stan Kenton: Live Birdland Encores | Stan Kenton | Mr. Music | CD | MMCD-9002 | 2011 | 2 |
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Stan Kenton: The 1950s Birdland Broadcasts | Stan Kenton | Jazz Band (England) | CD | EBCD-2132-5 | 1998 | 4 |
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Concert In Miniature Encores: 23 Degrees North, 82 Degrees West | Stan Kenton | Natasha Imports | CD | NI-4006 | 1992 | 2 |
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5/12/53 | Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD | Stan Kenton: Concert in Miniature (Episodes 44 & 45) | Stan Kenton | Vintage Radio Classics | CD | 54368 | 2007 | 1 |
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Studio albums (1954–1966)
Bethlehem Records
Chris Connor recorded around 38 sides for the Bethlehem Records label between December 1953 and April 1955. Connor was the first vocalist signed to the new label, and her dual 10" LPs Sings Lullabys of Birdland and Sings Lullabys For Lovers were the first albums ever released by Bethlehem. Only one full length 12" LP was released during Chris' tenure there: the album This Is Chris (in 1955). Her other two Bethlehem albums were issued in 1957 (after she left the label).
Recorded | Album title | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued |
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1954 | Chris Connor Sings Lullabys of Birdland | 10" LP | BCP-1001 | 1954 |
Chris Connor Sings Lullabys For Lovers | 10" LP | BCP-1002 | ||
1955 | This Is Chris (AKA Cocktails and Dusk) | LP | BCP-20 | 1955 |
Chris (AKA The Rich Sound of Chris Connor) | LP | BCP-56 | 1957 | |
Chris Connor Sings Lullabys of Birdland | LP | BCP-6004 |
Bethlehem EPs & Singles
Recorded | Title | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued |
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1953 | Lullaby Of Birdland/Try A Little Tenderness | 78 rpm | BET-B1302 | 1954 |
45 rpm | BET-B1302 | |||
Miser's Serenade/Blue Silhouette | 78 rpm | BET-1291 | 1954 | |
Chiquita From Chi Wah-Wah/Ask Me | 78 rpm | BET-1293 | ||
1954 | Try a Little Tenderness/What Is There to Say | 45 rpm | 11001 | 1954 |
1954 | Chris Connor Sings Lullabys Of Birdland (Part 1) | EP | BEP-101A | 1954 |
Chris Connor Sings Lullabys Of Birdland (Part 2) | EP | BEP-101B | ||
Chris Connor Sings Lullabys For Lovers (Part 1) | EP | BEP-102A | ||
Chris Connor Sings Lullabys For Lovers (Part 2) | EP | BEP-102B | ||
1953 | Chris (Part 1) | EP | BEP-114 | 1955 |
1954–1955 | Chris (Part 2) | EP | BEP-127 | |
1953–1955 | Chris (Part 3) | EP | BEP-130 | |
1955 | This Is Chris (Part 1) | EP | BEP-126 | |
This Is Chris (Part 2) | EP | BEP-129 | ||
Atlantic Albums
Chris Connor's longest (and most successful) association with a record label was at Atlantic Records. She began recording for Atlantic in 1956 and, over the course of seven years, released thirteen critically acclaimed and best-selling albums. Fans often consider this period the peak of Connor's career, as she had complete artistic control over both the songs and the musicians with whom she would work.
During the Atlantic period, Connor worked with many well-respected musicians in the industry, including Doc Severinsen, Jerry Wexler, Quincy Jones, Hank Jones, Rufus Jones, Nesuhi Ertegun, Osie Johnson, and Ronnie Ball. She also recorded many relatively unknown compositions during this time, including those of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Frank Loesser, Margo Guryan, Sy Coleman, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Bronislau Kaper, Peggy Lee, Ornette Coleman, Benny Goodman, Alex North, Ogden Nash and Bart Howard.
In April, 1960, Billboard Magazine announced that Connor would be awarded a gold record for the sale of 500,000 albums for the label.
Recorded | Album title | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued | Titles |
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1956 | Chris Connor (mono) | LP | ATL-1228 | 1956 |
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He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not | LP | ATL-1240/SD-1240 | |||
I Miss You So | LP | ATL-8014/SD-8014 | 1957 | ||
1957 | Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac of Song | LP | ATL-2-601 | ||
1956 | A Jazz Date With Chris Connor | LP | ATL-1286/SD-1286 | 1958 | |
1958 | Chris Connor (stereo) | LP | ATL-SD-1228 | ||
Chris Craft | LP | ATL-1290/SD-1290 | |||
1959 | Chris Connor Sings Ballads of the Sad Café | LP | ATL-1307/SD-1307 | 1959 | |
Witchcraft | LP | ATL-8032/SD-8032 | |||
Chris In Person | LP | ATL-8040/SD-8040 | |||
1960 | A Portrait of Chris | LP | ATL-8046/SD-8046 | 1960 | |
Double Exposure (with Maynard Ferguson) | LP | ATL-8049/SD-8049 | 1961 | ||
1961 | Free Spirits | LP | ATL-8061/SD-8061 | 1962 | |
1956–1959 | The Best of Chris Connor (Japan) | LP | MJ-7020 | 1963 |
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1958–1960 | Misty (Japan) | LP | P-6135A | 1975 |
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1956–1961 | The Best Of Chris Connor (Japan) | CD | AMCY-1078 | 1991 |
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Atlantic EPs & Singles
Recorded | Title | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued | Chart Peak |
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1956 | Chris Connor | EP | ATL-577 | 1956 | |
Chris Connor (I Miss You So) | EP | ATL-580 | 1957 | ||
1957 | Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac of Song (Part 1) | EP | ATL-593 | 1957 | |
Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac of Song (Part 2) | EP | ATL-594 | 1957 | ||
Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac of Song (Part 3) | EP | ATL-595 | 1957 | ||
Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac of Song (Part 4) | EP | ATL-596 | 1957 | ||
A Jazz Date With Chris Connor | EP | ATL-615 | 1958 | ||
1958 | Chris Craft | EP | ATL-6?? | 1958 | |
1959 | Pop Goes Chris In "Witchcraft" | EP | ATL-622 | 1959 | |
Chris In Person | EP | ATL-623 | 1960 | ||
1956 | Past The Age Of Innocence/Go 'Way From My Window | 45 rpm | ATL-1097 | 1956 | |
I Miss You So/My Heart Is So Full Of You | 45 rpm | ATL-1105 | 1956 | #34 | |
Time Out For Tears/I Love You, Yes I Do | 45 rpm | ATL-1121 | 1957 | ||
Trust In Me/Mixed Emotions | 45 rpm | ATL-1138 | 1957 | #95 | |
1958 | Under Paris Skies/Moon Ride | 45 rpm | ATL-1188 | 1958 | |
Hallelujah I Love Him So/I Won't Cry Anymore | 45 rpm | ATL-1198 | 1958 | ||
1959 | Flying Home/Circus | 45 rpm | ATL-2017 | 1959 | |
Señor Blues/Misty | 45 rpm | ATL-2037 | 1959 | ||
1960 | That's My Desire/I Only Want Some | 45 rpm | ATL-2053 | 1960 | |
Invitation/I Sold My Heart To The Junkman | 45 rpm | ATL-2073 | 1960 | ||
1961 | Summertime/The Lonesome Road (with Maynard Ferguson) | 45 rpm | ATL-5014 | 1961 | |
The Sweetest Sounds/Opportunity, Please Knock | 45 rpm | ATL-5017 | 1961 |
Roulette Records
Both Chris Connor and trumpeter Maynard Ferguson previously performed with the Stan Kenton band. In 1960, Atlantic Records made a special arrangement with Roulette Records, allowing Connor to record an album with Ferguson for their label (Ferguson was under contract with Roulette at the time). As part of the deal, he also recorded Double Exposure on Atlantic Records with Connor.
Recorded | Album title | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued |
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1960-61 | Two's Company (with Maynard Ferguson) | LP | S/R-52068 | 1961 |
FM Records
Between 1962 and 1963, Chris Connor's manager, Monte Kay convinced her to leave Atlantic Records to join his new record company, FM Records. This turned out to be a poor choice for Connor, since she no longer had the support of a big label to promote her music. Her first release with the label, Chris Connor at the Village Gate, failed to mirror the sales success of her previous Atlantic efforts (although it was critically acclaimed). Before her second release on FM, A Weekend in Paris, was even released, the FM label declared bankruptcy in 1964.
Recorded | Album title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued |
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1963 | Chris Connor at the Village Gate, Early Show and Late Show | FM Records | LP | FM-300/SFM-300 | 1963 |
A Weekend in Paris | FM Records | LP | FM-312/SFM-312 | 1964 | |
FM Single
Recorded | Title | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued |
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1963 | A Lot of Livin' to Do/I Concentrate on You | 45 rpm | FM-3002 | 1963 |
ABC Records/Paramount Records
By the end of 1964, Connor became a free agent and secured a 2-album deal with ABC Records. While at ABC, she released an album of Bossa Nova themed songs. She also began exploring the pop market, adding to her repertoire songs from The Beatles, Steve Lawrence and songs from recent films, such as Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, Baby the Rain Must Fall and the play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
Recorded | Album title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued |
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1965 | Chris Connor Sings Gentle Bossa Nova | ABC-Paramount Records | LP | ABC-529 | 1965 |
1966 | Now! | ABC-Paramount Records | LP | ABCS-585 | 1966 |
ABC-Paramount EPS & Singles
Recorded | Title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued |
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1965 | Chris Connor Sings Gentle Bossa Nova | ABC-Paramount Records | EP | ABCS-529 | 1965 |
1966 | Never On Sunday/The Boys from Madrid | ABC-Paramount Records | 45 rpm | ABC-10906 | 1966 |
Studio albums (1969–2003)
After her ABC contract expired, Chris Connor began releasing albums for various record labels, many of which were geared for the Japanese market. She was without a regular record contract until the mid-80s, when she released two albums on the Contemporary Records label in 1987. Between 1991-1995, she released 4 albums for the Japanese label Alfa Records. Six years later, she went back into the recording studio to record tracks for the U.S. HighNote Records label between 2001–2002. Her last solo album was issued in 2003.
Recorded | Album title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued |
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1969 | Softly and Swinging | JVC Records (Japan) | LP | SMJ-7511 | 1969 |
1971 | Sketches | Stanyan Records | LP | SR-10029 | 1971 |
1976 | Chris Moves | CBS/Sony Records (Japan) | LP | 25AP-538 | 1977 |
1978 | Sweet and Swinging | Progressive Records | LP | PRO-728 | 1978 |
1978 | Alone Together | Lobster Records (Japan) | LP | LOB-LDC 1015 | 1979 |
1983 | Love Being Here with You | Stash Records | LP | ST-232 | 1983 |
1986 | Classic | Contemporary Records | LP | 5C/C-14023 | 1987 |
1987 | New Again | Contemporary Records | LP | 5C/C-14038 | 1987 |
1991 | As Time Goes By | Alfa Records (Japan) | CD | ALCR-111 | 1991 |
1991 | Angel Eyes | Alfa Records (Japan) | CD | ALCR-124 | 1991 |
1992 | My Funny Valentine | Alfa Records (Japan) | CD | ALCR-253 | 1993 |
1995 | Blue Moon | Alfa Records (Japan) | CD | ALCB-3902 | 1995 |
2001 | Haunted Heart | HighNote Records | CD | HCD-7079 | 2001 |
2002 | I Walk With Music | HighNote Records | CD | HCD-7095 | 2002 |
2002 | Everything I Love | HighNote Records | CD | HCD-7108 | 2003 |
Additional compilations and live recordings
Recorded | Location | Album title | Label | Format | Catalogue No. | Issued | Chris Connor Songs | Titles |
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1954–1955 | New York | Bethlehem's Girlfriends | Bethlehem | LP | BCP-6006 | 1956 | 4 |
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1954–1955 | Nina Simone and Her Friends | BCP-6041 | 1959 | 4 |
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05/27/57 | "Stars of Jazz" TV Show | Sessions Live, 1957 | Calliope Records | LP | 3030 | 1976 | 2 |
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S'Wonderful | Blue Moon | CD | BMCD-3074 | 1998 | 13 | Cd contains the 2 songs from the Sessions Live LP as well as the 11 songs from the Chris Connor, Live At the Village Gate: Early and Late Show album. | ||
1959 | Unknown | Sound Flights Into Jazz | USA Government's Air Force Recruitment Service | LP | Vol. 10 | 1959 | 12 |
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I Hear The Music Now | SSJ Records (Japan) | CD | XQAM 1058 | 2012 | 15 | CD contains the 6 complete versions of the songs from the Sound Flights Into Jazz LP:
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1959–1960 | Manhattan Melodies | US Govt Air Force Recruitment Svc | LP | PGM 26 | 1960 | 3 |
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1960 | Ed Sullivan Show | The Sullivan Years: Great Ladies of Jazz | TVT records | CD | 9450-4/2 | 1960 | 2 |
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1960 or 1962 | Sounds of Freedom | Armed Forces Radio Svc | LP | PGM 4 | 1962 | 2 |
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1959 or 1960 | Stars for Defense | Armed Forces Radio Svc | LP | PGM ? | 1962 | 5 |
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I Hear The Music Now | SSJ Records (Japan) | CD | XQAM 1058 | 2012 | 15 | CD contains the song God Bless The Child from the Sounds of Freedom LP as well as the 5 tracks from Stars for Defense LP. | ||
1961 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | At the American Jazz Festival in Latin America | Westwind | CD | 2025 | 1995 | 6 |
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1962 | New York | No Strings: An After-Theater Version | Atlantic | LP | ATL-1383 | 1962 | 4 |
'The above titles were included as bonus tracks for the Japanese cd reissue of Free Spirits (AMCY-1077) |
1966 | Guest Star: Chris Connor | USA Government's Treasury Dept | LP | 1024 | 1966 | 3 |
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I Hear The Music Now | SSJ Records (Japan) | CD | XQAM 1058 | 2012 | 15 | CD contains the three songs from the Guest Star: Chris Connor LP. Note the track Nowhere Man is incomplete. | ||
1982 | Avery Fischer Hall, New York | Jazz Alive - Kool '82 - This Time The Ladies | NPR Radio | Cassette | 1982 | 6 |
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1983 | New York | Chris Connor Live | Applause Records | LP | APCS/APLP 1020 | 1983 | 13 |
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1995 | Lover Come Back to Me: Live At Sweet Basil | Evidence Records (Japan) | CD | ECD 22110-2 | 1995 | 15 | CD contains songs 1-3, 5-6, and 8-12 of the Chris Connor Live LP. The additional 5 tracks were only released on CD.
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1983 | Tokyo | Three Pearls | Toshiba-EMI | CD | EWJ-90028 | 1984 | 4 |
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1990 | London | The London Connection | Audiophile | CD | ACD-246 | 1993 | 19 |
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1996 | Billy Taylor's Jazz At The Kennedy Center - Guest: Chris Connor | NPR | Cassette | 970421 | 1997 | 9 | This cassette includes songs and an extended interview, as well audience questions.
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External links
- Chris Connor Big Band Recordings (1949-1953)
- Chris Connor Bethlehem Discography (1953-1959)
- Chris Connor Atlantic Records Discography (1956-1963)
- All Music Guide - Chris Connor
- The Penguin Jazz Guide: The History of the Music in the 1000 Best Albums, 2010
- Obituary of Chris Connor
- Jazz Wax - 2008 Interview with Chris Connor
- Encyclopædia Britannica - Chris Connor