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Chris Connor discography

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Chris Connor discography
Studio albums37
Live albums2
Compilation albums6
Singles24
Other contributions22

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)

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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
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
  • Cd 2 includes all songs recorded by Chris Connor with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, except Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen

Early live recordings (selected) (1952–1953)

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Recorded Location Album title Orchestra Label Format Catalogue No. Issued # of Connor Songs Titles
10/1952 Statler Hotel, NYC The Great Ladies on V-Disc, Vol. 3 Claude Thornhill Dan Records (Japan) LP VC-5016 1979 4
  • Come Rain or Come Shine
  • Sorta Kinda
  • Wish You Were Here
  • Who Are We to Say
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
  • Jeepers Creepers
  • If I Should Lose You
  • September in the Rain
  • I'll Remember April
  • Taking a Chance on Love
Stan Kenton: Eugene Armory (Part 2) Stan Kenton Magic/Submarine (England) CD 799 2009 4
  • Don't Worry About Me
  • Tenderly
  • There Will Never Be Another You
  • Lullaby In Rhythm
Stan Kenton: Eugene Armory (Part 3) Stan Kenton Magic/Submarine (England) CD 802 2010 5
  • Jeepers Creepers
  • Darn That Dream
  • You're Mine You
  • I Only Have Eyes For You
  • Everything Happens To Me
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
  • Jeepers Creepers
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
  • Don't Worry About Me
  • I'll Remember April
In True '52 Stereo: Direct from the Famous Blue Note Jazz Club Stan Kenton Dynaflow CD DNYF-2007-1 2007 2
  • Jeepers Creepers
  • I'll Remember April
Stan Kenton: Concert Encores (Episodes 11 & 12) Stan Kenton Vintage Radio Classics CD 54466 2007 1
  • All About Ronnie
4/22/53-5/6/53 Birdland Club, NYC Stan Kenton: Live Birdland Encores Stan Kenton Mr. Music CD MMCD-9002 2011 2
  • If I Should Lose You
  • Taking A Chance On Love
Stan Kenton: The 1950s Birdland Broadcasts Stan Kenton Jazz Band (England) CD EBCD-2132-5 1998 4
  • Jeepers Creepers
  • Taking A Chance On Love
  • Love Me Or Leave Me
  • If I Should Lose You
Concert In Miniature Encores: 23 Degrees North, 82 Degrees West Stan Kenton Natasha Imports CD NI-4006 1992 2
  • There Will Never Be Another You
  • I'll Remember April
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
  • Everything Happens To Me

Studio albums (1954–1966)

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Bethlehem Records

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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
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

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Recorded Title Format Catalogue No. Issued
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

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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
1956 Chris Connor (mono) LP ATL-1228 1956
  • I Get a Kick Out of You
  • Something to Live For
  • Get Out of Town
  • Where Are You
  • Anything Goes
  • When the Wind Was Green
  • He Was Too Good to Me
  • You Make Me Feel So Young
  • Ev'rytime
  • Way Out There
  • My April Heart
  • Almost Like Being in Love
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
  • The Man I Love
  • Chinatown, My Chinatown
  • These Foolish Things
  • Senor Blues
  • Flying Home
  • Anything Goes
  • Moonlight In Vermont
  • Come Rain Or Come Shine
  • You Make Me Feel So Young
  • The Lady Sings The Blues
  • Where Flamingos Fly
  • They Can't Take That Away From Me
1958–1960 Misty (Japan) LP P-6135A 1975
  • Senor Blues
  • Misty
  • Moon Ride
  • I Sold My Heart To The Junkman
  • Invitation
  • Under Paris Skies
  • I Heard A Bluebird
  • Flying Home
  • I Won't Cry Anymore
  • Circus
  • To Each His Own
  • Fortune Cookies
  • Long Hot Summer
  • (I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over
1956–1961 The Best Of Chris Connor (Japan) CD AMCY-1078 1991
  • All About Ronnie (1959 Recording)
  • I Hear The Music Now
  • Oh! You Crazy Moon
  • I'm Gonna Go Fishin'
  • These Foolish Things
  • Jump for Joy
  • Go 'Way From My Window
  • Hallelujah I Love Him So (1958 Recording)
  • I Won't Cry Anymore
  • I Miss You So
  • Bargain Day
  • Summertime
  • Witchcraft
  • He Was Too Good To Me
  • I Get A Kick Out Of You

Atlantic EPs & Singles

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Recorded Title Format Catalogue No. Issued Chart Peak
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

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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
1960-61 Two's Company (with Maynard Ferguson) LP S/R-52068 1961

FM Records

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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
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

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Recorded Title Format Catalogue No. Issued
1963 A Lot of Livin' to Do/I Concentrate on You 45 rpm FM-3002 1963

ABC Records/Paramount Records

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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
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

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Recorded Title Label Format Catalogue No. Issued
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)

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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
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

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Recorded Location Album title Label Format Catalogue No. Issued Chris Connor Songs Titles
1954–1955 New York Bethlehem's Girlfriends Bethlehem LP BCP-6006 1956 4
  • It's All Right With Me
  • All This And Heaven Too
  • Lush Life
  • The Thrill Is Gone
1954–1955 Nina Simone and Her Friends BCP-6041 1959 4
  • A Cottage For Sale
  • Try A Little Tenderness
  • What Is There To Say
  • Goodbye
05/27/57 "Stars of Jazz" TV Show Sessions Live, 1957 Calliope Records LP 3030 1976 2
  • S'Wonderful
  • Love Walked In
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
  • Strike Up The Band
  • All About Ronnie (incomplete)
  • Misty
  • Fine And Dandy (incomplete)
  • Señor Blues
  • Angel Eyes (incomplete)
  • I Hear The Music Now
  • I Miss You So (incomplete)
  • It Don't Mean A Thing
  • 'Round Midnight (incomplete)
  • Blow Gabriel Blow
  • Loverman (incomplete)
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:
  • Strike Up The Band
  • Misty
  • Señor Blues
  • I Hear The Music Now
  • It Don't Mean A Thing
  • Blow Gabriel Blow
1959–1960 Manhattan Melodies US Govt Air Force Recruitment Svc LP PGM 26 1960 3
  • I Hear Music
  • Just In Time
  • Witchcraft
1960 Ed Sullivan Show The Sullivan Years: Great Ladies of Jazz TVT records CD 9450-4/2 1960 2
  • I Get A Kick Out Of You
  • Come Rain or Come Shine
1960 or 1962 Sounds of Freedom Armed Forces Radio Svc LP PGM 4 1962 2
  • I Got A Right To Sing The Blues
  • God Bless The Child
1959 or 1960 Stars for Defense Armed Forces Radio Svc LP PGM ? 1962 5
  • Lonesome Road
  • Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
  • Black Coffee
  • Witchcraft
  • Baltimore Oriole
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
  • Day In - Day Out
  • Hallelujah I Love Him So
  • Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
  • I Get A Kick Out Of You
  • From This Moment On
  • Blow Gabriel Blow
1962 New York No Strings: An After-Theater Version Atlantic LP ATL-1383 1962 4
  • The Sweetest Sounds
  • Look No Further
  • No Strings
  • Nobody Told Me

'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
  • Goin' Out Of My Head
  • Carnival (Black Orpheus)
  • Nowhere Man
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
  • I Love Being Here With You
  • Willow Weep For Me
  • Things Are Swingin'
  • I Miss You So
  • I Feel A Song Coming On
  • How High The Moon (duet with Sylvia Syms, Bill Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie and others)
1983 New York Chris Connor Live Applause Records LP APCS/APLP 1020 1983 13
  • I Hear The Music Now
  • Good Morning Heartache
  • It Might As Well Be Spring
  • Things Are Swingin'
  • Where Flamingos Fly
  • All Or Nothing At All
  • Lover
  • Get Out Of Town
  • All About Ronnie
  • Any Place That I Hang My Hat Is Home
  • Just In Time
  • Glad To Be Unhappy
  • Poor Little Rich Girl
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.
  • I've Got You Under My Skin
  • A Foggy Day
  • Lover Come Back To Me
  • Lush Life
  • My Heart Stood Still
1983 Tokyo Three Pearls Toshiba-EMI CD EWJ-90028 1984 4
1990 London The London Connection Audiophile CD ACD-246 1993 19
  • recorded live at Pizza on the Park
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.
  • Summertime
  • Blue Moon
  • This Can't Be Love
  • Just One Of Those Things
  • Angel Eyes
  • September In The Rain
  • A Foggy Day
  • Everytime We Say Goobye
  • I Get A Kick Out Of You
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