Thelma Carpenter was singing on the "Kiddies Hour" radio show at age five and by 11 had her own show on WNYC. She was 16 when she got hired as vocalist for the new Teddy Wilson Orchestra. The band lasted less than a year, but Thelma managed to cut her first sides with them, two of which are heard here, the bouncy "Love Grows on the White Oak Tree" and the more tender "This Is the Moment," recorded in 1939. As luck would have it, Coleman Hawkins was returning from a five-year stay in Europe, and Thelma joined his new band later that same year, resulting in the now-classic recording of "She's Funny That Way".
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1 Love Grows on the White Oak Tree
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2 This Is the Moment
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3 She's Funny That Way
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4 I Didn't Know About You
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5 I Should Care
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6 All of My Life
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7 These Foolish Things
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8 My Guy's Come Back
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9 Just A-Sittin' & A-Rockin'
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10 Hurry Home
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11 Bill
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12 Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
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13 Seems Like Old Times
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14 Jug of Wine
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15 I'm a Fool About Someone
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16 Just You Just Me
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17 Pie in the Basket
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18 Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho (FT the Ames Brothers)
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19 American Lullaby (FT the Ames Brothers)
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20 Harlem on My Mind
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21 Bali Ha'i
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22 I'm Just Wild About Harry (FT Avon Long)
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23 Gypsy Blues (FT Avon Long)
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24 Diga-Diga Doo
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25 I Must Have That Man
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26 Doin' the New Low-Down
Thelma Carpenter was singing on the "Kiddies Hour" radio show at age five and by 11 had her own show on WNYC. She was 16 when she got hired as vocalist for the new Teddy Wilson Orchestra. The band lasted less than a year, but Thelma managed to cut her first sides with them, two of which are heard here, the bouncy "Love Grows on the White Oak Tree" and the more tender "This Is the Moment," recorded in 1939. As luck would have it, Coleman Hawkins was returning from a five-year stay in Europe, and Thelma joined his new band later that same year, resulting in the now-classic recording of "She's Funny That Way".