Finding himself without a recording contract in early 1951, Dizzy Gillespie (with the help of businessman and jazz fan Dave Usher) started his own label, Dee Gee, and released a series of 78rpm discs recorded at five sessions between March 1951 and July 1952. Dizzy Gillespie 1951-1952 Dee Gee Days (2CD)\Dee Gee Days Disc 1 01 Tin Tin Deo 02 Birk's Works 03 We Love To Boogie 04 Lady Be Good 05 Love Me Pretty Baby 06 The Champ 07 I'm In A Mess 08 School Days 09 Swing Low Sweet Cadillac 10 Bopsie's Blues (unreleased) 11 Bopsie's Blues 12 I Couldn't Beat The Rap
Dizzy Gillespie 1951-1952 Dee Gee Days (2CD)\Dee Gee Days Disc 2 01 Caravan (unissued) 02 Caravan 03 Nobody Knows 04 The Bluest Blues 05 On The Sunny Side Of The Street 06 Stardust 07 Time On My Hands 08 Blue Skies 09 Umbrella Man 10 Pops' Confessin' 11 Ooh-Shoo-Be-Doo-Bee 12 They Can't Take That Away From Me
Detroit, MI, March 1, 1951
Dizzy Gillespie (tp), John Coltrane (as, ts), Milt Jackson (vib, p), Kenny Burrell (g), Percy Heath (b), 4010 We Love To Boogie Dee Gee XP 4005; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209 4015 Tin Tin Deo Dee Gee XP 4002, MG 1000; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209 4020 Birks' Works Dee Gee XP 4003, MG 1000; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209.
NYC, April 16, 1951
Dizzy Gillespie (tp), J.J. Johnson (tb), Budd Johnson (ts), Milt Jackson (vib, p), Percy Heath (b), Art Blakey (d), Joe Carroll, Melvin Moore (vo). 3636 Lady Be Good Dee Gee XP 4003, MG 1000; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209 3637 Love Me Pretty Baby Dee Gee XP 4004; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209 3638 The Champ, Pt. 1&2 Dee Gee XP 4000, MG 1000; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209.
NYC, August 16, 1951
Dizzy Gillespie (tp, vo), Bill Graham (as, bars), Milt Jackson (vib, p), Percy Heath (b), Al Jones (d), Joe Carroll, Melvin Moore (vo). 1206 I'm In A Mess Dee Gee XP 4003, MG 1004; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209 1210 School Days Dee Gee XP 4004; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209 1500 Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac Dee Gee XP 4002, MG 1004; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209 Bopsie's Blues Dee Gee XP 4000; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209 Bopsie's Blues (alt. take) Savoy SJL 2209 I Couldn't Beat The Rap Dee Gee XP 4000; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209.
NYC, October 25, 1951
Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Bill Graham (as, bars), Milt Jackson (vib, p, org, vo), Stuff Smith (violin), Percy Heath (b), Al Jones (d), Joe Carroll (vo). 2300 Caravan Dee Gee XP 4003, MG 1000; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209 - Caravan (alt. take) Savoy SJL 2209 2301 Nobody Knows The Trouble (I've Seen) Dee Gee XP 4001, MG 1004; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209 2302 The Bluest Blues Dee Gee XP 4002, MG 1004; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209 2303 On The Sunny Side Of The Street Dee Gee XP 4005, MG 1000; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209 2304 Stardust Dee Gee XP 4002, MG 1000; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209 2305 Time On My Hands Dee Gee XP 4004; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209.
Chicago, IL, July 18, 1952
Dizzy Gillespie (tp, vo), Bill Graham (as, bars), Wynton Kelly (p), Bernie Griggs (b), Al Jones (d), Joe Carroll (vo). 2306 Blue Skies Savoy SJL 2209 2307 Umbrella Man Dee Gee XP 4004; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209 2308 Pop's Confessin' Dee Gee XP 4001; Regent MG 6043; Savoy SJL 2209 2309 Oo-Shoo-Bee-Doo-Bee Dee Gee XP 4005, MG 1004; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209 2310 They Can't Take That Away From Me Dee Gee XP 4001, MG 1004; Savoy MG 12047, SJL 2209.