American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist whose playing combined elements of swing and bebop, Eli "Lucky" Thompson was born on 16 June 1924 in Columbia, South Carolina, and moved to Detroit, Michigan, during his childhood. He had to raise his siblings after his mother died, and practiced saxophone fingerings on a broom handle before acquiring his first instrument. He joined Erskine Hawkins's band in 1942 upon graduating from Cass Technical High School.
DISC 1
1 Tom-Kattin’ 5:04
2 Old Reliable 4:02
3 A Lady’s Vanity 5:11
4 Translation 4:02
5 Tricrotism 4:35
6 Bo-Bi My Boy 3:56
7 Body And Soul 4:30
8 OP Meets LT 3:51
9 N R #2 3:11
10 Once There Was 4:04
11 Dancing Sunbeam 3:09
12 N R #1 4:39
13 Little Tenderfoot 2:49
14 The Plain But Simple Truth 4:46
15 Mister Man 3:33
16 Good Luck 4:34
DISC 2
1 Fascinating Blues 4:03
2 I Should Care 4:18
3 One For The Boys And Us 7:10
4 Home Free 5:08
5 Bluebird Blues 3:58
6 Lullaby Of The Leaves 4:00
7 Easy Going 4:08
8 Let’s Try Again 6:30
9 Stewin’ Up A Wig 3:55
10 I Want A Little Girl 3:42
11 Paris Blues 7:20
12 Up Above My Head 2:56
13 Minor Blues 4:22
14 Sweet Georgia Brown 5:08
15 How Long Blues 4:25
16 Lucky T 4:49
17 Embassy Boogie 3:14
DISC 3
1 How About You? 5:44
2 Midnight Sun 3:32
3 Pennies From Heaven 4:05
4 Solitude 3:31
5 Have You Met Miss Jones? 3:40
6 We’ll Be Together Again 4:48
7 Soul Food 3:18
8 Tea For Two 3:38
9 O.W. 5:07
10 Brother Bob 5:12
11 Lord, Lord, Am I Ever Gonna Know? 5:23
12 Love And Respect 5:25
13 Say That To Say This 2:29
14 Choose Your Own 6:33
15 Beautiful Tuesday 4:52
16 Warm Inside 5:13
17 Our Shared Blessings 4:27
18 Scratching The Surface 3:18
DISC 4
1 In A Sentimental Mood 5:52
2 Fly With The Wind 4:04
3 Mid-Nite Oil 5:12
4 Reminiscent 4:07
5 Mumba Neua 4:51
6 I Forgot To Remember 6:40
7 Prey-Loot 4:09
8 Invitation 4:55
9 Happy Days Are Here Again 5:26
10 Safari 6:11
11 Cry Me A River 5:02
12 You Don’t Know What Love Is 5:31
13 People 4:45
14 As Time Goes By 5:21