A Shine On Your Shoes

You learn something new every day. Looking at bio info on Billy Banks, I find out that he was also a female impersonator - and good enough to fool a lot of people. Apparently his vocal Mean Old Bed Bug Blues with Fats Waller was long considered to be Una Mae Carlisle. Well, I picked this cd up for the two unmistakable Chick Bullock vocals (tracks 20, 21). Check out who plays on this cd: Henry 'Red' Allen, Pee Wee Russell, Joe Sullivan, Eddie Condon, Gene Krupa, Zutty Singleton, Fats Waller, Pops Foster, Jack Bland and Tommy Dorsey. Although Banks was called eccentric, he could sing and this is a very nice collection of tunes. Banks is on all but the last four, and Jack Bland (guitar) is on all (but possibly not 16, 17 and 18). Enjoy. +

Tracks

Billy Banks and His Orchestra

1. Bugle Call Rag
2. Oh Peter! (You're So Nice)
3. Margie
4. The Scat Song
5. Mighty Sweet
6. Minnie The Moocher's Wedding Day
7. Oh Peter! (You're So Nice)
8. Spider Crawl
9. Who's Sorry Now?
10. Take It Slow And Easy
11. Bald Headed Mama

The Rhythmakers

12. (I Would Do) Anything For You
13. Mean Old Bed Bug Blues
14. Yellow Dog Blues
15. Yes, Suh!

Billy Banks and His Orchestra

16. Oh! You Sweet Thing
17. It Don't Mean A Thing (If You Ain’t Got That Swing)
18. You Wonderful Thing

Jack Bland and His Rhythmakers

19. Who Stole The Lock (On The Hen House Door)?
20. A Shine On Your Shoes
21. It's Gonna Be You
22. Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn