Stomp Off, Let's Go

If there's anyone more influential in jazz, I've not heard them. Louis Armstrong was simply the greatest. Which means that any release calling itself the "Ultimate Collection" is fated to overlook a sizable quantity of "must listen" work, and unsurprisingly three cds hardly comes close to filling the bill. Still, this set does encompass his career a little better than many that are released on lesser labels which go out of print or straight to the bargain bin. There is also an informative booklet with session information and photos. If you find this on sale, you won't be disappointed. Unlike the Dorsey-Sinatra set, I'm going to post all three discs at once. All titles are by either Louis Armstrong or Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra, except as where noted. Happy Holidays. Enjoy. + + +

Tracks

1. Copenhagen
2. Shanghai Shuffle
3. Stomp Off, Let's Go
4. Drop That Sack
5. Melancholy
6. I'm Goin' Huntin'
7. I'm In The Mood For Love
8. On Treasure Island
9. Thanks A Million
10. Ev'ntide
11. Dippermouth Blues
12. Swing That Music
13. Pennies From Heaven - Bing Crosby
14. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
15. Once In A While
16. In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree
17. Jubilee
18. When The Saints Go Marching In
19. Shadrack
20. Ain't Misbehavin'
21. Jeepers Creepers

Disc 2:

1. Rockin' Chair
2. West End Blues
3. Savoy Blues
4. Hear Me Talkin' To Ya
5. I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
6. You're A Lucky Guy
7. Wolverine Blues
8. Sweethearts On Parade
9. Perdido Street Blues
10. 2:19 Blues
11. Coal Cart Blues
12. Groovin'
13. Royal Garden Blues - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
14. Mahogany Hall Stomp - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
15. Blueberry Hill
16. You Can't Lose A Broken Heart - Billie Holiday
17. My Bucket's Got A Hole In It - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
18. Panama    Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
19. New Orleans Function - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
20. You Rascal You (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead)
21. My Monday Date, Parts 1 & 2 - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars

Disc 3:

1. A Kiss To Build A Dream On
2. It's All In The Game
3. Someday (You'll Be Sorry) - Louis Armstrong With The Commanders
4. Basin Street Blues - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
5. When It's Sleepy Time Down South - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
6. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
7. Weary Blues
8. Wild Man Blues
9. Dippermouth Blues - Sugar Foot Stomp
10. Dear Old Southland    Louis Armstrong
11. Stompin' At The Savoy - Ella Fitzgerald
12. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
13. Sweet Lorraine
14. Hello, Dolly! - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
15. What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong's Orchestra And Chorus
16. Cabaret - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars
17. Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Louis Armstrong And The All Stars

Page Mr. Volstead

In honor of Repeal Day, here is a re-post of a previous offering. On this day in 1933, the state of Utah (of all places!) ratified the 21st Amendment, thus forming the three-fourths majority necessary to amend the US Constitution. More about Repeal Day here.

Page Mr. Volstead is the name of this blog, taken from Bob Miller's 1930 recording on Champion 16024-B. Other than Chick Bullock, I often scan auctions for interesting titles. This one leaped out, and I was lucky enough to win it at a low price. I've yet to find another copy since, though I keep looking for one. You can read more about Miller and pick up a cd here). Though I favor jazz from the 1920s and 1930s, it was more often country music that gave voice to the common man. Miller had a string of hits doing just that. Mr. Volstead, of course, was the [ahem] brave Senator who introduced the bill - while over 4 million servicemen were conveniently at war in Europe - that became the18the Amendment (don't get me started on his modern-day counterparts). As we all know, Prohibition was a colossal failure on many levels, and though.alcohol may have been illegal, to say that everybody was doing it was not far off the mark (see Miller's lyrics after the track listings). The rest of this selection all revolve around the theme of drinking, or going out to drink, more or less based on the song title and even the band name, if nothing else. Most of the artists should be familiar to everyone, with the bulk of songs coming from my own 78s. I am still struggling to find the "optimal" point of audio restoration, in between doing too little and doing too much, neither of which is pleasurable listening. Please give feedback about the sound quality, it will greatly help future efforts. Big thanks to Radiola for help with audio tips and the use of a couple of transcriptions, and to Big Harlan Taylor and his posse for help with the graphics. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Billy Murray - The Alcoholic Blues (Columbia A2702) 1919
2. Clarence Williams - Speakeasy
3. All Star Collegians - Do You Think A Little Drink'll Do Us Any Harm (v.Tom Brown) Perfect 15509-B (1931)
4. Duke Ellington - Cocktails For Two (take 1)
5. Cab Calloway and His Orchestra - Hot Toddy (1932)
6. Miff Mole's Molers - A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight (1927)
7. Bob Haring and His Orchestra - Madeira (Cameo 691) 1925
8. Bar Harbor Society Orchestra - Vamp Me (Vocalion B 14448) 1922
9. Halfway House Orchestra - Barataria (Okeh 40318 B)
10. High Hatters - Medley of Drinking Songs Part 1(Victor 24299) 1933
11. All Star Trio and Their Orchestra - I'm Laughing All The Time (Victor 18835-B) 1921
12. Bob Haring and His Orchestra - Doing The Town (Cameo 683) 1924
13. Ted Lewis and His Band - Tiger Rag (Columbia 36301) 1926
14. Earl Shirkey and Roy Harper - When The Roses Bloom for the Bootlegger Col 15326-D (1928)
15. Frank Crumit - I Married the Bootlegger's Daughter (1925) 19739-A
16. King Oliver - Speakeasy Blues
17. Stuff Smith - Old Joe's Hittin' The Jug
18. Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang - In the Bottle Blues
19. Louis Armstrong and Savoy Ballroom Five - Tight Like This
20. Luis Russell and His Orchestra - It's Tight Like That
21. Bob Miller - Five Cent Glass Of Beer (Champion 16024-A) 1930
22. Troubadours - After Every Party (Victor 19011-A) 1923
23. Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Weary Blues (Decca 7415-B) 1930
24. Gene Austin - St. James Infirmary (Victor 22299-A) 1930
25. Chick Bullock - Alcoholic Ward Blues B09374A 1930 Oriole 1903
26. Pine Top Smith - I'm Sober Now (Brunswick 80009) 1929
27. Bob Miller - Page Mr Volstead (Champion 16024-B) 1930


Page Mr. Volstead
by Bob Miller

This country was a desert long ago
And early settlers died of thirst they say
Some think it's drying up again, you know
I wonder how they get that way

Page Mr. Volstead, Page Mr. Volstead
Here comes Father with another load of gin
Brother Willie broke the rules
And he staggered home from school
Sister Susie totes a flask, ain't that sin?

Now they all take it
Know how to make it
As a cocktail mixer, Grandma is a wow!
Baby smiles and says "goo-goo"
For a bottle of home brew
And Grandpa is hijacking, Page Mr. Volstead now!

Mr. Volstead, Oh, Mr. Volstead
Uncle Henry is a Congressman, you know
He drinks his stuff on the sly
When he's sober he goes dry
Cousin Joe's a snooper, he makes lots of dough!

And brother Andy
Is making brandy
One drink makes you see more than three stars, I vow!
Lots of folks were deaf and dumb
'Til they started drinkin' rum
And now they all "speakeasy"
Page Mr. Volstead now!

Oh, Mr. Volstead - now, Mr. Volstead
You say Prohibition is dear to your heart
You think that law is okay
You say it will work, some way
But I wish you'd tell me when it's gonna start

The butcher, baker and undertaker
Everybody's selling it today, and how!
All sing 'Coming through the Rye'
That bootlegger's lullaby
Oh, keep the home-still burning
Page Mr. Volstead now!