Let's Misbehave

Apologies for the lack of new posts, but work has been picking up of late. Good for the pockets, bad for the blog. On the other hand, I've been working on cleaning up more Chick Bullock tunes, and ripping some LPs which should be available soon as well ... As is normal for me, I go backwards in my musical exploration. I first picked up the 30s Volume 1, which I really enjoyed (and will post). So why not try the 20s? (even though there's no apostrophe!) I have loved My Blue Heaven since the first time I heard it, and have several versions of the tune. Gene Austin is still the best. With only 20 tracks, it's hard to select the best of an entire decade, especially from the Roaring Twenties. But the producers did very well here, I think. If nothing else, this cd stoked my curiosity and propelled me to pick up many records from the era. It's all good. (oh, and Rapidshare seems to have smoothed things out for the time being, so until my subscription ends I'll be using that) Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Let's Misbehave - Irving Aaronson & His Commanders
2. My Blue Heaven - Gene Austin
3. Collegiate - Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians
4. Alice Blue Gown - Edith Day
5. Little Orphan Annie - The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks
6. Lucky Lindy - Nat Shilkret & His Orchestra
7. Varsity Drag - George Olsen & His Music
8. Do Do Do - Gertrude Lawrence
9. Whispering - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
10. I Wanna Be Loved by You - Helen Kane
11. Black Bottom - Johnny Hamp
12. Makin' Whoopee - Eddie Cantor
13. Charleston - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
14. Prisoner's Song - Vernon Dalhart
15. My Pretty Girl - Jean Goldkette & His Orchestra
16. My Man - Fanny Brice
17. Black and Tan Fantasy - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
18. Louise - Maurice Chevalier
19. If I Had a Talking Picture of You - Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders
20. Rhapsody in Blue - George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman Orchestra

Bunny Berigan

The selections here feature Bunny Berigan as a sideman while he was in New York City, the time interspersed by tours with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and the Boswell Sisters. Recordings under Berigan's own name are found on cds elsewhere. From the liner notes: Much of his time between 1931-36 was spent in the recording studios and radio. Though there were short stints with various bands, for the most part during this period, Bunny could be found doing stuido work in one form or another. Berigan was one of a small clique of musicians that included the likes of the Dorseys, Benny Goodman, Dick McDonough, Carl Kress, Eddie Lang, Stan King, Chauncey Morehouse, Mannie Klien and others, whose wages were an astronomical several hundred dollars a week during the depression. He worked on call on radio, theater and hotel jobs and record dates. Most of this work featured very commercial music with an occasional jazz solo. ... During this period, Berigan recorded sides with Mildred Bailey, the Boswell Sisters, Lee Wiley, Bing Crosby, Ramona as well as Paul Whiteman. As the liner notes (much more in depth) go on to suggest, the recordings from this time are valued less for the vocal or ensemble work, but rather for the solos. Berigan was recording in an era of stock arrangements and stock singers, where the song was the most important thing, yet he still managed to add something of his own. Track 23 is Take 1 which was never issued in the US due to Berigan's "goof," and Smith Ballew had nothing to do with Track 20. Oh, and there are seven Chick Bullock vocals. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Ev'rything That's Nice Belongs To You - Freddie Rich and the CBS Studio Orchestra (as Maurice Sherman and His College Inn Orchestra) 21 February 1931
2. Under Your Window Tonight (Yoo-Hoo, I'll Call To You) - Owen Fallon and his Californians
3. In The Merry Month of Maybe - Freddie Rich and the CBS Studio Orch (as Ralph Bennett and his Seven Aces (All Eleven of 'Em) 4 June 1931
4. Too Many Tears - Eddie Kirkeby and His Orchestra (as Ed Lloyd and His Orchestra) 24 February 1932 (am)
5. Stop The Sun, Stop The Moon (My Gal's Gone) - ARC House Orchestra, 24 February 1932 (pm)
6. What Would You Do? - Bob Causer and His Cornellians, 1 March 1932
7. What Would You Do? - ARC House Orchestra (as Ed Lloyd and His Orcestra) 1 March 1932
8. Sing A New Song - Bennie Krueger and His Orchestra
9. I'm So In Love - ARC House Band directed by Bennie Krueger (as Bennie Kreuger and His Orchestra) 9 March 1932
10. Stop The Sun, Stop The Moon - ARC House Band (as Imperial Dance Orchestra) March 1932
11. Gosh Darn - ARC House Band (as Bennie Kreuger and His Orchestra) 6 April 1932
12. If I Had My Way 'Bout My Sweetie - ARC House Band (as Vic Irwin and His Orchestra) 8 April 1932
13. How Do You Do It? - Victor Young and House Orchestra, 17 September 1932
14. Underneath The Harlem Moon - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers, 26 September 1932
15. Mighty River - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers, 26 September 1932
16. All American Girl - ARC House Unit (as All Star Collegians) 1932
17. What Would Happen To Me (If Something Happened To You) - ARC House Orchestra (as Ed Lloyd and His Orchestra) 27 September 1932
18. Please - ARC House Orchestra (as Will Osborned and His Orchestra) 6 October 1932
19. You'll Get By (With A Twinkle In Your Eye) - ARC House Orchestra (as Will Osborned and His Orchestra) 27 October 1932
20. On Accounta I Love You - Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (as Smith Ballew and His Orchestra) 21 May 1934
21. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter - Studio Orchestra (as Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers) 18 January 1936
22. And Still No Luck With You - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers, 8 May 1936
23. I'm An Old Cowhand - Chick Bullock and His Orchestra, 8 May 1936
24. When Is A Kiss Not A Kiss - Studio Orchestra (as Bob Causer and His Cornellians) 22/23 September 1936

Berigan plays all the trumpet solos except as noted: Track 2, Berigan plays the mute solo after the vocal. The trumpet prior to the vocal is not Berigan; Tracks 9, 10 include unknown trumpet; Track 11, possibly Mannie Klein (trumpet); Track 12, possibly Bobby Effros (trumpet); Track 13 includes unknown trumpet; Tracks 14-19 possibly include unknown trumpet. Note: Other than those listed, ARC trumpeters during the 1932-34 period would also include Frank Guarette, Mannie Weinstock, Mickey Bloom, and Tommy Thunen in non-feature roles; Track 20, possibly Charlie Spivak trumpet; Tracks 22, 23 possibly other trumpets. Track 24 is possibly Bunny Berigan, possibly 2nd trumpet. The liner notes go into more detail, these are only the trumpet notes.

Chick Bullock vocals: Tracks 5, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23.

Won't You Come Over And Say "Hello"

(new link!)

Need I say it? I really like the Chick Bullock vocals here because I think he paired very well with Clarence Williams' style. I'm gonna rig myself up, in a swaller-tail coat ... Although Williams has been called a "decent pianist and a likable but limited vocalist," he was quite capable of putting together some of the best recording sessions. Many of the sides here include James P. Johnson, Roy Smeck, and Louis Jordan among others, and there is a lot of good music to be heard here. One of the criticisms of the Classics series is that it isn't always all-inclusive. Although recorded in the same recording session as track 20, this cd omits "Sashay, Oh Boy!" which also features Little Buddy Farrior on vocal. That said, if you haven't heard it yet, Williams' subsequent chronological entry set can be found elsewhere in this blog. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Swaller-Tail Coat (Miller)
2. Looka-There, Ain't She Pretty (Todd)
3. St. Louis Blues (Handy)
4. How Can I Get It? (Williams)
5. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (McHugh-Fields)
6. Won't You Come Over And Say "Hello" (Barnett-Williams)
7. Old Street Sweeper (Sullivan-Gray)
8. I'm Gonna Wash My Sins Away (Williams-Brevard)
9. Jimmy Had A Nickel (Siglar-Goodhart-Hoffman)
10. He's A Colonel From Kentucky (Tobias-Scholl-Mencher-Baer)
11. Pretty Baby, Is It Yes Or No? (Williams-Brevad)
12. Mister, Will You Serenade? (Williams-Hill-Robinson)
13. I Got Horses And Got Numbers On My Mind (Bernard-Wirges-Bibo)
14. New Orleans Hop Scop Blues (Thomas)
15. Let's Have A Showdown (Pinkard-Page)
16. I Can't Dance, I Got Ants In My Pants (Gaines-Williams)
17. Christmas Night In Harlem (Parish-Scott)
18. Ill Wind (You're Blowing Me No Good) (Koehler-Arlen)
19. As Long As I Live (Arlen-Koehler)
20. Tell The Truth (Scott-O'Frye)
21. I Can't Beat You Doin' What You're Doin' Me (Piron-Williams)
22. Trouble (Rofkin-Walman-Blank)

I'm An Old Cowhand

Hardly the "essential," as many of these tracks are included in other collections, and it doesn't come close to sampling his 10 year career, but it is the only commercially-produced cd that is dedicated expressly to the vocals of Chick Bullock. Some of these show up in the Frank Newton collection, others in the Classics set of Bill Coleman, and there are others from a Bunny Berigan set that I've uploaded and hope to post this month. Despite that, there are a couple of alternate takes and tunes that don't show up elsewhere such as as Going! Going! Gone!, and No-One Loves Me Like That Dallas Man. I find the latter odd, because where normally the gender is switched to match the singer, Bullock sings it from the woman's point of view. I encourage people to buy a copy of the cd because there are some good liner notes and information on the life of Chick Bullock, including a rare picture of him in his later years, plus a younger picture of his wife. Overall, a worthy set of recordings and the quality is good. But an "essential" collection has to include some of his earlier and jazzier material, as well as some of his more romantic crooning from 1930-1931. Seriously, Amapola in an "essential" collection? Incidentally, There'll Be Some Changes Made was recorded during Chick's final recording session on February 12, 1941 Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Underneath The Harlem Moon
2. Mighty River    2:51
3. (When It's) Darkness On The Delta
4. Any Time, Any Day, Anywhere
5. Going!Going!!Gone!!!
6. Low Down Upon The Harlem River
7. No-One Loves Me Like That Dallas Man
8. Extra (All About That Gal Of Mine)
9. Frankie And Johnnie
10. I Can't Dance (I've Got Ants In My Pants)
11. Somebody Loves Me
12. I'm An Old Cowhand
13. Smiles
14. It Had To Be You
15. My Melancholy Baby
16. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
17. Dolores
18. Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)
19. Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning
20. There'll Be Some Changes Made
21. It Had To Be You
22. My Melancholy Baby
23. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
24. Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning
25. My Melancholy Baby

Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble

Life is full of good intentions, but it wasn't my goal to go so long between albums. That said, however, it is World Cup time, so it's still going to be a slow month for posting until it's over. The good news is that I've got a Mildred Baily LP set, some Bunny Berigan, and more Clarence Williams lined up. In the meantime, here is another selection from the McKinney's Cotton Pickers series. I find it a little odd that the label leap-frogged with the dates to include the latter Don Redman sides, especially considering that they have his work separately. But I guess that's what you get from a label that can't spell "chronological." Anyway, this set includes performances from Benny Carter, Doc Cheatham and more. Two versions of Chant of the Weed and Reefer Man leaves little doubt in my mind what the band did to relax. Enjoy. (and go Brasil!) +

Tracks

1. Never Swat a Fly
2. I Want Your Love
3. Hello!
4. After All, You're All I'm After
5. I Miss a Little Miss
6. To Whom It May Concern
7. You're Driving Me Crazy
8. Come a Little Closer
9. It's A Lonesome Old Town (When You're Not Around)
10. She's My Secret Passion
11. Do You Believe in Love at Sight?
12. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away)
13. Chant of the Weed
14. I Heard
15. Got the South in My Soul
16. Reefer Man
17. Chew, Chew, Chew (Your Bubble Gum)
18. Igloo
19. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
20. Ain't I Good to You
21. You Ain't Nowhere
22. About Rip Van Winkle
23. Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble
24. Chant of the Weed

Recording dates
Nov 4, 1930-Jan 17, 1940

Sloppy Drunk Blues

Good grief, another month gone by. Here's another one of those tangents, though not irrelevant once you give a listen. During my search for Chick Bullock, in the days prior to having discographies available, I stumbled across some Clarence Williams' cds featuring the singer. Even better than adding a paltry four or five vocals to my Bullock collection, I now had yet another disc of cool music. Which means of course, another chance to share with everyone. The years covered here range from 1926 to 1939, and include Johnny Dodds, Clarence Williams, Louis Armstrong and others. Wine pairing recommendation: none. Open up a bottle of good beer. Repeat as needed. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Little Bits - Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1926
2. Idle Hour Special - Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1926
3. 47th Street Stomp - Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1926
4. Cushion Foot Stomp - Clarence Williams Washboard Band 1927
5. PDQ Blues - Clarence Williams Washboard Band 1927
6. I'm Goin' Hunting - Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards (featuring Louis Armstrong) 1927
7. Forty And Tight - Beale Street Washboard Band (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1929
8. Piggly Wiggly - Beale Street Washboard Band (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1929
9. Pigmeat Stomp - Alabama Washboard Stompers (featuring Teddy Bunn) 1930/1932
10. Wild Man Stomp - Chicago Stompers (featuring Jimmy Blythe) 1931
11. Stomp Your Stuff - Chicago Stompers (featuring Jimmy Blythe) 1931
12. Pepper Steak - Alabama Washboard Stompers (featuring Teddy Bunn) 1930/1932
13. Sloppy Drunk Blues - Washboard Rhythm Kings 1932
14. Fire - Washboard Rhythm Kings 1932
15. Warehouse Blues - Washboard Sam & His Washboard Band 1938/1939
16. Booker T. Blues - Washboard Sam & His Washboard Band 1938/1939
17. This Time Is My Time - Washboard Sam & His Washboard Band 1938/1939
18. Block And Tackle - Washboard Sam & His Washboard Band 1938/1939