Fats Waller - Complete Recorded Works Vol. 2: A Handful Of Keys

Artist:

Waller, Fats

UPC:

788065902827

See Also:

Calloway, Cab Harris, Wynonie

Description:

The British JSP reissue label specializes in nicely affordable four-CD sets that are chronological tributes to legendary jazz musicians like Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Bix Beiderbecke and Jimmie Noone. While each of these editions has proven useful, fulfilling and entertaining, Volume Two in JSP`s Complete Recorded Works of Fats Waller must be regarded as a major triumph in historical jazz research and resurgence. For generations Fats Waller`s music has appeared, disappeared and resurfaced in jumbled samplers and "Best Of" collections, with occasional attempts at comprehensive chronological revisitation serving to support and satiate those for whom there can never be enough Fats Waller. The RCA Vintage, Black & White and Bluebird editions of the 1960s, `70s, `80s and `90s each did a good job of keeping most of Waller`s music available for both longtime devotees and curious newcomers, and the French have done a marvelous job with their extensive Classics chronological Waller series. Yet throughout all of this reissuing activity, the emphasis was most often upon the vast quantity of Fats Waller`s Rhythm recordings made between 1934 and 1942. Waller, whose first records were waxed in 1922, was a perfect cyclone of activity during the `20s and early `30s; seldom if ever has any one label traced the path of this label-hopping soloist, accompanist, sideman and leader throughout his first decade of recording activity as has JSP with their conclusively complete Fats Waller edition. Most important is the inclusion of every doggone session that Waller participated in between March 1, 1929 and November 7, 1934, regardless of who was billed as the leader or primary performer. This means that in addition to Waller`s superb piano and pipe organ solos, his piano duets with Benny Payne, his accompaniments for vocalists Gene Austin and Monette Moore, and the amazing Fats Waller & His Buddies sessions, Waller is heard plunking the piano behind Eddie Green and the cast of the popular revue Hot Chocolates, as an active member of Jimmy Johnson & His Orchestra, and sitting in with Benny Carter, Don Redman and the Chocolate Dandies; the Mound City Blues Blowers, McKinney`s Cotton Pickers, the Ted Lewis Orchestra, Billy Banks & His Rhythmakers and the Jack Teagarden Orchestra. The Teagarden sides, which have most often appeared on obscure Teagarden reissues, are fascinating examples of what Waller was up to during his lean years of only occasional recording activity between 1929 and 1934. JSP has done a terrific job of restoring these old and in some cases quite rare recordings; here at last, for example, is a clean copy of the Teagarden/Waller rendering of that immortal opus, "I Got the Ritz from the One I Love." As for Fats Waller and His Rhythm, this compilation contains the first 20 titles ever recorded by that excellent little band. Because of their freshness and spontaneity, these are among the best of all the "Rhythm" sides. The alternate takes from this part of the Waller discography were deposited on the fourth disc "to avoid excessive repetition." Highest praise goes to Ted Kendall for having done such an impeccable job of compiling and remastering these essential musical episodes from the life of Thomas Fats Waller. ~ arwulf arwulf

Track Listing:

DISC 1:

1. Handful of Keys
2. Minor Drag, The
3. Harlem Fuss
4. Numb Fumblin`
5. Ain`t Misbehavin`
6. Sweet Savannah Sue
7. I`ve Got a Feeling I`m Falling
8. Love Me or Leave Me
9. Gladyse
10. Valentine Stomp
11. Waiting at the End of the Road
12. Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be?
13. Tanglefoot
14. That`s All
15. Waitin` at the End of the Road
16. Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be?
17. Goin` About
18. My Feelin`s Are Hurt
19. That`s How I Feel Today
20. Six or Seven Times
21. Smashing Thirds
22. Lookin` Good But Feelin` Bad
23. I Need Someone Like You
24. Big Business Pt. 1
25. Big Business Pt. 2

DISC 2:

1. Plain Dirt
2. Gee, Ain`t I Good to You?
3. I`d Love It
4. Way I Feel Today, The
5. Miss Hannah
6. Peggy
7. Wherever There`s a Will, Baby
8. You Don`t Understand
9. You`ve Got to Be Modernistic
10. My Fate Is in Your Hands
11. My Fate Is in Your Hands
12. Turn on the Heat
13. Lookin` For Another Sweetie
14. Ridin` But Walkin`
15. Won`t You Get Off It Please?
16. When I`m Alone
17. St. Louis Blues
18. After You`ve Gone
19. Girls Like You Were Meant For Boys Like Me
20. Arkansas Blues
21. Egyptian-Ella
22. I`m Crazy `Bout My Baby
23. Dallas Blues
24. Royal Garden Blues
25. I`m Crazy `Bout My Baby

DISC 3:

1. Draggin` My Heart Around
2. You Rascal You
3. That`s What I Like About You
4. Chances Are
5. I Got the Ritz From the One I Love
6. China Boy
7. Lies
8. I`m Sorry Dear
9. Tiger Rag
10. I Would Do Anything For You
11. Mean Old Bed Bug Blues
12. Yellow Dog Blues
13. Yes Suh!
14. A Shine On Your Shoes / Louisiana Hayride
15. Porter`s Love Song to a Chambermaid, A
16. I Wish I Were Twins
17. Armful O` Sweetness
18. Do Me a Favor
19. Georgia May
20. Then I`ll Be Tired of You
21. Don`t Let It Bother You
22. Have a Little Dream on Me
23. Serenade For a Wealthy Widow
24. How Can You Face Me?
25. Sweetie Pie

DISC 4:

1. Mandy
2. Let`s Pretend There`s a Moon
3. You`re Not the Only Oyster in the Stew
4. Honeysuckle Rose
5. Believe It, Beloved
6. Dream Man
7. I`m Growing Fonder of You
8. If It Isn`t Love
9. Breakin` the Ice
10. I`ve Got a Feeling I`m Falling
11. I`ve Got a Feeling I`m Falling
12. Love Me or Leave Me
13. Gladys
14. Valentine Stomp
15. Waiting at the End of the Road
16. Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be?
17. Tanglefoot
18. Waiting at the End of the Road
19. Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be?
20. Goin` About
21. Where Ever There`s a Will
22. I Would Do Anything For You
23. Mean Old Bed Bug Blues
24. Yellow Dog Blues
25. Yes Suh!
26. I Wish I Were Twins

Album Information

Release Date:

10/10/2006

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Jazz Instrument

Subgenre:

Piano

Label:

JSP (UK)

Catalog Number:

928

Original Release Year:

2006

# of Discs:

4

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

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