No comments about The Women (Classic Female Jazz Artists: 1939-1952).

1 comments about I Can't Be Satisfied: Early American Women Blues Singers, Vol. 2: Town.

1. Approximately 68 min. Remastered sound. This is the second volume of female singers from Yazoo Records from the 1920's,and is equal to the first. These tracks cover a more big-city sound of blues singing. The first volume had a rural feel to it. This album has a more sophisticated sound,both in the style of singing and the arrangements. The backing on these tracks is fleshed out with horns from small jazz combos and have an overall feel of almost a Louis Armstrong style. Singers relatively known like Victoria Spivey,Sippie Wallace,and Ma Rainey make a showing here. But others,like the fine Clara Smith and Bertha Hill also make an appearrance. The subject matter has not changed all that much from the first volume. Matters of the heart,money,and down and out times are all here. Taken together,these two volumes make up an important area of blues singing that doesn't receive a lot of attention. As I said about the first volume,if you don't own this,your blues library is incomplete. After listening to both of these fine volumes,you will agree.

No comments about Moonlight Serenade.

No comments about Lady Day & Pres 1937-1941.

5 comments about Santa Claus Blues.

1. Santa Claus blues is the swing'nest set ever of authentic blues and jazz takes on Christmas, going back to historical takes from the 1920s. This is the real thing.
   
   Highlights include the title track, "Santa Claus Blues," recorded by Clarence Williams' Blue Five in 1925, featuring Louis Armstrong on trumpet and Sidney Bechet on soprano sax. This is the same tune that the Red Onion Jazz Babies recorded in 1924, with no vocals. Here we get the lyrics - a real treat - sung by Eva Taylor.
   
   This is followed by a 1927 recording of Victoria Spivey, accompanied by Lonnie Johnson and Porter Grainger, on the "Christmas Morning Blues." Victoria Spivey's plaintive voice has never been matched - and this is one of her finest performances. The song reminds us that early jazz and blues artists lived in a world of gross racial injustice and repression. "My man is so deep in trouble," laments Spivey, "the white folk couldn't get him free." I cannot listen to the piece without feeling horror at how my country treated African Americans, and overwhelming respect for the artists who gave us America's greatest musical art forms - jazz and the blues.
   
   Other songs include a 1928 recording of Ozie Ware and Duke Ellington's Hot Five covering "Santa Claus, Bring My Man Back," a 1934 recording of Ted Weems and his Orchestra covering "Winter Wonderland," a 1935 recording of Benny Goodman and his Orchestra playing "Jingle Bells," and a 1935 recording of Putney Dandridge and his Swing Band covering Johnny Mercer's "Santa Claus Came in the Spring," featuring Teddy Wilson on piano, Red Allen on trumpet, and either Ben Webster or Teddy McRae on tenor sax.
   
   Then Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang ask: "What will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swingin'?" The 1936 recording is pure joy.
   
   Fats Waller is "Swingin' them Jingle Bells," in a 1936 recording that, unlike most of the music on this disk, has been included in some other various-artists collections of Christmas music.
   
   This is followed by 1937 recordings of Dick Robertson and his Orchestra, featuring Bobby Hackett on cornet, giving us the hokum of "I Want You for Christmas," Count Basie and his Orchestra with "Good Morning Blues (I Want to See Santa Claus)," and Art Bowlly and his Orchestra on "Ev'ry Day's a Holiday."
   
   Dick Robertson and his Orchestra ask you to "Meet Me Under the Mistletoe" in a 1941 recording, while Woody Herman and his Orchestra proclaim that "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" in a 1942 session.
   
   Filling out the disk are:
   
   Johnny Otis and his Orchestra with "Happy New Year, Baby" (1947);
   
   Ella Fitzgerald on "Santa Claus Got Stuck in my Chimney" (1950);
   
   Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra playing "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" and "Merry Christmas, Baby" (no date given);
   
   Jack Teagarden singing "The Christmas Song" (a.k.a. "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") (1954);
   
   Louis Armstrong with the Commanders on Cool Yule" and "'Zat You, Santa Claus?" (1953);
   
   Louis Armstrong with Benny Carter's Orchestra on "Christmas in New Orleans" and "Christmas Night in Harlem" (1953);
   
   Louis Armstrong reading Clement Moore's poem "The Night Before Christmas" (1971).
   
   Louis Armstrong's Christmas music is a joy. But the real attractions here are the rarities from the 1920s. They are great recordings, by great artists, and should be better known than they are.
   
   The musicianship is first rate and the collection is seamless. Each song flows naturally to the next. And there's not a clunker among them. This is truly an amazing Christmas collection - I value it above all others. And I own quite a few.
   
   Eric Alan Isaacson
   
   P.S., If you love it as much as I do, then check out the 1934 recording of "Christmas Night in Harlem," by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra, with Jack Teagarden and Johnny Mercer on vocals. (track 18 on I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues) And before you jump to conclusions about the references to "kink out" in his Christmas stocking, remember that Jack Teagarden played in racially integrated bands when the practice was still taboo. The recording is a period piece, no doubt, sung by a man who was truly in the vanguard of racial integration.



2. I bought the tape back in the 80's at Tower Records. Then lost it. I'm heartbroken because it's my absolute favorite Christmas music. I have it on "order" through Amazon and I keep upping the price I'll pay, but nothing has shown up for the two years I've had my request on file.

   People seem to love it or hate it, but it's just the thing for people who are overloaded with the typical Christmas stuff. This one is good year 'round.




3. This is a great CD both for listening and to add to your Christmas collection. For years I had it and recently lost the CD. Now I am desperate to replace it. If you come across it, but it because you will definitely enjoy it.



4. This CD ranges from the old classic "Jingle Bells," peppered up by Benny Goodman and Fats Waller, to great swing songs like "Santa Claus Came In the Spring". (Santa Claus came in the spring, Santa Claus came when the skys were blue, I heard his sleigh bells jingaling, the day that I found you) You'll be singing to this one after you play it several times! My kids love it, and we even get it out in the summer when we long for Christmas!

   It is a very long CD and it starts out with the semi depressing Harlem blues of the 20's and goes in chronological order to the Louis Armstrong of the 50's. After the first 3 songs, it picks up to the big band and jazz sound of the 30's and 40's, which makes up well over half of the CD. It will become one of those family classics. If you do not care for bouncy music, this CD may get on your nerves, however. It is not for the people who long for a calm, soothing CD!




5. Jump start your holiday listening with this fabulous collection of treasures from the past! This is a seriously fun CD that will blow away anyone with a pulse when they hear it for the first time. Especially noteworthy is the great Satchmo singing "Zat You Santa Claus?," and a 20-year-old Ella Fitzgerald singing "Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney." Satchmo also closes the CD with a reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

   All you recent converts to swing and jump blues - this is one for you. "Boogie-Woogie Santa Claus," and "What Will Santa Claus Say (when he finds everybody swinging!)" are worth the price of this CD alone.

   You'll be the hero of the holiday party when you bring this one along! Talk about blowing Andy Williams out of the water....!

4 comments about Blues in the Night, Vol.1: The Early Show.

1. This is what it's all about -- a blues perfomance for all times by two of the best: Etta Jame and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. Sound quality is excellent. The disk and it's companion, Late Show, are must haves for any blues, Etta James or Eddy Vinson fans. Not to be missed.



2. ....how it's sp'ozed to be done. I found this in '88 or '89 thereabouts and have been in silent glee whenever I play "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" and follow it up with the duet "Please Send Someone to Love" for my friends and they wanna steal it from me. I direct them to Amazon for their own copy,'course. I can honestly say once you've heard Etta on this live album, you'll be a fan for life.



3. THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT: CRAFTSMANSHIP AND ORIGINALITY FROM THE ARTIST AND ENTHUSIASM AND PARTICIPATION FROM THE CROWD! THIS WOMAN MAKES ME CRY WHEN I'M HAPPY!



4. Etta James is my absolute favorite artist! So, when I saw this CD ( and the other volume of the same performance) with eddie Cleahead Vincent I wanted it but I felt a little aprehensive about eddie being on there. Was I Mistaken! Eddie is the male counterpart to Etta. You can feel the two of them working this crowd together. Th music is Jammin' and the whole band is tops in their field! I wish etta did more stuff like this. I own Macaroni Joe's Pasta House in Amarillo, TX. If you ever get by here I'll let you hear some of it. When we play Etta James at the Restaurant we have at least 3 or 4 tables ask us to write down her name so they can go buy this CD...I think you will like it..Let me know..Jeff

   Macjoetx@aol.com

No comments about Lady in Satin.

No comments about Stormy Weather.

No comments about Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1924-27).

1 comments about Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1921-1923).

1. Alberta Hunter was more of a sophistocated caberet singer then a blues shouter, she is suave while singing the blues(where other artists shout) Hunter talks her way through a blues piece. One of the most sophistocated blues singers from the 20's and one of the finest jazz singers of the 30's. This is a wonderful documentation of a great blues/caberet/jazz singer.