louis armstrong / sidney bechet with the clarence williams blue five

 Let us never forget where things started. These recordings are closing in on 90 years old. Goddamn if they aren't exciting still. If you are still in your seat by the time Papa De Dada comes on, check your pulse.
 The cover notes tell us that these recordings are Armstrong's first recordings on lead cornet just after leaving King Oliver and Sidney Bechet's first sides ever. It's not hard to see that this is where the great unison playing that was to become the staple of bebop had its roots.

1. Kansas City Man Blues

2. Wild Cat Blues

3. New Orleans Hop Scop Blues

4. O Daddy Blues

5. Pickin' On Your Baby

6. You've Got The Right Key But The Wrong Keyhole

7. Texas Moaner Blues

8. Cake Walking Babies From Home

9. Everybody Loves My Baby

10. Of All The Wrongs You Have Done To Me

11. Mandy Make Up Your Mind

12. I'm A Little Blackbird

13. Papa De Dada

14. Just Wait Till You See

15. Livin' High

16. Coal Cart Blues

Thomas Morris; c 1-4, Louis Armstrong; c 5-16, Sidney Bechet; as 1-4, 6-8, 12, 13, 16: cl 7; sarrusophone 11, Buster Bailey as 5,9,10,13-15; cl 16, possibly 14,15, Charlie Irvis; tb 1-15, Charlie Green; tb 16, Narcisse Buddy Christian; bjo, Clarence Williams; p, 

17; Bechet palys cl, sop, and again cl : 9,10 possibly Aaron Thompson, tb : 13: Bechet plays sop. and sarrusphone ; Bechet and Bailey both on soprano*

Once again my anonymous friend has come through and given us a much cleaner version than I originally presented. Please include him in your thanks.

CBS 63 092

James P. Johnson - Watch Me Go

I know damn well this won't appeal to everybody but I think some of my readers may enjoy it. I really do enjoy stuff like this from the very early days of jazz. While these are all accompaniments, I can't imagine what it was like to hear piano like that way back when.

Some of these songs are just plain silly as so many period pieces can be, it was after all a much simpler time so they say. That said there are still many awesome songs on this record that would never have seen the light of day if it weren't for true jazz collectors. we owe them a debt of gratitude. The back cover liner notes are extensive albeit spotted with typos, so if anyone really wants them e-mail and I will find a way to get them to you.

James P Johnson - Watch Me Go

Rare accompaniments: 1921~34

1. Watch Me Go

2. You'll Never Miss A Good Thing Till It's Gone

3. Original Black Bottom Dance

4. Nobody Worries About Me

5. Black Snake Moan

6. Fortune Teller Blues

7. Doggone Blues

8. Can't Be Bothered With No Sheik

9. Oh, Mr. Mitchell

10. Where Is My Man?

11. You've Got To Be Modernistic

12. Shout On

13. All That I Had Is Gone

14. Lucy Long

15. Jazzbo Dan and his Yodelin' Band

16. Syncopatin' Yodelin' Man

17. Ooh! Looka There, Ain't She Pretty

18. Uncle Sammy Here I Am

1, 2 - Lavinia Baker

3, 4 - Sadie Jackson

5, 6, 7, 8 - Rosa Henderson

9, 10 - Clara Smith

11, 12 - Great Day New Orleans Singers

13, 14 - Perry Bradford

15, 16 - Roy Evans

17, 18 - Clarence Williams

From my vinyl copy of  IAJRC 52