- Original Release Date: 28 July 1994
- Label: Inside Sounds
- Copyright: 1994 Inside Sounds
- Total Length: 48:25
- Genres:
- ASIN: B001HAPDWM
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 374,767 in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 in MP3 Albums)
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| Song Title | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play | 1. Fuzzy Wuzzy Rag | 3:13 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 2. Snakey Blues | 2:59 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 3. Ole Miss Rag | 2:47 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 4. That Jazz Dance | 2:57 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 5. The Old Town Pump | 3:05 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 6. Moonlight Blues | 3:17 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 7. Hooking Cow Blues | 3:06 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 8. Bunch O Blues | 3:22 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 9. Sweet Child | 3:03 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 10. Livery Stable Blues | 2:47 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 11. St. Louis Blues | 3:02 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 12. Yellow Dog Blues | 3:14 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 13. Muscle Shoals Blues | 2:59 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 14. She's A Mean Job Blues | 2:58 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 15. Gulf Coast Blues | 2:48 | £0.89 | |
| Play | 16. Farewell Blues | 2:48 | £0.89 |
Product details |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Bc V. Price
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
As some may know from my other reviews on Amazon, I have a love for historical recordings. I can tolerate the hisses and pops which come with age, it adds to their charm and helps catch the period from which they came. So, I have deliberated for some time whether to take the plunge and purchase this collection of W C Handy's Memphis Blues (orchestra, not really band). The title may mean some folk will purchase this expecting a rawer more contemporary Memphis electric blues sound. Not so with this one. They are early twentieth century acoustic studio technique recordings pre- electric and as such, represent a pioneer of jazz and the blues form,and who whether he actually wrote these classic such a St Louis Blues etc or just purloined his many classic jazz and blues titles to copyright, we will never really know for sure. What he did do was to popularise an Afro American music form that crossed the racial divide and helped launch a true American art form.
So why did I deliberate in buying this CD? Well it is not easily accesible in the UK at a reasoanble price, I had to use one of Amazon's US market place sellers to get my copy at a much more competitive price. It is worth it however. What you will get is the roots of Ragtime, commerical vaudeville style Blues and Jazz that the punter wanted to dance to. For let us not forget that jazz was and should still be primarily a form of accessible entertainemnt for the masses to dance to. Jazz did need to develop, but maybe went a little too far with the avant garde movement which lost many jazz devotees and made the music become a minority taste and I might add whilst still a valid art form ,but the question remains is it jazz?
This album is an essential for any collector who loves jazz in all its forms and appreciates its history. A must for the collection.
So why did I deliberate in buying this CD? Well it is not easily accesible in the UK at a reasoanble price, I had to use one of Amazon's US market place sellers to get my copy at a much more competitive price. It is worth it however. What you will get is the roots of Ragtime, commerical vaudeville style Blues and Jazz that the punter wanted to dance to. For let us not forget that jazz was and should still be primarily a form of accessible entertainemnt for the masses to dance to. Jazz did need to develop, but maybe went a little too far with the avant garde movement which lost many jazz devotees and made the music become a minority taste and I might add whilst still a valid art form ,but the question remains is it jazz?
This album is an essential for any collector who loves jazz in all its forms and appreciates its history. A must for the collection.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.6 out of 5 stars
5 reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Irreplaceable History, And Fun Old Music
8 April 2000
By Robert English
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
If you're familiar with the typical ragtime orchestra sound, and like it, you're in for a real treat. This is a very spirited group, and it makes other bands of the era (Art Hickman, Isham Jones, early Paul Whiteman) sound stoic and stale.
First became aware that W.C.Handy had recorded these "big band" sides when I saw the original entry in a Columbia Records catalog from 1918. All of the sides that he recorded then are featured on this CD, plus some he recorded in the early 1920's (for another label).
Sadly, the original masters were not used - commercial copies of uneven quality were the only source material available. Considering that, this reissue is nicely done, but be advised of the scratches and wear noises.
Though I could wish for better sound quality, I am well pleased with the fact that these indespensible ragtime orchestra sides are available once again.
First became aware that W.C.Handy had recorded these "big band" sides when I saw the original entry in a Columbia Records catalog from 1918. All of the sides that he recorded then are featured on this CD, plus some he recorded in the early 1920's (for another label).
Sadly, the original masters were not used - commercial copies of uneven quality were the only source material available. Considering that, this reissue is nicely done, but be advised of the scratches and wear noises.
Though I could wish for better sound quality, I am well pleased with the fact that these indespensible ragtime orchestra sides are available once again.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ragtime to jazz
14 Oct 2004
By Lee Hartsfeld
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
Magnificent performances that, to my ears, document the evolution of ragtime to jazz. "Fuzzy Wuzzy Rag" (a piece blatantly borrowed from "Maple Leaf Rag"!) may very well be an example of pre-Original-Dixieland-Jazz-Band jazz, albeit recorded after that group's first waxings. Delayed history, I'm guessing. If "Fuzzy Wuzzy" hasn't gotten its proper historical due, perhaps the title has something to do with it. (Couldn't the composer have called it "Omnivorous-Mammal Stomp," or something?) Seriously, "Fuzzy" is ragtime gone wild, lively and contrapuntal as can be. The Six Brown Brothers, cranked up. Paul Whiteman, wired. No improvisation within earshot, but much early jazz, after all, had precious little ad-libbing. First-rate musicianship, including a bowed double bass that apparently gave the 1917 recording horn fits. Columbia-label 78s from this period are no gift to modern pick-ups; in light of this, the restored sound is quite good. Handy's place in jazz history is due for reevaluation.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid introduction to W. C. Handy's work
13 Jun 2007
By Steven A. Peterson
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The CD's notes begin by saying: "William Christopher Handy, `The Father of the Blues,' was born in Florence, Alabama on November 16, 1873." He began his musical career in earnest in 1893. One of his best known works, "St. Louis Blues," appeared in 1914; it is described as "one of the most recorded songs in history and has been hailed as the `National Anthem of the Blues.'" It seems to me that his music crosscuts ragtime, jazz, and blues.
The recording quality varies from poor to adequate. Many of the cuts are very scratchy but on a par with the technology of the time period. The various works were recorded between 1917 and 1923.
Some illustrations: "Moonlight Blue" is played at a more stately pace. There is an orchestra of 12 persons (plus Handy as Conductor and Coronet player). The resulting sound is distinctively Handy's. No vocals. There is some nice piano playing (apparently by Charles Hillman).
"St. Louis Blues"--the musicians are unknown (except for Handy). The tune begins with some bawdy brass and the song is taken at a quick pace. It is, in effect, most infectious. Overall, the playing is pretty crisp, although is sounded to me like things got a little loose toward the middle. Nonetheless, a lot of fun to listen to, scratchy sound and acoustic technology notwithstanding.
"Yellow Dog Blues" is another sprightly paced tune. After listening to a number of cuts, one can begin to pick up what might be called the W. C. Handy "sound."
Finally, "Muscle Shoal Blues." Again, an infectious tune, well played.
This represents a useful beginning to the work of W. C. Handy. This is the first CD I have ever heard of his work, so I can't say how it compared with any other recordings. But it seems, to me, like a very nice introduction to his body of work.
The recording quality varies from poor to adequate. Many of the cuts are very scratchy but on a par with the technology of the time period. The various works were recorded between 1917 and 1923.
Some illustrations: "Moonlight Blue" is played at a more stately pace. There is an orchestra of 12 persons (plus Handy as Conductor and Coronet player). The resulting sound is distinctively Handy's. No vocals. There is some nice piano playing (apparently by Charles Hillman).
"St. Louis Blues"--the musicians are unknown (except for Handy). The tune begins with some bawdy brass and the song is taken at a quick pace. It is, in effect, most infectious. Overall, the playing is pretty crisp, although is sounded to me like things got a little loose toward the middle. Nonetheless, a lot of fun to listen to, scratchy sound and acoustic technology notwithstanding.
"Yellow Dog Blues" is another sprightly paced tune. After listening to a number of cuts, one can begin to pick up what might be called the W. C. Handy "sound."
Finally, "Muscle Shoal Blues." Again, an infectious tune, well played.
This represents a useful beginning to the work of W. C. Handy. This is the first CD I have ever heard of his work, so I can't say how it compared with any other recordings. But it seems, to me, like a very nice introduction to his body of work.
›
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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