Cootie Williams - The Chronological Classics: 1946-1949 '2000

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Rhapsody in Bass (2:42)
02. Aint Got No Blues Today (3:09)
03. Bring Em Down Front (2:49)
04. I Cant Get Started (3:11)
05. Inflation Blues (2:47)
06. I Want to Be Loved (3:08)
07. Sound Track (2:54)
08. Ooh La-La (3:17)
09. Save the Bones for Henry Jones (2:54)
10. If Its True (3:03)
11. I Should O Been Thinkin Instead of Drinkin (2:45)
12. You Talk a Little Trash (2:54)
13. Typhoon (2:43)
14. I Love You, Yes I Do (3:21)
15. Smooth Sailing (3:12)
16. Gator Tail - Part 1 (3:08)
17. Gator Tail - Part 2 (2:49)
18. Let Em Roll (2:59)
19. Slidin and Glidin (3:36)
20. Mercenary Papa (2:15)
21. Doin the Gator Tail (2:49)
22. You Gotta Pay Those Dues (2:25) 

Classics picks up the story of former Ellington trumpeter Cootie Williams as the
leader of his own orchestra from 1946 through 1949 on sides he recorded for
Capitol, Majestic, and Mercury. Vocalists Bob Merrill, Billy Matthews, and Eddie
Mack are heavily featured on these 22 cuts. The R&B jump music of Louis Jordan
and Wynonie Harris were big draws in the nightclubs and jukeboxes of the time
and much of this material lends itself to that style. Inflation Blues is a
takeoff of the Let the Good Times Roll theme, while Save the Bones for Henry
Jones, I Should O Been Thinking Instead of Drinkin, Gator Tail (parts one and
two), and Doin the Gator Tail are enjoyable mixtures of novelty lyrics and
stompin R&B instrumentals. While Williams favored this commercial recipe during
these years, he did manage to wax a few ballads, such as I Cant Get Started and
I Want to Be Loved, and orchestra numbers like Rhapsody in Bass; Sound Track
leans toward the Ellingtonesque style he was an earlier participant in.~Al
Campbell

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