Slim Gaillard - The Chronological Classics- 1937-1938 '1993

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Theres No Two Ways About It (2:58)
02. Cause My Baby Says Its So (2:45)
03. The Flat Foot Floogie (2:51)
04. Chinatown, My Chinatown (2:39)
05. Thats What You Call Romance (2:52)
06. Ti-Pi-Tin (2:35)
07. 8, 9, and 10 (2:43)
08. Dancing on the Beach (3:07)
09. Oh, Lady Be Good (2:42)
10. Ferdinand The Bull (2:55)
11. Tutti Frutti (2:39)
12. Look-a There (2:16)
13. Humpty Dumpty (2:32)
14. Jump Session (2:37)
15. Laughin in Rhythm (2:39)
16. Vol Vist du Gaily Star (2:45)
17. Dopey Joe (2:06)
18. Sweet Safronia (2:13)
19. Its Gettin Kinda Chilly (2:33)
20. Buck Dance Rhythm (2:40) 

Slims story begins in Detroit, where Bulee Gaillard was born on January 4, 1916.
He seems to have inherited a bizarre sense of recklessness from his father, an
absent-minded cruise-ship employee who at one point misplaced little Bulee,
sailing off and leaving the boy stranded on the island of Crete for half a year.
Multi-instrumental and able to sing and tap dance, Slim began his performing
career in the early 30s. He invaded New York in 1937 and made his first
appearance on records in April of that year with Frank Newtons Uptown
Serenaders. These two rare sides were issued on Classics 643, the Chronological
series outstanding Frankie Newton volume with the title 1937-1939. Their
reappearance at the beginning of Slims chronology is fortuitous rather than
redundant. Slim had a warm and pleasant voice. He was archetypically hip; he
scatted with ease and sounded perfectly at home in the company of Frankie
Newton, Edmond Hall, Russell Procope, and Pete Brown. Slim Gaillards most famous
tune materialized ten months later, on February 17, 1938. This was the very
first in a long series of lively duets with bassist Slam Stewart. Bolstered by
piano, percussion, and an occasional saxophone, the act became known as Slim &
Slam. Their bottle-rocket hit record was originally supposed to be called Flat
Foot Floozy but the word floozy, denoting an inexpensive prostitute, seemed
immoral to the folks in charge at Vocalion Records, so Slim changed it to
Floogie. Confusing things even further, Vocalion issued the song as The Flat
Fleet Floogee. None of this interfered with the success of Gaillards magnum
opus. Its rowdiest incarnation was recorded in London on August 21, 1938, by
Fats Waller & His Continental Rhythm, with all the subtlety of a merry brawl.
Slim & Slams original version set the pace and established a pattern for their
many subsequent collaborations, which continued until Gaillard was inducted into
the armed forces in 1943. These 1938 recordings are the freshest and most
endearing of all. Chinatown, in spite of its ethnic slurring, demonstrates
Gaillards incredible ability to run his mouth in hilarious and surprising ways.
The two mens unique voices -- surrealistic Slim and bowing, singing Slam --
mingle most pleasantly. Tutti Frutti and Look-A There are good examples of the
kind of a groove these guys liked to glide with. Vol Vist du Gaily Star is
strangely attractive. Laughin in Rhythm was attempted by other musicians, but
nobody ever came close to the outrageousness of this recording. Gaillards
lifelong involvement with cannabis seems to be documented here in high relief.
The hilarity is authentic, and Gaillard is in the throes of a coughing fit as
the record fades out.

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