Satch Plays Fats: The Music of Fats Waller

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Thomas "Fats" Waller was a brilliant stride pianist and singer, and certainly the only jazz musician who could rival Louis Armstrong as an entertainer, communicating some of the larger-than-life vitality and humor that Armstrong possessed. Waller was also one of the first great songwriters of jazz, his phrasing perfectly mated to the music's rhythmic nuances. This Centennial edition of Satch Plays Fats begins with the nine tracks of Armstrong's 1955 LP devoted to some of Waller's best-known songs, from the drive of "I'm Crazy 'bout My Baby" and the smooth bounce of "Ain't Misbehavin'" to the moving pathos of "Black and Blue." It was one of the highlights of Armstrong's later career, directly comparable to another magnificent session devoted to a single songwriter, Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy. Armstrong is joined by his regular All-Stars, the well-traveled group that matched his clarion trumpet with the vocal smears of trombonist Trummy Young and the woody, liquid clarinet of fellow New Orleans master Barney Bigard, all superbly supported by pianist Billy Kyle, bassist Arvell Shaw, and drummer Barrett Deems. The CD also includes four alternate takes from the 1955 session, and adds another seven tracks of Armstrong's early recordings of Waller tunes. There are versions of "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Black and Blue," recorded in 1929 when Armstrong was featured in the Connie's Hot Chocolates show, and a stunning trumpet solo on "Blue Turning Grey over You." The result is a valuable composite portrait of Armstrong's enduring relationship with Waller's songs. --Stuart Broomer --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Honeysuckle Rose
Blue Turning Grey Over You
I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby And My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Me
Squeeze Me
Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
All That Meat And No Potatoes
I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling
Black And Blue, (What Did I Do To Be So)
Ain't Misbehavin'
Black And Blue, (What Did I Do To Be So) - (previously unreleased, edited alternate version)
I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby - (previously unreleased, edited alternate version)
Blue Turning Grey Over You - (previously unreleased, edited alternate version)
I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling - (previously unreleased, edited alternate version)
Squeeze Me
Black And Blue, (What Did I Do To Be So)
Ain't Misbehavin'
Blue, Turning Grey Over You
Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
Sweet Savannah Sue
That Rhythm Man

Amazon.com essential recording

Thomas "Fats" Waller was a brilliant stride pianist and singer, and certainly the only jazz musician who could rival Louis Armstrong as an entertainer, communicating some of the larger-than-life vitality and humor that Armstrong possessed. Waller was also one of the first great songwriters of jazz, his phrasing perfectly mated to the music's rhythmic nuances. This Centennial edition of Satch Plays Fats begins with the nine tracks of Armstrong's 1955 LP devoted to some of Waller's best-known songs, from the drive of "I'm Crazy 'bout My Baby" and the smooth bounce of "Ain't Misbehavin'" to the moving pathos of "Black and Blue." It was one of the highlights of Armstrong's later career, directly comparable to another magnificent session devoted to a single songwriter, Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy. Armstrong is joined by his regular All-Stars, the well-traveled group that matched his clarion trumpet with the vocal smears of trombonist Trummy Young and the woody, liquid clarinet of fellow New Orleans master Barney Bigard, all superbly supported by pianist Billy Kyle, bassist Arvell Shaw, and drummer Barrett Deems. The CD also includes four alternate takes from the 1955 session, and adds another seven tracks of Armstrong's early recordings of Waller tunes. There are versions of "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Black and Blue," recorded in 1929 when Armstrong was featured in the Connie's Hot Chocolates show, and a stunning trumpet solo on "Blue Turning Grey over You." The result is a valuable composite portrait of Armstrong's enduring relationship with Waller's songs. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

SATCHMO AND FATS.......2007-01-13

ALTHOUGH THIS CD IS A COMPILIATION OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG RECORDINGS PLAYING MUSIC THAT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AND RECORDED BY FATS WALLER, IT HAS A GREAT SENSE OF CONTINUITY. AS THOUGH ALL THE SONGS WERE RECORDED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CD. VELMA MIDDLETON ASSISTS WITH THE VOCALS ON A FEW TRACKS, AND SHE DOES A GREAT JOB COMPLEMENTING SATCHMO. THE RECORDING DATES RANGE FROM THE LATE 20'S TO THE MID 50'S. THIS IS A GREAT CD. I LOVE LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND I LOVE FATS WALLER, SO IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT I LOVE THIS CD TOO!

Louis Armstrong plays "Fats" Waller with all his might--and Velma Middleton assisting!.......2006-02-26

Many years ago, a very good friend of mine had a cassette player in his car and he would drive around town playing this album on cassette tape over and over again. I eventually heard it when I was riding in his car one day and I begged him for a copy. He gave me a cassette tape of the original album, with just the original nine tracks that the original LP had--and, of course, I played the tape until it was worn through! I feared that I would never get hear this beautiful music again. Imagine my joy when I discovered this CD for sale at Amazon! I couldn't get it here fast enough.

This CD version of the original record album exceeded my expectations by far. There are 11 (yes, ELEVEN) bonus tracks on the CD, of which four were never before released! You get edited alternate versions with people coaching and commenting to Louis after the take. Other tracks date as far back as 1929 so you truly get a perspective of how Louis admired Fats Waller all through his life. (The two worked together only briefly once or twice at the most.) Moreover, the quality of the sound is excellent even on my portable music player. Louis Armstrong both sings and plays the music of "Fats" Waller so darn well you'll never tire of playing this one. Louis, his trumpet and the music of "Fats" Waller? Ha! Play it LOUD AND OFTEN because this album's a winner!

For example, the CD starts off beautifully with the classic "Honeysuckle Rose." We also hear "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby." After spending the entire afternoon listening several times to all the tracks over and over again, it's still tough, if not impossible, to isolate any "favorite" song of mine on this CD. Two of the finalists, however, would have to be "Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now" and "All That Meat And No Potatoes."

Armstrong gets a strong boost from the vocals of Velma Middleton, whose talent is almost entirely uncredited and undervalued in this recording. Her voice complements Louis' beautifully and their half sung/half spoken dialogue in "All That Meat And No Potatoes" is catchy, to say the least. The two singers have a natural and relaxed rapport that makes you feel so comfortable listening to their vocalizing.

The CD has a sticker on the front of the jewel case that you get the liner notes by George Avakian and the story of "Fats" Waller (born Thomas Wright Waller). For some inexplicable reason, however, the liner notes are printed twice! There isn't much to read about Armstrong and Velma Middleton is only pointed out in a picture of her singing one of the songs along with Armstrong. The liner notes could be better--a real mistake, in my opinion.

Overall, this CD is still must have music and a real value with the extra tracks. I recommend this for fans of classic jazz, fine trumpet playing and the early work of Louis Armstrong with his band the All-Stars. Barney Bigard plays the clarinet really, really well as it was his specialty and the liner notes do include great photos. Do yourself a favor--get this CD and find out why Amazon chose this as an "essential recording!" SMILE

Two great collaborators two Geniuses.......2005-01-29

Waller and Armstrong were of the same generation and were collaborators in music in the 1920s. Louis's first big leap to popular stardom beyond the tight group of Jazz musicians and performers came when he introduced "Ain't Mis Behavin'" on the Broadway stage. The audiences often forced him to do three or four encores. Folks who had seen the show before would pay full price just to get in to hear Louis sing this one song.

The recordings in the late 20s by Louis with all the vocals are simply my idea of the best music ever recorded by anyone. Rather than get them selected this way, you might want to get one of the CDs or collections that covers that period of time with everything, rather than just the songs by Waller.
Likewise, while the All Stars were not as good as his original Chicago and New York Groups, particularly these later all-stars (I prefer the albums with the great Jack Teagarden), if you get into the music you will want that all too.

At any rate, there is no one else but Louis who can do these songs justice except the Fat man himself, Mr. Waller!

Years of pleasure.......2004-03-19

I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that I've listened to this album almost every day for several years. I have it in my CD-alarm clock and it wakes me up with a smile every morning. Pops' showmanship and musical wizardry blend with Fats Waller's witty and bouncy tunes to create an exceptionally tasty musical gumbo.

I first heard the album decades ago in college and have always loved as it an incredible performance by a great team of jazz artists. While I love Ella-Satch duets on other records, the lesser known Velma Middleton is really the better vocal match for Pops. The band is tight, but creative and the alternate takes show how different the same song can sound even when played by the same band with just a slight difference in the arrangement. This is possibly the greatest record of all time!

A nice deal.......2003-12-30

I must say that it is nice that they packed as many tracks as they could on this CD. You get a few alternate for these sessions, but you also get a bunch of classic 30's recordings from Satchmo playing Fats. Now, when I compare this one to the 'Plays WC handy' record, I have to take out one star, because although Pops seems in fine form here, there is no match for the fire and fun displayed on the 'Plays WC handy' recording.

Satch Plays Fats - Louis Armstrong Plays The Music Of Fats Waller

Average customer rating:

SATCHMO AND FATS
Louis Armstrong plays "Fats" Waller with all his might--and Velma Middleton assisting!
Two great collaborators two Geniuses
Years of pleasure
A nice deal