The Best of Joe Williams: The Roulette, Solid State & Blue Note Years

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
These classic recordings, from 1957 through 1970, feature the great baritone's ornate, debonair, and dramatic renditions of blues and ballads Williams's striking, rich tone and polish won him access to the star-studded big bands and combos here: those of Jimmy Jones, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis; Harry "Sweets" Edison, Horace Ott, and Jimmy Mundy; and, of course, the orchestra of his musical inspiration and mentor, Count Basie. The album starts out with "Everyday I Have the Blues," a Memphis Slim tune and 1950 Lowell Fulson hit that would become Williams's own signature tune, thanks to this version with Basie. Also here is "Roll 'Em Pete," a Joe Turner blues (a sardonic love pitch to a girl who lives up on a hill) that inspired Williams early in his career. --Peter Monaghan

The Best of Joe Williams: The Roulette, Solid State & Blue Note Years, Music, Joe Williams, Jazz, Jazz Music, Jazz Vocals, Pop, Standards, Swing, Traditional Pop, Vocal Jazz

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The Best Joe Williams is ALL Joe Williams

Nobody knew the blues like Joe

Currently the best of this Ballad and Blues Master

The Best of Joe Williams: The Roulette, Solid State & Blue Note Years
Joe Williams
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music
Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Swing Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000005GVD
Release Date: 1997-11-18

Every Day I Have The Blues
When Did You Leave Heaven?
It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
Confessin' The Blues
If I Could Be With You
Alright, Okay, You Win
A Man Ain't Supposed To Cry
Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)
Cherry
If I Were A Bell
Goin' To Chicago
I Was Telling Her All About You
Alone Together
Hurry On Down
Sometimes I'm Happy
Lush Life
Roll 'Em Pete
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

Amazon.com

These classic recordings, from 1957 through 1970, feature the great baritone's ornate, debonair, and dramatic renditions of blues and ballads Williams's striking, rich tone and polish won him access to the star-studded big bands and combos here: those of Jimmy Jones, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis; Harry "Sweets" Edison, Horace Ott, and Jimmy Mundy; and, of course, the orchestra of his musical inspiration and mentor, Count Basie. The album starts out with "Everyday I Have the Blues," a Memphis Slim tune and 1950 Lowell Fulson hit that would become Williams's own signature tune, thanks to this version with Basie. Also here is "Roll 'Em Pete," a Joe Turner blues (a sardonic love pitch to a girl who lives up on a hill) that inspired Williams early in his career. --Peter Monaghan

Customer Reviews:

The Best Joe Williams is ALL Joe Williams.......2002-04-28

Do you know an untasteful fruit among all the tasteful dozens of fruits Mr.Williams has legate to America and the world? Difficult to find 2 because I have found only one among the extensive list of Mr. Williams albums as coperformer and as main performer. Particularly about his Blue Note, Solid State output it is a pity that fans do not have all the material available. Particularly, Williams collaboration with the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis band is fantastic (a Solid State album). If you just want a fully representative Joe Williams album, buy it. If you are a fan, also buy it because there are some few great gems here.

Nobody knew the blues like Joe.......2001-05-26

This compilation of hits represent virtually the full spectrum of the talent of Joe Williams. His silky smooth handling of such ballads as "I was telling her about you" and "Cherry" harken back to his early days singing with Dinah Washington in Lionel Hampton's band. Other tunes, such as "Everyday I have the blues" and "If I were a bell" chronicle his ultra successful stint with the Basie band during the 1950's and 60's. Whether shouting the blues, or interpreting a timeless ballad, Joe Williams's clarity and emotion shines through every track.

Currently the best of this Ballad and Blues Master.......1999-04-30

Jazz is currently not served very well by today's crop of technically muscle-bound musicians. Many play "at" their audiences rather than tell us something we need to know. That's just one reason why the passing of Joe Williams at the end of March is a sad event. He was a master of ballads and a city-style blues shouter who ranked with the very, very best, such as Big Joe Turner. He was also a superb entertainer as anyone who saw him in a supper club will know. While the classic Verve CD "Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings" is an essential part of any jazz collection (no-one did more than Williams to revive the fortunes of the Count Basie Orchestra in the 1950s) this Blue Note CD is probably the best selection you can have of all his styles. And Joe is in fine, young voice throughout. It opens with a less familiar but roaring version of "Everyday I Have The Blues," continues with a few ballads such as "When Did You Leave Heaven?" and contains the great verson of "Goin' To Chicago" with Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. There is also plenty of Basie material including "Roll 'Em Pete." Make this your first or second choice Joe Williams record. You will never regret it.

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