Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 68:49
Size: 157.6 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 1998
Art: Front
[3:00] 1. There's Gonna Be The Devil To Pay
[2:34] 2. Streamline Gal
[2:48] 3. What Can I Do With A Foolish Little Girl Like You
[2:47] 4. What Can I Do With A Foolish Little Girl Like You (Diff Take)
[2:40] 5. Harlem Joys
[2:41] 6. Echo Of Spring (Diff Take)
[2:39] 7. Echo Of Spring (Diff Unissued Take)
[2:53] 8. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me)
[2:53] 9. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) (Diff Unissued Take)
[2:51] 10. Swing, Brother, Swing
[2:51] 11. Swing, Brother, Swing (Diff Unissued Take)
[2:31] 12. Sittin' At The Table (Opposie You) (Diff Unissued Take)
[2:58] 13. The Swampland (Is Calling Me)
[2:55] 14. More Than That
[3:08] 15. I'm All Out Of Breath
[3:08] 16. I Can See You All Over The Place
[2:50] 17. Get Acquainted With Yourself
[2:30] 18. Knock Wood
[2:52] 19. Peace Brother Peace
[3:22] 20. The Old Stamping Ground
[3:23] 21. Blues, Why Don't You Leave Me Alone
[2:37] 22. I've Got To Think It Over
[3:02] 23. Achin' Hearted Blues
[2:44] 24. Honeymoonin' On A Dime
Willie "The Lion" Smith, Luckey Roberts, and James P. Johnson were Fats Waller's mentors and musical role models. While Roberts made far too few recordings in general and Johnson didn't lead full-blown studio swing sessions until the late 1930s, Waller & His Rhythm practically defined the genre of small group swing beginning in 1934. Willie "The Lion" Smith made his first recordings as a leader during the years 1935-1937 with a little group identified on the Decca label as His Cubs. The approach was somewhat similar to Waller's, and the Cubs do handle a Waller cover in the form of "There's Gonna Be the Devil to Pay," as well as a Waller original, "I Can See You all Over the Place," better known as "Squeeze Me." The Lion's uplifting "Echoes of Spring" appears in two alternate versions. All of his master takes have been reissued in chronological sequence by the Classics label, and crop up haphazardly on various other samplers. Timeless provides an uncommonly close look at one of the great, underestimated small swing bands of the '30s, represented here in three distinct lineups. A unit drawn from the Clarence Williams orchestra includes cornetist Ed Allen, clarinetist Cecil Scott, and washboard handler Willie Williams, with vocals by Clarence Williams himself. The next edition of the Lion's Cubs included bassist John Kirby and several players who would later perform in his famous sextet. These were trumpeter Frankie Newton, clarinetist Buster Bailey, alto saxophonist Pete Brown, and drummer O'Neil Spencer, who frequently doubled as a vocalist. An additional trumpeter in this particular group was King Oliver's nephew Dave Nelson. The third "Cubs" lineup in this set featured musicians whose names are not quite so familiar even to most followers of swing from this time period. Tenor saxophonist Robert Carroll worked in the orchestras of Benny Carter, Don Redman, and Teddy Hill. Guitarist Jimmy McLin mainly recorded with Billie Holiday and Teddy Hill. Altogether, this is an excellent collection of vintage small group swing. Its catchiest selections include "Get Acquainted with Yourself," "Knock Wood," and "Honeymoonin' on a Dime." For enduring examples of the Lion's music interpreted by other swing bands, seek out Sidney Bechet's recording of "You're the Limit" and the Teddy Hill Orchestra's attractive adaptation of "Passionette," which features pianist Sam Allen. ~ arwulf arwulf
Recording information: New York, NY (04/23/1935-09/15/1937).
Willie "The Lion" Smith (vocals, piano); O'Neill Spencer (vocals, drums); Jimmy McLin (guitar); Cecil Scott (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Buster Bailey (clarinet); Pete Brown (alto saxophone); Robert Carroll (tenor saxophone); Frankie Newton, Dave Nelson (trumpet); Ed Allen (cornet); Eric Henry (drums); Willie Williams (washboard).
Willie 'The Lion' Smith & His Cubs
