Best Chick Webb compilation CD?
Gregory Bailey
Webb's music that hits the basic high points, with and without Ella
Fitzgerald?
I've seen the two Chronological Classics CDs recommended in some places I've
checked online, but I've also heard there tend to be sound quality issues
with Chronological Classics releases.
Also, while checking online I saw another CD mentioned as highly
recommended, of some radio broadcasts by Webb's orchestra in 1939, released
by a Swedish label. However, it is apparently out of print and the label out
of existence. If anyone has that and would like to share it, I'd be happy to
reimburse him for a CDR or cassette copy. Please reply to gr...@yahoo.com
Thanks in advance for any help!
Mitchell Kaufman
> Anybody have a recommendation for a good single-CD compilation of Chick
> Webb's music that hits the basic high points, with and without Ella
> Fitzgerald?
>
> I've seen the two Chronological Classics CDs recommended in some places
> I've checked online, but I've also heard there tend to be sound quality
> issues with Chronological Classics releases.
I don't have this, and there's no track list (how's that for shooting in
the dark?), but I would buy this with confidence:
GRP is the company that owns the Webb masters, and they tend to use good
source material (usually metal parts) with good transfers; also, the
disc appears to concentrate on Webb's instrumental sides (of which there
were relatively few) as opposed to the huge number of recordings with
Ella--many of which were pure tripe. Perhaps someone else has more
direct experience, but this looks good.
I have the Chronological Classics Webb discs, BTW, and they were among
their earliest releases and are dreadful--dubs, in many cases, from the
old Decca fake stereo LP's, loaded with echo. Stay far, far away!
MK
Jack Woker
sides, 1931-34. Good sound courtesy of John R. T. Davies.
> I have the Chronological Classics Webb discs, BTW, and they were among
> their earliest releases and are dreadful--dubs, in many cases, from the
> old Decca fake stereo LP's, loaded with echo. Stay far, far away!
Chronological Classics have reissued some sides that I want, but I have
avoided their releases just because the sound is so uneven. I just know I'm
gonna be unhappy! Does anybody remember an LP reissue label called Ajax
(later Ajaz)? It was the same deal - these guys presented the music in a
complete chronological pattern, but the sound was so poor that it did a
disservice to the music.
jack
Leo Scanlon
<nowhe...@nowhereland.org> wrote:
>Anybody have a recommendation for a good single-CD compilation of Chick
>Webb's music that hits the basic high points, with and without Ella
>Fitzgerald?
No Ella, but I love "Spinnin' the Webb" on Decca/GRP (GRD-635). His
"Liza" is worth the price of the CD.
Leo
Gregory Bailey
Apparently it's out of print now and apparently it's highly desirable,
because I found a few online sources for it who wanted anywhere from $24 to
$50 for a used copy.
"Leo Scanlon" <lsca...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:41232be2...@news.erols.com...
Greg M.
Hep:
"Strictly Jive" Hep CD-1063. Engineered by John R. T. Davies
It covers the years 1935-40, includes all the great instrumentals
(including "Liza") and some Ella things too.
Greg M.
sgo...@changethisparttohardbat.com
: Also, while checking online I saw another CD mentioned as highly
: recommended, of some radio broadcasts by Webb's orchestra in 1939, released
: by a Swedish label.
It is on the TAX label. Some of the pieces on it can also be found
on the CD "Standing Tall". In my opinion, the TAX cd is the best
Webb material available. The remastering by Jack Towers sounds SO
much better than previous issues of that material (Jack is a genius,
and any album he remasters is worth getting). There are other issues
of this same material... watch for CDs which contain "Wild Irish Rose"
and "Poor Little Rich Girl". What I'm saying is that the material
is fairly easy to obtain, but what makes the TAX cd interesting is
the superb quality of the transfer.
Another thing worth getting is an LP called "Bronzeville Stomp", because it
includes an aircheck of "Liza" (with Roy Eldridge playing a smoking solo),
which is arguably the best drumming by Chick on recording. It's taken
at nearly twice the tempo as the studio version. To my knowledge, this
aircheck has not been reissued on CD (Jack, are you listening?) :)
The LP also includes an aircheck of his combo (the Little Chicks),
with Wayman Carver playing some nice jazz flute. The rest of the album
is just fair, but worth purchasing just for "Liza". I suspect that there
has not been much interest in reissuing this version of Liza because it is
a studio orchestra (not Chick's band). But Chick IS playing the drums.
This LP comes up on eBay fairly regularly.
The TAX issue also includes an aircheck of Liza that is excellent, better
than the studio version in some ways. I haven't seen this cut on any other
CD or LP. Also, it is not as exciting as the one on "Bronzeville Stomp".
As far as the studio recordings go, I don't really have much of an
opinion because they pale next to the airchecks.
Scott