Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Inside Fats Waller

As I wrote last week, my late father Edward's record collection featured two albums with covers stating they contained music by Fats Waller, but neither contains any actual Fats Waller music. While I was at my mother Sheila's house earlier today, I found them to check their contents.
Both albums are called "'Fats' Waller Favorites," a "Victor Musical Smart Set," and have a painting of a close up of Waller's face and part of his left hand on their covers.
The first one contains these records: Jazz at the Philharmonic, Volume 4, "Lester Leaps In," Part 2, b/w "Lester Leaps In," Part 3, Disc New York 6026. The musicians listed are Jack McVea and Illinois Jacquet, saxophone; J.J. Johnson, trombone; Shorty Nadine, piano; Johnny Miller, bass; Les Paul, guitar, and Lee Young, drums. Also, "Wild Bill" Davison and His Commodores with Edmund Hall, "Baby Won't You Please Come Home," b/w "At the Jazz Band Ball," Commodore C 575, and by the same performers, "Clarinet Marmalade," b/w "Original Dixieland One-Step," Commodore 549; George Brunis and His Jazz Band, "Ugly Chile," b/w "That Da Da Strain," Commodore 546.
The other album features four records by Tommy Dorsey in various groupings: Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, "A Friend of Yours," b/w "There's No You," Victor 20-1657; Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, "There You Go," b/w "Boogie Woogie," Victor 20-1715; Tommy Dorsey and His Clambake Seven, "Sweet Eileen," b/w "There's No One But You," RCA Victor 20-1866; Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, "Until," b/w "After Hour Stuff," RCA Victor 20-3061.
Some of this disorganized organization from my dad is surprising; from his days in the U.S. Army Security Agency, he was always closely-scripted and orderly to the point of being anal. I wish I could have talked to him more about his record collection before he died. Some day, I will write about some of his musical loves, especially Stan Kenton.

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