Customer Reviews

Beat Me Daddy to a Boogie Woogie Beat [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fine collection of Boogie Woogie classics from the late 30's & early 40's featuring the talents of Will Bradley, Ray McKinley and the great piano of Freddie Slack.I remember these songs and it's great to hear the originals again. This cd is obviously not quadrophonic or sterophonic as the originals were on mono 78's. To complain about the quality, in my opinion, seems somewhat ludicrous. The cd I received portrays the original sound just as I remember it. That's just the way it was back then. This one rates 5 stars in my book. A great collection of Boodgie Woogie memories with a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure. Plus, you get the instrumental side 2 of "Beat Me Daddy" which is a little hard to find on other cd's. You won't be disappointed if you are aware of what you are buying.

In my opinion, this CD has the best song selection available on this great band. But just like the Sony/Columbia CD, they did not bother to properly restore this material. There is a lot of echo in many of the tracks, interestingly enough though, "Scub Me Mama" is the alternate take. Untill someone properly issues this material, I'll keep playing my 78's.

Although the recording technology could have been better, the music is great. Ray McKinley drives this collection with his hugely popular Beat Me Daddy 8 to the Bar and other big hits. The band is at its tightest on Bounce Me Brother with a Solid 4. Will Bradley is one of the best trombone players of the era and shows off well in several cuts. Some of the numbers are more fun than exciting - but all in all, if you like good jazz, this is one you have.

Great! Glad I found it. Replaces a 10 inch 78 rpm album that I could no longer enjoy.

I was born at the tail end of 1944, and by the time I became aware of the music favored by my parents and older siblings, "boogie woogie" was a phrase commonly used, but not always connected to big band records. I had never heard of Will Bradley, the orchesta leader. I had heard some vocalizing by Ray McKinley, recorded with other orchestras. These 24 tracks were all recorded between 1939 and late 1941. They are all fun, in spite of imperfect audio quality in some selections. Some of the vocals are novelty tunes that seem pretty silly today. I have a big band album by the Gene Krupa Orchestra, with Anita O'Day singing, that reminds me a lot of this one. When these records were made, Europe was already engaged in what would become World War II after Dec. 7, 1941. The young folks dancing to Bradley's music makers would soon be separated, many of the men facing combat and many of the women taking jobs previously done by their men. Orchestra leaders of draft age and good health became officers, some in entertainment units, some not so lucky. After the war, big bands would slowly die off, as the costs of touring soared, the sale of their records soured, and the tastes of the public diverged to embrace be-bop jazz or black-influenced rock and roll. The album is pleasant, but is more of a curiosity than a classic. "Boogie Woogie" was a musical fad, and it faded quickly, but as with many musical fads, it did not die out completely, and it influenced jazz combos, orchestras that played arranged material, pop songs and the English language.