Customer Reviews

Cozy Cole / Savina

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When Topsy was a hit in the 50s, I had the joy of owning an album with a sweating, demonic looking Cozy Cole on the cover holding the sticks with his fists about to mightily smite his kit. The album was appropriately name "Cozy Cole Hits", and does he ever. Never thought I'd get to hear these performances again, but this is that album and I'm in heaven. Cole's unbelievably powerhouse drumming spurs on a backup band of stellar musicians (uncredited on the original album due to contract issues) prodded to soaring heights. Digital remastering job excellent. The CD includes a 2nd album with Cozy Cole and another allstar band backing chanteuse Savina Cattiva (hence the CD title). These laid back tunes are nice, although the sound quality is not as good. I like to listen to this CD in shuffle play; the Savina tunes give me a chance to catch my breath between Topsy, Turvey, etc. You Ellington fans will be BLOWN AWAY by Caravan.

Not dissapointing might seem like a back-handed compliment. But not in this case. Often, these reissues of hard to find examples from less-recorded artists dissapoint. Sometimes they perform covers produced for obvious commercial reasons. Sometimes the performance of the artist you want to hear is diminished for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the quality of the recording is poor. Sometimes the material is just plain bad. But not in this case. Anyone who has heard Cozy Cole's drumming in Topsy Part II is aware that he set himself apart as a drummer. I still get mezmerized when I listen to that number. His rhythm, pace and dynamics are just amazing. This CD delivers the goods if you have ever wondered how he sounded doing other material. The sound quality is great, his band is great, and he is in fine form. I just wish the CD included his "Big Noise from Winnetka"- which was probably recorded on a label other than Love records. I even enjoy the Savina tracks.

Drummer William `Cozy' Cole was born October 17, 1909 in East Orange, New Jersey and passed away on January 29, 1981 following a battle with cancer. In his early days as a drummer he spent time with several big bands in the 1940's including jazz legends Willie Bryant, Stuff Smith, Teddy Wilson, Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway. In 1944 he formed Cozy Cole's All Star Band and in May had a # 10 on the Harlem Hit Parade (a forerunner of the R&B charts) with Just One More Chance for the Keynote label, and also appeared in the movie Make Mine Music with Benny Goodman.

He would return to the charts some 14 years later leading a smaller combo to take an old Goodman hit from 1938, Topsy, to double-sided hit status for the Love label. The so-called B-side, Topsy II, actually was the bigger charter, going to # 1 R&B/# 3 Billboard Pop Hit 100 in November 1958, while the A-side, Topsy I, made it to # 27 Hot 100. A month later that was repeated when the natural follow-up, Turvy, saw part II go to # 36 Hot 100 b/o Part I - which did not chart this time. There would follow, in due course, a Topsy-Turvy Parts 1 and 2, but neither side could crack the charts. The other four Cozy Cole tracks are a delight as well, especially the stripper tune Bad.

The second half of the CD belongs to one Savina Cattiva, a jazz stylist who also recorded for Alan Hartwell's Love/Rave Records, but about whom very little is known, other than she is usually billed by the single name. And while Cozy Cole is the drummer of note on four of her tracks (11, 16, 20 and 21), that's really the only connection between the two halves. Brief notes with the insert deal primarily with the musicians involved with each artist, some of them among the best-know in the business.

The sound quality is immaculate.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL I'D TAPPED DANCE OFF OF THIS TUNE. I LOVE THIS C.D SAVINA.

SANDRA FROM NEW YORK