Customer Reviews

The Essential Floyd Cramer

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the CD you will want to own if you treasure your old Floyd Cramer LPs of the 1960s. It's a terrific compilation of Cramer singles and LP cuts, many of which haven't been available on CD before. From Last Date to Java to Shrum, there's not a clinker in the bunch. One thing to note however, is that the version of Chattanooga Choo Choo on the CD is a different take from the original that appeared on the Magic Touch LP. It still sounds great though. If you like Floyd Cramer, buy this CD. And RCA, please give us volume two! P.S. The remastering is incredible.

The "Essential Floyd Cramer" is a mixed bag of instrumental country. FC's reputation as a top recording session pianist far exceeds his success on the charts. According to Billboard, this Samti, LA native had only 3 chart hits from 1960-1980. That statistic hides his obvious talent at the keyboard. I referred to the CD as a "mixed bag" because FC divides the 20 selections between mellow and upbeat. This reviewer strongly favored the former. These include his trademark "Last Date" plus "Stood Up", "The Young Years" and "Your Last Goodbye". For traditionalists there are 2 solid renditions of Hank: "Lovesick Blues' and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". The other half of the CD is upbeat, which I don't believe is FC's strong point: "What'd I Say", Corrine Corrina (!) and something called "Flip Flop and Bop" were in sharp contrast to the mellow sounds. Fans of instrumentals may consider this "Essential" a 5 star effort based on the sheer variety herein. Those expecting all mellow music in the "Last Date" tradition will be disappointed. To give FC the benefit of the doubt, 4 stars are a nice compromise rating. Country fans should closely examine the sponsoring "Essential" series for well-produced compilations of our past heroes' best efforts. (The "Essential Skeeter Davis" CD has her sung answer to "Last Date").

I don't have 40 albums by FC like one reviewer; I bet you don't either. Obsession and single-gaitedness are not my virtues. I do believe that Floyd Cramer had a wider range of knowledge about music than the possessor of so much of his work; witness THIS package of tunes. I like FC music as much as, say, Michael Jackson's mother who was treated by her son to a private FC concert once. Besides "Last Date" and "On the Rebound", Floyd's version of "Java" preceded Al Hirt's version into the market. There are two Hank Williams, Sr. tunes, one from Texas Playboy Bob Wills, two from the (ahem) eclectic Ray Charles (three if you count "Georgia on My Mind", written and first performed by Hoagy Carmichael), and "Corinne, Corinna", a song associated with Ray Peterson of "Tell Laura I Love Her Fame" and blues shouter Big Joe Turner before that and even back to Bo Chatmon in the 1930s before that. (Oddly the same song is on Eric Clapton's "Blues" album as "Alberta, Alberta"; what does HE know?). Anyway, I was there. This is a good representation of Floyd's songs and proves FC was not just a bohunk Nashville piano player. Like most us, he appreciated diverse music, no matter how he may have pandered to the single-gaited who only knew his country music. We lost Floyd to cancer in 1997, but he left us a lot of good music--from MANY sources. Enjoy.

You have to get this one! I listened to Floyd Cramer when I was a child on old vinyl albums. He sounds better than ever with CD quality and surround sound! Like having my own private concert. My husband had never heard of Floyd, and now this is his favorite CD in our extensive collection! Buy this one and you won't be sorry!

This is the CD you will want to own if you treasure your old Floyd Cramer LPs of the 1960s. It's a terrific compilation of Cramer singles and LP cuts, many of which haven't been available on CD before. From Last Date to Java to Shrum, there's not a clinker in the bunch. One thing to note however, is that the version of Chattanooga Choo Choo on the CD is a different take from the original that appeared on the Magic Touch LP. It still sounds great though. If you like Floyd Cramer, buy this CD. And RCA, please give us volume two! P.S. The remastering is incredible!

I could not wait to receive my Floyd Cramer's cd after I listened to the samples. There were a lot of the songs I knew long ago but I did not assocoate them with this artiste instrumentally. Now I know. This Cramer music will live on through the years mainly appreciated by people in their late forties and onwards. Cramer performes with such sweet and nostalgic passion on this cd, making it ideal entertainment at a dinnertime on a soft volume. Consider this wonderful gift for someone close to you. Highly recommended!!!
Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE 21/11/09)

In the early '60s, Floyd Cramer had a nice run of hit singles on the charts. Some of those chart hits included here are the obvious - "Last Date", "San Antonio Rose", "On the Rebound", and "Chatanooga Choo Choo". But this collection spotlights more than just those charts. There are great versions of "Java", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", and many others showcased in Floyd's talented slip-note key style. Great sound quality, great songs, and a great collection!

In the early '60s, Floyd Cramer had a nice run of hit singles on the charts. Some of those chart hits included here are the obvious - "Last Date", "San Antonio Rose", "On the Rebound", and "Chatanooga Choo Choo". But this collection spotlights more than just those charts. There are great versions of "Java", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", and many others showcased in Floyd's talented slip-note key style. Great sound quality, great songs, and a great collection!

Cramer's hey day coincided with the last days of instrumental music's real popularity on the pop charts, back when no one was surprised if a great instrumental hit #1, and not many years after it was not unheard of for an instrumental to be the top selling tune in a year.

Cramer was a studio pianist under the wing of Chet Atkins, very talented, and rewarded with chances to record his own albums. This compilation gathers an eclectic group of songs together, which unlike the claims of some reviewers, are anything but country. You'll hear no steel guitars here, although every song is orchestrated with accompaniment of such instruments as bass, violins, triangles, drums, and voices (oooooh and ahhhhhh sung with voices as instruments). There are some country titles, certainly, but they are outnumbered by blues, jazz, and pop.

Cramer's play is expert and entertaining. The way one note often drips to another will remind you a lot of Roger Williams, who I think most would regard as the most talented and best regarded "pop pianist".

The album starts off with the mellow "Last Date", shakes things up with the playful and sprightly "Fancy Pants", and moves next to the beautifully soulful Hank Williams ballad "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". It continues in this vein with a mix of tempos, and the upbeat tunes will have you bouncing in your chair. Songs from the famous to the lesser known are all entertaining.

If you like top notch instrumental piano, then I highly recommend this album.

one of my favorite albums floyd died way too young . if any body can tell me is it floyd that plyed the piano on jack clements very early record of my voice keeps changing on me i have asked this on jack clement email site but got no reply. i liked all types of music he recorded with so many artists elvis included as maree the name of his layest flame was a classic and when i die like so many other people have done i want the last date played at my funeral i think that about sais it all jack darby