Great Original Performances

Muggsy Spanier | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 27, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Louisiana Red Hot
• ASIN: B00000DC5J
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,224 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Big Butter and Egg Man

2. Someday, Sweetheart

3. Eccentric (That Eccentric Rag)

4. That Da Da Strain

5. At the Jazz Band Ball

6. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate

7. Dippermouth Blues

8. Livery Stable Blues (Barnyard Blues)

9. Riverboat Shuffle

10. Relaxin' at the Touro

11. At Sundown

12. Bluin' the Blues

13. Lonesome Road

14. Dinah

15. Black and Blue

16. Mandy, Make up Your Mind

17. Egyptian Ella

18. I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby

19. Dallas Blues

20. Royal Garden Blues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Desert Island Disc, December 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Great Original Performances (Audio CD)

By the time this famous 1939 session was recorded, the swing era was in full bloom, and classic New Orleans style jazz was beginning to sound like a throwback. Over the course of four sessions, Spanier and his band recorded 16 numbers in the traditional New Orleans style. These performances are now regarded as classics (collectively, they're known as "the Great Sixteen"!). Spanier was an excellent cornetist; he was a dedicated disciple of Louis Armstrong, but his style is mellower and less flashy than Armstrong's. The band includes trombonist George Brunies (who played with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings on their famous 1922/23 sessions). Despite the strong soloing by Spanier and the rest of the band, its the ensemble work that really stands out. The music making is joyous and buoyant throughout. Like many others listeners that have chanced upon these great records, I can't imaging doing without them. Over the years, I appreciate them more and more.

The audio restoration by Robert Parker on this reissue is excellent. The sound is fresh and bright, with a minimum of surface noise from the original recordings. The CD includes four very enjoyable 1931 recordings which feature Spanier and some notable sidemen.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE GREAT SIXTEEN - PLUS FOUR, January 1, 2010

By 

Barry McCanna (Normandy, France) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Original Performances (Audio CD)

In 1939 Spanier recorded four sessions for Victor with his Ragtime Band, four numbers at each session, which have forever since been referred to (with good reason) by the generic title "The Great Sixteen". They were models of small-group jazz, featuring Muggsy's strong cornet lead, the fluid clarinet of Rod Cless, former New Orleans Rhythm Kings member George Brunies on trombone and vocals, and, after the initial session, George Bushkin on piano, replacing George Zack. The original 78s were issued not just in America, but in the UK, Europe, and Australia, and were influential in the revival of New Orleans jazz in the 1940s. I don't think they've ever been out of the catalogue, and this compilation (originally by Robert Parker with liner notes by John Chilton) carries a bonus in the shape of four 1931 recordings from Muggsy's stint with Ted Lewis, which featured Fats Waller playing and singing.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Superb !, September 21, 2006

By 

Pinkbus (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Original Performances (Audio CD)

If you are a traditional Jazz fiend you will LOVE this CD to bits its great all the musicians play superbly evoking thoughts of smoke filled basements time long gone,a truly great CD excellent!!