If You Got to Ask You Ain't Got It [Box set, Original recording remastered]

Fats Waller | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: RCA Victor
• ASIN: B000HEWGQU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,074 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #7 in Music > Jazz > Jive Jazz
  • #11 in Music > Jazz > Traditional Jazz & Ragtime > Stride Piano

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful introduction to Fats Waller, October 3, 2006

By 

Gerald (MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If You Got to Ask You Ain't Got It (Audio CD)

My wife bought this set for me after hearing about it on NPR. Though I love jazz, my album collection is only fair to middlin' (e.g., Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Miles Davis, Coltrane, etc.) and this is my first Fats Waller album. Though it is my first, it won't be my last - as I listened to Fats' phenomenal stride piano and Armstrong-reminiscent voice, I became an instant fan. I have had it two days and have listened to it at home, in the car on the way to work and even at work. I can't get enough.

This is a fan review. I leave it to the real jazzophiles to provide technical reviews (e.g., I can't speak to the production quality or selection of songs, given how prolific a songwriter/performer Fats was). As a new fan, however, I highly recommend this set as an introduction to Fats' music and it's hard to beat the price for a box set. The set includes an informative booklet that provides background on and plenty of pictures of Fats, His Rhythm and his times.

A few of my favorite songs from the album (so far) are "Honeysuckle Rose," "Hold My Hand," and "Honey Hush." That being said, I haven't heard a song I haven't liked.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meet Fats!!!, January 19, 2007

By 

Blues Bro "bluesbro" (Lakewood, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: If You Got to Ask You Ain't Got It (Audio CD)

Mr Orrin Keepnews, one of the legendary jazz producers has given us a great gift: a 3cd box set to get all music fans started on knowing and appreciating one of the great genious of early jazz: Fats Waller. Fats was a total package. He was a singer, an entretainer, an acomplished pianist, and one of the greatest composers in jazz. That he died before his 40th birthday is sad but also speaks greatly of the man who could compose songs just by opening his mouth.

The collection is divided in 3: disc one features Fats the composer, disc 2 Fats the pianist and disc 3 is Fats the entretainer (singing Tin Pan alley songs). Great care and love was put in selecting the songs and the packgaing. The booklet alone deserves a grammy. Great essays and photos. And the price is right. You dont have a reason why you should not get this box.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars supreme collection of a maestro's work, April 2, 2007

By 

Mark Baven "Marco62" (Northampton, Mass.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If You Got to Ask You Ain't Got It (Audio CD)

This scrupulously assembled box solves the where-do-I-start question for anyone who wants some serious representation of this master's work in his or her collection. Waller's ouevre is immense, multifaceted, and essential. So a box like this that culls from his most important categories of music [one disk each of his own sung songs, instrumentals, and tin pan alley covers] is an invaluable boon to any jazz fans that want more than a single-disk 'intro' set. The selections are brilliant, the sound is dazzling, and the accompanying documentation is amazing. All in all, one of the best jazz boxes I personally have ever seen. Recommended with the highest honors.