Customer Reviews

Jazzworthy 1929-33

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There's over 67 minutes of hot, old-time jazz in this exceptional album. I'm always wary of expecting much from reissues of old recordings, but these cuts are clear and clean while still retaining all the warmth and color you'd hope for. A great technical job!

The Ted Lewis band featured many of the greats of jazz: Teagarden, Goodman, Spanier, Dorsey. Yet, the sound is still Lewis throughout. The song selection here is not only the Best of Ted Lewis but also typical Ted Lewis, with several vocals by Lewis himself. The "jacket" contains full personnel and a short history of the band.

If you enjoy old Dixieland, this will be a great addition to your library.

Ted Lewis was a huge star, this recording will give you a glimpse as to why. Like many successful singers of his day he hired the hottest of jazz musicians to back him, and he gave them plenty of room to stretch out. He sounds a bit like WC Fields in his delivery but please do not let that put you off, he is sensational. His status as a star meant that he got to record in the best of the recording studios, which means that so much of this music, when restored, sounds as good if not better than when it was originally released. This includes many of the early recordings of such future greats as Benny Goodman, the Dorsey's, Muggsy Spanier, George Brunis and others. "Dip Your Brush," "The Lonesome Road" and "Egyptian Ella" are but a few of my favs from this CD, the latter is not only hilarious but the HOT HOT jazz behind his vocals makes me jump up and dance. If you look at the lineup of musicians you can see why! Take a listen to some of the tracks on the music sample list on this page to get a taste of what I am talking about. This record label is famous for its outstanding audio restoration work, this CD is no exception. Even if you have never heard one of his recordings do not hesitate to buy this one as it contains many of his hits. You will be happy that you did. Also highly recommended is Ted Lewis Classic Jazz/Everybody's Happy. How did a man who was this amazingly talented become so unknown!

This is a review for the Retrival/Challenge Records CD release
entitled 'The Jazzworthy Ted Lewis, 1929-1933."

This group of recordings were apparently chosen for this CD because of the
heavy jazz content of each cut and the jazz orientation of the musicians involved.
The cover boasts that this CD features Benny Goodman, Muggsy Spanier, Fats Waller, Jimmy Dorsey, Frank Teshmacher, George Brunies and Jack Teagarden.

And it's fairly easy to pick out the contributions of many of these young luminaries due to the really fine audio restoration by the legendary John R.T. Davies, who did an outstanding job on the 22 tracks of this CD.

There are so many fine recordings here that it's not going to be easy to stop listing them but catch "Lonesome Road," "Laughing At Life," the remarkable optimism of "Headin' For Better Times." And really outstanding are the three cuts featuring Fats Waller, especially "Dallas Blues" where the band practically gets up on it's hind legs and stomps.

Ted Lewis does his usual fine job vocalizing but to me the prize on these recordings goes to the young coronetist Muggsy Spanier whose musical comments
and ad libs really put things right. You might say that he ws Ted Lewis's right-hand man but you could say that on these recordings Muggsy Spanier was
THE man and I doubt anyone would dispute you.

In ny event, if you want to get a Ted lewis CD, or if yu want to purchase a traditional jazz CD regardless of the singer, this one is a mighty fine collection
and one you will play repeatedly. Highly recommended both for its musical content and atmosphere.

Ted Lewis has for a long time been one of my favorite entainers. He has a different style that is very good and entaining. In one word Superb.

Ted Lewis is like Marmite, you either like him or you don't. I'm very partial to his lugubrious tones and drawled (rather than sung) vocals, but the real value of this compilation is in the accompaniment. Ted's line-up featured a number of stars of the Jazz Age, including George Brunies, Frank Teschemacher, Red Nichols, Jack Teagarden, and Fats Waller. The last-named enlivens the proceedings on four 1931 sides, and takes the vocals on three of them. It's a pity that the discography, and Mark Berresford's informative liner note, are marred by typos ("Thin tank" for "This task") being one example. Despite that, it's a rich sample of his best recordings which can be recommended, if you like Marmite!

Superb jazz history in every respect. Production
clean as a whistle. Early jazz/swing icons all
through this generous list of selections. Ted
Lewis picked his orchestra personnel like an
expert and must have paid them well tho that
is an area of information in which I am not
well-informed in the Ted Lewis story. For
massive recording sales, his stuff right up
there with Gene Austin in a similar time
period. Love this one like crazy, man!

Wonderful tunes from a great bandleader, taken from a golden era.
Easy to listen to, anytime.