Customer Reviews

Laughing in Rhythm: The Best of the Verve Years

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For fans of Slim Gaillard's special style of music, you'll love this CD. For others, it's an acquired taste.

While this CD arguably doesn't contain any of his best known songs (arguably because the "Groove Juice Symphony" includes a reworking of "Flat Foot Floogie"), it's filled with many delights.

In "Groove Juice Symphony" (Gaillard says, "Groove Juice Special" on the recording), goes through a series of humorous impressions of his work and others. Humor runs throughout the rest of the CD with the exception of "Tip Light," "Oh Lady Be Good," and the instrumental, "Genius." All three are just three cool jazz numbers.

The remaining tracks tend to be on the silly side. This is particularly true of "Seranade to a Poodle" where he barks throughout the record. "Boip! Boip!" with it's simple chorus would be great as a children's record.

Other intriguing tracks on the CD include "Federation Blues" (which makes fun of musician union officials), "Arabian Boogie" (which really rocks!) and "Yip Roc Heresy."

The uninitiated may be put off by his extensive use of "vocal approximations" of various languages. In plain English that means that Gaillard makes up words to "sound" like he's speaking a foreign language. People of various cultures might find this to be offensive. In "Gomen Nasai" for example, Gaillard tries to imitate Chinese, much in the same way that non-Chinese children would do on the school yard.

Overall, this is a very entertaining CD, both musically and lyrically. It's also v-e-r-y silly. If you don't like silly or if his gibberish-sounding lyrics bother you, stay away. Otherwise, enjoy the groove and the sense of light-hearted fun that this CD possesses.

If Slim Gaillard had been living in France in the early fifties,he would certainly have been sacred "master in Pataphysics" by french writer Boris Vian.Slim Gaillard (1911-1991) was one of the craziest guys in music with Spike Jones.Every tune by Slim is completely delirious, but here we have "la creme de la creme": the "Groove juice symphony",recorded at LA's Embassy Theater,on April 22,1946; this curious symphony includes "the flat foot floogee" and Duke's "C-jam blues".Slim Gaillard plays guitar,piano and drums, and is associated to "Bam" Brown on bass and piano.The result is twelve minutes of absolute madness and swing.The remaining nineteen tracks includes many great musicians: Dodo Marmarosa,Herbie Lovelle,Buddy Tate,Taft Jordan,Bennie Green,Ray Brown,Ben Webster and Milt Jackson on drums ! Swing is everywhere: just try "Arabian boogie","boip boip","laughin' in rhythm"yip roc heresy" or "gomen nasai" (with a rocking solo by Mr Webster).The version of "Lady be good" is another great moment of swing,very reminiscent of Dizzy's efforts on his "school days" LP.The material included here was recorded between 1946 and 1954 for Clef,MGM,Norgran and Verve.You'll sure tap your feet for hours listening to it.

A stellar 20-track collection of some of Gaillard's greatest jive and jazz. Includes his signature "Lauging in Rhythm" and 19 more gassers from the late 40s and early 50s. Mastered from a variety of sources including 10" and 12" LPs as well as 78s. The sound quality varies, but the energy and humor never wanes.

If you liked Joe Jackson's excursion into jump music on "Jumpin' Jive", you'll love the originals.

This disk contains a great crossection of Slim Gaillard's hilarious music. The first track is three "movements" from the Groove Juice Symphony: a live rendition of Flat Foot Floogie, Hit That Jive Jack and Duke's Place.

For the Lindy Hoppers out there, this is a great one to dance to, Potato Chips, Chicken Rhythm, Serenade to a Poodle, Tip Light, Boip! Boip! and a few others are great.

Slim Gaillard is unique, in a good way. He's a decent player (piano and guitar), and singer, but foremost, he's an entertainer. He lives in his own fun world, with a made-up language which peppers his songs. Words are often used for their sound and rhythm, not their meaning.

That sounds terribly esoteric, and it would be if it weren't so much fun. It's infectious, and I smile every time I hear it. Preview the tracks and see what I mean. Life's too short not to smile more.