Customer Reviews

Louis Jordan - No Moe! - Greatest Hits [Verve]

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

 

 

These 1956/57 stereo re-recordings of some of his earlier hits are indeed, as one reviewer says, very well done. Also, the three pages of liner notes, adapted from text by Alain Tomas, are quite interesting. BUT, these distributors have got to STOP foisting upon the public items which, on the surface, lead us to believe they are original renditions.

There is absolutely nothing on the front or reverse of the CD to alert you to the fact that these are re-recordings, and it isn't until you get it home, tear off the celophane covering, and start to listen to it - or read the second page of the insert - that you realize you've been had.

This is NOT to suggest that the music itself is bad, but in issuing a compilation under the title "The Greatest Hits" they not only provide remakes, but six of the selections were never hits for Louis in the first instance - tracks 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, and 15.

Sorry, but as much as I love Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five this kind of deception just does not cut it anymore, and I simply cannot go higher than 2 stars because of that. Enjoy it if you don't mind, or seek out his ORIGINAL hits on other compilations.

These are stereo later 50's re-recordings of his hit songs, same lively energy, yet a more of a rock'n'roll r&b feel, then swing! This is gritty jump blues, Jordan's voice was in it's prime, and the guitarist on this set really ROCKS the blues! Fun stereo versions, but no less fun then the originals. This is good time party music, and Jordan never sounded like he was having so much fun, as he does on thsi great cd!!! Includes kick-butt versions of Knock Me A Kiss, Outskirts Of Town and Saturday Night Fish Fry. A GEM!!!

His previous hits rerecorded in 1956 and 1957. Some of them are really great (Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby, Knock Me A Kiss, Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens, Caldonia,...), but I don't like ones which are featuring organist Jackie Davis. Too much organ for me.

Don't be fooled by the track listing. Although the song names might make you think that many of these tracks can be found on the 5cd compilation "Louis Jordan and His Tympany 5," this CD actually features different recordings of the same songs. Personally, I like the versions on "No Moe" more--they're faster and more energetic, especially on "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" and "Saturday Night Fish Fry." On "No Moe," for example, Jordan gets through "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" in 2'33", whereas he takes a full 3'05" on the 5-CD set. It's the same number of notes--Louis and his band just zip through them much faster on this recording!

Also, because the tracks on "No Moe" were recorded later, the sound is a little better--it sounds brighter and cleaner to my (not at all trained) ears.

All in all, this is a great high-energy introduction to Louis Jordan and his swinging sense of humor.