4.0 out of 5 stars
Fats Haw Haw, January 27, 2007
The one thing Fats Waller was most renowned for was probably his weakest ability-- his so-called singing. On all too many records, Waller replaced vocalizing with calculated buffonery. This may be fine for a song or two, but when listening to a dozen or more such examples, the intended humor simply falls flat. Thus, the best tracks on FATS WALLER * THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION are the four solo piano works that allow Waller's musical talents to shine, also his few vocals that have a minimum of clowning.
As for this "ultimate" package-- the CD is definitely far from that. Songs have been noticeably filtered; some loss of tonal subtleties is apparent. Liner notes consist solely of a two-page fan opinion piece/bio-- no personnel, recording dates, song details given. The biggest misstep may be the choice of Waller's organ recording of "Ain't Misbehavin'." There are several other waxings of this signature tune that are far superior.
On the positive side-- included here are many of Waller's most popular records, so if you're looking for a gathering of essential Fats Waller tunes at a fair price, you won't be disappointed with this PRISM LEISURE album. (3½ stars)
TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 74:42
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
