Customer Reviews

The Very Best of Fats Waller

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4 star:		(1)
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Normally when you want to buy an album of songs recorded before the World War II, you are torn between its comprehensiveness and sound quality. CD's that give well-remastered sound quality are normally too short to really cover "the best" or "the essentials" of the artist's works while full length CD's are normally either too expensive or not well-remastered. This reasonably-priced CD is an exception. It contains over 72 minutes of a total of 24 well-remastered tracks including many Fats' signature works like "Your Feet's Too Big", "All That Meat and No Potatoes", "Handful of Keys", "I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby" and "Two Sleepy People". The inclusion of two different versions of "Honeysuckle Rose" on this single CD is really a surprising bonus. I spent much time comparing and evaluating Fats Waller's CD's and I finally picked this one for it's both well-priced and well-remastered and that it contains all the songs I want. Some tracks still contain noticeable background noise but it's certainly immaterial when you compare to the rarity of this compilation. If you can't get this excellent CD, try RCA's "The Very Best of Fats Waller" (released 2000) and Stardust Records' "Fats Waller: The Best of the War Years" (released 2002). These two shorter alternatives are not as comprehensive as this one but they are also good compilations. Try your best to get this very best compilation and you won't regret!

Fats Waller was one of the great artists of American popular song between the two world wars, and he ruled in at least three arenas: songwriting, pianoplaying, and singing. This CD is the best one-disc collection of his work, with a good mix of his best work in all three areas. About the only track I'd like to see that isn't here is "African Ripples," but it does have "This Joint Is Jumpin'" "Viper's Drag," "Porter's Lovesong," "Handful of Keys," and one of the two really great versions Waller did of "Honeysuckle Rose." Although it says "Collector's Choice," it's an album for enjoyment as much as completeness.

Fats Waller had a strong touch on the Keys, could write very good&had a distinctive voice that fueled so many tracks. his band was tight as well. he had such a feel good quality in his playing&overall vibe as a Musician.I got Rhythm is one song that never gets old from this collection. this is a very fully well represented compilation. Fats Waller doesn't get his full due as a all around force. this is a strong collection.

Excellent compilation of Fats Waller's recordings...both solo piano tracks and with his band. He sings on some of the songs too...as always, his music making puts a smile on your face and gets your toes a tappin'!

This is a delightful compilation of Fats' at his best. The remastering is excellent and I would recomend this CD to anyone wanting to listen to jazz piano playing - the CD is worth getting even if only for the scintillating improvisation of 'Aint Misbehavin'

THOMAS FATS WALLER RULES! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! THE MUSICIAN, A PIANIST AND VOCALIST, POSSESSES THE CHARISMA OF CAB CALAWAY, THE INNOVATIVE BRILLIANCE OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND THE DOWN AND DIRTY, NEW ORLEANS SWANKINESS OF THELONIOUS MONK.

SON OF A SOUTHERN BAPTIST MINISTER & A FEMALE PIANIST, VOCALIST AND ORGANIST, WALLER WAS OBVIOUSLY BORN INTO THE MUSICAL LIFE. FOR A MAN OF OVER 300 POUNDS, HE SURE KNEW HOW TO SWING. AND THE GUY WROTE OVER 400 SONGS, MANY MANY OF THEM HUGE HITS.

HE JUST MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD, DAMMIT!

IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, WALLER'S GREATEST EFFORTS INCLUDE: YOUR FEETS TOO BIG, THIS JOINT IS JUMPIN', AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' AND CRAZY 'BOUT MY BABY.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.