Willie Smith 1938 1940

Willie 'The Lion' Smith | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 11, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Allegro Corporation
• ASIN: B000001NNA
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,524 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Three Keyboards

2. The Lion and the Lamb

3. Morning Air

4. Echoes of Spring

5. Concentrating

6. Fading Star

7. Passionette

8. Rippling Waters

9. Sneakaway

10. What Is There to Say?

11. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

12. The Boy in the Boat

13. Tea for Two

14. I'll Follow You

15. Finger Buster

16. Stormy Weather

17. Peace on You

18. Wontcha Do It for Me

19. Rushin'

20. Noodlin'

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Lion, March 31, 2001

By 

B. D. Tutt (London, UK.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Willie Smith 1938 1940 (Audio CD)

Willie "The Lion" Smith was widely recognised as on a par with James P. Johnson and Fats Waller in the Harlem pianistic pantheon. A wonderful band pianist, his compositions contrasted romantic and rhapsodic themes with explosive stride.

This disc includes the peak of Smith's recording output, the 14 solos he recorded for Commodore in 1939. His best known compositions are here, as are a few idiosyncratically performed standards. Sound quality is not perfect, as is usual with Classics CDs, but the quality of the music shines through.

The remainder of the disc is taken up with four lively small band tracks, and one of the more bizarre mismatches in recorded jazz, four numbers where Smith accompanied (or rather played at the same time as) blues shouter Big Joe Turner. The clash of styles and apparent lack of sympathy between the two makes for entertaining, if not for prolonged, listening.

Strongly recommended for the 1939 solos.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not to Exaggerate, but I'd Give this Disc 100-stars!!, July 6, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Willie Smith 1938 1940 (Audio CD)

This is one of my favorite discs of all time. The Lion's technique is exquisite--almost reminiscent of Chopin, at times. I want to correct one misconception construed by an earlier reviewer: the four last tracks with Big Joe Turner are absolutely wonderful, and the combination of The Lion and Big Joe is unique and outstanding.
Also look for duos of Big Joe and Pete Johnson on Johnson's disc 1938-39 (CC 656) and Turner's disc 1941-46 (CC 940). All highly recommended!!!