Six Jumping Jacks, Vol. 2

Harry Reser

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2001)
• Original Release Date: June 26, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Old Masters
• ASIN: B00005K9XG
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,608 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Not only was Harry Reser the most accomplished plectrum banjo player in the 1920s, he probably led more bands than just about any other musician of the era. Each of his groups focused on a different segment of the pop music spectrum, such as hot jazz (The Jazz Pilots), smooth dance music (The Tuxedo Orchestra), or in the case of the Six Jumping Jacks, novelty songs. Reser and bandmates were topnotch instrumentalists and even when they played silly songs like "I Love the College Girls" or "Cock-a-Doodle, I'm off My Noodle," they never treated the music as a joke. The arrangements are always inventive, the ensemble playing is tight, and the solos are hot. Reser in particular plays the banjo with a surprising amount of subtlety, and on a few tracks he reveals himself to be an excellent guitarist as well. Even though these tracks were recorded in 1927 and 1928, the sound on the CD is outstanding, with none of the pops and crackles that can mar reissues of old 78s. The songs of Harry Reser's Six Jumping Jacks will never be mistaken for high art, but they do capture the giddy spirit of the 1920s perfectly. And because of the skill of the musicians they can be listened to over and over again, which is not something you can say about many novelty songs. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Old Masters" label has done it again, October 13, 2004

By	Robert English (Independence, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD, definitely a labor of love, is (along with its companion first volume) one of the best remastering jobs of 78 rpm records from the 20s that I have heard in recent years. This is especially noteworthy considering that the actual masters for these records have long since been scrapped and consumer copies are all that there is left to work with.

The Six Jumping Jacks were a kind of prototype for Spike Jones, who added sound effects to this kind of two-beat 20s style and took off from there. It's also very similar to the music that you'll hear on the soundtrack of Max Fleischer cartoons (Betty Boop, etc.). If you like that stuff, you'll like what's here.

I have been looking through stacks of 78s for years, and what few examples of the Jumping Jacks work I've been able to find is usually played to death by the original owner. None of the discs here display that kind of damage. Some minor shellac-groove hiss (and occasional wear on the louder notes) has been left in, not removed, since removing it would have taken some of the high frequency response with it - this was a wise decision, though it may put some listeners off at first. The absence of clicks and pops, usually part of the territory with 78s, makes for as blissful a listening experience as you could expect given the original medium.

The only thing missing from this collection are the instrumental versions of these sides that were recorded for the German market. Those were tasty, and deserve a reissue of their own, which hopefully will happen one day. All of the vocal versions are here, though, and it's a great treat for the ears.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, giddy twenties band, March 12, 2005

By	Jmark2001 (Florida) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Banjo master Harry Reser put together a lot of bands in the twenties and thirties but the six jumping jacks was his favorite. It is easy to see why. This was a very tight band with great musicianship. It also was absolutely giddy with fun. Simply novelty songs are turned into excellent twenties dance music, perfect for any speakeasy. Top this off with one of my favorite non-traditional vocalists, Tom Stacks, and you have a great album. Tom Stacks had a high pitched voice, a bad case of overgrown adenoids, and a love for singing that is infectious. His voice sounds is adolescent, full of fun, and absolutely sincere. That's what makes it so charming. Add this one to your twenties collection

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun!, January 11, 2008

By	"Gimpy" Peach Johnson - See all my reviews

Harry Reser's Six Jumping Jacks play the kind of music many people seem to associate with the "Roaring '20s": jazz-influenced small dance band numbers with wacky (sometimes a bit corny) instrumental effects. Still, this is hot, swinging stuff, and the vocals by Tom Stacks are a treat in themselves. The songs are often more than a little humorous and I can't help smiling and singing along with many of them. Watch out though, the melodies are infectious and will stick in your head for days! I agree with the other reviewers here: the sound quality on this CD is absolutely top-notch, minimal surface noise without the digital overprocessing that creeps into many reissues of vintage recordings. The bass sax in these records really sounds great! The enlightening liner notes that come with this set are an added bonus. Two volumes of the Six Jumping Jacks isn't enough. I understand that a third volume was nearing completion when the TOM label's owner and producer, George Morrow, died several years ago. Hopefully that will see the light of day in the future. In the meantime, there's plenty to enjoy on Volumes 1 and 2 of Harry Reser's Sx Jumping Jacks!