Fats Waller - The Complete Recorded Works

[EKE BBB]

On the "completeness" of this set, here's a mail I received recently from discographer Stephen Taylor (the "man" regarding Waller's discography nowadays):

Re: Fats Waller - Complete Recorded Works on JSP, vol. 1

I received a copy the 4 x CD box set, and it includes all known

recordings from Mx. 70948-D Muscle Shoals Blues of circa 21 October

1922 to Mx. 146540-1 Mournful Tho'ts of 18 June 1928. This includes

recordings which have only been issued on 78s or from test records.

Matrix numbers are correct except Mx. 38045-2 is stated as -1. Also,

Mx. 37357-1/3 is stated as -1 (which may be correct, but see comment

in my discography).

Issue remastered by Ted Kendall from original source material,

including vinyl tests (which include many of the pipe organ sides).

Sound quality is very good indeed.

Regards,

Stephen Taylor

[EKE BBB]

Listening closely to the first Fats Waller session (Muscle Shoals Blues/Bimingham Blues, from October 21, 1922) from this JSP set. I am at work and using my laptop with mid-range headphones, so no audiophile analysis, but I have to say that I am really impressed by Kendall's remastering work. Maintaining some surface noise, Waller's piano comes to the frontline with a brilliant sound.

Will A/B-check with my Classics CDs tonight, but there's a winner, for sure!

[Shrdlu]

For the sake of all who don't yet have copies of Fats's recordings, I'm glad that they are being released again. This stuff is too important to be stuck in the vaults.

I have all of this material, and don't plan to buy it all again, though. It's over 20 CDs. I think the RCA box sets from the mid 90s sound fine.

[brownie]

Saw that vol. 1 today.

Will get this very soon

The tracks (with audio) are listed here.

[EKE BBB]

Been reported that Volume 3 is in the works, but there's no definite date yet.

[EKE BBB]

The Complete Recorded Works Vol.3 1934-1936: Rhythm and Romance (4 CDs)

Release date: November 19, 2007

[brownie]

It's out and it's pure bliss

[jazzbo]

Yes, apart from a flawed (defective) first disc, so far this is a great set!

Edited November 24, 2007 by jazzbo

[John L]

I have the complete "And His Rhythm" on King Jazz. How much of volume 3 overlaps with that?

[brownie]

John L., everything that was on volume 3 of the King Jazz series is on that JSP Volume 3 set (discs 2 and 3).

Did not investigate those Fats Waller King Jazz CDs since I was foolishly hoping at the time that Orin Keepnews would do the job right when he started the BlueBird Fats Waller reissues series in the early '90s.

Those JSP sets are the way to go for fans of Fats Waller!

[jazzbo]

I have all the King Jazz cds. I decided about six months ago to try out the JSP. This is a more complete series by far, and has better sound than the King Jazz cds. (I love the King Jazz series though, which fueled my first real obsession with Fats, I'd heard quite a bit of Fats before those but didn't really "have to hear him" then).

[John L]

Thanks, Brownie and Lon.

But my real question is: how much of the JSP volume 3 is not on the King Jazz series? That would presumably be the tracks that are not in the "And His Rhythm" series.

John

[jazzbo]

John, the very first four tracks of Disc A of Volume 3, piano solos, are NOT included in the King Jazz series. All the other tracks ARE included in the King Jazz series 1-5.

[John L]

John, the very first four tracks of Disc A of Volume 3, piano solos, are NOT included in the King Jazz series. All the other tracks ARE included in the King Jazz series 1-5.

Thanks, Lon. That is indeed the information that I was looking for.

[tatifan]

Yes, apart from a flawed (defective) first disc, so far this is a great set!

A flaw in the mastering or just a random pressing flaw?

Finally caught up with Vol. 1. VERY good transfer work from what are, I'm sure, very rare discs!

[jazzbo]

It's a pressing problem most likely. Final tracks skip and/or don't play.

[brownie]

It's a pressing problem most likely. Final tracks skip and/or don't play.

No problem with my set

[jazzbo]

You got lucky!

[brownie]

Yes, it's been one of the best week in years for me.

Getting a flaw-free copy of that Fats Waller Vol. 3 set plus getting a Mosaic gift card after winning the 2007 Grey Cup contest

Life is just fine!

[EKE BBB]

This comes from Fats Waller discographer Stephen Taylor:

JSP946 "Fats Waller, Volume 3. 1934–1936 Rhythm and Romance" (2007) – 4 x CD box set continues from JSP928, with complete commercial recordings (i.e. excluding the Associated transcriptions, film soundtracks, and radio broadcasts) from Mx. 86208-2 "African Ripples" from 16 November 1934 to Mx. 102405-1 "Bye, Bye, Baby" from 1 August 1936, including the recently discovered alternate take of "Lulu's Back In Town" Mx. 89760-2.

As usual with the JSP sets the liner notes are nothing to write home about, and includes a curious polemic called "Don't Mess With The IRS" about the IRS catching up with Al Capone and others, which as far as I know has nothing to do with Fats. According to his son Maurice, Fats didn't even have a bank account!!

The good news is that the matrix numbers are all correct.

Ted Kendall used original source material wherever possible, including original 78s and test pressings, and the sound restorations are to a high standard, although I personally prefer a slightly lighter touch on the noise reduction. I don't think I've heard the 1934 piano solos in better fidelity, and many of the other tracks sound fine. A few of the tracks are from less than perfect originals, but it's very difficult to track down pristine examples of the earlier recordings, and in any case Victor 78s are notorious for being noisy.

Overall, this set is an excellent set and recommend it to the group.

By the way, the JSP set has been added to my updated "Additions and Corrections" listing for my book Fats Waller on the Air: The Radio Broadcasts and Discography (Scarecrow Press, 2006). The pdf file is available gratis to anyone interested by writing to me at fatswaller@gmail. com

Regards to all,

Steve Taylor

[EKE BBB]

JSP948 "Fats Waller, Volume 4. 1936–1938 New York–Chicago–Hollywood" (2007) – 4 x CD box set, continuing from JSP946, with complete commercial recordings from Mx. 0339-1 "S'posin'" from 9 September 1936 to Mx. 022436-2 "Inside (This Heart Of Mine)", including the previously unissued alternate Take-1 of "Big Business" (Parts 1 & 2) (p 184-185), left over from JSP928.

[jazzbo]

I've had my copy of Vol. 4 for a spell, got it from Worlds Records.

If you like the other three, it's a no brainer.

[J.A.W.]

The fifth volume in the JSP series (1938-1940) is now available from Amazon U.K. and Worlds Records and will be available from Amazon.com in August.

Edited July 15, 2008 by J.A.W.

[EKE BBB]

Jazzbo reported a few weeks ago (here) that volume 6 is already out.

[bluesbro]

Several volumes are cheap on amazon uk. About 20 shipped

Edited January 6, 2010 by bluesbro