The Complete Wolverines: 1924-1928

[EKE BBB]

Just received an email from David Sager announcing this upcoming reissue of the complete output of the Wolverines, including the Jimmy McPartland sides:

The Complete Wolverines: 1924-1928

Coming April 10

Archeophone Records website

Bring On The Wolves! All of ‘em!

The Wolverine Orchestra was the talk of the music world and the rage of college campuses—albeit for a very short time. They were truly modern for their time and the records are amazingly fresh and vital today. Their 1924 recordings featuring cornetist Bix Beiderbecke are essential jazz classics, and the rarely reissued sides with Jimmy McPartland are rare delights. However, past reissues of the band have two recurring problems: Sound quality that suffers from over filtering and too much "restoration" and incorrect pitch and ignoring the complete output of the band. Off The Record's new release fixes these problems.

From the producers of "King Oliver, Off the Record," comes the definitive reissue of the Wolverines!

Famous for its ground-breaking reissue of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Off The Record has collected all of the titles by the Wolverine Orchestra—including the two often-missing Jimmy McPartland sides, and the electrically-recorded sides by the Original Wolverines, featuring McPartland and two other Wolverine alumni—and reissued them in stunning new transfers!

Off The Record engineer Doug Benson and researcher David Sager have combed the collecting fraternity and have come up with the best available copies of all the Wolverines and Wolves-related titles. Doug Benson made all-new transfers, carefully chose playback speeds, and applied as little filtering as possible, to provide the most alive restoration of the Wolverines and friends yet! David Sager, whose highly-regarded notes for "King Oliver" garnered a Grammy nomination, has penned a fascinating, informative essay on the Wolverines, with a new spin on their importance and place in jazz history.

Bix's First

These recordings include the first made by jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke, who was not quite 21 years old when he first stepped before the recording horn; his uniquely lyrical style, advanced harmonic approach, and sheer rhythmic drive was already developed and recognizable. Though nervous and inexperienced, Bix's first outing on "Fidgety Feet" and "Jazz Me Blues" shows him already well on his way to mastery: succinct, clear-toned, in control. Thanks to these simple and profound restorations, we now hear these classics as never before!

A Hoagy Carmichael Classic!

The great Hoagy Carmichael, composer of "Stardust," "Georgia on My Mind" and so many classic American popular songs, wrote an instrumental ditty especially for the Wolverines. Although he called it "Free Wheeling," the boys in the band settled upon "Riverboat Shuffle" as a more fitting and memorable title when they recorded it at their second session.

Bix Extras

Included also are two other Beiderbecke sessions made shortly after he left the Wolverines. Here in stunning audio quality are the Sioux City Six, featuring Frank Trumbauer and Miff Mole, the latter's agile trombone featured on "I'm Glad." And don't forget Bix & his Rhythm Jugglers, with Tommy Dorsey and Don Murray. This legendary gin-drenched session produced the classic premier recording of Bix's own "Davenport Blues."

Jimmy McPartland Too!

Many past reissues of the Wolves do not include their final recordings, made after Bix's departure. Off The Record proudly presents "the rest of the story" for the Wolverines' discography. Cornetist Jimmy McPartland replaced Bix and made the band's final 1924 sides. He also took place in four "reunion" recordings with two other ex-Wolves: Dick Voynow and Vic Moore. These records by the "Original Wolverines," recorded electrically in 1927, are stunning examples of authentic Chicago Jazz. "Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble" captures him in exciting relief! Wrapping up the set are two "Original Wolverines" sides from 1928 that feature a revolutionary, style-setting clarinetist, and Bix disciple, Frank Teschemacher.

Lavish Booklet

Included in the set is a lavishly illustrated thirty-two page booklet, chock full of rare photographs—a few of them unpublished—and rare artifacts: news articles, ads and record labels. Designed by Archeophone's Richard Martin and Meagan Hennessey, the booklet is alone a delight to the eye!

Track listing:

1. Fidgety Feet—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

2. Jazz Me Blues—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

3. Oh Baby—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

4. Copenhagen—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

5. Riverboat Shuffle—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

6. Susie [take A] —Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

7. Susie [take B] —Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

8. I Need Some Pettin'—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

9. Royal Garden Blues—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

10. Tiger Rag—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

11. Sensation—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

12. Lazy Daddy [take A] —Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

13. Lazy Daddy [take B] —Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

14. Tia Juana—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

15. Big Boy—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

16. Flock O' Blues—Sioux City Six (1924)

17. I'm Glad—Sioux City Six (1924)

18. Toddlin' Blues—Bix & His Rhythm Jugglers (1925)

19. Davenport Blues—Bix & His Rhythm Jugglers (1925)

20. When My Sugar Walks Down The Street—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

21. Prince of Wails—Wolverine Orchestra (1924)

22. Royal Garden Blues—The Original Wolverines (1927)

23. Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble—The Original Wolverines (1927)

24. A Good Man Is Hard To Find—The Original Wolverines (1927)

25. The New Twister—The Original Wolverines (1927)

26. Limehouse Blues—The Original Wolverines (1928)

27. Dear Old Southland—The Original Wolverines (1928)

[AllenLowe]

just listening to a few of the samples - the sonics are astoundingly good. Almost sounds like some of that was from masters or test pressings. Wow.

[colinmce]

Cool.

[brownie]

Cool.

You mean: hot!

[colinmce]

[gmonahan]

I'll be interested to hear opinions on how this compares to disc one of the "Bix Restored" set.

gregmo

[kh1958]

This is now available for order from the archeophone website for $16.99.

http://www.archeophone.com/product_info.php?products_id=119

[kh1958]

Record shipping speed for regular mail--ordered on Saturday and received the CD on Monday.

[medjuck]

I may have to get this just for Davenport Blues.

[Late]

Received my copy today. After my ears adjusted (I'd just been listening to "74 Miles Away"), it just gets better and better. Toward the last part of the disc (track 17 on), it's hard to believe that you're listening to music that was recorded in the 20's. Let's hope Off the Record won't have to wait another six years before its next reissue. What would be a good candidate?

[Clunky]

Received my copy today. After my ears adjusted (I'd just been listening to "74 Miles Away"), it just gets better and better. Toward the last part of the disc (track 17 on), it's hard to believe that you're listening to music that was recorded in the 20's. Let's hope Off the Record won't have to wait another six years before its next reissue. What would be a good candidate?

Earl Hines' QRS piano solos.

Edited May 3, 2012 by Clunky

[Late]

Received my copy today. After my ears adjusted (I'd just been listening to "74 Miles Away"), it just gets better and better. Toward the last part of the disc (track 17 on), it's hard to believe that you're listening to music that was recorded in the 20's. Let's hope Off the Record won't have to wait another six years before its next reissue. What would be a good candidate?

Earl Hines' QRS piano solos.

I'm not familiar with those sides, but they sound intriguing. I have very little Hines in my collection.

[Chuck Nessa]

There are only 8 sides but are more than worthy of careful reissue.

Edited May 3, 2012 by Chuck Nessa

[jeffcrom]

There are only 8 sides but are more than worthy of careful reissue.

I don't know what kind of licensing nightmare it would entail, but perhaps those eight QRS sides could be combined with the four great Okeh solos from the same period and the 1932 Brunswick/Columbia solos (only two titles, but five takes).

[kh1958]

The early Jelly Roll Morton solo recordings could use a sonic upgrade.

[Late]

The early Jelly Roll Morton solo recordings could use a sonic upgrade.

Are these the 1923-26 solo recordings?

There are only 8 sides but are more than worthy of careful reissue.

I don't know what kind of licensing nightmare it would entail, but perhaps those eight QRS sides could be combined with the four great Okeh solos from the same period and the 1932 Brunswick/Columbia solos (only two titles, but five takes).

And throw in the two Blue Note tracks as well?

[kh1958]

The early Jelly Roll Morton solo recordings could use a sonic upgrade.

Are these the 1923-26 solo recordings?

1923 and 1924 solo piano recordings, on Gennett and Paramount.

[Late]

The early Jelly Roll Morton solo recordings could use a sonic upgrade.

Are these the 1923-26 solo recordings?

1923 and 1924 solo piano recordings, on Gennett and Paramount.

I'm guessing that you already have J.R.T. Davies transfers of this material on Retrieval? I just listened to them tonight. They don't sound like Off the Record transfers, but they don't sound too bad to my ears. Maybe a little too much noise reduction?

[J.A.W.]

The early Jelly Roll Morton solo recordings could use a sonic upgrade.

Are these the 1923-26 solo recordings?

1923 and 1924 solo piano recordings, on Gennett and Paramount.

I'm guessing that you already have J.R.T. Davies transfers of this material on Retrieval? I just listened to them tonight. They don't sound like Off the Record transfers, but they don't sound too bad to my ears. Maybe a little too much noise reduction?

Retrieval applied noise reduction to some of the masterings J.R.T. Davies did for them. I have no idea if that's the case here too.

[Big Beat Steve]

Retrieval applied noise reduction to some of the masterings J.R.T. Davies did for them. I have no idea if that's the case here too.

Considering the really out-of-this-world reputation that JRT Davies enjoys (rightly so IMO), what would be the (technically valid and justified) point in applying additional noise reduction? No doubt JRT Davies in his mastering did go as far as he could in restoring fidelity and reducing noise without sacrificing range.

Maybe those more familiar with the finer (technical) points of how to ideally remaster recordings from the 20s could set me wise?

[J.A.W.]

Retrieval applied noise reduction to some of the masterings J.R.T. Davies did for them. I have no idea if that's the case here too.

Considering the really out-of-this-world reputation that JRT Davies enjoys (rightly so IMO), what would be the (technically valid and justified) point in applying additional noise reduction? No doubt JRT Davies in his mastering did go as far as he could in restoring fidelity and reducing noise without sacrificing range.

Maybe those more familiar with the finer (technical) points of how to ideally remaster recordings from the 20s could set me wise?

Some of Davies' masterings were found to be too noisy.

[paul secor]

The Jelly Roll Swaggie LP mastered by Mr. Davies sounds fine to me. That was probably issued before the days of noise reduction, or at least the noise reduction used these days.

[Late]

Retrieval applied noise reduction to some of the masterings J.R.T. Davies did for them.

This bums me out.

But I'll still spin the Retrieval discs I have!

(Gets up from computer. Finds Piron's New Orleans Orchestra on the shelf. Walks to stereo. Puts in disc.)

[Larry Kart]

Received my copy today. After my ears adjusted (I'd just been listening to "74 Miles Away"), it just gets better and better. Toward the last part of the disc (track 17 on), it's hard to believe that you're listening to music that was recorded in the 20's. Let's hope Off the Record won't have to wait another six years before its next reissue. What would be a good candidate?

Got mine today -- great. Speed correction especially welcome. Fine liner notes. And the music!

[Chuck Nessa]

Anyone compared it to the Timeless Historical issue?