Armstrong/Carmichael "Rockin' Chair" -- 1929

[Larry Kart]

Not that this is news, but listening to this recording last night, in which Carmichael talk-sings as the "father" and Armstrong sings the responses of the "son," I was kind of stunned by the cosmic humor and (if you will) wisdom, plus the modernity, of Armstrong's responses -- this is 1929, but when he sings, it doesn't feel like 1929 but "now." And of course there's the great trumpet playing:

BTW, Armstrong's enigmatic and/or elliptical response to Carmichael's "I can't get from this cabin" has been tentatively deciphered by Michael Steinman as "What cabin? [You must be] joking?"

[jazzbo]

I remember first hearing this about twenty some years ago and just being floored! A great meeting of two unique minds.

[JSngry]

Cosmic (musical and visual) humor (musical and visual) from a parallel (perhaps) cosmos:

In the end, no matter from whence the beginning, freaks gonna freak, noregardsless.

Hello truth, hello AND beauty.

[Larry Kart]

Cosmic (musical and visual) humor (musical and visual) from a parallel (perhaps) cosmos:

In the end, no matter from whence the beginning, freaks gonna freak, noregardsless.

Hello truth, hello AND beauty.

Whoa! Clark Burroughs, down boy! BTW, there probably were some good Chicago-based jazz guys in Marterie's band.

Also, I just found out that tall Bob Strasen was the best man at Clare Fischer's wedding.

[Lazaro Vega]

What does he say that isn't in the script of the song?

[Larry Kart]

What does he say that isn't in the script of the song?

Given that this was (I believe) only the second recording of the song, I don't believe that there was a sheet music "script" for the lyrics at this point (especially for the call-and-response passages).

[Lazaro Vega]

I see. He sounds weary, forlorn, fogged by it all.

[Lazaro Vega]

Yes, thanks for hipping me to this, Larry. Didn't know that it was originally a "call and repeat," and that Armstrong made it something else. MOre from Ricki Riccardi at the Armstrong House Museum: http://dippermouth.blogspot.com/2009/12/80-years-of-rockin-chair.html