Jazz Crazy Records

An Archive of Early Jazz on 78 RPM

Category: Jazz

  • “Wake up! Chill’un, Wake Up! – Jimmy Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra

    “Wake up! Chill’un, Wake Up! – Jimmy Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra

    The sunbeams are dancing and laughing with glee.
    The leaves on the trees waving howdy to me.
    Seems like the whole world’s a big jubilee.
    Wake Up! Chill’un Wake Up!

    The love song of nature caressing your ear
    Will tell you that springtime is hovering near.
    The spirit of gladness is bringing good cheer.
    Wake Up! Chill’un Wake Up!

    Each golden hour – treat it like a treasure rare!
    Love is in power. Now’s the time to get your share!

    The river is singing and I’m singing, too.
    The dream clouds are drifting away in the blue.
    The voice of the morning is calling to you.
    Wake Up! Chill’un Wake Up!

    Recorded in Chicago on April 27, 1929.

    Credits:
    Jimmie Noone – clarinet, vocals
    Joe Poston – clarinet, alto sax, vocals
    Alex Hill – piano
    Junie Cobb – banjo, guitar
    Bill Newton – tuba
    Johnny Wells – drums

  • “I Got Rhythm” – Stéphane Grappelli And His Hot Four (1935)

    “I Got Rhythm” – Stéphane Grappelli And His Hot Four (1935)

    Recorded in Paris, October 13, 1935
    Decca F.5780

    Credits
    Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt, Pierre Ferret – Guitar
    Stéphane Grappelli – Violin
    Louis Vola – Bass

  • “Love Affairs” – Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra (1928) w/ Bix!

    “Love Affairs” – Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra (1928) w/ Bix!

    A rousing tune full of optimism. Featuring plentiful melodic appearances by Bix Beiderbecke.

    Recorded in New York on September 20, 1928.
    Released as Okeh 41145.

    Credits
    Frank Trumbauer – C melody sax, alto sax, director
    Bix Beiderbecke – cornet
    Bill Rank – trombone
    Irving “Izzy” Friedman – alto sax, clarinet
    Min Leibrook – bass saxophone
    Roy Bargy – piano
    Wilbur Hall – guitar
    Lennie Hayton – drums
    Scrappy Lambert – vocals
    Bill Challis – arrangement

  • “My Angeline” – Mississippi Maulers (1928)

    “My Angeline” – Mississippi Maulers (1928)

    One of those oddball one-release bands from the golden age of jazz: The Mississippi Maulers, made up of some notable jazz all-stars, recorded only one session resulting in two sides for Columbia in the summer of 1928.

    The vocalist was Roy Evans, known as the “Yodeling Farmer” – who yodels during a break on the flip side (“Don’t Mess Around With Me”). One of those reminders of the relationship between jazz and early country music at the time.

    Recorded on July 20, 1928
    Released as Columbia 1545-D

    Credits:
    Leo McConville or Bill Moore, Manny Klein – trumpet
    Tommy Dorsey – trombone
    Dudley Fosdick – mellophone
    Fud Livingston – clarinet, tenor sax
    Joe Venuti – violin
    Frank Signorelli – piano
    Eddie Lang – guitar
    Joe Tarto – tuba
    Stan King – drums
    Roy Evans – vocals

  • “Let’s Get Drunk and Truck” – Lil Johnson and her Chicago Swingers (1936)

    “Let’s Get Drunk and Truck” – Lil Johnson and her Chicago Swingers (1936)

    Sure, why not? ^_^

    Recorded in Chicago, Illinois on August 20, 1936.
    Released as Vocalion 03312

    Credits:
    Lil Johnson – vocals
    Lee Collins – trumpet
    Arnett Nelson – clarinet
    J. H. Shayne – piano
    John Lindsay – string bass

  • “Big Gorilla Man” – Gladys Bentley (1929)

    “Big Gorilla Man” – Gladys Bentley (1929)

    The wonderful Gladys Bentley delivers “Big Gorilla Man” with such a remarkable charisma it is clear why she was such a popular nightclub performer in the late 20s and early 30s.

    Released as Okeh 8707
    Recorded in New York, New York on March 26, 1929.

    Lyrics:
    That big gorilla – a woman killer – and I ought to know.
    He mistreats me – knocks and beats me – till I love him so
    Cause he’s got that something that I need so bad.

    Every morning when day is dawning I get so dog-gone scared
    That he’ll wake me – he might shake me – until I lose my head
    He’s got that something that I need so bad.

    It’s so distressing – keeps me guessing – holds my breath so long
    All my sweetness – he knows my weakness – he’s so big and strong
    He’s got that something that I need so bad.

    Hear me sayin’ – he keeps me weighin’ one hundred and ten
    His devotion and slow motion – keeps me awful thin.
    He’s got that something that I need so bad.

    When excites me, he may bite me – got his habits on
    His eyes gleaming, and I start screaming when my love comes down.
    He’s got that something that I need so bad.

    His nerves are steady – he’s always ready – that big gorilla man.
    He loves a whole lot and I use all he’s got – like no other can.
    He’s got that something that I need so bad.

    Learn more about Gladys Bentley at:
    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/obituaries/gladys-bentley-overlooked.html

  • “The Terror” – Cliff Jackson and his Krazy Kats (1930)

    “The Terror” – Cliff Jackson and his Krazy Kats (1930)

    Wild fantastic tune by Cliff Jackson and his Krazy Kats from 1930.

    One of the challenges with collecting early jazz on 78 rpm are the numerous aliases and pseudonyms used by bands and labels during this period. Cliff Jackson and his Krazy Kats used aliases such as Newport Syncopators, Marvin Smolev and his Syncopators, and Tuxedo Syncopators.

    Recorded in New York, New York circa February 27, 1930.
    Released as Van Dyke 81879

    Credits
    Cliff Jackson – piano, director
    Melvin Herbert – trumpet
    Henry Goodwin – trumpet
    Noisy Richardson – trombone
    Rudy Powell – clarinet, alto sax
    Earl Evans – alto sax
    Horace Langhorn – tenor sax
    Andy Jackson – banjo
    Chester Campbell – tuba
    Percy Johnson – drums

  • “Jet Black Blues” – Blind Willie Dunn’s Gin Bottle Four (1929)

    “Jet Black Blues” – Blind Willie Dunn’s Gin Bottle Four (1929)

    It’s amazing that these jazz giants were all in the studio together!

    Recorded in New York on May 1, 1929.
    Released in the U.K. as Columbia D.B. 3440

    Credits
    Eddie Lang – guitar
    Lonnie Johnson – guitar
    King Oliver – cornet
    Claud Hopkins – piano
    Hoagy Carmichael – percussion, vocal

  • “Wildflower Rag” – Clarence Williams and his Orchestra (1928)

    “Wildflower Rag” – Clarence Williams and his Orchestra (1928)

    Clarence Williams recorded this snappy take of “Wildflower Rag” in an inspired session from November of 1928 that included King Oliver on cornet. Originally released on the scarce QRS label.

    This unofficial dubbed release on the Jazz Collector label is from the late 1940s. Unlike the credits on this label, both Brian Rust and Tom Lord show Ed Cuffee, Arville Harris, and Leroy Harris on this session.

    Credits:
    Ed Allen, King Oliver – cornet
    Ed Cuffee – trombone
    Arville Harris – clarinet, alto sax
    Ben Waters – clarinet, tenor sax
    Clarence Williams -piano
    Leroy Harris – banjo
    Cyrus St.Clair – tuba

  • “Zombie” – Gene Kardos and his Orchestra (1934)

    “Zombie” – Gene Kardos and his Orchestra (1934)

    When jazz goes goth: “Zombie” by Gene Kardos and his Orchestra. Inspired by a Bela Lugosi film. Put this on the Halloween playlist.

    Recorded in New York, NY on June 26, 1934.
    Released as Banner 33114.