Tag: Clarence Williams’ Washboard Four

“Candy Lips” was originally recorded as a vocal performance by Eva Taylor, backed by Clarence Williams’ Blue Seven in late November of 1926 for Okeh, and then a second time as an instrumental by the debut of Clarence Williams’ Jazz Kings on the Columbia label in January of 1927 just four days before this session.

I believe this is the first record under the “Washboard Four” moniker and it does not disappoint – there’s a lot of energetic fun on this number.

It is a bit of a pastiche of instrumental version and vocal version, with Williams contributing a rousing scatted chorus in lieu of lyrics. The clarinet solo starts off a bit subdued and almost sorrowful – but injects the life back into the track with the help of Ed Allen’s carefully placed cornet growling.

Interesting side note – the two sides on this record were master pressed by Parlophone in the U.K. and the band name was given as Louis Armstrong’s Original Washboard Beaters.

Recorded in New York, January 29, 1927.
Released as Okeh 8440.

Credits:
Ed Allen – cornet
Benny Moten – clarinet
Clarence Williams – piano, vocals
Floyd Casey – washboard

Here’s the Clarence Williams version of “Church Street Sobbin’ Blues” – a real toe tapper with some inspired solos by Ed Allen and Buster Bailey accompanied by Mr. Williams on piano and the no-nonsense rhythm section of Floyd Casey’s washboard.

I have no notes on the performance other than I love it.

The flip side of this one, “Yama Yama Blues”, matches exactly to the same pairing on an early 9″ Emerson record by the Louisiana Five (Emerson 9179). My perhaps unprovable theory is that Williams must have had (and quite liked?) this record himself. Not only did he record “Church Street Sobbin’ Blues” with his wife, Eva Taylor, in 1923 – but he recorded it again here – over eight years after these songs were first popular – paired with the exact same flip side as the Louisiana Five.

These two songs were not popular jazz or dance standards of their day – outside of the 1919 recordings of Louisiana Five, Jockers Dance Orchestra, and the Plantation Dance Orchestra – and the later 1928 version by Eddie Lang (coming soon) – no other jazz or dance band seems to have performed either of these two songs – much less performed both together on the same record.

Mr. Williams was at this time the A&R man at Okeh Records who supervised the 8000 series. The choice of these two particular songs would have come directly from him, I should think. What do you think of my theory?

In the meantime, of course, it has ignited a strong desire to find that Louisiana Five record!

Recorded in New York City on November 25, 1927.
Released as Okeh 8525.

Credits:
Ed Allen – cornet
Buster Bailey – clarinet, alto sax
Clarence Williams – piano
Floyd Casey – washboard