I'm reading "Rage to Survive" - The Etta James story. She writes, her musical nature was noticed when she was an infant. She loved jukeboxes and this particular song by Meade Lux Lewis. She would holler until someone put a nickel in the box, so she could dance & sing along with "baby sounds" The second it was through, she'd start crying ntil someone played "the damn thing again. And again. And again". Great song and a great book, well worth reading.
"This is a country band...we don't play no Boogie...Woogie!" That was a line from the biopic Ray with Jamie Foxx...I always thought it was so funny...but I've taken an interest in Boogie-Woogie, Jazz, Swing, Jump Blues and Blues thanks to a good friend of mine and WW2 veteran Mr. Willie Miner...RIP
Everytime my son sits down to practice the piano (he plays by ear), I beg him to practice boogie woogie or rag time- what a beautiful expression of energy on a piano! I love all these old greats and always feel like getting up and dancing when I listen to them.
Picked up this same 78 from an antique shop in 1974 with a crack from the lead-in to the run-out. The lady said I could have it for free because any cracked records were trash. I was 16 then, and I still have and love this record, even with the scratches, hiss and 'tic-tic-tic' that I hear. The antique shop has gone out of business MANY years ago, but I'm searching eBay for a GOOD copy. :))
Gosh. Been a while since I heard that version. Let's see, that was the second version in 1935? Can't remember. Think this was the version when John Hammond found him. The 1936 Victor recording is the one most used. This one didn't sound as "clean" and commercialized as the Victor version and still had some throwback to the original Paramount version. I played the hell out of both! Had a 45 of it too and played it on 33 speed sometimes and that is awesome too!
the first single I bought was Keith Emerson's version of Honky Tonk Train Blues. As I was at boarding school I had to ask my house-master to buy it for me when he was next in town. Turned out that the first 78 he ever bought was the original Mead 'Lux' Lewis version... what goes around comes around :-)
My all time favorite boogie woogie piano number! THANKS for posting this delightful "blast from the past" for us to enjoy. The late Mr Lewis was a genius! You've made my day & my week! :)
I almost weep with joy and gratitude at what you've done. I used to buy up 78 RPM records. What to others is just old throwaway junk, are actually historical artifacts! Lester, there are two things you did right: 1)you saw value in these records, and 2) you digitzed and preserved what was on them for posterity by putting it on youtube.
These old records were put out on a primitive form of plastic that break and fall apart very easily today. They have to be digitized. Thanks!
@vinylman4533: Lewis first recorded this tune in 1927. It's rediscovery helped touch off the revival in Boogie Woogie a decade later. This version was recorded in 1938.
I'm reading "Rage to Survive" - The Etta James story. She writes, her musical nature was noticed when she was an infant. She loved jukeboxes and this particular song by Meade Lux Lewis. She would holler until someone put a nickel in the box, so she could dance & sing along with "baby sounds" The second it was through, she'd start crying ntil someone played "the damn thing again. And again. And again". Great song and a great book, well worth reading.
toots1954 2 weeks ago
Comment removed
toots1954 2 weeks ago
Dizzying to ears and eyes - 21st Nov 1935
gary170459 2 weeks ago
"Nightclubbing again tonight, Jeeves?"
Shangas 2 months ago
@Shangas Another Jeeves and Wooster fan! *Internet High Five!*
BFBCFTW 1 week ago
trainsntile - have you looked for this a 'keyboard Kings of Jazz' LP?
My brother-in-law had this.
I think his daughter inherited it!
mahonriwilson 4 months ago
"This is a country band...we don't play no Boogie...Woogie!" That was a line from the biopic Ray with Jamie Foxx...I always thought it was so funny...but I've taken an interest in Boogie-Woogie, Jazz, Swing, Jump Blues and Blues thanks to a good friend of mine and WW2 veteran Mr. Willie Miner...RIP
MrTonyCejas 5 months ago
Everytime my son sits down to practice the piano (he plays by ear), I beg him to practice boogie woogie or rag time- what a beautiful expression of energy on a piano! I love all these old greats and always feel like getting up and dancing when I listen to them.
alwyzright 5 months ago
Picked up this same 78 from an antique shop in 1974 with a crack from the lead-in to the run-out. The lady said I could have it for free because any cracked records were trash. I was 16 then, and I still have and love this record, even with the scratches, hiss and 'tic-tic-tic' that I hear. The antique shop has gone out of business MANY years ago, but I'm searching eBay for a GOOD copy. :))
trainsntile 5 months ago
Nice...
acetimace 6 months ago
What memories! I remember having a 78 of this all of 70 years ago. Part of my jazz education.
TheSidvin 8 months ago
Nice classic. 1926, wow.
hshlom 11 months ago
very nice upload, great recording!
NatKingCole46 1 year ago
Gosh. Been a while since I heard that version. Let's see, that was the second version in 1935? Can't remember. Think this was the version when John Hammond found him. The 1936 Victor recording is the one most used. This one didn't sound as "clean" and commercialized as the Victor version and still had some throwback to the original Paramount version. I played the hell out of both! Had a 45 of it too and played it on 33 speed sometimes and that is awesome too!
2agray 1 year ago
and the groove never stops....
buffalobilly 1 year ago
the first single I bought was Keith Emerson's version of Honky Tonk Train Blues. As I was at boarding school I had to ask my house-master to buy it for me when he was next in town. Turned out that the first 78 he ever bought was the original Mead 'Lux' Lewis version... what goes around comes around :-)
stoppanig 2 years ago 2
My all time favorite boogie woogie piano number! THANKS for posting this delightful "blast from the past" for us to enjoy. The late Mr Lewis was a genius! You've made my day & my week! :)
JubalCalif 2 years ago
A true classic!
doubleotwentyone 2 years ago
By far the best song I have ever heard.
Ive got the Joe Loss' original copy of this from 1945
TechDeckMonkey 2 years ago 2
Dear Lester,
I almost weep with joy and gratitude at what you've done. I used to buy up 78 RPM records. What to others is just old throwaway junk, are actually historical artifacts! Lester, there are two things you did right: 1)you saw value in these records, and 2) you digitzed and preserved what was on them for posterity by putting it on youtube.
These old records were put out on a primitive form of plastic that break and fall apart very easily today. They have to be digitized. Thanks!
loveoldmovies 2 years ago 3
Mead was the reason I ever started to play the piano! Biil Goody
sheepheadseb 2 years ago
my grandmother has at least 100 78s.
JamesPriceJohnson 3 years ago
It's hard to imagine this was in 1926 !
Brilliant ....
Alibm80 3 years ago 2
It wasn't. It was a late 30's recording.
vinylman4533 2 years ago 7
@vinylman4533: Lewis first recorded this tune in 1927. It's rediscovery helped touch off the revival in Boogie Woogie a decade later. This version was recorded in 1938.
aarfeld 10 months ago
excellent song...A classic
Dr77Funkenstein 3 years ago 6