I'm confused. I have this album and I could swear, swear up and down, that Lil Hardin is credited as the vocalist here, even though I'm somewhat familiar with her voice and this doesn't sound like her. It's an original album, as well.
@ronnieplonk The version with Lil Hardin and Alberta Hunter & Clarence Todd was recorded Dec. 22 1924 under the name RED ONION JAZZ BABIES while above version with Clarence Williams and Eva Taylor (his wife) was recorded Jan. 8 1925 under the name CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE. Armstrong, Bechet, Irvis and Christian play on both. I would not say "Armstrong vs Sidney" but rather Armstrong AND sidney.
I was lucky enough to see her perform live at a jazz club (Stampen) in Stockholm in 1976, just a year before she passed away. This tiny old lady had to be assisted up on stage by two big "handlers," but then belted it out like a trooper. She never missed a beat.
@aktungmak The singer is Eva Taylor (Mrs. Clarence Williams). Alberta Hunter recorded the same tune two weeks earlier on 22/12/1924 with the same musicians except Lil Hardin for Williams.
Una joya del jazz !!!! despues de tantos años sigue entusiasmando...... maravillosa la música y maravilloso este sitio donde podemos seguir disfrutando de estos genios del jazz !!! gracias!!!
I had a very similar sounding version on vinyl, with Lil Armstrong on piano & vocals (Louis' first wife), and Louis ... I think it's on a King Oliver album, 1921 or 23? Do you, or does anyone know the version I'm talking about?
Hi, tahoe... I can't find the version you mention, but if you browse through (a) the michaelminn-armstrong discography or (b) redhotjazz (with free audio samples) you may find what you are looking for. Cheers.
I used to consider the Red Onion Jazz Babies the definitive version of this record, until I heard this one on Red Hot Jazz--both versions use Armstrong and Bechet, but I like this one best!
of course this is armstrong & bechet at their competive best. a great old okeh. i don't think bechet moved to france [europe] to get away from anyone. blacks just had a better deal there. he had less ties to the us and moved there. i'm proud to say i've held this artifact in my own 2 hands.
For the record: Louis Armstrong IS the cornetist. And Bechet plays soprano sax throughout. No clarinet here. One of the hottest recordings ever. For another astonishing record, listen to Bechet and Muggsy Spanier do "China Boy" (here on YouTube, too).
This is Louis Arstrong in 1920s. This is his younger years before he was playing the trumpet his old main instrument was originally the cornet. The clarinet is Sidney Bechet. In this song they were actually competing in which of course Louis Destroys at the end. When this recording was over Sidney couldnt live with being second best so he moved to france. But both of them were the best in the game at that time from what I research. Check out Ken Burns' Jazz documentary if you can.
I feel that Louis and Sidney are pretty evenly matched when it comes to soloing, but here, Louis does destroy, but I've heard some where Sidney destroys Louis, a good example would be "I'm a Little Blackbird" from 1924! On that one, every time Louis plays a good lick, Sidney answers it with a hotter version! I love both, and no one could touch either ones soloing!!
@ToddCMorgan Listen to THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG, Armstrong vs. Bechet, the final round, Esquire Concert 1945. In three tunes, Armstrong does not give Bechet one sigle solo. Every time Bechet wants to solo, Armstrong comes in by trumpet or vocal and suddenly finishes the tune. What a shame!
@townesfan10 I think they both knew they were equal to each other and both jealous. Especially Bechet because he was the first great soloist in Jazz but he was forgotten in the U.S, after five years of absence (Europe 1925 - 1930).
@oldtimejazzfan I played (a long time ago) with a guy who'd worked as an MC with both of them. He said that as musicians they were both great, but Armstrong had about five time the stage appeal of Bechet. It didn't matter as much in Europe, but it did in North America. I never saw Bechet, but I saw Armstrong several times, and he had great stage presence. Almost as good as Belafonte, and that's saying something.
@ianjcameron You are correct, Armstrong was an entertainer (not to say a SHOWMAN) and for Sidney, music was something serious he never made any jokes on stage, he just played.
That is NOT Louis Armstrong. It's pretty obvious that the trumpet, while accomplished, is not his style or caliber. Clarence Williams' Blue Five did not, as far as I know, record with Armstrong.
The actual star of this recording is the great and magnificent SIDNEY BECHET, who plays clarinet. Listen to him: he can play the clarinet as loudly as some people play the trumpet, and his tone is miles away from what you expect from the instrument. This is especially clear on the later breaks.
Louis Armstrong did indeed record with the Blue Five and was in the line up that recorded this track on 7th Jan. 1925. It was the 1924/25 sessions that brought Armstrong and Bechet together.
Coleman Hawkins and Bubber Miley also featured with the Blue Five
I have this in my iPod. Hats off to one of the best decades ever!
TheSapphireEmpress96 4 weeks ago
I'm confused. I have this album and I could swear, swear up and down, that Lil Hardin is credited as the vocalist here, even though I'm somewhat familiar with her voice and this doesn't sound like her. It's an original album, as well.
tahoeshgrl 3 months ago
@tahoeshgrl I also have this on an album. Instead I've got it under Albert Hunter (and not Alberta!) so here I was thinking wrongly all this time!
ronnieplonk 2 months ago
@ronnieplonk The version with Lil Hardin and Alberta Hunter & Clarence Todd was recorded Dec. 22 1924 under the name RED ONION JAZZ BABIES while above version with Clarence Williams and Eva Taylor (his wife) was recorded Jan. 8 1925 under the name CLARENCE WILLIAMS' BLUE FIVE. Armstrong, Bechet, Irvis and Christian play on both. I would not say "Armstrong vs Sidney" but rather Armstrong AND sidney.
oldtimejazzfan 1 month ago
I'm learning this song for my junior cert music :) x <3
thelazyperson13 8 months ago
The singer here is definitely Eva Taylor.
I was lucky enough to see her perform live at a jazz club (Stampen) in Stockholm in 1976, just a year before she passed away. This tiny old lady had to be assisted up on stage by two big "handlers," but then belted it out like a trooper. She never missed a beat.
They don't make them like that anymore.
Palewriter 9 months ago
@vpo2g2 you are correct, Alberta Hunter is the singer on this recording
aktungmak 9 months ago
@aktungmak The singer is Eva Taylor (Mrs. Clarence Williams). Alberta Hunter recorded the same tune two weeks earlier on 22/12/1924 with the same musicians except Lil Hardin for Williams.
oldtimejazzfan 9 months ago
I believe the singer is Alberta Hunter, not Bessie Smith
vpo2g2 9 months ago in playlist Jazz: Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold
Fantastic performance - compared to this sound the King Oliver recs are awwful.
PorroFirst 1 year ago
Genial, muchas gracias.
sirjuandabicho 1 year ago
Una joya del jazz !!!! despues de tantos años sigue entusiasmando...... maravillosa la música y maravilloso este sitio donde podemos seguir disfrutando de estos genios del jazz !!! gracias!!!
kalarr1 1 year ago
'Sounds very much Bechet... hot jazz yeap
nathangerine 2 years ago
Eva Taylor with Clarence Williams' Blue Five, January 8, 1925, New York, NY
Taylor, Eva (Vocal)
Armstrong, Louis (Cornet)
Irvis, Charlie (Trombone)
Bechet, Sidney (Soprano Sax)
Williams, Clarence (Piano)
Christian, Buddy (Banjo)
Written by Eva's husband, Clarence Williams. Hot stuff. Pops is Tops.
A fortnight earlier, Armstrong and Bechet recorded the same tune with the Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Alberta Hunter & C.Todd on vocals.
(from the michaelminn/armstrong discography.)
fillra 2 years ago
I had a very similar sounding version on vinyl, with Lil Armstrong on piano & vocals (Louis' first wife), and Louis ... I think it's on a King Oliver album, 1921 or 23? Do you, or does anyone know the version I'm talking about?
tahoeshgrl 2 years ago
Hi, tahoe... I can't find the version you mention, but if you browse through (a) the michaelminn-armstrong discography or (b) redhotjazz (with free audio samples) you may find what you are looking for. Cheers.
fillra 2 years ago
It's the Red Onion Jazz Babies Gennett, described in the post here from fillra.
teebeesea 2 years ago
I used to consider the Red Onion Jazz Babies the definitive version of this record, until I heard this one on Red Hot Jazz--both versions use Armstrong and Bechet, but I like this one best!
VictrolaJazz 2 years ago
louis armstrong is the best. I love his music and together with MJ best entertainers.
laplancha123 2 years ago
of course this is armstrong & bechet at their competive best. a great old okeh. i don't think bechet moved to france [europe] to get away from anyone. blacks just had a better deal there. he had less ties to the us and moved there. i'm proud to say i've held this artifact in my own 2 hands.
danversdon 2 years ago
Thank you for sharing this exhilarating post. It is superb.
Corrie121 2 years ago
For the record: Louis Armstrong IS the cornetist. And Bechet plays soprano sax throughout. No clarinet here. One of the hottest recordings ever. For another astonishing record, listen to Bechet and Muggsy Spanier do "China Boy" (here on YouTube, too).
shrinkprof 2 years ago
This is Louis Arstrong in 1920s. This is his younger years before he was playing the trumpet his old main instrument was originally the cornet. The clarinet is Sidney Bechet. In this song they were actually competing in which of course Louis Destroys at the end. When this recording was over Sidney couldnt live with being second best so he moved to france. But both of them were the best in the game at that time from what I research. Check out Ken Burns' Jazz documentary if you can.
Alekari91 2 years ago
I feel that Louis and Sidney are pretty evenly matched when it comes to soloing, but here, Louis does destroy, but I've heard some where Sidney destroys Louis, a good example would be "I'm a Little Blackbird" from 1924! On that one, every time Louis plays a good lick, Sidney answers it with a hotter version! I love both, and no one could touch either ones soloing!!
ToddCMorgan 2 years ago
@ToddCMorgan Listen to THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG, Armstrong vs. Bechet, the final round, Esquire Concert 1945. In three tunes, Armstrong does not give Bechet one sigle solo. Every time Bechet wants to solo, Armstrong comes in by trumpet or vocal and suddenly finishes the tune. What a shame!
oldtimejazzfan 1 year ago
@oldtimejazzfan That's interesting thanks for sharing that. Any reason to believe it was more out of dislike or because he felt threatened, or both?
townesfan10 1 year ago
@townesfan10 I think they both knew they were equal to each other and both jealous. Especially Bechet because he was the first great soloist in Jazz but he was forgotten in the U.S, after five years of absence (Europe 1925 - 1930).
oldtimejazzfan 1 year ago
@oldtimejazzfan I played (a long time ago) with a guy who'd worked as an MC with both of them. He said that as musicians they were both great, but Armstrong had about five time the stage appeal of Bechet. It didn't matter as much in Europe, but it did in North America. I never saw Bechet, but I saw Armstrong several times, and he had great stage presence. Almost as good as Belafonte, and that's saying something.
ianjcameron 1 year ago
@ianjcameron You are correct, Armstrong was an entertainer (not to say a SHOWMAN) and for Sidney, music was something serious he never made any jokes on stage, he just played.
oldtimejazzfan 1 year ago
@Alekari91 It is correct that Bechet "went" to France in 1925 but he "moved" to France in summer 1951 only.
oldtimejazzfan 1 year ago
That is NOT Louis Armstrong. It's pretty obvious that the trumpet, while accomplished, is not his style or caliber. Clarence Williams' Blue Five did not, as far as I know, record with Armstrong.
The actual star of this recording is the great and magnificent SIDNEY BECHET, who plays clarinet. Listen to him: he can play the clarinet as loudly as some people play the trumpet, and his tone is miles away from what you expect from the instrument. This is especially clear on the later breaks.
jeffjohnston123 2 years ago
jeffjohnston123.
Louis Armstrong did indeed record with the Blue Five and was in the line up that recorded this track on 7th Jan. 1925. It was the 1924/25 sessions that brought Armstrong and Bechet together.
Coleman Hawkins and Bubber Miley also featured with the Blue Five
Corrie121 2 years ago