Includes extensive booklet with recording details, extensive notes and rare photos.
This collection of songs mainly associated with Fats Waller (#1-12), presents Dinah Washington backed by a powerhouse band playing Ernie Wilkins arrangements. On all tracks the band kicks like mad, with good soloing by Charlie Shavers, Eddie Chamblee. Frank Wess, Jimmy Cleveland, Jerome Richardson and Julian Priester heighten the jazz interest throughout. Dinah belts the songs powerfully and holds her place in the foreground, singing with a swinging drive thanks to her dynamic style.
Tracklist
Total time: 55:18 min.
01. Honeysuckle Rose 2:35
02. Aint Misbehavin (Im Saving My Love for You) 2:34
03. Ive Got a Feeling Im Falling 2:24
04. Keepin Out of Mischief Now 2:36
05. Everybody Loves My Baby 2:39
06. Black and Blue 2:55
07. Christopher Columbus 2:47
08. Taint Nobodys Bizness If I Do 3:26
09. Someones Rocking My Dreamboat 2:00
10. Jitterbug Waltz 1:47
11. Ain't Cha Glad? 2:45
12. Squeeze Me (2:0
13. Blues Down Home 2:47
14. I Remember Clifford 2:34
15. Bad Luck 2:51
16. Honky Tonk 1:54
17. All Of Me 2:10
18. Light 3:16
19. Somewhere Along the Line 2:55
20. Make Me a Present of You 2:49
21. Back Water Blues 2:59
Album details
Sources:
Tracks #1-12 originally issued in LP as
"Dinah Sings Fats Waller" (EmArcy MG-36119)
Track #13 originally issued on the Mercury
45 rpm single 71220
Tracks #14-15, 17-21 originally issued in LP as
"The Queen!" (Mercury MG-20439)
Track #16 originally issued on the Mercury
45 rpm single 71389
Dinah Washington (vcl), with Ernie Wilkins Orchestra
Tracks #1-2: Johnny Coles, Reunald Jones, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal (tp), Julian Priester, Melba Liston, Chauncey Welsh (tb), Rod Levitt (b-tb), Jerome Richardson (fl, as), Sahib Shihab, Frank Wess (fl, ts), Benny Golson (ts), Eddie Chamblee (ts, vcl on #1), Charles Davis (bs), Patti Bown, Jack Wilson (p), Freddy Green (g), Richard Evans (b), Charles Persip (d). Ernie Wilkins (arrangements).
Recorded at Fine Recording Studios, New York City, October 1, 1957
Tracks #3-4: Same band but Clark Terry (tp), replaces Renauld Jones.
Recorded at Fine Recording Studios, New York City, October 2, 1957.
Tracks #5-6: Johnny Coles, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal (tp), Julian Priester, Melba Liston, Sonny Russo (tb), Rod Levitt (b-tb), Jerome Richardson (fl, as), Sahib Shihab (as), Frank Wess (fl, ts), Benny Golson (ts), Eddie Chamblee (ts, vcl on #5), Charles Davis (bs), Jack Wilson (p), Freddy Green (g), Richard Evans (b), Charles Persip (d). Ernie Wilkins (arrangements).
Recorded at Fine Recording Studios, New York City, October 4, 1957.
Tracks #7-12: Reunald Jones, Charlie Shavers, Ray Copeland, Doc Severinsen (tp), Julian Priester, Chauncey Welsh, Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Rod Levitt (b-tb), Jerome Richardson (fl, as), Hal McKusick (as), Benny Golson, Eddie Chamblee (ts), Charles Davis (bs), Jack Wilson (p), Sebastian Muro (g), Richard Evans (b), Charles Persip (d). Ernie Wilkins (arrangements).
Recorded at Fine Recording Studios, New York City, November 20, 1957.
Tracks #13-14: Same personnel and location as in the October 4, 1957 session.
Dinah Washington (vcl), with Eddie Chamblee Orchestra
Tracks #15-21: Reunald Jones, Charlie Shavers, Doc Severinsen, Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, Ray Copeland (tp), Julian Priester, Jimmy Cleveland, Sonny Russo, Rod Levitt (tb), Jerome Richardson (fl, as), Sahib Shihab (as), Benny Golson, Frank Wess, Eddie Chamblee (ts), Charles Davis (bs), Jack Wilson (p), Richard Davis (b), Charles Persip (d). Ernie Wilkins (arrangements).
Recorded at Universal Studios, Chicago, October-November 1957
Musical Recording director: Hal Money
Original recordings produced by Bob Shad
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol and "Beethoven" (jean-Michel Reisser).Press reviews
-Sings Fats Waller
"This is one of the finest, if not most obscure titles in the Verve/Emarcy Songbook series. Long out of print, 1957's Fats Waller Songbook appropriately brings together Waller's vivacious songs and Dinah Washington's demonstrative vocal talents. The jazz diva effortlessly handles Waller classics like "Keeping out of Mischief Now," "Just Squeeze Me," and "Ain't Mibehavin'," while turning in particularly emotive renditions of "'Tain't Noboby's Biz-Ness If I Do" (actually a Clarence Williams tune), and "Jitterbug Waltz" (this last cut featuring Washington's keen and signature blend of blues vocal power and streamlined diction). Adding nice variety to the already strong set, Washington's husband at the time, saxophonist Eddie Chamblee, joins the singer for playful duets on "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Everybody Loves My Baby" (ironically, the love sentiments of both songs were not to stick, as the couple called it quits after just a year of marriage). In addition to "Everybody Loves My Baby" and "'Tain't Noboby's Biz-Ness If I Do," Washington covers other songs associated with Waller, but not penned by him, including "Christopher Columbus" and the highlight of the set, "Somebody's Rocking My Dreamboat." Topped off with solidly swinging charts by Ernie Wilkins and fine backing by an all-star band, the Fats Waller Songbook registers as one of Dinah Washington's best and most enjoyable records."
Stephen Cook -All Music Guide
