Search - Eddie Lang :: Quintessential

Delightful music that deserves to be dusted off.

RWSTEVENS@prodigy.net | Media, PA | 08/12/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE QUINTESSENTIAL EDDIE LANG 1925 - 1932 Born in Philadelphia/1902 as Salvatore Massaro. Died in a Chicago hospital following complications of a tonsillectomy, March 1933. Joe Venuti, his long time buddy, advised him to go for the surgery. advice taken, but with a bad outcome obviously. 24 tracks. track 1, poor audio quality. all other tracks good to great audio. for the most part, 60 - 75% eddie can be plainly heard, due to the microphone being placed next to his acoustic guitar.best tracks: GUITAR BLUES with Lonnie Johnson. Due to racist america, eddie had to take the name of Blind Willie Dunn for this recording. Lonnie said the duet recordings with Eddie Lang was the highlight of his career. the two titans deftly switch solo and rhythm parts in mutual admiration of each other. WALKIN THE DOG GOOD LITTLE, BAD LITTLE YOU (my favorite on this disc): Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards is the vocal. Cliff would later become famous for supplying the voice for Walt Disney's Jimmy Cricket character, in the film Pinnocchio.KITCHEN MAN WITH BESSIE SMITH (Obscene lyrics) STREET OF DREAMS WITH BING CROSBY Impressive, decent Bing Vocal. BEALE STREET BLUESIn 1931, when Bing Crosby began to pursue a solo career, he chose Eddie Lang as his accompanist on all live appearances, broadcasts, films and recordings. One year after his death, Eddie's reputation began to fade, to be replaced by the QUINTET OF THE HOT CLUB OF FRANCE. eg: DJANGO REINHARDT. with the Benny Goodman Sextet, Charlie Christian opened up further possibilities with the introduction of the amplified guitar. (late 1930's).ROBERT STEVENS"