A perfect musical profile of an ebullient and charismatic impulsor of rhythm n blues and rock & roll. Only master takes. 2 CD set.
CD Reviews
The swan songs of Louis Jordan
Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 01/15/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"These records represent the final truly hitmaking days of Louis Thomas Jordan, the merry man of melody, super-lunatic madman supreme, sultan of storytelling and the saxophone, and the grandfather of soul.
By 1950-1952, Jordan's clowing jive was being swept aside by the very music he helped to create-Rhythm & Blues and Rock & roll. To make matters worse, the retirement of his manager caused him to start a big band exactly when this kind of thing became passe. So while he continued to record for the rest of his life, these mark his last forays on the
popular charts.
One of our man's last classic records was SATURDAY NIGHT FISH FRY (1949, not included here), a rap precursor and audio cartoon about our hero's misadventures at a wild party. He bleeds the concept dry in LOUISVILLE LODGE MEETING and FAT SAM FROM BIRMINGHAM with lesser results. JORDAN FOR PRESIDENT (1952) is an interesting political satire where LJ compares his mock platform with possible contenders in the 1952 election including Harold Stassen, Robert Taft, Estes Kefauver, and Harry Truman. Only historians will get some of this one, but it's quite intriguing.
Jordan's Big band numbers are largely undistinguished, but BONE DRY is as amusing and appealing as his usual compact combo comedy. JUNCO PARTNER is a strange, but compelling tune with no chorusus which is said to be a coded song about drug additiction.
But most important to mention here are his outstanding duets with his mentor in jazz comedy Louis "Satcho" Armstrong from August 1950. "Life is So Peculiar" sounds like a vaudeville soft-shoe routine and you could just see the two Louises dancing across a stage in tandem with straw hats, canes, and striped suits when you listen to this one. But I'LL BE GLAD WHEN YOU'RE DEAD YOU RASCAL YOU has these two Kings of Jazz Comedy taking turns demonstrating their respective talents while cheering each other on. Truly a match made in musical heaven!
Overall, no Jordan album or compilation could be considered frisbee material. The good stuff far outweighs the mediocre tunes and as almost everything Jordan made, it's well worth a listen."
Track Listings (23) - Disc #1