Search - Louis Jordan :: Let The Good Times Roll: The Complete Decca Recordings 1938-1954

The holy grail

Thomas Honig | Santa Cruz, CA United States | 03/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection is awe-inspiring. Don't let the cost stop you from buying it: it has it all of Mr. Jordan's Decca production. He was so good -- even on his worst songs -- that there's a surprise around every bend. Some of the unreleased sides are so good that you realize what high standards he had. And the final CD with I think 9 songs with Ella are unsurpassed. Damn the price. Buy it."

"...Don't Care If You're Young Or Old...Let's Get Together..

Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 08/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Let The Good Times Roll..." is old. It was originally issued in 1992 as an 8CD/1LP box set and then when Bear Family finally got the CD licensing rights for the Ella Fitzgerald LP, they reissued it in 1994 as this 9CD set which has remained on catalogue ever since.



It's a 12" x 12" box with a 46-page album-sized booklet featuring a stunning and detailed life story and discography by PETER GRENDYSA - which in itself is peppered with movie stills, newspaper clippings, Harlem Hit Parade charts, Sheet Music etc... There are 215 tracks (32 unreleased) with expert tape and 78" transfers by the legendary BEAR FAMILY experts in Germany - great sound throughout despite the vintage. Other vocalists and players featured throughout include RODNEY STURGESS (Jordan's first ever credit in 1939), YACK TAYLOR, DAISY WINCHESTER, MABEL ROBINSON, KENNETH HOLLON, BING CROSBY, ELLA FITZGERALD, MARTHA DAVIS, VALLI FORD, LOUIS ARMSTRONG and BILL DOGGETT.



As space is restricted, I've posted a full discography with reference to everything in the box set in a blog (Google Louis Jordan markattheflicks) - it contains the A&B of 99 releases (78's and 45's) with recording details, catalogue numbers, relevant reissues etc (took me a few days that). The info below details the previously unreleased stuff outside of that discography...



Disc 1: 27 Tracks, 75:46 minutes (1938 to 1940)



Disc 2: 26 Tracks, 74:46 minutes (1940 to 1942)

Previously Unreleased - Track 16 "De Laff's On You" (1941), Track 18 "John, Stop Teasin' Me", Track 20 "Teacher (How I Love My Teacher)", Track 24 "Mister Lovingood"



Disc 3: 24 Tracks, 68:35 minutes (1942 to 1947)

Previously Unreleased - Track 5 "Dirty Snake", Track 8 "De Laff's On You" (1942), Track 12 "The Things I Want I Can't Get At Home", Track 13 "How High Am I", Track 15 "The Truth Of The Matter", Track 16 "Hey! Now Let's Live", Track 20 "Louis' Oldsmobile Song", Track 21 "Your Socks Don't Match" [with BING CROSBY] and Track 23 "My Baby Said Yes (Yip, Yip De Hootie)" [with BING CROSBY]



Disc 4: 27 Tracks, 76:19 minutes (1945 to 1952)

Previously Unreleased - Track 6 "Don't Worry `Bout That Mule", Track 8 "Paper Boy" and Track 27 "Open The Door Richard"



Disc 5: 26 Tracks, 76:10 minutes (1947 to 1950)

Previously Unreleased - Track 9 "Beans And Corn Bread", Track 16 "Chug Chug Boogie" and Track 17 There'll Be No Days Like That"



Disc 6: 24 Tracks, 76:49 minutes (1949 to 1951)

Previously Unreleased - Track 9 "Love You 'til Your Money's Gone Blues", Track 19 "Louisville Lodge Meeting" and Track 21 "Crazy Baby"



Disc 7: 27 Tracks, 77:25 minutes (1951 to 1955)

Previously Unreleased - Track 1 "If You've Got Someplace To Go", Track 9 "Happy Birthday Boogie", Track 13 "I Love That Kind Of Carryin' On", Track 17 "Garmoochie", Track 20 "Stop Makin' Music" and Track 27 "Gimme Gimme Blues"



Disc 8: 27 Tracks, 77:15 minutes (1952 to 1956)

Previously Unreleased - Track 5 "There's Nothing Else That I Can Do", Track 7 "The Soon-A-Baby" and Track 8 "There's Nothing Else That I Can Do" (Alternate Take)



Disc 9: 7 Tracks, 20:06 minutes (1946 to 1950)

[All tracks are LOUIS JORDAN and ELLA FITZGERALD]

Previously Unreleased - Track 3 "Petootie Me" (Released Version is the October 8, 1945 recording - this is an October 15, 1945 outtake)



Jordan road-tested all his new material on live audiences, so when he went into the studio, he wasn't recording songs that might work, he was racking up sure-fire hits. In 1946 alone - he had 6 Number 1's - one of which, "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie", stayed on top of the race charts for an incredible 18 weeks. And like the joyful sound of Glenn Miller's big band, Jordan's infectious jive, boogie and rhythm 'n' blues lit up the USA and was exactly what the austerity of the war and post war years needed. Decca adverts claimed that 11, 000, 000 GI's listened to Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five and it was probably accurate.



Then there was the live showmanship, which was the best the world had ever seen. Both James Brown and B.B. King have always name-checked him as the 'man' (and think where there influences went and are still going). There was even a stage show a few years back named after his big hit "Five Guys Named Moe" which had punters literally dancing in the aisles. Jordan also pioneered 'shorts' - films of his performances, which thrilled movie-going audiences - the precursors of videos. He was one cool and shrewd dude - even if his wife did try to stab him to death and he fired his band with the ruthlessness of a film-noir crook.



In 2009 - nearly 70 years after the event - it's hard for us now to even comprehend the truly staggering popularity and influence Louis Jordan has had on popular culture. But this wonderful Bear Family box set celebrates that - finally giving one of music's true heroes his proper due. There are cheaper options for sure, but this is quality - and class is always worth the extra cost...



It may have taken me nearly 20 years to buy it - but that's another story... drunken debauchery, womanizing, fast horses...wait a minute...that's someone else's life..."