Walk ‘Em
1996 Ace Records Ltd.
Walk ‘Em
1996 Ace Records Ltd.
The Band:
“Walk ‘Em
reflects an inspired idea that Buddy Johnson first tried out in the mid 40s. Buddy himself explained at the time “I felt
sorry for the guys and gals who weren’t expert dancers, so I fooled around with this
idea of having my band play numbers using a simple but distinctive beat…and tried it
out at The Savoy. ” – Liner Notes
No
foolin’ on this CD, it’s a winner. This
is great swingin’ blues throughout the CD. It’s
one of those CDs that I recommend for those who ask, “What’s a good CD to start
Lindy Hop with?”
The
rhythm referred to in the liner notes is called a walking rhythm, or a walk tempo. It also happens to be really excellent for what
beginning Lindy Hoppers want in a “comfortable” tempo. Don’t get me wrong, this CD is a great pick
up for beginners to advanced dancers. Especially
if you love the blues to boot!
Walk
‘Em
is packed with slower tempos (125 bpm and below) with a few faster selections thrown in
for good measure. Many of the songs feature
Buddy’s sister Ella Johnson. Her vocals
are fantastic. She’s got a sexy, bluesy
voice that compliments the fine musicianship of the orchestra. Ironically, my favorite blues tune, Shake
‘Em Up, does not feature Ella but instead uses the saxophone for some bluesy,
sassy licks that are sure to inspire you on the dance floor.
Some
of you may recognize some of the songs. Senders
fans will especially like the familiar Satisfy My Soul, which they cover. Other recognizable tunes are Stormy Weather,
a slower, bluesy tune and Fine Brown Frame, very similar to other versions you may
have heard. Lookin’ for some faster
tunes? You’ll be pleased with the boogie
flavor of Boogie Woogie’s Mother-in-Law, an instrumental that clocks in at a
swingin’ 218 bpm.
My
personal favorite on this CD is another instrumental, Shufflin’ and Rollin’,
the last tune on the CD. It mixes a jump
blues feeling with some good big band sound and fun sax solos.
This
is definitely a keeper. If you are
lookin’ for a lot of fast tempos, you may want to pass on it but this has a plethora
of fantastic “walk” tempos that will keep you hoppin’ with your Lindy!
Bottom Line: To buy or not to buy….. YES! Here’s how: