Swing Dance Special
1999 Collectables Records
SQ Issue: Winter 2001/02, Volume 12, Issue
1
Featured Groups:
Panama
Francis; Johnny Sparrow; Tiny Grimes; Bill Jennings; Ray Bryant Trio; Leo Parker; Cats
& the Fiddle; Jimmy Rushing; Charlie Gonzales; Harry Crafton; Jimmy Preston; Jones
Boys; Frank Motley; TNT Tribble; Daisy Mae & Her Hepcats; Bobby Boyd’s Jazz
Bombers; Charlie Gracie & the Wildcats
This compilation was put together in 1999. That means the height of the swing revival/craze/fad had peaked and every compilation didn’t have to have Louis Prima’s (yes, Louis Prima wrote it, not Brian Setzer!) Jump, Jive & Wail or someone’s version of yes, Louis Prima’s Sing, Sing, Sing. This compilation focused on some great jump blues tunes by much lesser known artists.
You are going to find only a couple of familiar tunes. Hey Now by Tiny Grimes is one of those and the other is Flat Foot Floogee by the Ray Bryant Trio. Both of these tunes are really good and very danceable. But this is only the tip of the iceberg for good tunes on this CD.
Other great tunes with some fun lyrics include Lotsa Poppa by Jimmy Rushing, singing about his nickname and how he’d rather be called by his real name, Bow Wow Wow by Frank Motley with call and response dog noises and Wildwood Boogie by Charlie Gracie & the Wildcats lookin’ for a great place to party. These are just a few examples. You’ll find other stuff that you will like a lot, too.
Tempos have a good range for dancing. Some hit the Shag/Balboa crowd with tempos in the lower to mid 200’s but the bulk of the tempos are “in the pocket” ranging from 138–190 beats per minute.
Put this one on your CD wish list. Buy a few extras for the jump blues fans on your shopping list!
Bottom Line: To buy or not to buy….. BUY. If you do, here’s how: