FATS WALLER AND HIS RHYTHM - Fractious Fingering : The Early Years, Part 3 (1936) 2CD / RM (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

With the release of this two-CD set in 1997, it became possible for the first time ever to easily acquire all of pianist/composer/vocalist Fats Waller's Rhythm recordings of 1934-43. They are available in their entirety on three double-disc and three triple-disc sets, 15 discs in all. The 41 selections on this set feature Waller with trumpeter Herman Autrey, Gene Sedric on clarinet and tenor, guitarist Al Casey, bassist Charles Turner and either Yank Porter or Slick Jones on drums. The rarest performance ("Stay") has Elizabeth Handy (W.C.'s daughter) joining Fats for a duet vocal, and there are also five alternate takes (all previously released) of various tunes. This hard-swinging music is quite enjoyable (especially in small doses), with the most memorable selections including "All My Life," "Christopher Columbus" (with its hilarious lyrics), "Black Raspberry Jam," "Fractious Fingering," two run-throughs on "The Curse of an Aching Heart," the jubilant "Floatin' Down to Cotton Town," and two classic versions of "Swingin' Them Jingle Bells." This music is impossible not to like, and, as is always true of Fats Waller, it is touched with genius. by Scott Yanow  
Tracklist 1:
1 All Of My Life 2:44
2 Christopher Columbus (A Rhythm Cocktail) 2:50
3 Cross Patch 3:26
4 It's No Fun 2:45
5 Cabin In The Sky 3:24
6 Us On A Bus 2:38
7 Stay 2:54
Vocals – Elizabeth Handy
8 It's A Sin To Lie 2:54
9 The More I Know You 2:19
10 You're Not The Kind 3:04
Celesta – Fats Waller
11 Why Do I Lie To Myself About You? 2:50
12 Let's Sing Again 2:17
13 Big Chief De Sota 2:51
14 Black Raspberry Jam (Instrumental) 2:36
15 Bach Up To Me (Instrumental) 2:37
16 Fractious Fingering (Instrumental) 2:39
17 Paswonky (Instrumental) 2:32
18 Lounging At The Waldorf (Instrumental) 2:55
19 Latch On (Instrumental) 3:03
20 I'm Crazy 'bout My Baby (And My Baby's Crazy 'bout Me) 2:16
21 I Just Made Up With That Old Girl Of Mine 2:50
Tracklist 2:
1 (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along 3:22
2 There Goes My Attraction 2:11
3 The Curse Of An Aching Heart (Take 1) 2:28
4 The Curse Of An Aching Heart (Take 2) 2:25
5 Bye Bye, Baby 2:18
6 S'posin' 2:50
7 Copper Colored Gal 2:51
8 I'm At The Mercy Of Love 3:02
9 Floatin' Down To Cotton Town 2:18
10 La-De-De La-De-Da 2:58
11 Hallelujah! Things Look Rosy Now 2:40
12 Hallelujah! Things Look Rosy Now (Instrumental) 2:37
13 'Tain't Good (Like A Nickel Made Of Wood) 2:19
14 'Tain't Good (Like A Nickel Made Of Wood) (Instrumental) 2:17
15 Swingin' Them Jingle Bells 2:55
16 Swingin' Them Jingle Bells (Instrumental) 2:55
17 A Thousand Dreams Of You 2:52
18 A Thousand Dreams Of You (Instrumental) 2:55
19 A Rhyme For Love 2:40
20 I Adore You 2:46
Credits:
Bass – Charles Turner
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Gene Sedric
Drums – Slick Jones (tracks: 1-20 to 2-20), Yank Porter (tracks: 1-1 to 1-19)
Guitar – Al Casey
Piano – Fats Waller
Trumpet – Herman Autrey
Vocals – Fats Waller (tracks: 1-1 to 1-13, 1-20 to 2-11, 2-13, 2-15, 2-17, 2-19, 2-20)