CLARENCE WILLIAMS – 1933 | The Classics Chronological Series – 845 (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The tenth CD in the Classics label's very valuable Clarence Williams series has its strong moments, although his band was starting to become somewhat predictable. Two titles feature clarinetist Albert Nicholas in a washboard-jug quintet, and six intriguing songs utilize both Herman Chittison and Willie "The Lion" Smith on piano (with Eva Taylor taking most of the vocals). But most of the other selections are by a quartet comprised of pianist Williams, cornetist Ed Allen (a terrible singer, as he shows on two songs), clarinetist Cecil Scott and the washboard of Floyd Casey. The music is fine, but not quite as special as Williams' slightly earlier recordings with more diverse and versatile bands. Still, this is worth picking up for classic jazz collectors. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Clarence Williams' Jug Band–    Mississippi Basin 3:02
Clarinet – Albert Nicholas
Guitar – Jimmy McLin
Jug – Clarence Williams
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Eva Taylor
Washboard – Willie Williams
Written-By – Razaf, Foresythe
2    Clarence Williams' Jug Band–    I Like To Go Back In The Evening 2:30
Clarinet – Albert Nicholas
Guitar – Jimmy McLin
Jug – Clarence Williams
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Eva Taylor
Washboard – Willie Williams
Written-By – Williams, Clint, Pascoe
3    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Black-Eyed Susan Brown 2:47
Clarinet – Unknown Artist
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Piano – Clarence Williams
Tom Tom – Unknown Artist
Washboard, Vocals – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Goodhart, Hoffman, Magidson
4    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Mama Stayed Out All Night Long 2:44
Clarinet – Unknown Artist
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Piano – Clarence Williams
Tom Tom – Unknown Artist
Washboard, Vocals – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Razaf, Wilson
5    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    High Society 2:37
Clarinet – Unknown Artist
Cornet – Ed Allen
Piano – Clarence Williams
Tom Tom – Unknown Artist
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Steele, Melrose
6    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    I Like To Go In The Evening (To That Old Sweetheart Of Mine) 2:41
Clarinet – Unknown Artist
Cornet – Ed Allen
Piano – Clarence Williams
Tom Tom – Unknown Artist
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Williams, Clint, Pascoe
7    Clarence Williams' Jug Band–    Shim Sham Simmy Dance 3:00
Banjo – Ikey Robinson
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Jug, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Kazoo, Vocals – Clarence Todd
Piano – Herman Chittison, Willie "The Lion" Smith
Vocals – Eva Taylor, The Lowland Singers
Washboard – Willie Williams
Written-By – Razaf, Williams
8    Clarence Williams' Jug Band–    Organ Grinder Blues 3:40
Banjo – Ikey Robinson
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Jug, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Kazoo, Vocals – Clarence Todd
Piano – Herman Chittison, Willie "The Lion" Smith
Vocals – Eva Taylor, The Lowland Singers
Washboard – Willie Williams
Written-By – Williams
9    Clarence Williams' Jug Band–    Chizzlin’ Sam 3:10
Banjo – Ikey Robinson
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Jug – Clarence Williams
Kazoo, Vocals – Clarence Todd
Piano – Herman Chittison, Willie "The Lion" Smith
Vocals – Eva Taylor
Washboard – Willie Williams
Written-By – Williams
10    Clarence Williams' Jug Band–    High Society 2:53
Banjo – Ikey Robinson
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Jug – Clarence Williams
Kazoo – Clarence Todd
Piano – Herman Chittison, Willie "The Lion" Smith
Vocals – Eva Taylor
Washboard – Willie Williams
Written-By – Piron, Williams
11    Clarence Williams' Jug Band–    Mister, Will You Serenade? 3:08
Banjo – Ikey Robinson
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Jug – Clarence Williams
Kazoo, Vocals – Clarence Todd
Piano – Herman Chittison, Willie "The Lion" Smith
Vocals – Eva Taylor
Washboard – Willie Williams
Written-By – Hill, Williams, Robinson
12    Clarence Williams' Jug Band–    You Ain’t Too Old 3:03
Banjo – Ikey Robinson
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Jug – Clarence Williams
Kazoo, Vocals – Clarence Todd
Piano – Herman Chittison, Willie "The Lion" Smith
Washboard – Willie Williams
Written-By – Hill, Williams
13    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Beer Garden Blues 2:49
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet – Ed Allen
Piano – Clarence Williams
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Williams, Raymond, Bishop
14    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    The Right Key But The Wrong Keyhole 2:36
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Piano – Clarence Williams
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Green
15    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Dispossessin’ Me 2:39
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet – Ed Allen
Piano – Clarence Williams
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Schiller, Williams, Bishop
16    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) 3:03
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet – Ed Allen
Piano, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By – MacDonald, Hanley, Goodwin
17    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    She Just Got A Little Bit Left 2:57
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Guitar – Unknown Artist
Piano, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Unknown Artist
18    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    After Tonight 3:04
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Guitar – Unknown Artist
Piano, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Williams, Armstrong, Matthews
19    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Bimbo 2:53
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Guitar – Unknown Artist
Piano, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By – Williams, Palmer
20    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Chocolate Avenue 2:55
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Guitar – Unknown Artist
Piano, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Washboard – Floyd Casey
Written-By [Uncredited] – Sonny Blount
21    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Harlem Rhythm Dance 2:46
Banjo, Guitar – Ikey Robinson
Brass Bass – Cyrus St. Clair
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Piano, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Razaf, Williams
22    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    ‘Way Down Home 3:00
Banjo, Guitar – Ikey Robinson
Brass Bass – Cyrus St. Clair
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Piano, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Dowell
23    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    For Sale (Hannah Johnson’s Big Jack Ass) 2:45
Banjo, Guitar – Ikey Robinson
Brass Bass – Cyrus St. Clair
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet, Vocals – Ed Allen
Piano, Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Troy

CLARENCE WILLIAMS – 1934 | The Classics Chronological Series – 891 (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In 1997, the Classics label released a twelfth volume in their unprecedented series devoted to the complete chronological recordings of Clarence Williams. Eighteen selections dating from a three-month segment of the year 1934 collectively feature Harlem stride pianists James P. Johnson and Willie "The Lion" Smith, cornetist Ed Allen, clarinetist Cecil Scott, guitarist Roy Smeck, banjoist Ikey Robinson, bassist Richard Fullbright, tuba technician Cyrus St. Clair, and drummer/washboard handler Floyd Casey. Vocals are by Williams, his wife Eva Taylor, Ed Allen, Ikey Robinson, and composer/comedian Clarence Todd. Tracks 11-18 are by the Alabama Jug Band, with Williams delivering substantial basslines using that old-time staple of down-home musical entertainment, a ceramic whiskey jug. Williams has been posthumously ridiculed for his vaudevillian sensibilities and hokum recordings, but the truth about this man is that he was one of the great publishers and producers of African-American music during the 1920s and '30s. Disparaging comments about his pianistic prowess are directly traceable to Willie "The Lion" Smith, one of the toughest critics who ever passed judgment upon his fellow musicians. Williams was a perfectly capable pianist and a rather shrewd and at times opportunistic businessman who produced Bessie Smith's earliest recording sessions and served as her accompanist, published Fats Waller's first important compositions, recorded comedic piano duets with James P. Johnson, and led a series of recording ensembles that included cornetists King Oliver and Louis Armstrong as well as powerhouse reedman Sidney Bechet. The recordings that Williams presided over between July 6 and October 3, 1934 are among his most sanguine and substantial, particularly the outrageous tale of "Jerry the Junker" and the gutsy "Jazz It Blues," which has a vocal refrain by the Ham and Cabbage Trio. arwulf arwulf
Tracklist :
1    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Jerry The Junker 3:04
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Clarence Stout
2    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Organ Grinder Blues 3:07
Vocals – Clarence Williams, Eva Taylor
Written-By – Clarence Williams
3    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    I'm Gettin' My Bonus In Love 2:42
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Grainger
4    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Chizzlin' Sam 2:52
Vocals – Clarence Williams, Eva Taylor
Written-By – Clarence Williams
5    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Big Fat Mama 2:45
Vocals – Eva Taylor
Written-By – Williams, Calaway, Roland
6    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Ain’t Gonna Give You None Of My Jelly Roll 2:32
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Williams
7    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    I Saw Stars 3:09
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Goodhart, Hoffman, Sigler
8    Eva Taylor And Her Boy Friends–    Crazy Blues 2:23
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Bradford
9    Eva Taylor And Her Boy Friends–    The Stuff Is Here And It’s Mellow 2:33
Written-By – Williams, Bishop, Smith
10    Clarence Williams And His Orchestra–    Rhapsody In Love 2:52
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Trent
11    Alabama Jug Band–    "Ida" Sweet As Apple Cider 2:42
Vocals – Ikey Robinson
Written-By – Eddie Leonard
12    Alabama Jug Band–    My Gal Sal 2:48
Vocals – Ikey Robinson
Written-By – Paul Dresser
13    Alabama Jug Band–    Gulf Coast Blues 3:04
Vocals – Ikey Robinson
Written-By – Clarence Williams
14    Alabama Jug Band–    I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate 2:36
Vocals – Ikey Robinson
Written-By – Armand Piron
15    Alabama Jug Band–    Jazz It Blues 2:50
Vocals – Ham and Cabbage Trio
Written-By – Tom Delaney
16    Alabama Jug Band–    Somebody Stole My Gal 2:51
Written-By – Leo Wood
17    Alabama Jug Band–    Crazy Blues 3:14
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Perry Bradford
18    Alabama Jug Band–    Sugar Blues 2:34
Vocals – Clarence Williams
Written-By – Williams, Fletcher
Credits :    
Banjo – Ikey Robinson (tracks: 11 to 18)
Brass Bass – Cyrus St. Clair (tracks: 15 to 18)
Clarinet – Cecil Scott
Cornet – Ed Allen
Double Bass [String Bass ?] – Richard Fullbright (tracks: 11 to 14)
Double Bass [String Bass] – Richard Fullbright (tracks: 5 to 10)
Drums – Floyd Casey (tracks: 5 to 10)
Guitar – Roy Smeck (tracks: 7 to 10)
Guitar [?] – Roy Smeck (tracks: 5, 6)
Kazoo – Clarence Todd (tracks: 15 to 18)
Piano – Clarence Williams (tracks: 5, 6), James P. Johnson (tracks: 1 to 4), Willie "The Lion" Smith (tracks: 7 to 10)
Trombone [?] – Dicky Wells (tracks: 7 to 10)
Washboard – Floyd Casey (tracks: 1 to 4, 11 to 14)