FATS WALLER AND HIS RHYTHM - Breakin' the Ice : The Early Years, Part 1 (1934-1935) 2CD / RM (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This two-CD set has the first 42 recordings of Fats Waller with his Rhythm. The brilliant stride pianist/vocalist/ composer/personality became very popular due to these 1934-35 recordings which feature either Herman Autrey or Bill Coleman on trumpet, Gene Sedric, Ben Whitted, Mezz Mezzrow or Rudy Powell on reeds, guitarist Al Casey and a rhythm section. All of Waller's Victor recordings have been reissued on CD and this two-fer (which includes such memorable numbers as "A Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid," "Serenade for a Wealthy Widow," "How Can You Face Me," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Believe It, Beloved," "I Ain't Got Nobody," "Oh Suzannah Dust Off That Old Pianna" and "You've Been Taking Lessons in Love") is a perfect place to start. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist 1:
1 A Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid 3:19
2 I Wish I Were Twins 2:38
3 Armful O' Sweetness 3:00
4 Do Me a Favor 3:08
5 Georgia May 2:35
6 Then I'll Be Tired of You 3:08
7 Don't Let It Bother You 2:48
8 Have a Little Dream on Me 2:43
9 Serenade For a Wealthy Widow [Instrumental] 2:35
10 How Can You Face Me? 2:44
11 Sweetie Pie 3:03
12 Mandy 2:29
13 Let's Pretend There's a Moon 3:26
14 You're Not the Only Oyster in the Stew 3:10
15 Honeysuckle Rose 2:36
16 Believe It, Beloved 2:39
17 Dream Man (Make Me Dream Some More) 2:57
18 I'm Growing Fonder of You 3:17
19 If It Isn't Love 2:53
20 Breakin' the Ice 3:14
21 I'm a Hundred Percent For You 3:04
22 I'm a Hundred Percent For You [Instrumental]
Tracklist 2:
1 Baby Brown 3:10
2 Baby Brown [Instrumental] 2:31
3 Night Wind 3:20
4 Because of Once Upon a Time 3:11
5 I Believe in Miracles 2:52
6 You Fit Into the Picture 2:27
7 Louisiana Fairy Tale 3:26
8 I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) 2:47
9 I Ain't Got Nobody [Instrumental] 2:49
10 Whose Honey Are You 2:35
11 Whose Honey Are You [Instrumental] 3:05
12 Rosetta 2:57
13 Rosetta [Instrumental] 2:46
14 Pardon My Love 3:04
15 What's the Reason (I'm Not Pleasin' You) 2:48
16 What's the Reason [Instrumental] 2:47
17 Cinders 2:57
18 Dust Off That Old Pianna, (Oh Suzannah) 2:32
19 Lulu's Back in Town 2:35
20 Sweet and Slow 3:29
21 You've Been Taking Lessons in Love (From Somebody New) 3:05
22 You're the Cutest One 3:21

FATS WALLER AND HIS RHYTHM - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down : The Early Years, Part 2 (1935-1936) 2CD /RM (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second in a series of five CD packages that reissue all of Fats Waller's Victor recordings with his Rhythm, this two-CD set traces the pianist/composer/ vocalist/personality's career during a nine-month period. Among the sidemen are trumpeter Herman Autrey and either Rudy Powell or Gene Sedric on reeds; highlights include the hit version of "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," a rambunctious "There'll Be Some Changes Made," "Truckin '," "Got a Bran' New Suit" and four performances from a big-band session. All of the Waller Victor recordings are full of joy and infectious swing. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist 1:
1 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter 3:29
2 Hate To Talk About Myself 2:39
3 Dinah 3:06
4 Take It Easy 3:10
5 You're The Picture 3:36
6 My Very Good Friend The Milkman 3:30
7 Blue Because Of You 2:54
8 There's Going To Be The Devil To Pay 2:26
9 Twelfth Street Rag 2:47
10 There'll Be Some Changes Made 3:06
11 Somebody Stole My Gal 3:27
12 Sweet Sue - Just You (Take 1) 2:52
13 Sweet Sue - Just You (Take 2) 2:54
14 Truckin' 3:18
15 Sugar Blues 2:48
16 As Long As The World Goes Round And Round 3:03
17 Georgia Rockin' Chair 2:42
18 Brother Seek And Ye Shall Find 2:48
19 The Girl I Left Behind Me 3:12
20 You're So Darn Charming 2:42
Celesta – Fats Waller
21 Woe! Is Me 2:55
22 Rhythm And Romance 3:12
Tracklist 2:
1 Loafin' Time 2:27
2 A Sweet Beginning Like This 2:49
3 Got A Bran' New Suit 2:34
4 I'm On A See-Saw 3:00
5 Thief In The Night 2:50
6 When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful 3:38
7 I've Got My Fingers Crossed 2:37
8 Spreadin' Rhythm Around 2:41
9 A Little Bit Independent 2:54
10 You Stayed Away Too Long 3:10
11 Sweet Thing 3:21
12 Fat And Greasy (Take 1) 3:09
13 Fat And Greasy (Take 2) 3:07
14 Functionizin' (Instrumental) 3:08
15 I Got Rhythm 3:08
16 The Panic Is On 3:15
17 Sugar Rose 3:09
18 Oooh! Look-a There Ain't She Pretty? 2:32
19 Moon Rose 2:53
20 West Wind 3:33
21 That Never-To-Be-Forgotten Night 3:12
22 Sing An Old Fashioned Song (To A Young Sophisticated Lady) 3:21
23 Garbo Green 2:59
Credits:
Bass – Charles Turner
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Rudy Powell (tracks: 1-1 to 2-5)
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Gene Sedric (tracks: 2-6 to 2-23)
Drums – Arnold Boling (tracks: 1-3 to 2-5), Harry Dial (tracks: 1-1 to 1-2), Yank Porter (tracks: 2-6 to 2-23)
Guitar – Al Casey (tracks: 1-1, 1-2), James Smith (tracks: 1-3 to 2-23)
Piano – Fats Waller
Trumpet – Herman Autrey
Vocals – Fats Waller (tracks: 1-1 to 2-13, 2-15 to 2-23)

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)