A nice deal

I must say that it is nice that they packed as many tracks as they could on this CD. You get a few alternate for these sessions, but you also get a bunch of classic 30's recordings from Satchmo playing Fats. Now, when I compare this one to the 'Plays WC handy' record, I have to take out one star, because although Pops seems in fine form here, there is no match for the fire and fun displayed on the 'Plays WC handy' recording.

Two great collaborators two Geniuses

Waller and Armstrong were of the same generation and were collaborators in music in the 1920s. Louis's first big leap to popular stardom beyond the tight group of Jazz musicians and performers came when he introduced "Ain't Mis Behavin'" on the Broadway stage. The audiences often forced him to do three or four encores. Folks who had seen the show before would pay full price just to get in to hear Louis sing this one song.



The recordings in the late 20s by Louis with all the vocals are simply my idea of the best music ever recorded by anyone. Rather than get them selected this way, you might want to get one of the CDs or collections that covers that period of time with everything, rather than just the songs by Waller.

Likewise, while the All Stars were not as good as his original Chicago and New York Groups, particularly these later all-stars (I prefer the albums with the great Jack Teagarden), if you get into the music you will want that all too.



At any rate, there is no one else but Louis who can do these songs justice except the Fat man himself, Mr. Waller!

Years of pleasure

I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that I've listened to this album almost every day for several years. I have it in my CD-alarm clock and it wakes me up with a smile every morning. Pops' showmanship and musical wizardry blend with Fats Waller's witty and bouncy tunes to create an exceptionally tasty musical gumbo.

I first heard the album decades ago in college and have always loved as it an incredible performance by a great team of jazz artists. While I love Ella-Satch duets on other records, the lesser known Velma Middleton is really the better vocal match for Pops. The band is tight, but creative and the alternate takes show how different the same song can sound even when played by the same band with just a slight difference in the arrangement. This is possibly the greatest record of all time!