Similar Albums:
- Artist: Tiny Bradshaw
- Rating:
- Release Date: August 20, 2002
- Type: Compilation (best of)
- Genre: Blues
Review
Proper presents a chronological survey of recordings made by Tiny Bradshaw between September 19, 1934 and July 25, 1951 for the Decca, Regis, Manor, Savoy and King labels. The material reissued on this double disc traces a stylistic progression from swing to bop to R&B. Tiny Bradshaw's early Decca recordings, made in New York during September and October 1934 are dominated by the leader's vocals. Remastered with reverb, these energetic stomps sound something like records of a similar vintage made by Taft Jordan and the Washboard Rhythm Kings. One thing about young Bradshaw: he seems to have been almost entirely incapable of subtlety. On most of these early records he sings loud and fast, scatting himself breathless and carrying on, going off like a cap pistol over and over again; in live performance, Bradshaw danced and cavorted like Cab Calloway. The band contained trumpeter Shad Collins as well as reedmen Russell Procope and Happy Caldwell. Bradshaw hollers through "Ol' Man River" in a manner similar to Bob Howard or Putney Dandridge. Bradshaw's 1944 band consisted of 14 decidedly modern-sounding players, including West Indian trumpeter Talib Dawud, baritone saxophonist Charlie Fowlkes (a veteran of Lionel Hampton's band destined for years of service with Count Basie), and legendary saxmen Big Nick Nicholas and Sonny Stitt. Bradshaw's Manor and Savoy recordings, made between February 1945 and March 1947, document a transitional period during which he posed as a crooner, took one tentative step towards bebop with "V2" then dove headlong into re-bop and R&B, the stylistic turf where he would live out the rest of his career. His King sessions took place in Cincinnati and New York beginning on November 30, 1949. This is the material for which Bradshaw is best known and remembered. "Well, Oh Well," recorded on February 8, 1950, is his masterpiece. After years of searching for the right groove, it was only during the last few years of his career that Tiny Bradshaw found his natural element in the King label's patented formula of hand-clapping, foot-stomping R&B with backbeat drumming, boogie woogie piano, call-and-response band vocals, electrically amplified guitar and growling, squealing saxophones. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music GuideTracks
CD 1
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Shout, Sister Shout | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:47) | |
| Mister, Will You Seranade? | Clarence Williams, Alex Hill, Ikey Robinson | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:53) |
| The Darktown Strutters' Ball | Shelton Brooks | Tiny Bradshaw | (3:07) |
| The Sheik of Araby | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:45) | |
| Ol' Man River | Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:52) |
| I Ain't Got Nobody | Dave Peyton, Roger Graham, Spencer Williams | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:53) |
| I'm a Ding Dong Daddy | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:56) | |
| She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain | Traditional | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:48) |
| After You've Gone | Henry Creamer, Turner Layton | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:42) |
| Salt Lake City Bounce | Buddy Johnson, Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:52) |
| Straighten Up and Fly Right | Nat King Cole, Irving Mills | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:49) |
| Bradshaw Bounce | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:53) |
| V-2 | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:56) |
| Butterfly | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:57) |
| Schoolday Blues | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:43) |
| Six Shooter Junction | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:18) | |
| Bride and Groom Boogie | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:18) | |
| I Found Out Too Late | Tiny Bradshaw, Alex Hill | Tiny Bradshaw | (3:03) |
| These Things Are Love | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (3:19) |
| If I Had a Million Dollars | Johnny Mercer, Matty Malneck | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:36) |
| Take the Hands Off the Clock | Sam Theard | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:28) |
| I've Been Around | Sam Theard, Henry Glover | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:29) |
CD 2
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Gravy Train | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:49) | |
| Boodie Green | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:42) | |
| Walkin' the Chalk Line | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:42) | |
| Well Oh Well | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:42) | |
| Butterlfy | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:07) |
| I'm Going to Have Myself a Ball | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:45) | |
| Breaking Up the House | Henry Glover | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:43) |
| One, Two Three, Kick Blues | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:51) |
| If You Don't Love Me, Tell Me So | Tiny Bradshaw, Henry Glover | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:41) |
| Walk That Mess | Henry Glover, Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:43) |
| Snaggle Tooth Ruth | Tiny Bradshaw, Henry Glover | Tiny Bradshaw | (3:04) |
| Brad's Blues | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:59) |
| Bradshaw Boogie | Henry Glover, |
Tiny Bradshaw | (1:54) |
| Two Dry Bones on the Pantry Shelf | Henry Glover, Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (1:56) |
| The Blues Came Pouring Down | Tiny Bradshaw | (1:53) | |
| I'm a Hi-Ballin' Daddy | Syd Nathan, Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (1:59) |
| Get Back on the Shelf Baby | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:14) |
| Built Like a Railroad Track | Tiny Bradshaw | Tiny Bradshaw | (3:09) |
| T-99 | Tiny Bradshaw | (2:59) | |
| The Train Kept-A-Rollin' | Tiny Bradshaw, |
Tiny Bradshaw | (2:46) |
| Knockin' Blues | Tiny Bradshaw | (1:51) |
