Search - Various Artists :: Swing-O-Rama, Vol. 2.

Swing-O-mania

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 12/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This second edition of the Swing-O-Rama series picks up right where we left off, with eleven vintage sides of (for the most part) super-fine swing music. The CD front jacket folds out to reveal some liner notes on this type of music's history, as well as dance steps and fashion tips for the aspiring cool cat or kitten.



Big Baritone 2-- a well-played cut. Surface hiss doesn't detract from a fine swinging sax-filled tune.

No Name Boogie-- continues the sax-driven theme nicely. Nice change of tempo from the first song. Excellent piano fills.

Crazy 'Bout Your Cooking-- a more upbeat bop tune that features a hollerin' blues vocal. Tenor and muted cornet solos midway.

Johnny's Boogie-- classic hi-speed piano boogie augmented by electric guitar. Bridge is reminiscent of King Cole Trio.

Carlos-- latin syncopation and piano with spoken comic lyric. Marred by surface hiss. Mediocre.

Juke Box Boogie Woogie Chick-- a terrific full band swing tune with vocal. Cut a mean rug with this one.

Fish House Boogie-- blues formatted up-rhythm dance tune; small group and vocal. Slurry tenor sax solo.

Willie And The Cool Cat-- full sax section opens this instrumental. Rocks nicely.

Fat Man Blues-- full-range recording of swinging bluesy band number with howling vocal; tenor sax bridge.

I'm A Lovin' Man-- opens with a blues-style vocal over sax riffs and organ. Squawking sax (different man here) and guitar follow, backed by a simple organ line.

Mean Poor Gal-- heavy surface noise initially. A typical blues refrain and rhythm herald the coming of rock & roll. Good vocal work here.



Total running time-- 28:48"