Willie 039the Lion039 Smith - Willie Smith 1938 1940 (24 tracks) +Album Reviews

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Willie 'the Lion' Smith
Willie Smith 1938 1940
Genres: Blues, Jazz

Track Listings (24) - Disc #1
1. Three Keyboards - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Bushkin, Joe
2. The Lion and the Lamb - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Pious, Minerva
3. Morning Air - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
4. Echoes of Spring - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
5. Concentrating - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
6. Fading Star - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
7. Passionette - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
8. Rippling Waters - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
9. Sneakaway - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
10. What Is There to Say? - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Duke, Vernon
11. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Arlen, Harold
12. The Boy in the Boat - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Waller, Fats
13. Tea for Two - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Caesar, Irving
14. I'll Follow You - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Ahlert, Fred E.
15. Finger Buster - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
16. Stormy Weather - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Arlen, Harold
17. Peace on You - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Singer, Hal [1]
18. Wontcha Do It for Me - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Canville, Pascal
19. Rushin' - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
20. Noodlin' - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Smith, Willie [1] "
21. Doggin' the Dog - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Turner, Joe [1]
22. Careless Love - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Handy, W.C.
23. Jumpin' Down Blues - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Turner, Joe [1]
24. Rainy Day Blues - Willie "The Lion" Smith, Turner, Joe [1]

CD Details

All Artists: Willie 'the Lion' Smith
Title: Willie Smith 1938 1940
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Allegro Corporation
Release Date: 11/11/1997
Genres: Blues, Jazz
Styles: Piano Blues, Swing Jazz, Traditional Jazz & Ragtime
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 750582789021

CD Reviews

Classic Lion

B. D. Tutt | London, UK. | 04/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Willie "The Lion" Smith was widely recognised as on a par with James P. Johnson and Fats Waller in the Harlem pianistic pantheon. A wonderful band pianist, his compositions contrasted romantic and rhapsodic themes with explosive stride.This disc includes the peak of Smith's recording output, the 14 solos he recorded for Commodore in 1939. His best known compositions are here, as are a few idiosyncratically performed standards. Sound quality is not perfect, as is usual with Classics CDs, but the quality of the music shines through.The remainder of the disc is taken up with four lively small band tracks, and one of the more bizarre mismatches in recorded jazz, four numbers where Smith accompanied (or rather played at the same time as) blues shouter Big Joe Turner. The clash of styles and apparent lack of sympathy between the two makes for entertaining, if not for prolonged, listening.Strongly recommended for the 1939 solos."