Proper Box 71: "Fats" Waller

Proper Box 71:
FATS WALLER -
HANDFUL OF KEYS

YES!!! At last it has come to pass: Fats Waller gets the Proper treatment. More than any insurance policy, the music of Fats Waller will keep you sleeping safe and sound, knowing that you have bullet-proof protection from the blues. It's simply impossible to be down when Fats is on: He'll turn your frown upside-down. Of all the great personalities of jazz, Fats is -- aside from Louis Armstrong -- probably the greatest.

Fats would be a legend just for his mastery of the keyboard with which he launched his career, but he has so much more to offer. He crafted a true persona which he then donned for each and every performance. And what performances! Fats was the very embodiment of entertainment. And finally, there's the songs themselves. While Fats could take practically any tin-pan alley tune -- like, for example, My Very Good Friend the Milkman -- and transform it into a timeless classic, he also happened to be one of the greatest song writers of all times. He brought a jazz sensibility to show tunes and a show tune sensibility to jazz. Some, like Ain't Misbehavin', have become standards, interpreted over and over again by cats of all colors, able to be made fresh each time. Others, like Squeeze Me, belong to Fats alone. The people of Proper Records really had their work cut out for them with this one: how do you bring the whole of Fats when you have a mere four CDs? It's painful to leave out even one timeless classic! Handful of Keys proves once again why Proper Records is the reigning champion of classic jazz packages: On 100 big tracks, Fats is here in all his glory, from his early days as keyboard prodigy to his final blazing days of songmanship. This is a set that will bring a lifetime of enjoyment. If Fats isn't part of your life, then, man, you ain't livin'!

As with all Proper Box sets, this one contains five hours of music mastered with the jazz EQ in mind by people who know what they're doing, and comes complete with a 48 page career overview and appreciation by the Mr. Know-It-All of classic jazz, Joop Visser, and, to top it all off, a complete track by track breakdown of who played what on each and every song as well as when and where it was recorded. It's a proper deal!

copacetic price - SOLD OUT!!!

TRACK LISTING:
FATS WALLER - HANDFUL OF KEYS

Disc 1 (P1381) HANDFUL OF KEYS

1. Muscle Shoals Blues 03:13
2. Birmingham Blues 02:59
3. Henderson Stomp 02:30
4. Rusty Pail 02:58
5. Blue Back Bottom 02:52
6. Fats Waller Stomp 03:26
7. Savannah Blues 02:58
8. Geechee 03:04
9. Thou Swell 02:58
10. Handful Of Keys 02:45
11. The Minor Drag 02:38
12. Harlem Fuss 03:22
13. Numb Fumblin’ 02:50
14. Gladyse 03:02
15. Valentine Stomp 03:20
16. Smashing Thirds 03:06
17. Lookin’ Good But Feelin’ Bad
18. Won't You Get Off It Please ? 02:57
19. I'm Crazy ‘Bout My Baby 03:19
20. A Porter's Love Song To A Chambermaid 03:19
21. I Wish I Were Twins 02:38
22. Do Me A Favor 03:08
23. Then I'll Be Tired Of You 03:07
24. Don't Let It Bother You 02:50
25. Have A Little Dream On Me 02:46

Disc 2 (P1382) TRUCKIN'

1. Serenade For A Wealthy Widow 02:35
2. How Can You Face Me? 02:50
3. Sweetie Pie 03:02
4. Believe It, Beloved 02:42
5. Dream Man 02:57
6. Breakin’ The Ice 03:18
7. African Ripples 03:08
8. Alligator Crawl 02:40
9. Viper's Drag 02:50
10. I'm A Hundred Per Cent For You 03:05
11. Night Wind 03:16
12. I Believe In Miracles 02:54
13. I Ain't Got Nobody 02:53
14. Clothes Line Ballet 02:36
15. Lulu's Back In Town 02:32
16. I'm Going To Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter 03:30
17. You’Re The Cutest One 03:08
18. Dinah 03:03
19. My Very Good Friend The Milkman 03:30
20. Twelfth Street Rag 02:47
21. There'll Be Some Changes Made 03:05
22. Sweet Sue 02:54
23. Truckin’ 03:19
24. Sugar Blues 02:47
25. Rhythm And Romance 03:15

Disc 3 (P1383) THE JOINT IS JUMPIN'

1. I'm On A See-Saw 03:00
2. When Somebody Thinks You’Re W0Nderful 03:40
3. I've Got My Fingers Crossed 02:38
4. A Little Bit Independent 02:55
5. Fat And Greasy 03:10
6. I Got Rhythm 03:08
7. All My Life 02:45
8. Christopher Columbus 02:52
9. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie 02:52
10. Black Raspberry Jam 02:35
11. Fractious Fingering 02:39
12. Paswonky 02:37
13. Until The Real Thing Comes Along 03:22
14. The Curse Of An Aching Heart 02:38
15. S’Posin 02:49
16. I'm Sorry I Made You Cry 02:46
17. Nero 02:40
18. Spring Cleaning 02:37
19. Honeysuckle Rose 04:35
20. Smarty 02:38
21. Blue Turning Grey Over You 04:22
22. Keepin’ Out Of Mischief Now 03:03
23. The Joint Is Jumping 02:47
24. Everyday's A Holiday 03:17
25. Two Sleepy People 03:00

Disc 4 (P1384) AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'

1. Yacht Club Swing 03:00
2. The Spider And The Fly 03:05
3. A Good Man Is Hard To Find 02:55
4. Hold Tight 02:13
5. ‘Tain't What You Do (It's The Way That Cha Do It) 02:50
6. London Suite : Waller
6.1. 1:Picadilly 01:46
6.2. 2:Chelsea 03:03
6.3. 3:Soho 02:58
6.4. 4:Bond Street 02:53
6.5. 5:Limehouse 03:15
6.6. 6:Whitechapel 03:17
7. Squeeze Me 03:07
8. Your Feet's Too Big 03:07
9. Darktown Strutter's Ball 02:44
10. I Cant Give You Anything But Love 02:55
11. Fats Waller's Original E Flat Blues 03:18
12. Pantin’ In The Panther Room 03:02
13. Carolina Shout 02:15
14. Chant Of The Groove 03:03
15. Buck Jumpin’ 02:36
16. Your Socks Don't Match 03:06
17. The Jitterbug Waltz 03:20
18. Swing Out To Victory 02:32
19. Ain't Misbehavin’ 03:56
20. Waller Jive/Hallelujah 02:42

PROPERBOX 71 - DISCOGRAPHY

DISC ONE - NUMB FUMBLIN’

Fats Waller, p

New York, circa October 21, 1922

70948-D            MUSCLE SHOALS BLUES

70949-D            BIRMINGHAM BLUES

Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra : Russell Smith, Tommy Ladnier, tp; Benny Morton, tb; Buster Bailey, cl, ss, as; Don Redman, cl, as; Coleman Hawkins, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p; Charlie Dixon, bjo; June Cole, tu; Kaiser Marshall, d; Don Redman, arr.

New York, November 3, 1926

142902-2           HENDERSON STOMP

Fats Waller, org

Camden, New Jersey, January 14, 1927

37362-3 RUSTY PAIL

Fats Waller, p

Camden, New Jersey, February 16, 1927

37822-2 BLUE BLACK BOTTOM

Thomas Waller with Morris’ Hot Babies : Tom Morris, cnt; Charlie Irvis, tb; Fats Waller, org, p; Eddie King, d.

Camden, New Jersey, May 20, 1927



38050-3 FATS WALLER STOMP

38051-1 SAVANNAH BLUES

Thomas Waller with Morris’ Hot Babies : Tom Morris, cnt; Jimmy Archey, tb; Fats Waller, p; Bobbie Leecan, g; Eddie King, d.

Camden, New Jersey, December 1, 1927

40097-1 GEECHEE

Louisiana Sugar Babes : Jabbo Smith, cnt; Garvin Bushell, cl; as; James P. Johnson, p; Fats Waller, org

Camden, New Jersey, March 27, 1928

42568-2 THOU SWELL

Fats Waller, p

New York, March 1, 1929

49759-1 HANDFUL OF KEYS

Fats Waller and his Buddies : Charlie Gaines, tp; Charlie Irvis, tb; Arville Harris, cl, as, ts; Fats Waller, p; Eddie Condon, bjo.

New York, March 1, 1929

49760-2 THE MINOR DRAG

49761-2 HARLEM FUSS

Fats Waller, p

New York, March 1, 1929

49762-2 NUMB FUMBLIN’

New York, August 2, 1929

49496-1 GLADYSE

49497-2 VALENTINE STOMP

Fats Waller, p

New York, September 24, 1929

56710-2 SMASHING THIRDS

Fats Waller and his Buddies :   Henry “Red” Allen, tp; Jack Teagarden, tb, vib; Albert Nicholas, Otto Hardwick, as; Larry Binyon, ts; Fats Waller, p; Eddie Condon, bjo; Al Morgan, b; Gene Krupa, d; the Four Wanderers (Herman Hughes, Charles Clinckscales, tenor voice; Maceo Johnson, baritone voice; Oliver Childs, bass voice, voc. group.

New York, September 30, 1929

56727-2 LOOKIN’ GOOD, BUT FEELIN’ BAD

Fats Waller and his Buddies :   Henry “Red” Allen, Leonard Dvis, tp; Jack Teagarden, tb, vib; J.C. Higginbotham, tb; Albert Nicholas, Charlie Holmes, cl, as; Larry Binyon, ts; Fats Waller, p; Will Johnson, bjo; Pops Foster, b; Kaiser Marshall, d.

New York, December 18, 1929

57928-1 WON’T YOU GET OFF IT, PLEASE ?

Fats Waller, p, voc.

New York, March 13, 1931

151417-3           I’M CRAZY ‘BOUT MY BABY (AND MY BABY IS CRAZY ‘BOUT ME)

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Ben Whittet, cl; Fats Waller, p; cel, voc; Al; Casey, g; Billy Taylor, b; Harry Dial, d.

New York, May 16, 1934

82526-1 A PORTER’S LOVE SONG TO A CHAMBERMAID

82527               I WISH I WERE TWINS

82529               DO ME A FAVOR

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Gene Sedric, cl; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Billy Taylor, b; Harry Dial, d, speech (-1)

New York, August 17, 1934

84106-1 THEN I’LL BE TIRED OF YOU

84107-1 DON’T LET IT BOTHER YOU (-1)

84108-1 HAVE A LITTLE DREAM ON ME

DISC TWO - TRUCKIN’

Fats Waller and his Rhythm :   Herman Autrey, tp; Floyd O’Brien, tb; Mezz Mezzrow, cl, as; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Billy Taylor, b; Harry Dial, d, vib (-1)

New York, September 28, 1934

84417-1 SERENADE FOR A WEALTHY WIDOW   (-1)

94419-1 HOW CAN YOU FACE ME ?

84419-1 SWEETIE PIE

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Bill Coleman, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, cel, voc; Al Casey g; Billy Taylor, b; Harry Dial, d, vib.

New York, November 7, 1934

84922-1 BELIEVE IT, BELOVED

84923-1 DREAM MAN

84926-1 BREAKIN’ THE ICE

Fats Waller, p

New York, November 16, 1934

86208-2 AFRICAN RIPPLES

86210-1 ALLIGATOR CRAWL

86211-1 VIPER’S DRAG

Fats Waller and his Rhythm :   Bill Coleman, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, org (-1) voc; Al Casey, g; Charles Turner, b; Harry Dial, d.

Camden, New Jersey, January 5, 1935

87082-1 I’M A HUNDRED PER CENT FOR YOU

87084-1 NIGHT WIND (-1)

87086-1 I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES (-1)

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Rudy Powell, cl, as; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Charles Turner, b; Harry Dial, d.

New York, March 6, 1935

88777-1 I AIN’T GOT NOBODY

Fats Waller, p

New York, March 11, 1935 : Associated Transcription Session

86209-1             CLOTHES LINE BALLET

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Rudy Powell, cl, as; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Charles Turner, b; Harry Dial, d.

New York, May 8, 1935

89760-1 LULU’S BACK IN TOWN

89764-1 I’M GONNA SIT RIGHT DOWN AND WRITE MYSELF A LETTER

89763-1 YOU’RE THE CUTEST ONE

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Rudy Powell, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; James Smith, g; Charles Turner, b; Arnold Boling, d.

Camden, New Jersey, June 214, 1935

88989-1 DINAH

88992-1 MY VERY GOOD FRIEND THE MILKMAN

88995-1 TWELFTH STREET RAG

88996-1 THERE’LL BE SOME CHANGES MADE

88998-1 SWEET SUE

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Rudy Powell,cl, as; Fats Waller, p, voc; James Smith, g; Charles Turner, b; Arnold Boling, d.

New York, August 2, 1935

92915-1 TRUCKIN’

92916-1 SUGAR BLUES

Same personnel as above

New York, August 20, 1935

92994-1 RHYTHM AND ROMANCE

DISC THREE - THE JOINT IS JUMPING

Same personnel and date as “Rhythm and romance”

92998-1 I’M ON A SEE-SAW

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, cel (-1), voc; James Smith, g; Charles Turner, b; Yank Porter, d.

New York, November 29, 1935

98172-1 WHEN SOMEBODY THINKS YOU’RE WONDERFUL

98173-1 I’VE GOT MY FINGERS CROSSED

98175-1 A LITTLE BIT INDEPENDENT (-1)

Fats Waller and his Orchestra : Herman Autrey, tp; Emmett Matthews, ss; Rudy Powell, cl, as; Gene Sedric, Bob Carroll, ts; Fats Waller, p, vib, voc; Hank Duncan, p; James Smith, g; Charles Turner, b; Yank Porter, d; Alex Hill, Don Donaldson, arr (-1)

New York, December 4, 1935

98196-1 FAT AND GREASY

98198-1 I GOT RHYTHM (-1)

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Charles Turner, b; Arnold Boling, d.

New York, April 8, 1936

101189-1           ALL MY LIFE

101190-1           CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Charles Turner, b; Yank Porter, d.

New York, June 5, 1936

101667-1           IT’S A SIN TO TEll A LIE

Same personnel as above

New York, June 8, 1936

102016-1           BLACK RASPBERRY JAM

102018-1           FRACTIOUS FINGERING

102019 PASWONKY

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, p; Charles Turner, b; Slick Jones, d.

New York August 1, 1936

102402 UNTIL THE REAL THING COMES ALONG

102404 THE CURSE OF AN ACHING HEART

Same personnel as above

New York, September 9, 1936

0339-1              S’POSIN

Same personnel as above

New York, December 24, 1936

03841-1 I’M SORRY I MADE YOU CRY

03845-1 NERO

Same personnel as above

New York, March 18, 1937

06418-1 SPRING CLEANING

Same personnel as above, Slick Jones plays vib.

New York, April 9, 1937

07755-1 HONEYSUCKLE ROSE

Same personnel as above

New York, June 9, 1937

010651-1          BLUE TURNING GREY OVER YOU

Fats Waller, p

New York, July 11, 1937

010652-1           KEEPIN’ OUT OF MISCHIEF NOW

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Charles Turner, b; Slick Jones, d.

New York, October 7, 1937

014646-1           THE JOINT IS JUMPING

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Paul Campbell, tp; Caughey Roberts,cl, as; Fats Waller, p, voc; Ceele Burke, g; Al Morgan, b; Lee Young, d.

Hollywood, December 16, 1937

09884-1 EVERYDAY’S A HOLIDAY

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Cedric Wallace, b; Slick Jones, d.

New York, October 13, 1938

027289-1           TWO SLEEPY PEOPLE

DISC FOUR - AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’

Same personnel and date as “Two sleepy people”

027294-1                       YACHT CLUB SWING

Same personnel as above

New York, December 7, 1938

030368-1                       THE SPIDER AND THE FLY

Same personnel as above

New York, January 19, 1939

031530-1                       A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND

031534-1                       HOLD TIGHT

Same personnel as above

New York, March 9, 1938

032944-1                       ‘TAIN’T WHAT YOU DO

Fats Waller, p, org; Max Lewin, d (-1)

London, June 13, 1939

London Suite :

OEA 7878-1                  PICCADILLY

OEA 7879-1                  CHELSEA

OEA 7880-1                  SOHO

OEA 7881-1                  BOND STREET (-1)

OEA 7882-1                  LIMEHOUSE

OEA 7883-1                  WHITECHAPEL

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : John Hamilton, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; John Smith, g; Cedric Wallace, b; Slick Jones, d.

New York, August 10, 1939

041528-1                       SQUEEZE ME

Same personnel as above, but add Una Carlisle, voc (-1)

New York, November 3, 1939

043348-1                       YOUR FEET’S TOO BIG

043350-1                       DARKTOWN STRUTTER’S BALL

043351-1                       I CAN’T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT LOVE (-1)

Same personnel as above, but Al Casey, g; replaces John Smith

New York, July 16, 1940

051869-1                       FATS WALLER’S ORIGINAL E FLAT BLUES

Same personnel as above, but Fats Waller plays organ

Chicago, January 2, 1941

053797-1                       PANTIN’ IN THE PANTHER ROOM

Fats Waller, p

New York, May 13, 1941

063889-2                       CAROLINA SHOUT

Fats Waller, his Rhythm and his Orchestra : John Hamilton, Herman Autrey, Bob Williams, tp; George Wilson, Ray Hogan, tb; Jimmy Powell, Dave McRae, as; Gene Sedric, Bob Carroll, ts; Fats Waller, p; Al Casey, g; Cedric Wallace, b; Slick Jones, d.

Hollywood, July 1, 1941

061334-1                       CHANT OF THE GROOVE

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : John Hamilton, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Cedric Wallace, b; Slick Jones, d.

New York, October 1, 1941

067947-1                       BUCK JUMPIN’

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Herman Autrey, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Charles Turner, b; Arthur Trappier, d.

New York, December 26, 1941

068813-1                       YOUR SOCK’S DON’T MATCH

Fats Waller, his Rhythm and his Orchestra : Herman Autrey, John Hamilton, Joe Thomas, Nathaniel Williams, tp; Herb Flemming, George Wilson, tb; Jackie Fields, George James, as; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Bob Carroll, ts; Fats Waller, org; Al Casey, g Cedric Wallace, b; Arthur Trappier, d.

New York, March 16, 1942

073443-1                       THE JITTERBUG WALTZ

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : John Hamilton, tp; Gene Sedric, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; Al Casey, g; Cedric Wallace, b; Arthur Trappier, d.

New York, July 13, 1942

075424-1                       SWING OUT TO VICTORY

Fats Waller and his Rhythm : Benny Carter, tp; Alton Moore, tb; Gene Porter, cl, ts; Fats Waller, p, voc; Irving Ashby, g; Slam Stewart, b; Zutty Singleton, d.

Hollywood, January 23, 1943

D5.VC - 6216-1 AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’

Fats Waller, p

New York, September 23, 1943

VP 181                         WALLER JIVE/ HALLELUJAH