Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith – 100 Classic Recordings 1925-53 – 4CD

Willie “The Lion” Smith was a jazz and stride pianist, rivalling James P. Johnson, Fats Waller and Clarence Williams in the latter style, who was nicknamed “The Lion” because of his bravery serving in the US Army in France in WWI. By 1910 he was already playing in New York clubs and played on his first recording session in 1920. He became a sought-after musician in small jazz groups in the late ‘20s and by the early’30s was leading his own band as well as recording solo sessions. A colourful figure with his ever-present cigar and pork pie hat, he was also a highly sophisticated pianist who influenced the likes of Duke Ellington. This great-value 100-track 4-CD set selects from his prolific output across a primary quarter-century era in his career, featuring recordings on the Columbia, Decca, Victor, Commodore, Brunswick, Black & White, Royal Jazz, Vogue and Blue Circle labels. It features recordings with early groups like The Gulf Coast Seven, The Georgia Strutters, Seven Gallon Jug Band and with bands led by Clarence Williams, Mezz Mezzrow, Sidney Bechet, Max Kaminsky, Milt Herth and Big Joe Turner, as well as his own bands, with performances alongside many of the top musicians of the day. It also includes many of his noted solo recordings. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable trawl across some great jazz recordings of the time, and a substantial showcase for his skills and style as a pianist, recording in a variety of musical settings.

Track Listing:

CD1:
Gulf Coast Seven: 1. Keep Your Temper -   Georgia Strutters: 2. It's Right Here For You -   Seven Gallon Jug Band: 3. Wipe 'Em Off -   Clarence Williams' Jug Band: 4. Shim Sham Shimmy Dance -   5. Chizzlin' Sam -   Mezz Mezzrow and his Orch.: 6. Old Fashioned Love -   7. Apologies -   Alabama Jug Band: 8. Ida -   9. Somebody Stole My Gal -   Willie Smith (The Lion) and his Cubs: 10. There's Gonna Be The Devil To Pay -   11. Streamline Gal -   12. What Can I Do With A Foolish Little Girl Like You -   13. Harlem Joys -   14. Echo Of Spring -   15. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) -   16. Swing, Brother, Swing -   17. Sittin' At The Table (Opposite You) -   Mezz Mezzrow And His Swing Gang: 18. Lost -   19. Mutiny In The Parlor -   20. The Panic Is On -   21. I'se A Muggin' (Pt. 1) -   Willie Smith (The Lion) and his Cubs: 22. The Swampland Is Calling Me -   23. More Than That -   24. I'm All Out Of Breath -   25. I Can See You All Over The Place -   26. Get Acquainted With Yourself -

CD2:
Willie Smith (The Lion) and his Cubs: 1. Peace, Brother, Peace -   2. Blues, Why Don't You Let Me Alone? -   3. Achin' Hearted Blues -   Milt Herth Trio: 4. That's A Plenty -   5. Bei Mir Bist Du Schon -   Willie 'The Lion' Smith: 6. Passionette -   7. Morning Air -   8. Three Keyboards -   9. Concentratin' On You -   10. Fading Star -   11. Rippling Waters -   12. Sneakaway -   13. What Is There To Say? -   14. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea -   15. The Boy In The Boat -   16. Tea For Two -   17. I'll Follow You -   18. Fingerbuster -   Willie 'The Lion' Smith & His Orchestra: 19. Noodlin' -   Big Joe Turner: 20. Doggin' The Dog -   21. Careless Love -   22. Rainy Day Blues -   Sidney Bechet & His New Orleans Feetwarmers: 23. I'm Coming, Virginia -   24. Limehouse Blues -   Sidney Bechet Trio: 25. You're The Limit - 

CD3:
Sidney Bechet Trio: 1. Strange Fruit -   Sidney Bechet & His New Orleans Feetwarmers: 2. Twelfth Street Rag -   3. Oh, Lady Be Good -   4. What Is This Thing Called Love? -   Willie 'The Lion' Smith: 5. Woodland Fantasy -   Max Kaminsky And His Band: 6. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams -   7. Old Fashioned Love -   The Lion's Jazz Band: 8. Let's Mop It -   9. Muskrat Ramble -   10. How Could You Put Me Down -   Willie 'The Lion' Smith: 11. Echoes Of Spring -   12. Here Comes The Band -   13. Relaxin' -   14. Contrary Motion -   15. Zig-Zag -   16. 12th Street Rag -   17. Late Hours -   18. Portrait Of The Duke -   19. Dardanella -   20. La Madelon -   21. Cuttin' Out -   22. Charleston -   23. Carolina Shout -   Willie 'The Lion' Smith Quartet: 24. At The Darktown Strutters Ball -

CD4:
Willie 'The Lion' Smith Quartet: 1. Ain't Misbehavin' -   2. Stormy Weather -   3. Get Together Blues -   4. Nagasaki -   Willie 'The Lion' Smith: 5. Can You Hear Me? -   6. Trains And Planes -   7. Conversation On Park Avenue -   8. Pretty Baby -   9. Sweet Sue, Just You (Pt 1) -   10. I Can't Give You Anything But Love -   11. Just One Of Those Things -   12. Hallelujah -   13. Poor Butterfly -   14. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes -   Willie 'The Lion' Smith & His Orchestra: 15. The Lion Steps Out -   16. Willie’s Blues -   17. Stop It Joe -   18. The Romp -   19. Hoity Toity -   Willie 'The Lion' Smith: 20. Old Fashioned Love -   21. The Mule Walk -   22. If I Could Be With You -   23. Caprice Rag -   24. A Porter's Love Song -   25. Daintiness Rag (Lion's Theme)