Clarence Williams - The Chronological Classics, 10 Albums

Although he was quite spirited playing jug, Clarence Williams was only a decent pianist and a likable but limited vocalist. However, he was also a talented composer, writing or co-writing dozens, of memorable songs like "Royal Garden Blues," "Everybody Loves My Baby," "West End Blues," "Sugar Blues," "Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do," and "Baby Won't You Please Come Home," and he was also a masterful organizer, responsible for scores of hot recordings issued under his name in the 1920s and '30s.

A superior businessman and an inventive hustler, Williams worked at all kinds of odd jobs in New Orleans, where he moved in 1906. He played piano in Storyville, always keeping aware of the latest hits from New York; he was a singer, dancer, and emcee with a minstrel show, and ran his own cabaret. He also co-ran a small publishing company with Armand J. Piron and soon realized its potential. Williams moved at first to Chicago, where he ran a music store, and then to New York, where he had great success with his publishing house. He composed songs, put together all-star groups to record them, and was also involved in selling sheet music of his hits; each activity helped the others. Williams managed some artists on the side, including Bessie Smith (whom he helped get started) for a brief time. Starting in 1923, he was also an A&R man for Okeh Records, and frequently accompanied blues singers.

A fascinating figure and one of the most successful black businessmen of the era, Clarence Williams had a real ear for talent. Among the more notable classic jazz musicians who appeared on his records (many of which were issued as being by his Blue Five or Blue Seven) were soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet; trumpeters Louis Armstrong, Joe Smith, Bubber Miley, Tommy Ladnier, Louis Metcalf, King Oliver, Red Allen, and Ed Allen; trombonists Charles Irvis, Tricky Sam Nanton, and Jimmy Harrison; clarinetists Buster Bailey and Cecil Scott; flutist Albert Socarras; tenors Coleman Hawkins and Benny Waters; Cyrus St. Clair on tuba; drummer/washboard player Floyd Casey; pianists James P. Johnson and Willie "The Lion" Smith; and Eva Taylor (whom he married in 1923) on vocals. Quite remarkably, all of Clarence Williams' recordings as a leader have been made available by the Classics label on 14 CDs.

At the height of his power in the early '30s, Clarence Williams' importance waned as the decade continued and swing took over. After 1937, he only appeared on one final session (two songs in 1941), concentrating on the business side of music. In 1943, he sold his company to Decca and became a shop owner in Harlem. Williams was seriously injured when hit by a taxi in 1956 and passed away in 1965. The 1976 bio-discography Clarence Williams by Tom Lord gives one an idea of his many accomplishments.


Tracks:


Clarence Williams - 1927 {The Chronological Classics, 736}

01. Cushion Foot Stomp (3:01)
02. P.D.Q. Blues (2:56)
03. Anywhere Sweetie Goes (I'll Be There) (3:00)
04. Cushion Foot Stomp (3:04)
05. Cushion Foot Stomp (3:24)
06. Take Your Black Bottom Outside (3:04)
07. Black Snake Blues (2:58)
08. Old Folks Shuffle (2:52)
09. Baltimore (2:54)
10. Take Your Black Bottom Outside (3:06)
11. Slow River (vocal) (3:16)
12. Slow River (instr.) (3:15)
13. Zulu Wail (vocal) (3:13)
14. Zulu Wail (instr.) (3:04)
15. Shooting The Pistol (2:41)
16. Bottomland (3:12)
17. I'm Goin' Back To Bottomland (2:36)
18. You'll Long For Me (When The Cold Winds Blow) (3:06)
19. When I March In April With May (3:12)
20. Shootin' The Pistol (2:56)
21. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home? (2:54)
22. Close Fit Blues (3:00)


Clarence Williams - 1927-1928 {The Chronological Classics, 752}

01. Shake Em Up (Clarence Williams' Orchestra) (2:56)
02. Jingles (Clarence Williams' Orchestra) (2:50)
03. Yama Yama Blues (Clarence Williams' Washboard Four) (2:52)
04. (Norfolk) Church Street Sobbin' Blues (Clarence Williams' Washboard Four) (3:05)
05. Dreaming The Hours Away (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (2:58)
06. Close Fit Blues (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (3:08)
07. Sweet Emmalina (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (3:01)
08. Any Time (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (3:22)
09. Sweet Emmalina (Clarence Williams' Washboard Five) (2:54)
10. Log Cabin Blues (Clarence Williams' Washboard Five) (3:18)
11. Shake It Down (Clarence Williams' Washboard Five) (2:58)
12. Red River Blues (Clarence Williams' Washboard Five) (3:05)
13. Red River Blues (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (2:58)
14. I Need You (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (2:57)
15. Lazy Mama (Clarence Williams' Orchestra) (3:07)
16. Mountain City Blues (Clarence Williams' Orchestra) (3:09)
17. Organ Grinder Blues (Clarence Williams) (3:25)
18. Wildflower Rag (Clarence Williams) (3:08)
19. My Woman Done Me Wrong (As Far As I Am Concerned) (Clarence Williams) (3:22)
20. Farm Hand Papa (Clarence Williams) (3:09)
21. The Keyboard Express (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (2:54)
22. Walk The Broad (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (3:07)


Clarence Williams - 1928-1929 {The Chronological Classics, 711}

01. Long, Deep And Wide (2:56)
02. Speakeasy (2:55)
03. Squeeze Me (2:56)
04. New Down Home Blues (3:06)
05. Organ Grinder Blues (3:07)
06. I'm Busy And You Can't Come In (2:51)
07. Walk That Broad (3:06)
08. Have You Ever Felt That Way? (3:08)
09. Wildflower Rag (2:36)
10. Midnight Stomp (3:03)
11. I'm Through (2:55)
12. Bozo (2:43)
13. Bimbo (2:35)
14. Longshoreman's Blues (2:48)
15. In The Bottle Blues (2:56)
16. What Do You Want Me To Do? (2:51)
17. Watchin' The Clock (3:09)
18. Freeze Out (2:59)
19. Beau-Koo-Jack (2:41)
20. Sister Kate (2:58)
21. Pane In The Glass (2:47)
22. Saturday Night Jag (3:06)


Clarence Williams - 1929 {The Chronological Classics, 791}

01. Hot Lovin' (Barrel House Five Orchestra) (3:05)
02. Mama Stayed Out (Barrel House Five Orchestra) (3:13)
03. Nobody's Business (How I Love That Man) (Barrel House Five Orchestra) (2:56)
04. Endurance Stomp (Barrel House Five Orchestra) (2:56)
05. Some Do And Some Don't (Barrel House Five Orchestra) (3:02)
06. Scufflin' Blues (Barrel House Five Orchestra) (3:07)
07. If You Like Me Like I Like You (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (2:55)
08. Have You Ever Felt That Way? (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (3:04)
09. A Pane In The Glass (Clarence Williams) (3:06)
10. Too Low (Clarence Williams) (2:58)
11. Mississippi Blues (Home Town Toddle) (Clarence Williams' Washboard Band) (3:13)
12. Steamboat Days (Clarence Williams' Washboard Band) (3:20)
13. Close Fit Blues (Memphis Jazzers) (3:12)
14. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home? (Memphis Jazzers) (3:39)
15. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (2:59)
16. Mountain City Blues (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (3:01)
17. I'm Not Worryin' (Clarence Williams And His Band) (3:31)
18. Touch-Down (Clarence Williams And His Band) (2:55)
19. In Our Cottage Of Love (Clarence Williams' Washboard Band) (3:20)
20. Lazy Mama (Clarence Williams' Washboard Band) (3:01)
21. In Our Cottage Of Love (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (2:53)
22. Them Things Got Me (Clarence Williams' Jazz Kings) (3:02)


Clarence Williams - 1929-1930 {The Chronological Classics, 810}

01. Whoop It Up (2:53)
02. I'm Not Worrying (3:05)
03. High Society (3:11)
04. Whoop It Up (3:19)
05. A Pane In The Glass (3:02)
06. Freeze Out (2:50)
07. Nervous Breakdown (2:48)
08. Railroad Rhythm (3:07)
09. You've Got To Give Me Some (2:58)
10. I've Got What It Takes (3:16)
11. You Don't Understand (3:06)
12. (Oh! Baby) What Makes Me Love You So? (3:26)
13. Zonky (2:48)
14. You've Got To Be Modernistic (2:53)
15. What If We Do (3:06)
16. Wipe 'Em Off (2:45)
17. Left All Alone With The Blues (3:31)
18. I've Found A New Baby (3:40)
19. How Could I Be Blue? (3:26)
20. I've Found A New Baby (2:55)
21. Whip Me With Plenty Of Love (3:13)
22. Worn Out Blues (3:18)


Clarence Williams - 1930-1931 {The Chronological Classics, 832}

01. He Wouldn't Stop Doin It (Clarence Williams' Novelty Band) (3:00)
02. You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey When You Get Old (Clarence Williams' Novelty Band) (3:07)
03. You Rascal You (Clarence Williams) (3:40)
04. Michigan Water Blues (Clarence Williams) (3:23)
05. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) (Lazy Levee Loungers) (3:14)
06. Shout, Sister, Shout! (Lazy Levee Loungers) (2:51)
07. Where That Ol Man River Flows (Clarence Williams' Washboard Band) (3:06)
08. Shout, Sister, Shout! (Clarence Williams' Washboard Band) (3:01)
09. High Society Blues (Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings) (3:03)
10. Lazy Levee Loungers (Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings) (2:46)
11. Sittin On Top Of The World (Clarence Williams' Jug Band) (3:03)
12. Kansas City Man Blues (Clarence Williams' Jug Band) (3:00)
13. Hot Lovin' (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:01)
14. Papa De-Da-Da (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:04)
15. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home? (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:42)
16. Kentucky (Clarence Williams' Washboard Band) (2:57)
17. Papa De-Da-Da (Clarence Williams' Washboard Band) (3:15)
18. Loving (Clarence Williams' Washboard Band) (3:04)
19. Shout, Sister, Shout! (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:47)
20. Shout, Sister, Shout! (Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings) (2:50)
21. Papa De-Da-Da (Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings) (3:28)
22. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home? (Clarence Williams And His Jazz Kings) (2:55)


Clarence Williams - 1933 {The Chronological Classics, 845}

01. Mississippi Basin (3:04)
02. I Like To Go Back In The Evening (2:33)
03. Black-Eyed Susan Brown (2:51)
04. Mama Stayed Out All Night Long (2:47)
05. High Society (2:41)
06. I Like To Go In The Evening (To That Old Sweetheart Of Mine) (2:45)
07. Shim Sham Simmy Dance (3:03)
08. Organ Grinder Blues (3:45)
09. Chizzlin' Sam (3:14)
10. High Society (2:56)
11. Mister, Will You Serenade? (3:12)
12. You Ain't Too Old (3:06)
13. Beer Garden Blues (2:52)
14. The Right Key But The Wrong Keyhole (2:39)
15. Dispossessin' Me (2:42)
16. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) (3:06)
17. She Just Got A Little Bit Left (3:01)
18. After Tonight (3:07)
19. Bimbo (2:56)
20. Chocolate Avenue (2:59)
21. Harlem Rhythm Dance (2:50)
22. 'Way Down Home (3:04)
23. For Sale (Hannah Johnson's Big Jack Ass) (2:48)


Clarence Williams - 1933-1934 {The Chronological Classics, 871}

01. Swaller-Tail Coat (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:08)
02. Looka-There, Ain't She Pretty (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:34)
03. St. Louis Blues (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:55)
04. How Can I Get It? (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:03)
05. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:58)
06. Won't You Come Over And Say 'Hello' (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:42)
07. Old Street Sweeper (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:04)
08. I'm Gonna Wash My Sins Away (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:02)
09. Jimmy Had A Nickel (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:55)
10. He's A Colonel From Kentucky (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:39)
11. Pretty Baby, Is It Yes Or No? (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:58)
12. Mister, Will You Serenade? (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:43)
13. I've Got Horses And Got Numbers On My Mind (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:53)
14. New Orleans Hop Scop Blues (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:52)
15. Let's Have A Showdown (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:54)
16. I Can't Dance, I Got Ants In My Pants (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:02)
17. Christmas Night In Harlem (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:42)
18. Ill Wind (You're Blowing Me No Good) (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:05)
19. As Long As I Live (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:51)
20. Tell The Truth (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:51)
21. Sashay, Oh Boy! (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:10)
22. I Can't Beat You Doin' What You're Doin' To Me (Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band) (2:41)
23. Trouble (Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band) (3:14)


Clarence Williams - 1934 {The Chronological Classics, 891}

01. Jerry The Junker (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:09)
02. Organ Grinder Blues (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:11)
03. I'm Gettin' My Bonus In Love (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:46)
04. Chizzlin' Sam (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:55)
05. Big Fat Mama (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:49)
06. Ain't Gonna Give You None Of My Jelly Roll (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:35)
07. I Saw Stars (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:13)
08. Crazy Blues (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:27)
09. The Stuff Is Here And It's Mellow (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:37)
10. Rhapsody In Love (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:56)
11. 'Ida' Sweet As Apple Cider (Alabama Jug Band) (2:46)
12. My Gal Sal (Alabama Jug Band) (2:52)
13. Gulf Coast Blues (Alabama Jug Band) (3:09)
14. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (Alabama Jug Band) (2:41)
15. Jazz It Blues (Alabama Jug Band) (2:54)
16. Somebody Stole My Gal (Alabama Jug Band) (2:56)
17. Crazy Blues (Alabama Jug Band) (3:19)
18. Sugar Blues (Alabama Jug Band) (2:38)


Clarence Williams - 1934-1937 {The Chronological Classics, 918}

01. 'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:27)
02. I Can't Think Of Anything But You (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:48)
03. Sugar Blues (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:36)
04. Jungle Crawl (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:31)
05. I Can See You All Over The Place (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:47)
06. Savin' Up My Baby (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:42)
07. Milk Cow Blues (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:59)
08. Black Gal (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:47)
09. A Foolish Little Girl Like You (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:57)
10. There's Gonna Be The Devil To Pay (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:48)
11. This Is My Sunday Off (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:51)
12. Yama Yama Blues (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:00)
13. Let Every Day Be Mother's Day (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (3:02)
14. Lady Luck Blues (Clarence Williams And His Orchestra) (2:59)
15. Cryin' Mood (Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band) (2:20)
16. Top Of The Town (Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band) (2:51)
17. Turn Off The Moon (Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band) (2:57)
18. More Than That (Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band) (2:58)
19. Jammin' (Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band) (2:54)
20. Wanted (Clarence Williams And His Washboard Band) (2:28)