Muggsy Spanier - The Chronological Classics, 3 Albums (1939-1946)

Muggsy Spanier was a predictable but forceful cornetist who rarely strayed far from the melody. Perfectly at home in Dixieland ensembles, Spanier was also an emotional soloist (equally influenced by King Oliver and Louis Armstrong) who was an expert at using the plunger mute. He started on cornet when he was 13, played with Elmer Schoebel's band in 1921, and first recorded in 1924. Spanier was a fixture in Chicago throughout the decade (appearing on several important early records) before joining Ted Lewis in 1929. Although Lewis was essentially a corny showman, Spanier's solos gave his band some validity during the next seven years. After a stint with Ben Pollack's orchestra (1936-1938), Spanier became seriously ill and was hospitalized for three months. After he recovered, the cornetist formed his famous eight-piece "Ragtime Band" and recorded 16 Dixieland performances for Bluebird (later dubbed The Great Sixteen) that virtually defined the music of the Dixieland revival movement. But because his group actually preceded the revival by a couple years, it soon had to break up due to lack of work. Muggsy joined Bob Crosby for a time, had his own short-lived big band, freelanced with Dixieland bands in New York, and starting in 1950 he gradually relocated to the West Coast. During 1957-1959 Spanier worked with Earl Hines' band and he continued playing up until his retirement in 1964, touring Europe in 1960 and always retaining his popularity in the Dixieland world.


Tracks:



Muggsy Spanier - 1939-1942 {Chronological 709}

01. Big Butter and Egg Man (3:03)
02. Someday, Sweetheart (2:46)
03. Eccentric (2:38)
04. That Da Da Strain (2:30)
05. At the Jazz Ball (2:50)
06. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (2:55)
07. Dipper Mouth Blues (2:27)
08. Livery Stable Blues (3:01)
09. Riverboat Shuffle (2:45)
10. Relaxin' at the Touro (3:13)
11. At Sundown (2:34)
12. Bluin' the Blues (2:40)
13. Lonesome Road (3:01)
14. Dinah (2:44)
15. (What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue (2:43)
16. Mandy, Make Up Your Mind (2:38)
17. Little David, Play on Your Harp (3:20)
18. Can't We Be Friends? (3:13)
19. Chicago (2:38)
20. Hesitating Blues (3:11)
21. The Wreck of the Old '97 (3:00)
22. American Patrol (2:49)
23. Two O'Clock Jump (2:57)
24. More Than You Know (3:04)



Muggsy Spanier - 1944 {Chronological 907}

1. Angry (Brunies, Cassard, Mecum ) - 2:47
2. Weary Blues (Matthews ) - 2:57
3. Snag It (King Oliver ) - 3:11
4. Alice Blue Gown (McCarthy, Tierney ) - 3:06
5. Sweet Lorraine (Burwell, Parish ) - 3:51
6. Oh, Lady Be Good (Gershwin, Gershwin ) - 3:25
7. Sugar (Alexander, Mitchell, Pinkard ) - 3:02
8. September in the Rain (Dubin, Warren ) - 4:19
9. Sweet Sue, Just You (Harris, Young ) - 4:22
10. Memphis Blues (Handy, Norton ) - 4:14
11. Riverside Blues (Dorsey, Jones ) - 3:03
12. Rosetta (Hines, Woode ) - 3:13
13. That's A-Plenty (Gilbert, Pollack ) - 4:37
14. Squeeze Me (Waller, Williams ) - 4:35
15. Jazz Me Blues (Delaney ) - 4:18
16. Pee Wee Speaks (Russell, Spanier ) - 5:00
17. Pat's Blues (Spanier ) - 4:33



Muggsy Spanier - 1944-1946 {Chronological 967}

1. Sobbin' Blues (Berton, Kassel ) - 2:53
2. Darktown Strutters' Ball (Brooks ) - 3:01
3. The Lady's in Love with You (Lane, Loesser ) - 3:00
4. Whistlin' the Blues (Haggart, Spanier ) - 3:06
5. Tin Roof Blues (Brunis, Mares, Melrose ... ) - 2:54
6. Muskrat Ramble (Gilbert, Ory ) - 3:04
7. Bugle Call Rag (Meyers, Pettis, Schoebel ) - 2:55
8. That's A-Plenty (Gilbert, Pollack ) - 2:51
9. Feather Brain Blues (Spanier ) - 3:01
10. Lucky to Me (Bernstein, Camden, Green ) - 2:53
11. Tin Roof Blues (Brunis, Mares, Melrose ... ) - 2:56
12. Cherry (Redman, Russell ) - 2:41
13. China Boy (Boutelje, Winfree ) - 5:09
14. Royal Garden Blues (Williams, Williams ) - 3:30
15. You Took Advantage of Me (Hart, Rodgers ) - 3:15
16. Pee Wee Squawks (Russell, Spanier ) - 2:31
17. Sentimental Journey (Brown, Green, Homer ) - 2:46
18. Muggsy Special (Haggart, Spanier ) - 2:29
19. You're Driving Me Crazy (Donaldson ) - 2:30
20. Am I Blue? (Akst, Clarke ) - 2:10
21. How Come You Do Me Like You Do? (Austin, Bergere ) - 3:01