Maillist
Various
- How Low Can You Go?: Anthology Of The String Bass
- Format: CD Boxed Set
- Catalogue Number: DTD004CD
- Number of Discs: 3
- Label: Dust to Digital
- Release Date: 11 December 2006
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PRICE: £36.99
How Low Can You Go?: Anthology Of The String Bass
Original recordings from 1925-1941, from the legendary archival label Dust-To-Digital (that previously brought the world the beyond-elaborate Goodbye, Babylon and Fonotone Records boxsets).
The first anthology ever of the string bass; A 3CD box set in a cardboard box; 96-page book.
"Not so long ago, the string bass stood tall and proud - roughly the length and breadth of a poor man's pine coffin - in every musical aggregation throughout the land from Bangor to Buenos Aires, from the highest high life to the lowest lowdown, from tuxedoed symphony ensembles to tipsy Calypso bands to honkytonkers in oil-field dives, from elegantly gelled tango orchestras to jazz combos in unspeakable speak-easys to methed-out rockabilly trios right off some flatbed: you can be damned sure Johnny Cash wouldn't have been able to walk the line without bassist Marshall Grant keeping him honest. But somewhere along the line, the upright acoustic bass was snatched from its hallowed place atop the sedans (special carriage) and show-stages and relegated to the trash-heap of history in favor of Leo Fender's sleek electric cousin, plugged in to compete with amplified guitar and drums. Now the stand-up bass makes its appearance mostly in limousine-liberal Lincoln Center jazz benefits and hardcore bluegrass bands - or as a comical hayseed prop in retro hillbilly outfits. And yet in that span between the turn-of-the-century tuba blaring from an Edison cylinder and today's synthesized-bass loops heaving from every SUV on the pike, the hypnotic pull of the old-school string bass remains. A musical craft handed down by calloused, bandaged fingers, it wrought a mighty saga of bottom-heavy rhythms that rattled the walls of many a venue and anchored many an historic recording session. Without it, the revolutionary sound of American mongrel music of the last century would have been thin gruel indeed." -Eddie Dean, from the liner notes.
"All over New York it has been noticed that, with most of the prominent bands, the string bass alias "bull fiddle," alias "dog house," is replacing the tuba. Leaders agree that the string bass has a far greater carrying power than the tuba, and that it blends much more effectively." - Billboard Magazine, April 10, 1926
"The vibrations on that bass violin shattered the wax." - Recording engineer to Ausie B. Grigg, Memphis, 1928
"The double bass, which stands beside its player at the rear of the band, is larger than the player himself. Like the cello, it has a spike which rests upon the floor. Owing to the thickness of the strings and because of the great size of the instrument, exceptional strength is required to press down the heavy strings. The bow must be very sturdy. Solo playing on the double bass would seem at first sight to have all the delicacy of an elephant dancing, yet there have been many great solo players." - Indiana Weekly Messenger, April 18, 1935
96 page book complete with essays, historic articles, and annotations for each track by Dick Spottswood
Track Listing
CD 1
1. Ted Lewis and His Band - Milenberg Joys
2. Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra - Dinah
3. Jelly-Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers - Black Bottom Stomp
4. Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra - My Pretty Girl
5. Bobbie Leecan's Need-More Band - Wash-Board Cut Out
6. Sam Morgan's Jazz Band - Bogalusa Strut
7. Sam Morgan's Jazz Band - Down by the Riverside
8. Charles Pierce and His Orchestra - Bull Frog Blues
9. Charles Pierce and His Orchestra - China Boy
10. Thelma Terry and Her Playboys - Voice of the Southland
11. Thelma Terry and Her Playboys - Mama's Gone, Goodbye
12. Halfway House Dance Orchestra - I'd Like to Go Back to That Old Pal of Mine
13. Mart Britt and His Orchestra - Goose Creek-Stomp
14. Jimmie Rodgers - Waiting For a Train
15. Frenchy's String Band - Texas and Pacific Blues
16. Dallas String Band with Coley Jones - So Tired
17. Joe Turner and His Memphis Men - Freeze and Melt
18. Ed Lang and His Orchestra - Hot Heels
19. Sonny Greer and His Memphis Men - Beggar's Blues
20. Taylor-Griggs Louisiana Melody Makers - Where the Sweet Magnolias Bloom
21. L'Orchestre Antillais - En Sens Unique S.V.P.
22. Walter Page and His Original Blue Devils - Squabblin'
23. Jones and Collins Astoria Hot Eight - Duet Stomp
24. Luis Russell and His Orchestra - Poor Li'l Me
25. Luis Russell and His Orchestra - Panama
26. Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra - Chinatown, My Chinatown
CD 2
1. Jack Teagarden and His Orchestra - Chances Are
2. Wilmoth Houdini - Tiger Tom Kill Tiger Cat, Damblay, Santapie and Rat
3. Lionel Belasco and His Orchestra - Depression-Paseo
4. Harlem Hot Shots - Who's Sorry Now?
5. New Orleans Feetwarmers - Shag
6. Eddie South and His Orchestra - My! Oh, My!
7. Dicky Wells' Shim Shammers - Baby Are You Satisfied
8. Prairie Ramblers - Tex's Dance
9. Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies - Brownie's Stomp
10. Henry Allen and His Orchestra - Rug Cutter Swing
11. Eva Taylor and Her Boy Friends - The Stuff Is Here and It's Mellow
12. Andy Iona and His Islanders - Ta-hu-wa-hu-wa-i (A Hawaiian War Song)
13. The Spirits of Rhythm - Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes
14. Candy and Coco - Bugle Call Rag
15. Carl Martin - Good Morning, Judge
16. State Street Boys - The Dozen
17. Washboard Sam - Don't 'low
18. Lil Johnson - Rug Cutter's Function
19. Roy Acuff and His Crazy Tennesseeans - Yes Sir, That's My Baby
20. Don Albert and His Orchestra - Deep Blue Melody
21. Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys - White Heat
22. The Crystal Springs Ramblers -Tired of Me
23. Kansas City Six - Pagin' the Devil
24. Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys - Liza, Pull Down the Shades
25. Cab Calloway and His Orchestra - Pluckin' the Bass
26. Jelly-Roll Morton's New Orleans Jazzmen - Climax Rag (take 1)
27. Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra - Sepia Panorama
CD 3
1. Dixie Four - Kentucky Stomp
2. Dixie Four - Saint Louis Man
3. State Street Ramblers - Endurance Stomp
4. State Street Ramblers - Tuxedo Stomp
5. State Street Ramblers - Brown Skin Mama
6. State Street Ramblers - St. Louis Nightmare
7. State Street Ramblers - Tell Me Cutie
8. State Street Ramblers - Some Day You'll Know
9. Junie C. Cobb and His Grains Of Corn - Endurance Stomp (take A)
10. The Midnight Rounders - Shake Your Shimmy
11. The Midnight Rounders - Bull Fiddle Rag (take A)
12. Junie C. Cobb and His Grains of Corn - Shake That Jelly Roll
13. Junie C. Cobb and His Grains of Corn - Don't Cry, Honey
14. "Banjo" Ikey Robinson and His Bull Fiddle Band - My Four Reasons
15. Rev. D.C. Rice and His Sanctified Congregation - He's Got His Eyes on You
16. Rev. D.C. Rice and His Sanctified Congregation - I'm In the Battlefield for My Lord
17. Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers - She's Coming 'Round the Mountain
18. Rev. D.C. Rice and His Sanctified Congregation - I'm Pressing On
19. Rev. D.C. Rice and His Sanctified Congregation - No Night There
20. Chippie Hill - I Ain't Gonna Do It No More
21. Chippie Hill - Pratt City Blues
22. Bill Johnson's Louisiana Jug Band - Get the "L" On Down the Road
23. Bill Johnson's Louisiana Jug Band - Don't Drink It In Here
24. Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band - I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone
25. Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band - Come On Mama Do That Dance
26. The Midnight Rounders - Bull Fiddle Rag (take B)
