Earl Hines Recommendations

[Jose Tello]

Hey everyone,

I've recently been getting into Earl Hines' material (great stuff) - well, at least the ones that aren't really scratchy or poor quality.
I was wondering anyone if knew of some good (social dancing) Earl Hines tunes?

Some of my favorites at the moment are: Rhythm Sundae, Up Jumped the Devil, and Rock and Rye.

Thanks in advance!

[lipi]

This old thread was about albums rather than individual recordings, but may still be useful:
http://www.swingdjs.com/phpbb2/viewtopi ... a48e0fe8c7

There are also a few mentions of Hines on the last page of the Mosaic thread:
http://www.swingdjs.com/phpbb2/viewtopi ... &start=195

Finally, here are a few recordings I really like:
"Savoy Blues", 1954, 109 bpm, on "Hines Shines" and "The Chicago Dates"
"Boogie Woogie on St Louis Blues", 1940, 138 bpm, on "Piano Man: 1928-1955" (you won't like this one--it's definitely "scratchy" or "muddy" or something)
"Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave to Me", 1975, 140 bpm, on "Earl Hines in New Orleans"
"Exactly Like You", 1967, 180 bpm, with Jimmy Rushing, on "Blues and Things"
"St James Infirmary", 1955, 160 bpm, on "Earl Hines at Club Hangover, 1955"
"Darktown Strutters Ball", 1955, 185 bpm, also on "Earl Hines at Club Hangover, 1955"

[Haydn]

Hey everyone,

I've recently been getting into Earl Hines' material (great stuff) - well, at least the ones that aren't really scratchy or poor quality.
I was wondering anyone if knew of some good (social dancing) Earl Hines tunes?

Some of my favorites at the moment are: Rhythm Sundae, Up Jumped the Devil, and Rock and Rye.

Thanks in advance!

In addition to those already mentioned, I like:

Ridin' And Jivin'
Deep Forest (my current favourite)
Wolverine Blues
Japanese Sandman

For depth of material and sound quality, I think it's best to get the Mosaic Set if you can afford it:

http://www.mosaicrecords.com/prodinfo.a ... =254-MD-CD

Hoping to order one myself soon.

[trev]

A few more:

Take it Easy (1934)
Madhouse (1934)
Swingin' Down (1934)
Pianology (1937)
GT Stomp (1939)
XYZ (1939)
Number 19 (1940)

All are on the excellent Mosaic set (again, if you can afford it). Most tracks will be on iTunes/eMusic/etc in some form.

[omsuperhoops]

Ridin a Riff is a BOMB track!

the suggestions are great as well, I have a bunch of Hines thats just super fast or non-danceable...I'm not happy with what i currently have and this thread is opening up a lot of new places! keep it up!!

[anton]

Some more good ones from the Mosaic set:

Harlem Lament [1934] (119 bpm) - beautiful ballad
Blue Skies [1937] (159 bpm) - features some nice T.D. style vocals
Hines Rhythm [1937] (170 bpm) - clever instrumental
Solid Mama [1938] (175 bpm) - Henderson-style riff tune
Indiana; Grand Terrace Shuffle [1938] (238; 258 bpm) - from the same super session as G.T. Stomp and Ridin' and Jivin'
Riff Medley [1938] (175 bpm) - snappy riff tune
'Gator Swing [1939] (213 bpm) - still snappier
Lightly and Politely [1939] (206 bpm) - great song, but I probably like Gene Krupa's slightly slower version even better
Easy Rhythm [1940] (190 bpm) - nice Jimmy Mundy arrangement
Second Balcony Jump [1942] (142 bpm) - repetitive, beginner's tempo

... and the 1934 Decca sides are all great: That's A Plenty, Fat Babes, Maple Leaf Rag, Sweet Georgia Brown, Rosetta, Copenhagen, Angry, Wolverine Blues, Rock and Rye, Cavernism ...

[dogpossum]

Earl Hines = yes.

- He did some stuff with Sidney Bechet's Feetwarmers in the 40s which is tops (eg Save it Pretty Mama, Blues in Thirds, Stompy Jones),

- a few songs with Jimmie Noone in the late 20s (eg a cool version of Four Or Five Times, and Apex Blues)

- he was in Louis Armstrong's Hot Five in the late 20s, and in Armstrong's All Stars in the 50s (the Hot Five stuff is better, but the All Stars are still neat)

- he was on that 'Spoon Concerts' album with Jimmy Witherspoon (and other guns) in the 50s


I'm just listening to the Mosaic set, and it's really quite special. The 1930s Earl Hines Orchestra stuff is pretty much perfect lindy hopping music. Hot, fast, fun, classic big band swing.