Download Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, 1938-1940, Volume 1 (Disc 5) by Louis Jordan

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04.22.11

Louis Jordan, Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, 1938-1940, Volume 1 (Disc 5)

2001 | Label: JSP Records / The Orchard

If any figure can be claimed as the sole godfather of rock & roll, it's saxophonist, bandleader, songwriter and vocalist Louis Jordan. One of the most phenomenally popular performers of the 20th century, Jordan virtually owned the R&B charts between 1943's "What's the Use of Getting Sober (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again)" and 1950's "Blue Light Boogie," racking up 17 number one R&B hits and topping the charts for a staggering 106 weeks. (During the whole of 1946 and 1947, only 16 weeks total passed with Jordan not on top.) Even now, one listen to his vast catalogue will tell you why: few artists from any era grasped basic record-making as thoroughly as Jordan. His intros grab, his casual, good-humored delivery holds, his band cracks like a whip and his songs have more hooks than an anglers 'convention. Like that other famous Louis, Armstrong, Jordan was equally adept at humor and heartache, and frequently offered pithy social commentary, from the early "You Run Your Mouth and I'll Run My Business" to the later "Saturday Night Fish Fry." Five discs (these cover his Decca years, 1938-1950) are a lot from anyone, but Jordan is so consistently joyful it's worth the… read more »

A NATIONAL TREASURE

I don't know if there is a memorial at or near the spot where Louis Jordan was born but there should be as he was perhaps one of the pivotal artists in 20th century American music. I think he ranks in importance with the likes of Elvis, Sinatra, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, BB KIng and Hank Williams. A quick look at his output reveals tunes that are still fresh today, clever lyrics (bit of a lost art these days), great instrumentation and very danceable. Apparently he always paid the writers of the songs he recorded, which may explain the quality of his material over such a long time. This collection is no exception as there ain't a duff track on this collection.

Just great!

Louis Jordan is top notch. As a musician & comedian few are his equal. And you'll search far and wide to find something as good as Louis' duets with Ella Fitzgerald. They even give "country" a little tease with "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own". But this is Vol. 1 Disc 5 WHERE IS THE REST OF THE COLLECTION?

so clean, so pure, true roots

The titles are funny, the players are pro, Louis Jordan is blowing out the blues form towards the only place it can go - rock and or roll. Highlight is Pops/Satchmo and Louis wishing death and ill will on everyone's least favorite mooch/hanger-on/snake and laughing through their co-solos, talking about getting their guns, and getting street on that Rascal.