Louis Armstrong Gems

I'm reading "Pops" by Terry Teachout, a biography of Louis Armstrong (Click for NY Times Review). As I go, I've been exploring the songs and other materials recommended by Teachout, and other items I came across on Youtube. Some of them have video, and some are just the music with a picture or two. Here are some of my favorites.

Weather Bird

One of Teachout's 30 Key recordings by Armstrong.

Ain't Misbehavin'

This is one of my favorites. He first did it in the 20's. Teachout talks about his friendship with Fats Waller, and how they worked together.

Black and Blue

Black and Blue was written by Fats Waller, and performed by Armstrong here in 1929. Teachout says the song was "commissioned" by New York gangster Dutch Shultz, who wanted a song to be sung by a black woman in a revue he was funding. It was supposed to be funny. Armstrong made it his own.

West End Blues

West End Blues is really something. One of the first of his classics. The first few seconds take your breath away.

Dinah

Here's a video from 1933 of Armstrong doing "Dinah" (a Fats Waller tune) It really swings. Armstrong's singing, playing and overall presentation just blow me away. Dig it.

Mack the Knife

There are lots of these Armstrong gems on Youtube. In 1955, the "Allstars" played with Louis in London. Here they are playing Mack the Knife. The shots of the audience are worth the price of admission...

 

You Can't Take that Away From Me

Another one that really got me was Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald doing the "They Can't Take That
 Away From Me"
 

Don't Know What I'm Gonna Do With You

First Trial run with Rik's bass, Little Bobbie singing "Don't Know What I'm Gonna Do (with you)"

Up and Down by Little Bobbie

And now for something completely different. Little Bobbie Britt, doing his rendition of the old timey favorite, "Up and Down". Let's hear it for little Bobbie! Be careful Boobby, you're pulling over the mic stand! Look out! Aw... Isn't he great?  A big round of applause, now!


Download

Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

I was watching TCM the other day, and "The Subject Was Roses" (1968) came on. I didn't wind up watching the whole thing, but it was good, although depressing. It has Patricia Neal, Jack Albertson, and Martin Sheen. But the thing that I really liked was the opening. It had Judy Collins singing this song with just her twelve-string and no band. She sang it all the way through that way, while the movie started up with Patricia Neal waking up and going out in her living room, and viewing the strewn remains of the welcome home party for her son, who just returned from WWII. He and his Dad got drunk; the Mom felt left out. Anyway, the song has been running through my head ever since. You guys probably remember it was written by Sandy Denny. It reminds me of Mike, who was a big Sandy Denny fan. I believe I heard it the year he and Cod roomed together at BGSU. I used to visit their apartment, and we'd listen to albums. The chords are copied below. I'm going try to figure it out. --Rob

WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TIME GOES
by Sandy Denny

E  A2  E  A2  E  A2  E  A2

E                     A2                   E    A2

Across the morning sky all the birds are leaving

 E                 A2                        E  A2

Ah but how can they know it's time for them to go?

  F#m                Abm A                  Abm   A

Before the winter fire, we'll still be dreamin'

                      E

I do not count the time

CHORUS:

     B                     A

For who knows where the time goes?

  E                  A    F#m   A  E   E  A2  E  A2

Who knows where the time goes?

Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving

Ah but then you know it's time for them to go

But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving

I do not count the time ...CHORUS

And I am not alone while my love is near me

And I know it will be so 'til it's time to go

So count the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again

I do not fear the time

CHORUS #2:

For who knows how my love grows?

And who knows where the time goes?

A2: x 0 2 2 0 0

Abm: 4^th fret bar, 022000

The Spring Sea

And now for something completely different: A tune from the National Diet Library music catalog (in Japan). "Haru no umi, 1" (The spring sea, part 1)

(The page is in Japanese, but just click the "play" button.)
Rob

Test Sending Blog Posts to geezerclub@googlegroups.com

Hi Guys,
I just set our vaaast array of blogs (geezetunes, geezecast, geezewords) to automatically send an email to geezerclub@googlegroups.com (Geezer Club Forum) whenever a new post is posted to the blog.

Let me know if you find this insufferably annoying. I'll tell you were to get off. This is a post to Geezetunes

take care,
geezemeister rob
Includes a picture just for the hell of it, and to see if pictures come through in the email message...

Twelvebarfour Jam Backup Band (The Geezetones)

Twelvebarfour
The Geezetones play backup. "12-bar4" is a synth loop played by the Sonar Cakewalk Bass and the Sonar Cakewalk Drums. For your jamming enjoyment.
--Rob

Just About Drowned

The Geezetones are Back!
Here with their new oh so mellow blues, Just About Drowned. Sure it sounds just like the last geezetones tune. What do you expect?

Thoughts on Black and Blue

Thoughts on the great Louis Armstrong's version of "Black and Blue" by Fats Waller. Version here is from the "Satch Plays Fats" album.

Rob on Miles Away

Reflections about Fleetwood Mac's Miles Away, now and back then...

Sleepy Deepy

Sleepy, Deepy, so there too; experimental mix 5758

Man Man Man

Man man man. Man oh man. Man oh man oh. muddy britters.

Reading Light Bright

Another technical breakthrough (realized I had phantom power for mics on in two places) fixed that, did midi bass and some double-tracking. With apologies to Jerry Jeff Walker, and the composer (can't remember his name). geezer rob

Robanova

And now for something really different Geezer Rob does his rendition of that old classic, Robanova. Sit back, relax and plug your ears.  Here it comes, ready or not.

Huckleblue Jam

Norweigian Lumber

Rob DJ's Sort of

Rosey love 1

Because rob

Really Cool 1