Swingin' On The Strings

Amazon.com
Unless you've laid down the big bucks for Bear Family's motherlode, Razor & Tie's first volume of Speedy & Jimmy instrumentals probably left you hungry for more. Thankfully--mercifully--Razor & Tie has issued a jaw-dropping second collection of fiery, ferocious forays. Bryant's head-spinning single-string leads mesh perfectly with West's limitless arsenal of pedal-steel tones, moans, whines, and wails. Remarkably, almost all of their 50 recordings are tossed-off head arrangements done for sheer enjoyment, but they remain superlative country-bop tracks that turn flash and flamboyance into valuable assets. Go no further than "China Boy," a six-minute reading of the jazz standard that runs right through producer Ken Nelson's stop signs, or the ballad "West of Samoa," which features West's bird imitations on pedal steel. Whether on floating Hawaiian-tinged ballads or supersonic steamers, the dynamic duo never ceases to amaze. --Marc Greilsamer

Swingin' On The Strings,Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant,Razor & Tie,Country,Country & Western,Country Traditional,Instrumental Country,Pop,Traditional Country,Western Swing

Average customer rating: Great set of wartime rarities Cure for the Blues Standard Transcription Collection

(Not) Your Standard Spike Jones Collection Spike Jones Manufacturer: Collector's Choice ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Contemporary Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Novelty Music | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Strictly for Music Lovers Fonk Spike Jones - Greatest Hits Spiked!: The Music of Spike Jones The Spike Jones Story ASIN: B00007JR3K Release Date: 2003-04-08

Album Description

Holiday blues comin' on? Well, put a spike in `em! Here's the zaniest, wildest and just plain sickest Collectors' Choice Music exclusive yet—79 tracks from Spike Jones and his City Slickers! These represent Spike's complete Standard Transcription sides, but these tunes are anything but standard; Mr. Jones brought his full bag of tricks for these non-commercial recordings (made in Hollywood during the early `40s). Add to that the fact that most of these have never been on CD or even LP, and any lover of Spike's mayhem-filled mixture of laughs and hot licks is going to flip over this set! Notes and great pictures accompany this 3-CD walk on the wacky side from the greatest novelty band of all time.

Customer Reviews:

Great set of wartime rarities.......2003-05-14

Spike Jones was the king of the novelty song performers, with hits like "Der Fuehrer's Face" and the parody version of "Sheik of Araby" becoming huge hits during World War II. This is a swell 3-CD set, gathering a full eighty-one of Jones' best tracks from his 1940s heyday, drawn from an extensive archive of radio broadcasts made for the Standard Transcription service. The tightness of his City Slickers band is amply demonstrated in these manic, kookily orchestrated performances. Toots, squonks, blatts and bleats whiz by at lightning speed, as one daffy song after another will delight devoted fans. Amazingly, Jones had the unusual, almost unique ability to perform a repertoire almost entirely made up of comedic material, and yet still be quite listenable and engaging. His jazz chops were hardly in question, and from time to time Jones would dash off a non-novelty ballad or two, just to give the rubes something to think about. Of course, just as often he would perform a song that *sounded* like a straight ballad, but would turn out to be another goof. (One great example of this is the sultry "Serenade To A Jerk," sung in slinky, burlesque tones by Myrtle Horwin.) This collection may seem a little overwhelming, but like his studio recordings, these radio performances have a certain brilliance and joie de vivre about them that will leave you enchanted. Definitely worth checking out!

Cure for the Blues.......2003-04-25

Here's the zaniest, wildest and just plain sickest Collectors' Choice Music exclusive yet-79 tracks from Spike Jones and his City Slickers! These represent Spike's complete Standard Transcription sides, but these tunes are anything but standard; Mr. Jones brought his full bag of tricks for these non-commercial recordings (made in Hollywood during the early `40s). Add to that the fact that most of these have never been on CD or even LP, and any lover of Spike's mayhem-filled mixture of laughs and hot licks is going to flip over this set! Notes and great pictures accompany this 3-CD walk on the wacky side from the greatest novelty band of all time.

Standard Transcription Collection.......2003-04-12

This collection has remastered material from the large stack of Standard Transcription discs from the early 1940's. There are many songs not recorded on RCA, many on the theme of wartime ("48 Reasons Why"), and the quality is excellent. The packaging is threadbare but this is an essential CD package for true music lovers.

Average customer rating: This should have been on Voyager's golden record country music instrumental at its' best Country-jazz from outer space. Smokin!!!! Incredible country-jazz-bop-boogie!

Swingin' On The Strings Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant Manufacturer: Razor & Tie ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Stratosphere Boogie: The Flaming guitars Of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant There's Gonna Be a Party Steel Guitar Jazz (Dig) Corn Pickin' and Slick Slidin' Country Music's Two Guitar Greats ASIN: B00000I71G Release Date: 1999-03-09

Tracks:

1. Frettin Fingers
2. Lover
3. Two Of A Kind
4. Yodeling Guitars
5. West Of Samoa
6. Opus 1
7. Truck Driver's Ride
8. T-Bone Rag
9. Skiddle-Dee-Boo
10. China Boy
11. Railroadin
12. Jammin With Jimmy
13. Deep Water
14. This Ain't The Blues
15. The Rolling Sky
16. Whistle Stop
17. Hillcrest (Opus 3)
18. Pushin The Blues
19. Swingin On The Strings
20. Caffeene Patrol

Amazon.com

Unless you've laid down the big bucks for Bear Family's motherlode, Razor & Tie's first volume of Speedy & Jimmy instrumentals probably left you hungry for more. Thankfully--mercifully--Razor & Tie has issued a jaw-dropping second collection of fiery, ferocious forays. Bryant's head-spinning single-string leads mesh perfectly with West's limitless arsenal of pedal-steel tones, moans, whines, and wails. Remarkably, almost all of their 50 recordings are tossed-off head arrangements done for sheer enjoyment, but they remain superlative country-bop tracks that turn flash and flamboyance into valuable assets. Go no further than "China Boy," a six-minute reading of the jazz standard that runs right through producer Ken Nelson's stop signs, or the ballad "West of Samoa," which features West's bird imitations on pedal steel. Whether on floating Hawaiian-tinged ballads or supersonic steamers, the dynamic duo never ceases to amaze. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

This should have been on Voyager's golden record.......2006-06-10

Without hyperbole, "Swingin' On The Strings" contains some of the greatest music ever recorded. Apart, they were just two studio musicians. Together, they created interstellar magic. Jimmy and Speedy - electric guitar and steel guitar - these guys shared the same musical consciousness on a cosmic level. Always cerebral, the compositions are stirring and the improvisation is spellbinding. This is perfect music. This has it all regardless of where you're coming from as a listener: country, jamband, jazz, instrumental enthusiast, etc. This disc should especially appeal to those coming from the Junior Brown camp. This is on an equal footing with its predecessor "Stratosphere Boogie" given the mind melting races, medium-tempo waltzes and relaxed ballads. "Swingin' On The Strings" should have been on Voyager's golden record, it is an otherwordly treasure.

country music instrumental at its' best.......2005-08-22

the true creative genius of this collaboration is first really being appreciated now, these two guys could play their hearts out and there is no way you won't enjoy hearing this CD. I don't know who's truly faster, Jimmy Byant or Joe Maphis, but who cares, and the pedal steel guitar by Speedy West is incredible!

Country-jazz from outer space. Smokin!!!!.......1999-10-06

This CD epitomizes creativity and chemistry between two fine musicians. I didn't live in 1951, but I have been collecting Western Swing, Old Country, Rockabilly, and Bluegrass records all my life. This CD is far and beyond the best example of what the human mind and spirit can do using music as a medium. You don't have to like swing, or country to like this CD. It doesn't matter if you like music at all, this CD forces you pay attention, tap your foot, bust a step, or just kick back and listen with awe. Jimmy and Speedy knew how to create. Creativity seems like a hard find in today's wasteland of fluff. Creativity is the backbone of this CD. The first song hits the ground running out of the gate, and when the last song is up, you'll start it all over again. Again, again, and again. There's not a dud on this disc!! Jamming with Jimmy portrays the lost art of hot fiddle playing. Lover will run you over, Railroading will have you dancing, and Pushing the Blues will have you fetching your black light out of the attic. Oh yeah, the rest are perfect too. These songs are perfect. PERFECT. Killer bassfiddle playing, jazzy piano fills, and yes: that smokin' guitar of Jimmy fused with that "whacked out" steel of Speedy. Too much fun! This is the CD that has made me believe that maybe good music has a chance to surface in our world today. One listen and you'll be smiling. There is no way around it. From a musician (like myself), all I can say is "woodshed here I come, I've truly been inspired!!!!"

Incredible country-jazz-bop-boogie!.......1999-05-15

Although this is volume 2 to Razor & Tie's first collection of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, this CD is every bit as good (if not better)! I'm not generally a big fan of country music, but these guys absolutely floored me. Especially noteworthy is their rendition of "Lover" which even without the benefits of overdubbing studio trickery completely rips Les Paul's version to shreds.

Average customer rating: THE ONE AND ONLY BILLY MAY Broadway Big Band Style and without Strings Superior arrangements & performance. Billy May at his best!

The Girls and Boys on Broadway/The Sweetest Swingin' Sounds of "No Strings" Billy May Manufacturer: EMI Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Vintage Dance Bands | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Imports | Stores | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Big Fat Brass/Bill's Bag ASIN: B000006TJU Release Date: 1999-12-28

Tracks:

1. Girls Against the Boys
2. My Darling
3. If I Were a Bell
4. Where Did We Go? Out
5. Guys and Dolls
6. Rich Butterfly
7. Heart
8. Old Fashioned Girl
9. Till There Was You
10. Girls and Boys
11. I've Never Been in Love
12. I Gotta Have You
13. No Strings
14. Sweetest Sounds
15. Love Makes the World Go
16. Nobody Told Me
17. Loads of Love
18. Maine
19. Eager Beaver
20. Look No Further
21. Orthodox Fool
22. La La La
23. Man Who Has Everything
24. Be My Host

Album Details

Two Albums on One CD from Billy May, a Man Responsible for Some of the Most Successful and Influential Arrangements in Popular Music.

Customer Reviews:

THE ONE AND ONLY BILLY MAY.......2002-10-26

The irascible Billy May, premire arranger and conductor for so many of the greats, and on his own, is presented here with two of his albums for Capitol on one great CD. May's popularity rose for his dance albums, and that got him on board at Capitol to do some arranging and conducting. A favorite of the likes of Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra, needless to say those guys were no fools when it came to working with the best! His trademark lazy sax music and sharp brash arrangements for brass are probably the most recognizable of the era. But Billy wasn't all about swingin'; he could write a heartwarming slow ballad chart with equal ease (but somehow always found a way to get a brass blast in there somewhere!) The lusty undertones of WHERE DID WE GO? OUT! is one of the lesser known standouts on the GIRLS AND BOYS ON BROADWAY sides, which is worth the price of this CD just for the album cover (Billy May parading as a vendor selling chestnuts to the "cast kids"!) but there are other greats here, like Billy and the orchestra's reading of Frank Loesser's masterpiece GUYS AND DOLLS and the lovely TILL THERE WAS YOU from The Music Man, a tune Billy would later arrange for the great multi-octaved singer, John Gary with a similar chart.
While the NO STRINGS sides are, as my fellow reviewer mentions, not as exciting, they are still Billy May...and that means original and inventive, if nothing else! I love what is done with the charming LOOK NO FURTHER. The mood is perfectly captured and the slightest essence of swing is there (complete with the aforementioned "brass blast" on the bridge!) and the smart version of THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING is also not to be missed. MAINE and LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO are two more of Richard Rodgers' fine songs that make the NO STRINGS sides valuable. Great "two-fer" to have in your collection!

Broadway Big Band Style and without Strings.......2001-04-24

Billy May meets Broadway in this Big Band send-off of some of the Great White Way's classic selections. The first album on this CD twofer finds May conducting a rich brass section that raises the volume on Till There Was You and Heart. The second album, The Sweetest Swingin Sounds of 'No Strings,' is May's take on the Richard Rodgers 1962 musical "No Strings," in which Rodgers composed all tunes with only brass, reeds and percussions. On the downside, the show tunes tend to be overly arranged and May's blaring brass section seems to overwhelm most selections.

Superior arrangements & performance. Billy May at his best!.......1999-04-29

I purchased the 12" LP when it first appeared in the late fifties...the sound is brass that bites along with Billy's slurping sax sounds. The stereo set-up has brass right reeds left and rhythm center. Capitol knew some stuff about recording big bands...and it shows. Absolutly superp! The second album from NO STRINGS does not come off as well, but buy for GIRLS & BOYS. The first 12 tracks are a workout for your stereo system.

Average customer rating:

The Girls and Boys on Broadway/The Sweetest Swingin' Sounds of "No Strings" Billy May Manufacturer: Musicrama/Koch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Vintage Dance Bands | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000DHHN Release Date: 1997-07-28

Tracks:

1. Girls Against the Boys
2. My Darling
3. If I Were a Bell
4. Where Did We Go? Out
5. Guys and Dolls
6. Rich Butterfly
7. Heart
8. Old Fashioned Girl
9. Till There Was You
10. Girls and Boys
11. I've Never Been in Love
12. I Gotta Have You
13. No Strings
14. Sweetest Sounds
15. Love Makes the World Go
16. Nobody Told Me
17. Loads of Love
18. Maine
19. Eager Beaver
20. Look No Further
21. Orthodox Fool
22. La La La
23. Man Who Has Everything
24. Be My Host

Music Album:

1. Tammy Cochran
2. Telluride to Tennessee
3. The Best of Tompall Glaser & the Glaser Brothers
4. The Best Part of My Life
5. The Bloudy Tenant Truth & Peace
6. The Complete Vanguard Recordings
7. The Essential Dolly Parton One: I Will Always Love You
8. The Essential Porter Wagoner
9. The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.
10. The Hard Way [Import]

Music Album