Classic Ragtime: Roots and Offshoots

Classic Ragtime: Roots and Offshoots

ASIN: B000007QGR

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
From the 1890s to the dawn of the first World War, ragtime reigned supreme in American pop culture--a bridge between parlor music and jazz. And few compilations showcase the diversity of the genre as well as Classic Ragtime. America was in flux and so was its music: Joseph Moskowitz's cymbalum solo on 1916's "Operatic Rag" spoofs classical music's arias with a frenzied syncopation, Arthur Collins's "Brother Noah Gave Out Checks for Rain" from 1907 equally addresses the important themes of baseball and religion, and Sam Moore's "Laughing Rag" from 1921 is played on a Hawaiian guitar. The piano, formerly a classical instrument, is starting to show its Tin Pan Alley stylings, and jazz instrumentation (as on the Dixieland Jug Blowers' track from 1926) is starting to become prominent. All in all, it's a fascinating trip, with great transfers from 78s that'll have you forgetting how old this spirited music is. Classic rags by Jelly Roll Morton, Thomas "Fats" Waller, and even Tommy Dorsey are also included--a comprehensive snapshot of the music from its recorded roots to 1937. --Jason Verlinde

Tracks:

The African 400 (An Educated Rag) - Arthur Pryor's Band
Fo' De Lawd's Sake, Play A Waltz - Elsie Janis
The Belle Of The Barber's Ball - Billy Murray/Ada Jones
Operatic Rag - Joseph Moskowitz
Brother Noah Gave Out Checks For Rain - Arthur Collins
That Moanin' Saxophone Rag - Six Brown Brothers
The Trolley Car Swing - Elida Morris
King Of The Bungaloos - 'Gene Green
Laughing Rag - Sam Moore
House Rent Rag - Dixieland Jug Blowers
South Street Rag - South Street Trio
Hot Notes - Savoy Bearcats
12th Street Rag - Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra
Tom's Rag - Watkin's Band
Dew Drop Alley Stomp - Sugar Underwood
The Pearls - Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers
Ragtime Annie - Solomon & Hughes
Gladyse - Thomas 'Fats' Waller
Memphis Kick-Up - Slim Lamar & His Southeners
Maori - Green Brothers Marimba Orchestra
Bigay Na Pagibig - Manila String Circle
Beaumont Rag - Bill Boyd & His Cowboy Ramblers
Maple Leaf Rag - Bluebird Military Band
Canadian Capers - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Eccentric - Muggsy Spanier & His Ragtime Band

Amazon.com

From the 1890s to the dawn of the first World War, ragtime reigned supreme in American pop culture--a bridge between parlor music and jazz. And few compilations showcase the diversity of the genre as well as Classic Ragtime. America was in flux and so was its music: Joseph Moskowitz's cymbalum solo on 1916's "Operatic Rag" spoofs classical music's arias with a frenzied syncopation, Arthur Collins's "Brother Noah Gave Out Checks for Rain" from 1907 equally addresses the important themes of baseball and religion, and Sam Moore's "Laughing Rag" from 1921 is played on a Hawaiian guitar. The piano, formerly a classical instrument, is starting to show its Tin Pan Alley stylings, and jazz instrumentation (as on the Dixieland Jug Blowers' track from 1926) is starting to become prominent. All in all, it's a fascinating trip, with great transfers from 78s that'll have you forgetting how old this spirited music is. Classic rags by Jelly Roll Morton, Thomas "Fats" Waller, and even Tommy Dorsey are also included--a comprehensive snapshot of the music from its recorded roots to 1937. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Excellent disc; sound flaw?.......2004-04-09

This is a great collection of stuff that you're unlikely to find anywhere else, unless you're a 78 collector. The other reviews hit the mark.
However, my disc seems to have a sound flaw, and I don't know if it's just my particular copy or the whole lot. The left channel has annoying clicks whenever the music gets loud. This happens on every song, on every CD player I've tried. Because the clicks are only on the left side, and on every track, this seems to be a flaw with the CD and not the original recordings. Because I have a system that can play either channel in both speakers, I turn it to the mono right channel and the problem is solved. If you do not have this kind of setup, be warned.

Rare Ragtime Gems!.......2004-01-16

The title of this CD is a little misleading, "Offshoots of Ragtime" is perhaps a little more accurate. By definition, "Classic Ragtime" generally refers to a solo piano rag following the form AABBACCDD. I don't think any track on this disc fits that pattern. Nevertheless, this is one fantastic set! It's packed with historic recordings from the early 1910s to the late 1930s (the earliest recording here was made over ten years after the first rag was published so "roots" in the title is out). The remastering is excellent, and the liner notes with discographical information for each track are very good as well. The musical selections represent a wide variety of late ragtime and early jazz styles, presenting well-known classics such as Jelly Roll Morton's "The Pearls" and Fats Waller's "Gladyse" alongside forgotten gems like Sugar Underwood's "Dew Drop Alley Stomp" (my favorite on the disc) and Sam Moore's haunting "Laughing Rag." Because of the variety on this disc, it's one that I can listen to quite often without growing tired of hearing the same tracks again and again. If you have any interest in classic jazz music, ragtime, or vaudeville, this is a good disc to have. Highly recommended!

Woah... how did you find this?.......2002-08-28

With all the "Various Artists" CDs and what-nots you're very lucky to have found a collection like this. As I was, via a gift. This collection ranks up there with the best of the Yazoo collections, (Rukus Juice, etc)... and therefore up there with some of the best gifts ever.

I'm assuming you're well versed in the oldtimey recordings... if so... than don't hesitate, this collection is superb! It is one of my "dessert island" discs, which include such great recordings as Miles Davis - Kind of Blue, the Beach Boys - Pet Sounds,... you dig? It's that vital... and haunting... If you're not a regular listener of the old stuff and are curious... Pick It Up! This stuff is catchy and sounds great coming from old dusty 78s... SNIIIFFFF... ahhhh smell that history.

weeba-dooda bop-blop -skibbity boop

Atmosphere of the past captured here!.......2000-08-27

If you are curious about the entertainment and popular culture of America in the early decades of the 1900's, than this collection is for you. It is a fun audio exploration of the musical forms which influenced early jazz and blues. I think the term ragtime should be understood to have a broader meaning here than simply the form of the usual piano and orchestral pieces associated with it. THIS ALBUM IS A MUST FOR AMERICAN MUSIC HISTORY FANS!

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music