Chuck Willis: Stroll On: The Chuck Willis Collection CD Track Listing

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Chuck Willis Stroll On: The Chuck Willis Collection (1994)
Stroll On: The Chuck Willis Collection\n1994 Razor & Tie Entertainment, LLC\n\nOriginally Released October 19, 1994\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: All 25 of the versatile Atlanta-bred singer's Atlantic Records sides, presented beautifully (every R&B reissue on CD should be packaged so well, with plenty of brilliant stereo). Willis really hit his stride at Atlantic, doing the Stroll with his easy-going "C.C. Rider" and "Betty and Dupree" (both boasting darting sax breaks from Gene Barge), baring his tender soul on a devotional "What Am I Living For," and taking R&B into fresh directions with a jumping "Kansas City Woman," the relentless "Keep A-Drivin'," and a buoyant "Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes." -- Bill Dahl\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nPERFECTION, January 12, 2003 \nReviewer: A music fan \nIn the 90's Razor & Tie became the primary rival to Rhino for issuing career retrospective collections and with "Stroll On" they reached their pinnicle. Other fine output from them over the years typically contained 20 tracks and were the best "Best Of's" for those artists available, but with Willis they topped themselves. By focusing solely on his work with Atlantic Records upon his arrival in 1956 to his ulcer induced death in 1958, they present all twenty-five sides he cut for them in chronological order and pristine sound.\n\nAs always with Razor & Tie the packaging is excellent, with a five page biography by Colin Escott, a full sessionography and a few good pictures, including one on the disc itself. As for the music, if you know only "C.C. Rider", "Hang Up My Rock 'n' Roll shoes' and perhaps "What Am I Living For?" and "It's Too Late", be prepared to become slowly but surely enamored with the genius of Chuck Willis, both as his generation's premiere songwriter and as a remarkably appealing and versatile singer. His voice, his phrasing, his lyrics and above all his sincerity were matchless in the fifties, and it came across in every conceivable style of song. The pure blues delivery of "Whatcha Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You" is in marked contrast to the sweetly sung "You'll Be My Love" or the bouncy shuffle of "From The Bottom Of My Heart" but he could pull each mood off brilliantly. In between he could rock, roll, moan and stroll with equal aplomb. The session players, typically for Atlantic were the best in the business with the rough and tumble sax players, either "Daddy" Gene Barge, Sam "The Man" Taylor or King Curtis, particularly standout. The Atlantic staff's production with Willis was often adventurish, utilizing everything from mirambas to steel guitars, and he was often backed by the Cookies who Ray Charles later copped from him and redubbed the Raelettes. All told, Willis cut a heckuva lot of gems in just six officially logged sessions over these two years.\n\nWithout question the single most talented artist not in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame, the soft-spoken Willis gets a collection worthy of his talents here. For his full story though hunt down at any cost his earlier work on OKeh, particularly the comprehensive "Let's Jump Tonight" (though other songs can be found elsewhere from the smaller 1980 collection "My Story" to the "Okeh Rhythm & Blues" boxed set; not to mention hit songs he wrote for Ruth Brown, The Five Keys, Clovers and Cardinals which are vital as well), and see how for the seven short years he was recording there was no classier singer or songwriter alive than Chuck Willis. \n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nAl Caiola, Contributing Artist\nBudd Johnson, Contributing Artist\nKenny Burrell, Contributing Artist\nKing Curtis, Contributing Artist\nMilt Hinton, Contributing Artist\nPanama Francis, Contributing Artist\nRoy Gaines, Contributing Artist\nSammy Price Trio, Contributing Artist\nDave Booth, Producer\n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel: Chuck Willis (vocals); Allan Hanion, George Barnes, Roy Gaines (guitar); Eddie McMullen (Hawaiin steel guitar); Romeo Penque (alto saxophone); Gene Barge, Sam "The Man" Taylor (tenor saxophone); Jimmy Nottingham (trumpet); James C. Harris (trumpet, piano); Frank Saracco (trombone); Sammy Price, Mike Stoller, Howard Biggs (piano); Phil Kraus (marimba); Teddy Charles (vibraphone); Harry Breuer (xylophone); Lloyd Trotman (bass); Joe Marshall (drums); The Cookies, Myriam Workman, Rudy Williams, Bob Harter, Carter Farris, Elise Bretton, Marcia Neil, Robert Miller (background vocals).\n\nRecorded at Capitol Studios, Fine Studios, and Atlantic Studios New York between April 1956 and February 1958. Includes liner notes by Colin Escott.
This blues cd contains 25 tracks and runs 61min 32sec.
Freedb: 610e6a19

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