Fats Waller #2 - First Rhythm recordings from 1934
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Fats Waller's first recording session with his Rhythm group was on 16 May 1934. Over the next eight years up to 1942 they would record literally hundreds of tunes making him one of the most popular entertainers both in America and Europe.
What I find so astonishing about this huge recorded output is that he was a so called Victor "B" artist, meaning that he rarely had the opportunity to play what he liked, but was obliged to perform whatever sheet music was placed in front of him. At the recording studio he had no idea what tunes of the day he was expected to play until they gave it to him. Then, after a couple of trial run-throughs with the band, they recorded the song.
Now bear in mind that in those days the recordings were made at 78 rpm on wax discs, which were later processed to produce the "shellac" discs for sale to the public. There was no possibility of any sort of editing of the recording and yet, nearly all the records issued were issued from the first recording, or "take." Several of the alternative takes survive and have been issued on Lp and CD but you would be hard pressed to decide which is the better one since they are all of a high standard.
This shows a wax disc cutting lathe from a 1931 booklet called ‘The Recording and Reproduction of Sound.'
Perhaps this spontaneity in the recording sessions has resulted in music which today sounds, at least to my ears, as fresh and interesting as the day so many years ago that it was recorded. At least, I hope to convince you of this by a track from the original 1934 session called "Do Me A Favor." As Fats wouuld say "Here 'Tis . . ."
By the way, I'm also interested in the subject of sound restoration for old recordings, and I take great care in trying to tease out the best sound quality, so please listen using a good sound system.