Oh Willie Play That Thing (MGM Records E-184 - 1953) - Bill Krenz @perfessorbill

Bill Edwards Known largely in Chicago, Illinois, and to listeners/viewers of Don McNeill's Breakfast Club show on NBC Blue/ABC networks, Krenz was often called the "tallest ragtime pianist in captivity." This 1953 album is the only one of its type released, although Krenz could also be heard on many 1920s band recordings and a number of singles (some included here) through 1954. He gained some extra notoriety for his interpretations during the honky-tonk boom of the early-to-mid-1950s, and the examples included here (with commentary) clearly demonstrate why. Also included are a pair of sides from 1935 demonstrating his solo work.
00:00 Oh Willie, Play That Thing
02:53 Whispering Rain
05:29 Poodle Rag
08:13 Estelle
10:58 Coaxing the Piano
13:40 Greenwich Witch
16:22 Kitten on the Keys
19:16 Dill Pickles Rag
22:04 There'll Be No New Tunes on This Old Piano
24:17 Goofus
26:26 How Come You Do Me Like You Do?
29:12 Ramblin' Rag
31:45 Marita
34:23 Ripples

updated 2 years ago

Oh Willie Play That Thing (MGM Records E-184 - 1953) - Bill Krenz

Bill Edwards 2023-10-27 | Known largely in Chicago, Illinois, and to listeners/viewers of Don McNeill's Breakfast Club show on NBC Blue/ABC networks, Krenz was often called the "tallest ragtime pianist in captivity." This 1953 album is the only one of its type released, although Krenz could also be heard on many 1920s band recordings and a number of singles (some included here) through 1954. He gained some extra notoriety for his interpretations during the honky-tonk boom of the early-to-mid-1950s, and the examples included here (with commentary) clearly demonstrate why. Also included are a pair of sides from 1935 demonstrating his solo work.
00:00 Oh Willie, Play That Thing
02:53 Whispering Rain
05:29 Poodle Rag
08:13 Estelle
10:58 Coaxing the Piano
13:40 Greenwich Witch
16:22 Kitten on the Keys
19:16 Dill Pickles Rag
22:04 There'll Be No New Tunes on This Old Piano
24:17 Goofus
26:26 How Come You Do Me Like You Do?
29:12 Ramblin' Rag
31:45 Marita
34:23 Ripples

Marvin Ash (Jazz Man LJ-355 - 1954)

Bill Edwards 2025-04-19 | Marvin Ash was an iconic and well-known pianist in Hollywood from the mid-1940s into the 1960s who was overall under-recorded. This is my third of three of his solo album presentations I put together, from a Jazz Man recording done in 1954 just before the label ceased to exist, having been bought by Lester Koenig of Good Time Jazz. Marvin was on the original Honky-Tonk Piano album of 1950 from Capitol Records, and had worked for them for many years until he got a long-time job with the Disney corporation as a musician. The first eight tracks of this video were recorded in September of 1954, and released in November, the penultimate catalog number for Jazz Man. Two bonus tracks are tacked on, taken from piano roll MIDI transcriptions by the late John Farrell of England some two decades ago. Unlike his other solo efforts, this Jazz Man album is focused primarily on piano ragtime, with a couple of rarities and interesting interpretations, but none that are too far afield from the original material. It can be enjoyed for the sheer listening pleasure, and also analyzed for the technical merits of Marvin' interpretations. If you have not yet experienced Marvin Ash (and there are more videos with him playing on this channel) then this is a good starting point. If you have heard the other videos posted to date, this will just add to the cumulative pleasure of hearing his work. Ten tracks at just over 29 minutes is not too much to ask. Comments welcome, and likes will well-earned. The usual collection of thoughts, stories, liner notes, music covers and other images are included free of charge, with some repetition from previous postings, simply because each of these has to be considered as a separate entity. Please enjoy Marvin Ash's ragtime on Jazz Man Records.

00:00 That Shakesperian Rag
02:46 Music Box Rag
05:42 Ragtime Romeo
08:50 Old Folks Rag
12:28 Searchlight Rag
15:06 Those Ragtime Melodies
17:16 Old Man Jazz
20:15 The Ragtime Skedaddler's Ball
22:50 If I Had You
25:54 Saint Louis Blues

Jump Presents Marvin Ash (Jump JL-4 - 1951/Jump J12-9 1981)

Bill Edwards 2025-04-11 | Marvin Ash was an iconic and well-known pianist in Hollywood from the mid-1940s into the 1960s who was overall under-recorded. He was on the original Honky-Tonk Piano album of 1950 from Capitol Records, and had worked for them for many years until he got a long-time job with the Disney corporation as a musician. The first eight tracks of this video were recorded in late 1947/early 1948 and released to an early 10" LP in 1951, with four more issued on two 78-RPM singles in 1948, and another two not released until an album with all of his Jump records tracks was issued in 1981 by founder Clive Acker. There are some extraordinary and tight performances here, some that buck the trends of how the pieces were traditionally presented, and new possibilities present in most of the tracks. This is an album that can be enjoyed for the sheer listening pleasure, and also analyzed for the technical merits of Marvin' playing, even separating out how each of his hands functioned and then interplayed during performances. Nothing is wasted here. If you have not yet experienced Marvin Ash (and there are more videos with him playing on this channel) then this is a good starting point. If you have heard the other videos posted to date, this will just add to the cumulative pleasure of hearing his work. Fourteen tracks at just under 44 minutes, so take some time and dig in. Comments on this one will hopefully be forthcoming, and likes well-earned. The usual collection of thoughts, stories, liner notes, music covers and other images are included free of charge. Please enjoy Marvin Ash on Jump Records.

00:00 What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry
03:11 Tishomingo Blues
06:40 Nightcap
09:47 The Little New Yorker
13:17 Sweet Lorraine
16:45 Ain't Misbehavin'
19:45 T 5 Blues
24:47 Temptation Rag
27:27 Lonesome Lovesick Got-to-Have-My-Daddy Blues
30:17 I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate
33:34 Sensation Rag
36:27 Sweet Lorraine (Alternate Take)
39:19 Pearl House Rag (Version One)
41:04 Pearl House Rag (Version Two)

The Jazz Piano of Marvin Ash (Fairmont LPM-104 - 1973)

Bill Edwards 2025-04-04 | Marvin Ash was an iconic and well-known pianist in Hollywood from the mid-1940s into the 1960s who was overall under-recorded. He was on the original Honky-Tonk Piano album of 1950 from Capitol Records, and had worked for them for many years until he got a long-time job with the Disney corporation as a musician. This album was compiled by Dave Caughren in 1973 for Fairmont Records, and re-released in 1981. The tracks were largely taken from unreleased takes from 1945-1947, and provide an interesting glimpse into Marvin's style as it would be heard at solo gigs around Los Angeles. They also cover a wide array of his styles and adaptations, playing ragtime, stride, and even some romantic tunes. A couple of the pieces here recorded in 1947 would be revisited with a trio a couple of years later for the Capitol album, and comparing them is an interesting exercise. In particular, You Took Advantage of Me provides the best overall example of the best of Ash from that decade. Despite being cobble together, there is some sense of continuity in the matrix of this album. A memorable half hour.

00:00 Cannon Ball: Characteristic Novelty
02:05 Sugar
05:37 Lonesome Lovesick Got-To-Have-My-Daddy Blues
08:14 Peg O' My Heart
10:21 Tin Roof Blues
13:08 Smoky Mokes
15:38 Pearl House Rag
17:25 Maple Leaf Rag
19:43 These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)
23:04 Squeeze Me (The Boy in the Boat)
25:18 You Took Advantage of Me
27:41 Take Me to the Midnight Cakewalk Ball
30:19 Hobson Street Blues #1
32:04 Hobson Street Blues #2

Sing a Song with Knuckles OToole Volume 2

Bill Edwards 2025-03-28 | Presented here is a follow-up to the first Sing a Song with Knuckles O'Toole. Sing-along party records were a staple of the 1950s, particularly those with vintage material from the early century. Most of them were instrumental only, but in 1958 both Grand Award and Columbia Records released some fine material with men's choruses through Enoch Light and Mitch Miller respectively. While the latter endured well into the mid-1960s, the Grand Award records of Sing a Song with Knuckles O'Toole had strong sales from 1958-1960, and were heard at many parties of the era. Miller went to television in 1961, cementing his durability. But there are many remaining fans of the two Knuckles O'Toole efforts. While Dick Hyman had been manning the piano during this era for the honky-tonk and ragtime entries, he was uncertain when asked if he had provided the backing tracks for this, and it was also not Billy Rowland. There were a few other talented NYC pianists who likely fit the bill. Anyhow, these stereophonic discs, of which this is volume two, are presented in the best possible light with the addition of lyrics on screen and a few visual punctuation points just for fun. Note that there were imbalances and some distortion on certain tracks released both on 33 1/3-rpm discs as well as 7.5 ips reel-to-reel tapes. They have been tackled as best as technology can allow, and are likely what was heard on the master edit. While this is not quite as exciting or dynamic as the first volume, and a couple of songs are apparently mono spread out to a pseudo-stereo spectrum, there is still a great deal of merit to this entry. At the very least, the final piece being Auld Lang Syne, you can pull this out every New Years Eve so you and your guests can Sing A Song with Knuckles O'Toole!

00:00 Introduction/Somebody Stole My Gal
02:31 Alexander's Ragtime Band
05:35 If You Were the Only Girl in the World
08:50 The Band Played On
11:25 You Made Me Love You
14:05 If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake
16:46 Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
19:45 Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet
22:30 Let the Rest of the World Go By
25:14 My Wild Irish Rose
28:28 Wait 'till the Sun Shines, Nellie
31:07 What'll I Do
33:57 Auld Lang Sy

Sing a Song with Knuckles OToole - Volume 1 (Grand Award Records GA-235 - 1958)

Bill Edwards 2025-03-15 | Sing-along party records were a staple of the 1950s, particularly those with vintage material from the early century. Most of them were instrumental only, but in 1958 both Grand Award and Columbia Records released some fine material with men's choruses through Enoch Light and Mitch Miller respectively. While the latter endured well into the mid-1960s, the Grand Award records of Sing a Song with Knuckles O'Toole had strong sales from 1958-1960, and were heard at many parties of the era. Miller went to television in 1961, cementing his durability. But there are many remaining fans of the two Knuckles O'Toole efforts. While Dick Hyman had been manning the piano during this era for the honky-tonk and ragtime entries, he was uncertain when asked if he had provided the backing tracks for this, and it was also not Billy Rowland. There were a few other talented NYC pianists who likely fit the bill. Anyhow, these stereophonic discs, of which this is volume one, are presented in the best possible light with the addition of lyrics on screen and a few visual punctuation points just for fun. Note that there were imbalances and some distortion on certain tracks released both on 33 1/3-rpm discs as well as 7.5 ips reel-to-reel tapes. They have been tackled as best as technology can allow, and are likely what was heard on the master edit. Anyhow, get your gang together and join in for the fun, revelry, joys, tears, etc., when you Sing A Song with Knuckles O'Toole!

0:00 Introduction/Knuckles O'Toole Medley Instrumental
02:31 I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover
04:35 That Old Gang of Mine
07:14 There Is a Tavern in the Town
09:43 It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
12:33 Don't Fence Me In
15:35 Casey Jones - The Brave Engineer
19:13 The Beer Barrel Polka (Skoda Lasky)
21:50 For Me and My Gal
24:39 Bye Bye Blackbird
26:54 Wait for Me Mary
29:33 There's a Long, Long Trail
32:17 Good Night Sweetheart

Mister Ragtime (Capitol Records T-760 - 1956) Lou Busch as Joe Fingers Carr

Bill Edwards 2025-03-07 | Perhaps the best of the pure piano ragtime albums released by Lou Busch and Capitol Records, this is a collection of 12 representative pieces of the ragtime era carefully curated and spectacularly played by Busch. Sure, The Old Piano Roll Blues and Saint Louis Blues fall a bit outside of the parameters of ragtime by definition, but they fit nicely within this set. It was his first album recorded in the new 1956 state of the art Capitol Records Studio, and unfortunately predated their stereo recording releases by just over a year, but is still sparkling in its fidelity and balance. There was some multi-tracking involved as well, giving some tracks a very rich texture with three- and four-handed passages. Other than several ragtime releases on singles into 1957, this would be the last purely ragtime album by Busch as Joe "Fingers" Carr while he was at Capitol, leaving them for Warner Brothers in 1959. Of particular interest on this album, and it is hard to pick favorites, Saint Louis Blues, Original Jelly Roll Blues, Temptation Rag and Tiger Rag are clearly standouts. Please enjoy this great album and share it with others for the love of ragtime.

00:00 Introduction
00:08 Sunflower Rag
02:06 The Old Piano Roll Blues
04:24 The Entertainer's Rag
06:53 Saint Louis Blues
10:19 Black and White Rag
12:35 12th Street Rag
14:53 Spaghetti Rag
17:26 Alexander's Ragtime Band
19:38 Temptation Rag
22:05 Original Jelly Roll Blues
25:48 Maple Leaf Rag
27:57 Tiger Rag

Knuckles OToole plays the Greatest All-Time RAGTIME Hits (Grand Award GA-209-SD - 1958) Dick Hyman

Bill Edwards 2024-08-05 | This single ragtime album, Knuckles O' Toole plays the Greatest All-Time RAGTIME Hits, is arguably the most successful ragtime LP and reel-to-reel tape sold between 1958 and the early 1970s. It is pure Dick Hyman at his joyful best during that heady time when honky-tonk and ragtime had not yet faded from view in the face of rock and roll and other musical pursuits, but perhaps the peak from which the only way to go was down until the second ragtime revival of the 1970s. Not only was it in brilliant stereophonic sound in the freshman year of stereo LPs, but it had the best continuity and flow of all of the Knuckles O'Toole albums to date. It was the last original release of O'Toole (Hyman) at the distressingly-tuned piano, with subsequent albums being remixes or re-releases, other than the two Sing-A-Song with Knuckles O'Toole that would follow, but with a different pianist. Two more pieces have been added to the original fifteen, given the possibility that they were also recorded with the intent of making the cut on this album (they ended up on Volume 4 of Honky-Tonk Piano). The usual commentary and imagery is included, still at no charge, along with a couple of things I know that most of even experienced ragtime players or O'Toole fans have not seen. Enjoy, dance around (not while driving, but you should not be watching this while driving, capiche?), share with your friends. Share with wannabe friends. Share with family, whether or not you get along with them. Share the joy. Now, quit reading this and get going.

00:00 Introduction
00:20 The Old Piano Roll Blues
02:02 Canadian Capers
04:42 Ragtime Cowboy Joe
06:35 Ragtime Razzmatazz
09:10 Nola
11:35 Cannon Ball
13:43 Stumbling
15:52 Black and White Rag
18:21 Kitten on the Keys
20:59 Wild Cherries Rag
23:46 Ragging the Scale
25:59 The Stars and Stripes Forever
28:30 Ragtime Revelations
30:55 Dill Pickles Rag
33:19 Mississippi Rag
35:53 Alexander's Ragtime Band
38:28 Dat Lovin' Rag

Honky Tonk Piano Vol. 4 (Waldorf SD-1403/Grand Award GA-365 - 1958) Dick Hyman as Knuckles OToole

Bill Edwards 2024-07-31 | This was the final instrumental honky-tonk piano release in the saga of Knuckles O'Toole, portrayed musically in 1958 by Dick Hyman. This early S-t-e-r-e-o-p-h-o-n-i-c record (not released as an O'Toole album in stereo in the United States) was a lasting treasure for early adopters of consumer grade stere sound in the late 1950s, and helped to kept the genre alive longer than was perhaps necessary, And shouldn't we be glad for it. Despite the obnoxiously detuned piano, the music is just plain old fun, not just nostalgic. This is the fourth of four volumes of Honky-Tonk Piano by O'Toole, and the second featuring Hyman at the piano, and despite the technical issues dealing with a new audio format and some oddly-mixed tracks, a template for what such an album might be in terms of selections, variety, and overall style. Not a bad way to spend a 35 minutes. Images and visual commentary, quotes from Hyman, and stories on the selections and the stereo process are included as usual at no extra charge.

00:00 Introduction
00:20 Ain't She Sweet
02:48 I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
05:13 Silver Threads Among the Gold
06:41 When You and I Were Young, Maggie
09:06 Dat Lovin' Rag
11:38 Honky-Tonk Man
13:58 In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
16:41 Alexander's Ragtime Band
19:16 Let Me Call You Sweetheart
20:41 I Love You Truly
22:28 San
25:20 Mississippi Mud
27:39 (The Man On) The Flying Trapeze
30:12 Kerry Dance
30:47 The Minstrel Boy
31:03 Killarney
31:49 The Wearing of the Green
32:31 Oh, You Beautiful Doll

Honky Tonk Piano Volume 3 (Grand Award Records GA-204 SD - 1958) Dick Hyman as Knuckles OToole

Bill Edwards 2024-07-24 | Yet another exciting chapter in the saga of Knuckles O'Toole, this time as portrayed musically by Dick Hyman. This early S-t-e-r-e-o-p-h-o-n-i-c honky-tonk piano album was a treasure for early adopters of consumer grade stereo sound in the late 1950s, and helped to keep the genre alive longer than was perhaps necessary, And shouldn't we be glad for it. Despite the obnoxiously detuned piano, the music is just plain old fun, not just nostalgic. This is the third of four volumes of Honky-Tonk Piano by O'Toole, and the first featuring Hyman at the piano, and despite the technical issues dealing with a new audio format and some oddly-mixed medleys, a template for what such an album might be in terms of selections, variety, and overall style. Not a bad way to spend a full 40 minutes. Images and visual commentary, quotes from Hyman, and stories on the selections and the stereo process are included as usual at no extra charge.

00:00 Introduction
00:20 Smile, Darn Ya, Smile
02:55 Walkin’ My Baby Back Home
05:08 Sweet Rosie O’Grady
06:11 After the Ball
07:44 Among My Souvenirs
10:06 Gee, But It’s Great to Meet a Friend From Your Home Town
10:45 I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)
11:51 Give My Regards to Broadway
13:05 It All Depends On You
15:23 Nelly Was a Lady
16:24 She May Have Seen Better Days
17:31 There Is a Tavern in the Town
18:30 Singin’ in the Rain
20:28 Somebody Stole My Gal
22:40 Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella On a Rainy Day
25:09 When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)
25:46 Where Did You Get That Hat?
26:20 Strike Up the Band (Here Comes a Sailor)
27:22 I’ll Get By
29:32 Hearts and Flowers
30:29 Mary’s A Grand Old Name
32:04 Oh Johnny! Oh Johnny! Oh!
34:58 Sunbonnet Sue
36:03 She May Have Seen Better Days
37:11 April Showers

Honky Tonk Piano Volume 2 (Grand Award Records 33-324 - 1956) Billy Rowland as Knuckles OToole

Bill Edwards 2024-07-16 | Back for more! Knuckles O'Toole, initially portrayed in the studio by Billy Rowland, then Dick Hyman, was a shot in the arm for honky-tonk piano in the mid-to-late 1950s, and kept the genre alive longer than was perhaps necessary, And we should be glad for it. Despite the obnoxiously detuned piano, the music is just plain old fun, not just nostalgic. This is the second of four volumes of Honky-Tonk Piano by O'Toole, featuring Rowland at the piano (with one or two exceptions), and a template for what such an album might be in terms of selections, variety, and overall style. Not a bad way to spend 35 minutes. Images and visual commentary and stories are baked in as usual.

00:00 Chinatown, My Chinatown
01:16 I’ve Got Rings on My Fingers (Mumbo Jumbo Jijiboo J. O’Shea)
02:26 St. Louis Blues
05:04 Down Home Rag
07:13 After You’ve Gone
09:13 While Strolling Through the Park (The Fountain in the Park)
10:36 Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie
11:41 My Pony Boy
11:16 In My Merry Oldsmobile
13:26 Ciribiribin
15:46 The Glory of Love
18:16 Take Me Out to the Ball Game
19:20 In the Good Old Summertime
20:27 My Wild Irish Rose
21:54 When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
23:25 Oh, Marie
25:35 Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay
26:33 A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
27:34 Down by the Old Mill Stream
29:00 After the Ball
30:29 My Gal Sal (They Called Her Frivolous Sal)
33:18 Last Night on the Back Porch (I Loved Her Best of All)

Honky Tonk Piano Volume 1 (Grand Award Records 33-314 - 1955/56) Billy Rowland as Knuckles OToole

Bill Edwards 2024-07-11 | Knuckles O'Toole, portrayed in the studio by Billy Rowland, then Dick Hyman, was a shot in the arm for honky-tonk piano in the mid-to-late 1950s, and kept the genre alive longer than was perhaps necessary, And we should be glad for it. Despite the obnoxiously detuned piano, the music is just plain old fun, not just nostalgic. This is the first of four volumes of Honky-Tonk Piano by O'Toole, featuring Rowland at the piano (with one or two exceptions), and a template for what such an album might be in terms of selections, variety, and overall style. Not a bad way to spend 31 minutes. Images and visual commentary and stories are baked in as usual.

00:00 The Crazy Otto Rag
01:25 There’ll Be Some Changes Made
02:06 Ida! Sweet as Apple Cider
03:23 Paper Doll
05:58 If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)
08:19 Come Back to Sorrento
09:22 Santa Lucia
10:11 O Sole Mio
10:59 Maple Leaf Rag
13:19 Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)
14:24 The Bowery
14:45 The Sidewalks of New York
16:18 Glad Rag Doll
18:44 I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now
19:39 The Band Played On
20:27 I Love You Truly
21:19 Peg O’ My Heart
22:52 Shine On, Harvest Moon
23:57 Boogie Woogie Rag
26:34 Yes! We Have No Bananas
28:50 Harrigan
29:58 You’re A Grand Old Flag
30:37 The Yankee Doodle Boy

Honky Tonk Street Parade (Capitol Records T-809 - 1957) Lou Busch as Joe Fingers Carr

Bill Edwards 2024-07-02 | Lou Busch, as Joe "Fingers" Carr, kept America and the world supplied with ragtime and honky-tonk recordings from the late 1940s into the early 1960s on both Capitol and Warner Brothers records. This 1957 entry would be one of the earlier efforts of his recorded at the new Capitol Records studio in Hollywood using multi-track recording, and the last one released on a monophonic-only format. He takes on one of the primary precursors to ragtime, the march, and manages to pull a wide variety of interpretations out of his bowler hat, with some true surprises and delights found within the record jacket. Now, you don't even need to worry about getting fingerprints on the disc. Just click Play and there you go. As usual, sheet music covers and other images, as well as visual commentary, is included, and still at no extra charge (we are generous, are we not). So, gather up the kiddies and arm them with broomsticks, because it's marching time. With a little kick.

00:00 The Stars and Stripes Forever
02:22 The Billboard March
04:34 National Emblem March
07:05 Marche Slav
09:23 The Thunderer March
12:08 South Rampart Street Parade
15:14 Entry of the Gladiators
17:20 March of the Siamese Children
19:37 Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
21:55 Under the Double Eagle (Unter Dem Doppeladler)
24:46 Speed King March
27:01 American Patrol

Ragtime Piano Roll Volume 3 and 4 (Riverside RLP-1049/RLP-1057 - 1953/1954)

Bill Edwards 2024-06-27 | This is a follow-up to Volumes 1 & 2 of the Ragtime Piano Roll Series. We would urge you to first listen to that video and read the notes, since this is a continuation of that (with some duplication of information). During the surge of honky-tonk piano recordings in the early 1950s, a few entries stood out as they were only peripheral or adjacent to the honky-tonk. This continuation of the first two Riverside volumes evokes the ragtime as the core of those albums, but is clearly aligned with the re-emergence of ragtime through the 1950 book They All Played Ragtime by Rudi Blesh and Harriet Janis. While, as with the first tow, this is not the best of fidelity, the Ragtime Piano Roll series was the first LP series of its kind including several basic and a few very fine piano roll renditions of both common and rare rags. The usual copious liner notes and visual commentary are included. As a bonus, the identification of a previously unfound composer is revealed within. Who? You'll have to watch to find out.

Parental Advisory: Apologies in advance for some of the unfortunate racial terms in the liner notes. They are given context in the commentary, and are included in order to not alter the historical value of these albums.

00:00 Frog Legs Rag
02:37 Magnetic Rag
05:26 The Entertainer’s Rag
08:08 Cannon Ball – A Characteristic Novelty
10:07 Glad Rag
12:27 Chinatown Rag
14:56 The Smiler – Joplin Rag
17:12 Weeping Willow Rag
19:20 Zig Zag Rag
21:38 Alabama Tickle
28:07 At a Georgia Campmeeting
27:41 Dill Pickles
29:34 Junk Man Rag
31:47 The Pianophiends Rag
33:09 Black Beauty Rag
34:43 Polar Bear Rag
37:29 Louisiana Rag
40:01 Maple Leaf Rag

Ragtime Piano Roll Volume 1 and 2 (Riverside RLP-1006/RLP-1025 - 1953)

Bill Edwards 2024-06-19 | During the surge of honky-tonk piano recordings in the early 1950s, a few entries stood out as they were only peripheral or adjacent to the honky-tonk. This one evokes the ragtime as the core of those albums, but is clearly aligned with the re-emergence of ragtime through the 1950 book They All Played Ragtime by Rudi Blesh and Harriet Janis. While not the best of fidelity, the Ragtime Piano Roll series was the first LP series of its kind including several basic and a few very fine piano roll renditions of both common and rare rags. The usual copious liner notes and visual commentary are included, but identification of all but two of the roll matrices proved to be a challenge, so, titles only.

00:00 Grace and Beauty
02:36 Ragtime Oriole
05:01 Saint Louis Rag
07:54 American Beauty Rag
10:44 Scott Joplin's New Rag
13:31 Original Rags
16:30 Fig Leaf Rag
20:13 The Entertainer
23:17 Maple Leaf Rag
25:46 Evergreen Rag
28:14 The Grizzly Bear Rag
30:39 The Cascades
32:50 States Rag Medley #8
32:56 1-Horsehoe Rag
33:27 2-Queen Rag
33:43 3-Sunflower Rag
34:02 4-Uncle Tom's Cabin Rag
34:51 5-Hot Scotch Rag
35:10 6-Frosty
35:25 7-Fashion Rag
35:39 8-That Tuneful Rag
35:54 9-Tattered Melody Rag
36:12 10-Sponge
36:44 Saint Louis Tickle
39:38 Jungle Time
42:33 'Possum and 'Taters

Your Fathers Moustache Vol. 2 (San Francisco M-33008 - 1957) Albert White & Gaslight Orchestra

Bill Edwards 2024-06-14 | They are at it again. During the era of Honky-Tonk Piano and early Rock and Roll, both of which were running wild in jukeboxes and on the airwaves, this unique and singular (for the time) follow-up album came along and continued the discussion as to what a real ragtime orchestra was back in "the day." Albert White again assembled some of San Francisco's finest instrumentalists, and using authentic period scores, augmented to feature soloists, created this wonderful pastiche of tunes from the 1850s to the 1920s using an authentic non-Dixieland Jazz ensemble, sparkling with elegance and, for the time, crystal clear sound. At a full 35 minutes it will certainly be a repeatable experience for any lover of old-time American music.

00:00 Waiting for the Robert E. Lee
02:35 Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey
05:26 Wild Cherries Rag
08:06 Saxema
09:44 Saddle Back
12:04 The Old Grey Mare
14:33 That International Rag
16:37 Maple Leaf Rag
18:41 The Fire Brigade
20:08 Black and White Rag
22:25 Teddy Trombone
24:13 Chinatown, My Chinatown
26:13 Golden Arrow
28:15 Pretty Baby
30:23 King Chanticleer
32:37 At the Mississippi Cabaret

Your Fathers Moustache in Hi-Fi (San Francisco M-33002 - 1955) - Albert White & Gaslight Orchestra

Bill Edwards 2024-05-10 | During the era of Honky-Tonk Piano and early Rock and Roll, both of which were running wild in jukeboxes and on the airwaves, this unique and singular (for the time) album came along and shifted the discussion to what a real ragtime orchestra was back in "the day." Albert White assembled some of San Francisco's finest instrumentalists, and using authentic period scores created this wonderful pastiche of tunes from the 1890s to the 1920s using an authentic non-Dixieland Jazz ensemble, sparkling with elegance and, for the time, crystal clear sound. At a full 45 minutes it will certainly be a repeatable experience for any lover of old-time American music.

00:00 What D'ye Mean You Lost Your Dog?
01:58 The Plunger - Galop
03:42 Everybody's Doin' It Now
06:20 Tickle the Ivories
08:19 Old Timer's Waltz (Waltz Medley)
12:52 Jiggle Reel (Jigglereel)
14:27 Mr. Thomas Cat
17:20 Lassus Trombone
19:50 Yah Yah Laugh (The Black Laugh)
22:21 Alexander's Ragtime Band
24:18 Kutschke Polka
26:17 Cycle Whirl
28:27 The Squirrel
31:08 (There'll Be) A Hot Time in the Old Town
33:42 Good Old Timers (Waltz Medley)
37:30 Silverheels - Indian Intermezzo
40:07 Razzazza Mazzazza
42:46 Flying Arrow

Parlor Piano (Capitol T-698 - 1956) - Lou Busch as Joe Fingers Carr

Bill Edwards 2024-03-21 | This particular Joe "Fingers" Carr album stands out from all of his others since it is just piano solos without his usual bass and rhythm ensemble. These are beautiful nuanced performances meant as much for listening as they are sing-along accompaniment. Some are lesser known seven decades later, but all were relatively big hits of their time. The usual visual commentary and original liner notes and sheet music covers are included.

0:00 Moonlight Bay
2:09 Take Me Out to the Ball Game
3:49 That Old Gang of Mine
06:31 Let Me Call You Sweetheart
08:51 Smiles
12:08 My Wild Irish Rose
15:00 The Gang That Sang "Heart of My Heart"
18:00 By the Light of the Silvery Moon
20:14 I Love You Truly
22:39 Moonlight and Roses
25:13 There's a Long, Long Trail
27:19 Three O'Clock in the Morning
30:04 Shine On, Harvest Moon
32:12 Home, Sweet Home

Knuckles OToole Goes South of the Border (Grand Award 33-342 - 1956) - Billy Rowland

Bill Edwards 2024-03-15 | While the character who became Knuckles O'Toole had already been released as Puddin' Head Smith and Keyboard Kingston, as well as O'Toole, on Waldorf Music Hall 10" records in 1955, the new Grand Award label went full speed ahead with Knuckles in 1956. South of the Border was the second 12" release under the character's name, which was played by British import Billy Rowland for nearly 3 years. Enjoy some of the hottest and coolest Latin dance tunes, including fast mambas and slow cha-chas, full of passion and verve, surprisingly well executed, and allegedly within the bounds of honky-tonk piano only in name. We assure you that you won't stay completely still while listening to this banquet of Latin delights. The usual visual commentary and cover images abound within.

00:00 Cumana
02:10 Mambo Jambo
04:26 Sweet and Gentle
06:46 Tropical Merengue
09:04 South of the Border
12:21 Mambo Number 8
15:19 The Mexican Hat Dance
17:36 Mambo Number 8
20:11 Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
23:06 El Rancho Grande
25:50 Est Es Cha-Cha-Cha
28:58 La Cumparsita
31:17 Say "Si Si"

Knuckles OToole Goes to Paris (Grand Award 33-337 - 1956) - Billy Rowland

Bill Edwards 2024-03-12 | While the character who became Knuckles O'Toole had already been released as Puddin' Head Smith and Keyboard Kingston, as well as O'Toole, on Waldorf Music Hall 10" records in 1955, the new Grand Award label went full speed ahead with Knuckles in 1956. Goes to Paris was the first 12" release under the character's name, which was played by British import Billy Rowland for nearly 3 years. Experience Paris honky-tonk(ish) style and enjoy both American and French music perspectives on the City of Lights for 30 minutes of enjoyable listening, part of the rush of honky-tonk albums of the mid-1950s. Not responsible for a sudden urge to smoke or eat croissants.

00:00 Under Paris Skies
03:02 La Seine (The River Seine)
05:20 The Left Bank (C'est a Hambourg)
08:41 Comme Çi, Comme Ça
11:24 Paris
13:50 C'est Si Bon (It's So Good)
16:34 Midnight in Paris
18:58 Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
21:59 Mon Homme (My Man)
23:49 Madamoiselle from Armentiers (Hinky Dinky Parlez Vous)
26:14 Vous qui Passez Sans Me Voir (Why Do You Pass Me By?)
28:21 Paris in the Spring

New Orleans at Midnight (Decca DL-8346 - 1956) Marvin Ash and his Dixie Blue Blowers

Bill Edwards 2024-02-27 | Marvin Ash was an iconic and well-known pianist in Hollywood in the 1950s and 1960s who was overall under-recorded. He was on the original Honky-Tonk Piano album of 1950 from Capitol Records, and had worked for them for many years until he got a long-time job with the Disney corporation as a musician. This album came during his early employment with Disney, and he and other considered it to be his best work overall. More laid back jazz in the traditional style, it nonetheless has ragtime within (no Honky-Tonk), and some superb playing by Ash, Matty Matlock (cl), and George Van Eps (gt). This is 36 minutes that you should thoroughly enjoy if you like piano jazz. As usual, liner notes and visual commentary are included with several visuals. A true treat even for first-time listeners. Fully restored to its original sonic glory.

00:00 New Orleans
02:28 Blue Turning Grey Over You
04:42 (What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue
08:41 Basin Street Blues
11:58 Searchlight Rag
14:53 Cajon Lament
17:33 Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
20:56 Bayou Lullaby
24:22 (I Would Do) Anything for You\
27:20 Tishomingo Blues
30:43 Du a Ferdinand
32:47 Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans

Slugger Ryan Plays Honky Tonk Piano (Judson J-3015/Riverside 1426 - 1958) - Dick Hyman

Bill Edwards 2024-02-20 | This may be one of the few LPs of ragtime, if not the only one, where a marionette is allegedly doing all the work. Never mind the man behind the curtain (Dick Hyman) who may be the brilliantly executing the handiwork that comes out of the fingers of this iconic 1950s television and stage star, one of several created by master puppeteer Bil Baird - who was a mentor to many, including Jim Henson. While less than 30 minutes, there is a lot packed into the 13 tracks on this album, including some awesometastic piano licks from Hyman himself, who was concurrently filling in as Knuckles O'Toole on the Grand Award label. I bet that it will be tempting to hear Hot-Rock Rock again and again, as it is a fabulous boogie-woogie track. Oh, and be sure to let the video run clear to the end for a little surprise. Thanks.

00:00 Introduction/Maple Leaf Rag
01:10 Melancholy (My Melancholy Baby)
03:35 Honky-Tonk Music
05:44 The Naked Dance
08:00 12th Street Rag
09:56 Maple Leaf Rag
12:25 Ja Da
14:26 Tiger Rag
16:36 Saint Louis Blues
19:02 Slugger's Blues
22:13 Hot-Rock Rock
24:18 The Darktown Strutters' Ball
26:18 Slugger Swings Out
28:00 Do You Know Where Your Children Are?

Joe Fingers Carr Plays the Classics (Capitol Records T-649 - 1955) - Lou Busch

Bill Edwards 2024-02-16 | Ragging classical music is a practice that is well over a century old. This 1955 album by Lou Busch as Joe "Fingers" Carr contains some of the best examples of this type of transformation, ranging from delicate jazz-tinged works of Chopin and Chaminade to take-no-prisoners attacks on Brahms and Rachmaninoff. Copious note throughout the entire video. Put it up nice and loud for the tasty bits (there are many) and imagine Liberace off the chain. That's our Lou! Get some culture right here.

00:00 Melody in F - Rubenstein
02:03 Minuet in G - Beethoven
04:51 Hungarian Dance #5 - Brahms
07:17 Scarf Dance - Chaminade
10:41 Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky
13:10 Liebestraume #3 - Liszt
15:12 Le Secret - Gautier
17:14 Dance of the Comedians - Kabalevsky
19:48 Anitra's Dance - Grieg
21:34 Sabre Dance - Khatchaturian
24:03 Prelude #7 in A major - Chopin
26:21 Prelude in C# minor (Russian Rag) - Rachmaninoff/Cobb
28:22 Barcarolle (Barky Roll Stomp) - Offenbach
30:23 Humoresque - Dvorak
32:29 Rocky's Rag (Russian Rag) - Rachmaninoff/Cobb

Poppa John Gordys Ragtime Piano (RCA Victor LPM-1060 - 1955) - John Gordy

Bill Edwards 2024-02-13 | A beloved pianist who spent most of his career in Nashville, Tennessee, John Gordy was one of the behind the scenes performers at the Grand Ole Opry, and encompassed several genres from Ragtime and Honky-Tonk through Swing, Jazz and Country. This 1955 RCA Victor album is one of only two LPs released under his name during his lifetime. While he did not attain the grand status that Del Wood with the Grand Ole Opry and WSM, he still remained a favorite of local musicians and was highly regarded for his chameleon-like skills fitting into any band.

00:00 Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home
02:28 It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane
04:42 Bye Bye Blackbird
07:08 California, Here I Come
09:18 Gimme A Little Kiss, Will Ya, Huh
11:42 Bye Bye Blues
13:41 Salty Dog Rag
16:18 There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
18:56 When My Dreamboat Comes Home
21:20 Tip Toe Through the Tulips With Me
23:16 Everything is Hotsy Totsy Now
25:27 Five Minutes More

Ragtime Piano Willie THE ROCK Knox (Waldorf Music Hall 33-147/168 - Grand Award 33-329) Dick Hyman

Bill Edwards 2023-11-22 | Not as well known but truly worthy of attention in the pantheon of ragtime recordings is that of a still-yet unknown Dick Hyman as he takes on the persona of Willie "THE ROCK" Knox. Dwayne Johnson could not approach this level of performance. Dick is only constrained by the sound his boss Enoch Light was looking for, just ahead of the launch of his Grand Award Records label and Knuckles O'Toole. Many finely rendered old songs and rags, including one original, Also, one rarity, and depending on which Knox LP some of you may have in your collection, perhaps some numbers you did not know about. Text commentary and images included as usually. JUST PLAY IT!
00:00 Some of These Days
02:41 Nobody's Sweetheart
05:25 Sweet Sue, Just You
07:45 Margie
10:00 The Darktown Strutter's Ball
12:15 Honeysuckle Rose
14:52 Maple Leaf Rag
17:37 New Orleans Rag
20:24 Glow Worm
22:41 12th Street Rag
24:58 The Yellow Rose of Texas
27:11 My Gal Sal
30:03 By the Beautiful Sea
32:19 School Days
34:42 I Want a Girl...
37:18 Row, Row, Row
39:50 Shine On, Harvest Moon
41:49 Tiger Rag

Rough House Piano (Capitol Records H/T-345 - 1952) - Lou Busch as Joe Fingers Carr

Bill Edwards 2023-11-16 | This was the second solo 10" album by pianist Lou Busch as Joe "Fingers" Carr, and one of the favorites in terms of selections as discussed amongst real Busch fans. More song oriented than the prior entry, Bar Room Piano, the original eight tracks fit neatly into a balanced matrix, and the four tacked on for the 12" LP had more continuity than the additional tunes on Bar Room Piano. One of those was a fairly good hit for Busch, Rattlesnake Rag. Listen. Enjoy. Be entranced. Comment if you wish.

00:00 Somebody Stole My Gal
02:20 The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady
04:28 Dardanella
07:18 12th Street Rag
09:41 Lou's Blues
12:13 Minute Waltz Boogie
14:41 Narcissus
17:23 The Darktown Strutters' Ball
19:51 Boogie Woogie Rag
22:11 Rattlesnake Rag
24:58 Kitten on the Keys
27:04 Hors D'Oeuvre

Bar Room Piano (Capitol Records H/T-280 - 1951) - Lou Busch as Joe Fingers Carr

Bill Edwards 2023-11-06 | The first solo ragtime LP by Lou Busch as Joe "Fingers" Carr. The original 10" LP included eight ragtime tracks, of which four were composed by Busch, and there are a couple of deep piano rag cuts here. Four additional works from the 12" LP are also included, all with text commentary and images. This album set a standard for Busch as Carr that would result in several more albums on Capitol, then Warner Brothers, over the next dozen years. All tracks have been remastered at the original performance speed rather than the sped up versions on the LPs.
00:00 Carr's Hop
03:13 Rapscallion Rag
05:30 Waltz in Ragtime
08:02 Angel Food Rag
10:59 Ragging the Scale
13:40 Too Much Mustard (Tres Moutarde)
16:30 Bar Room Boogie
19:17 Rigamarole Rag
21:52 Snow Deer Rag
24:10 Down Yonder
26:42 When You're Smiling
28"37 Stumbling

Joe Fingers Carr and His Ragtime Band - Firemans Ball (Capitol Records H/T-527 - 1954) - Lou Busch

Bill Edwards 2023-11-01 | A return engagement for Lou Busch a.k.a. Joe "Fingers" Carr, joined by some of the best session musicians in 1950s Hollywood. Not a ragtime band, really, except in name, this still is an entertaining romp with the excellent ragtime piano of Lou Busch and a cache of nostalgic tunes that are, at times, exquisitely and expertly arranged, and occasionally a bit out of date for the times. Screen commentary as usual with some extra info on the tracks and the songs.
00:00 Nobody's Sweetheart
02:04 Goofus
04:26 I Ain't Got Nobody
07:32 How Come You Do Me Like You Do?
09:57 I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
11:54 You've Got to See Mama Ev'ry Night
14:07 Red Wing
16:27 Hook and Ladder Rag
18:31 Johnson Rag
20:32 You Are My Sunshine
22:41 Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider
25:30 I Want to Be Happy

Honky Tonk Piano (RCA LPM-26/RCA LPM-3080 - 1951/1953) - Frankie Carle

Bill Edwards 2023-10-17 | This entry constitutes two volumes of honky-tonk piano played by famous bandleader and pianist Frankie Carle for RCA Victor in the early 1950s while the style, part of the first ragtime revival, was a hot commodity. Although there were some common threads and stylistic cues he shared with Lou Busch, one of the top players of the genre, Carle's style differed more toward jazz and stride in some instances. The majority of tracks are steeped in old songs, although there are a couple of rags, and the newest entry of the bunch, The Old Piano Roll Blues. A nice overall nostalgic journey. Restored into high fidelity mono, as were the original recordings,

00:00 In a Little Spanish Town
01:54 Crazy Bone Rag
04:34 Frankie Carle Rag (Old Folks at Home)
07:15 Frankie and Johnny
10:22 The Prisoner's Song
13:02 The Old Piano Roll Blues
15:15 Memories
17:32 Nobody's Sweetheart
19:40 I Can't Give You Anything but Love Baby
21:46 Someday Sweetheart
24:07 I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
27:01 Just a Girl That Men Forget
29:51 Alexander's Ragtime Band
32:02 Who's Sorry Now?

Kitten on the Keys (Capitol H-306 - 1953) - Ray Turner

Bill Edwards 2023-10-12 | Ray Turner, a.k.a. The Hollywood Pianist, was a singularity in the 1940s and 1950s, and one of the masters of the Novelty Piano genre, particularly as an interpreter of Confrey, Bargy and Straight. Having first recorded novelties in 1928 in London while part of the Paul Whiteman organization, by 1952, when these tracks were cut, his playing was well-known, even if he was less well-known. There are snippets of text throughout that tell his story and some about the album and the composers, without interrupting the music itself. Unlike many other 10" Capitol products of 1949-1954, this one was never expanded to the 12" vinyl format, so there are only eight tracks presented here. Worth your time, however!

00:00 Kitten on the Keys - Zez Confrey
03:15 Nola - Felix Arndt
06:31 Rufenreddy - Charley Straight
09:47 Coaxing the Piano - Zez Confrey
12:32 Dizzy Fingers - Zez Confrey
15:54 Canadian Capers - Chandler/White/Cohen/Burtnett
19:04 Pianoflage - Roy Bargy
22:00 Greenwich Witch - Zez Confrey

Honky Tonk Piano (Capitol H/T-188 - 1950) - Ray Turner tracks uncorrected for speed

Bill Edwards 2023-10-12 | Meant as an extension of the video for the album Honky-Tonk Piano from 1950, this presents the Ray Turner tracks at the speed they were originally heard on the album, which was MUCH faster than the tempo and pitch at which they were recorded. There is also text that discusses the possible reasons for this engineering act of heresy, plus some other tidbits about Turner and his peers at Capitol. Five tracks in all.

00:00 The Entertainer's Rag (Jay Roberts)
03:07 Hungarian Rag (Julius Lenzberg)
06:11 Jim Jams (Roy Bargy)
08:55 Black and White Rag - Album version (George Botsford)
12:10 Black and White Rag - Single edit (George Botsford)

Joe Fingers Carr and his Ragtime Band (Capitol H/T-443 - 1953) - Lou Busch as Joe Fingers Carr

Bill Edwards 2023-10-11 | In conjunction with an article for the Syncopated Times that I am doing with fellow ragtimer Jeff Barnhart discussing Lou Busch and the Joe Fingers Carr Ragtime Band album, this represents the entire 12" version of the album from 1955 with visual commentary and items of interest. When the article is published/posted it will be linked here. I do not own this property, but I did restore it from a combination of digital copies of master tapes and album tracks from several different discs to sound as close as possible to the original master from Capitol Records.

00:00 San Antonio Rose
02:00 Wang Wang Blues
03:58 Doodle-Doo-Doo
06:14 Canadian Capers
08:20 Baltimore Rag
10:25 Raggedy Ann Rag
12:35 Sweet Georgia Brown
14:20 Wabash Blues
16:57 Maple Leaf Rag
19:12 Alabamy Bound
21:20 Down Home Rag
23:28 Collegiate

Honky Tonk Piano (Capitol Records - 1950) - Lou Busch, Ray Turner, Marvin Ash

Bill Edwards 2023-10-11 | A pitch-corrected version of the first all-Ragtime Long Playing Record, Honky-Tonk Piano, Capitol Records T-188. Details can be found within the video. Note that the non-pitch/tempo-corrected versions of the Ray Turner cuts can be found on a different related video on this channel, but has been excluded from here to provide a more natural flow reflecting his actual performances. Even tracks by Lou Busch and Marvin Ash were slightly accelerated, and they have also been pitch-corrected.

This was a product of Capitol records restored from both discs and some master tape digital copies sent to me. As nearly all these tracks are no longer available, this is being presented as a historical document that helped to promote what became the first ragtime revival of the 1950s. More can be found in my book on this topic, Honky-Tonk Piano, at Amazon.com.
A QR link can be found within the video.

00:00 Introduction
01:12 The Entertainer's Rag - Ray Turner
04:50 Two Dollar Rag - Lou Busch
07:08 Cannon Ball - Marvin Ash
09:36 Hungarian Rag - Ray Turner
13:18 Maple Leaf Rag - Marvin Ash
15:39 Kitten on the Keys - Lou Busch
18:00 Jim Jams - Ray Turner
21:19 That Everlovin' Rag - Lou Busch
23:44 Limehouse Blues - Lou Busch
25:57 Fidgety Feet - Marvin Ash
28:44 Black and White Rag - Ray Turner
32:41 Kimono Kapers - Lou Busch

The Ragtime Nutcracker by Bill Edwards

Bill Edwards 2021-12-09 | Enjoy this reimagining of Tchaikovsky's perennial favorite, The Nutcracker Suite from 1892, done in the style of 1910s and 1920s ragtime, stride, blues, novelty and early jazz piano. Great for holiday gatherings or a warm chuckle or smile by the fireside. Includes lots of information on the pieces, the composer, and some fun facts and film clips here and there.

The Bickersons Sketch - 2003 - Sam and Beverly Edwards

Bill Edwards 2019-06-27 | This was presented by my parents, actor Sam Edwards and his wife Beverly, at the 2003 World Champion of Old-Time Piano Playing in Peoria, Illinois, Memorial Day Weekend (Sam's Birthday). Now they are both gone, so when I saw this again I thought I might share the moment with the world. Now, stop Bickering and listen.

Noble Sissle and James Hubert Eubie Blake - Snappy Songs -1923

Bill Edwards 2016-11-25 | This 1923 short was shot on the still experimental sound on film system championed by Lee De Forrest. Early sound on film worked on the density of the light rather than the width of the current stream, so were easily prone to issues from dirt or wear, and this is no exception. I have cleaned up the sound as best I could in the short term which gives some additional clarity to the poor soundtrack. This is conjunction with a couple of Sissle and Blake essays I am currently working on. Note that the second half, shot with a different microphone placement and from a different angle, translated much better in the audio cleanup.

My Piano Bar History

Bill Edwards 2016-10-30 | While I do more festivals and concerts now, I still have connections to piano bar music, which I have been involved in for over 25 years. Recalling it for a variety of reasons, and still trying to keep that Piano Man vibe going. Hopefully more to come, depending on the boos, and I do hear the boos talking. (Piano bar humor!)

Shes Only a Woman

Bill Edwards 2016-08-24 | I grew up during the height of Billy Joel (some Brooklynites and Queen residents will say that is from 1973 to 2016), and this was, and actually still is a oft-requested gentle wedding tune, one of his finest love songs.

So In Love

Bill Edwards 2016-08-24 | So in Love by Cole Porter is a wonderfully malleable tune. It can be a pleasant pop song or a delicate ballad, as was done in D'Lovely. This version is based on an idea by pianist Johnny Guarnieri in which Beethoven, some Italian classical influences, and plain old jazz/stride are all part of the mix. I always go somewhere place when I play this lovely dedication to Porter's wife, later used in Kiss Me Kate.

Beethoven Pathétique Sonata, 2nd Movement, Adagio

Bill Edwards 2016-08-24 | Beethoven - Pathétique Sonata, 2nd Movement, Adagio Cantibile. In the 1980s this tune was used for the pop song Midnight Blue. It is one of my favorite non-symphonic Beethoven works which I played in college for juries and a concert.

Memories of You - 2016 Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival

Bill Edwards 2016-06-09 | One of the more challenging performances at the festival due to the deep emotion behind it, so a couple of misfires, but overall I am satisfied with how this came out. I will now forever associate it with my late daughter Amber, and any loved ones I have lost since. Thanks to all of you, to Eubie for writing it, and those who have held me up personally and professionally during a trying time.
Bill Edwards - http://ragpiano.com

The Dannys Festival - Vince Guaraldi Christmas Medley - Bill Edwards

Bill Edwards 2013-12-13 | In honor of the Dannys Festival (explained in the video) I offer some favorites by Vince Guaraldi in the spirit of the Christmas holidays, and hopefully for some smiles. It has been 48 years since these debuted on CBS in 1965, but these pieces still live with us every Christmas and are classics. Perhaps a more focused and professional - practiced - approach next year, but I humbly offer this version for now

The Danys Festival - Maple Leaf Rag - Bill Edwards

Bill Edwards 2013-12-13 | Danny Festival video celebrating Danny Matson and Danny Coots, both ragtime community members. on the gift of a Kidney from Coots to Matson on 12/11/2013. Maple Leaf Rag contribution as part of the virtual festival.

Swipesy Stomp

Bill Edwards 2013-06-23 | Just for fun and on a whim, in advance of my video series on ragtime, throwing out my stomp version of Swipesy Cakewalk by Arthur Marshall and Scott Joplin (yes, in that order) from 1900. The difference from just a cakewalk? Largely in the left hand with tenths, sixths and lower octaves, but some in the right hand with altered rhythms and some bounce. The last section is repeated four times, the third being more of the stomp version than anything else. Some was inspired by my friend Brian Holland and a couple of his Swipesy performances. The Petrof sounds much better than a video microphone can capture, so I will eventually use full sound capture on these videos.

Poet and Peasant Overture - sorta - in stride.

Bill Edwards 2013-06-10 | Many moons and stars ago, Jim Turner did an interpretation of the famed Poet and Peasant overture by Franz Von Suppe. This is my own take, similar in places, as a shortened version designed for the old-time piano competition held each year in Peoria, Illinois. It's really pretty fun to play in places, and makes me feel all classicalfied in places.

Black and White - no, wait - Dill Pickles Rag

Bill Edwards 2013-06-10 | Change of plans midstream since I hate removing from anybody else's repertoire, especially as they are about to take the stage. Not that much difference between Black and White and Dill Pickles anyhow. We could've made a medley of the whole thing.

The Crave

Bill Edwards 2013-06-10 | The Crave by Jelly Roll Morton as played at the 2013 Scott Joplin Festival in Sedalia, Missouri. I don't do too much Morton, but I was introduced to this piece in the mid 1970s via the Coney Island album by Herb Alpert and the TJB (which also has a hot Sweet Georgia Brown and Senor Mouse). Also found on my Tangoz album of 2012.

Calico Rag

Bill Edwards 2013-06-10 | Calico Rag played late Saturday morning June 8 in the John Stark Pavilion. This exercise in arpeggios was composed in 1914 by a lesser known but talented composer, Nat Johnson.

Saint Louis Blues

Bill Edwards 2013-06-10 | Saint Louis Blues as played by Dalton Ridenhour and Bill Edwards, sung by Sue Keller, Saturday morning at the John Stark Pavillion, June 8, 2013, Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival. Don't know why Sue blames ME for being blue. I'm just the piano player, not the cause of such troubles. Dalton was crossing over into my set, which is why we collaborated. Such fun others should be able to have.

Back Home Again in Indiana - Will Perkins and Martin Spitznagel with Edwards and Coots

Bill Edwards 2013-05-28 | Durango [CO] Ragtime Festival, March 23, 2013, evening performance. Will invited Martin, Danny and myself to the stage for a rousing rendition of Indiana. However, why they asked me to sing a song for which I knew the melody, but not quite the lyrics, is unclear. We sorta pulled that part off anyhow. Really rocks just the same.

Video provided by Dr. Scott King of Shenandoah, IA