Lem Fowler, like James Blythe, is one of the most revered hot piano roll artists among roll collectors, although his name is almost completely lost outside our circles. He recorded just over a dozen rolls for the QRS and US Music roll labels. Also like Blythe, he recorded phonograph records as accompanist to many well-known Chicago blues vocalists. Fowler's complete recordings can be heard on an outstanding CD on the Johnny Parth's RST Label (see cover art above). Mike Montgomery wrote outstanding liner notes which are not to be missed!

It's interesting to note that the Fowler rolls can be divided into 3 distinct styles. First, the early rolls as described below. Second, the hot, fast-tempo tunes such as Percolatin' Blues, Fowler's Hot Strut, Steppin' Ol' Fool, and Showin' Out. Finally, there's the "hard luck" tunes -- Down and Out Blues, Gin Mill Blues, and Number Runners Blues. What's even more interesting is how damn good they all are. I hope you will treat yourself to a few!

137182 You Got Ev'rything A Sweet Mama Needs But Me played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 2233) - lyric sheet included with roll

You Got Ev'rything A Sweet Mama Needs But Me was issued both on this roll and on U. S. Music (see below). This well-known tune has been recut a couple of times, for good reason!

137183 Satisfied Blues played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 2381) - lyric sheet included with roll

Satisfied Blues is probably the best of the Fowler rolls that has been recut before now. Lem's lyrics are all top-notch, and most have neat asides along with the song -- such remarks as "Listen at that mean vamp", and later "Now just a minute while I get you told". No wonder this has been recut several times, and yet so seldom comes up for sale -- most people don't let go of their copies! You won't either...

137184 Percolatin' Blues played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 4103) - lyric sheet included with roll

If you're going to get just one Fowler roll, be sure to get this one. This is a hot, hot, fast-tempo tune which not only includes great asides ("Now ev'rybody percolate / the house is gettin' rocky...") but the song lyrics themselves are a ton of fun too. This is choice stuff!

137185 Fowler's Hot Strut played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 4385) - lyric sheet included with roll

Be sure to get this roll too. It's every bit as hot and up-tempo as Percolatin' Blues (this one includes asides "Percolate them keys boy" and "how'm I doin'?"). Lem even tells a joke during one of the solo verses, and the lyrics will make you think you've been invited to a rent party ("House gettin' rocky on corn and wine / Bring in some gin let's have a good time..."). As Lem says here, "This strut just won't don't ... and that's that!"

137186 Steppin' Ol' Fool played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 4469) - lyric sheet included with roll

Get this one too! Hoo, baby, this music is really takin' off. Did I bother telling you that the piano playing is awesome in these songs, too? Lem's style is very original and different from the typical QRS roll. These rolls sound playable by human hands, as if Lem were just waiting for someone to come along and cut him at his own game.

137187 Down And Out Blues played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 4471) - lyric sheet included with roll

If you're going to get just one Fowler roll, be sure to get this one too -- really. This and most of the rest of these rolls feature a more somber tone, with hard-luck lyrics and more amazing blues solos. Lem tells us "(I'm) gonna put y'all in the alley now ... hear this mean vamp ... just like in Chicago" and the lyrics sure do tell you about a man who's down and out! You'll love all the verses, but above all don't miss this one: "I got a gal in town, but I'm scared to call her name / (repeat) / She's a married gal but she's my gal just the same". This roll even has some gospel sounds in it. He sho' plays tasty...

137188 Gin Mill Blues played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 4580) - lyric sheet included with roll

You're gonna love this roll too. It's got it all: asides ("ev'rybody struggle ... gonna take you out west ... well, I never"), great lyrics (and prohibition lyrics too, of course, mentioning home brew among other things); and plenty of killer blues solo piano.

137189 Number Runner's Blues played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 4678) - lyric sheet included with roll

Here's another one with "down and out" lyrics and great piano. The original of this roll -- and only known copy -- sustained water damaged all the way through on the right 2 or 3 inches of paper, so this recut was literally a "restoration" of the original piano roll.

137190 L & N Blues played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 4870) - lyric sheet included with roll

Be sure to get this one. Here are several distinctive train imitations -- the whistle ("All aboard for the sunny South ... the home of the blues...") and accelerating "chug" of the engine at the beginning; and the great driving rhythm and left hand during the solo verse ("just a dash of blues / listen at that train..."). This one's really gonna send you home.

137191 Showin' Out played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 4885) - lyric sheet included with roll

Here's one more of the hot, strutting Fowler rolls -- so much so that Lem tells us so himself: "Percolate them keys boy ... As good as Fowler's Hot Strut"!! I guess we're back at that rent party.

137192 Squabblin' The Blues played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on QRS 5050) - lyric sheet included with roll

Here's a "mistreated mama" song with more right-between-the-eyes Fowler lyrics: "If you got a man ... you better pin him to your side / (repeat) / 'Cause if he flags my train, I sho' is gonna let him ride (oh yeah)". Good, funky piano too -- of course.

137193 He May Be Your Man (But He Comes To See Me Sometimes) played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on US Music 40852) - lyric sheet included with roll

137194 The Wicked Fives (Dirty Fives) played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on US Music 41077) - lyric sheet included with roll

137195 You Got Ev'ry Thing A Sweet Mama Needs (But Me) played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on US Music 41407) - lyric sheet included with roll

137196 Satisfied Blues played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on US Music 41496) - lyric sheet included with roll

137197 Double Crossin' Daddy played by the composer Lem Fowler $12
(originally issued on US Music 41539) - lyric sheet included with roll

These next five rolls are among Fowler's earliest and were all issued by U. S. Music. The first three are all blues songs telling a story about someone or something somewhere; he hadn't yet gotten into his groove telling stories first-hand as he did with so many of the QRS rolls. The arrangements are also a bit more reserved, but it seems unfair to compare any rolls by anyone to the Fowler QRS rolls from 1928 - 1931; there's just nothing else like 'em! What that leaves us with is some fine blues piano rolls, particularly the "alternate take" material on Satisfied Blues and You Got Ev'ry Thing A Sweet Mama Needs (But Me). Satisfied Blues has to be singled out as the best of Fowler's early rolls; it and Double Crossin' Daddy tell similar stories, and both are sprinkled with the witty Fowler asides which characterize his later material.