James P. Johnson
is one of the greatest of all piano roll artists. He recorded
some of his best ragtime & early jazz
piano solos early on, before he had phonograph record contracts,
and he recorded some great, hot popular
rolls later on. JPJ is one of the few "crossover"
roll artists who recorded great rag rolls and later great blues
and popular rolls. He is probably my all-time favorite roll artist!
A couple of the following rolls were issued because of their scarcity more than their musical value (and they are so noted), but all the others are outstanding and highly recommended for any roll collector.
For more information on James P. Johnson, I recommend the writeup in Rags & Ragtime (Jasen & Tichenor) and the book James P. Johnson (Brown & Hilbert); also see Tom Davin's 1955 interview with JPJ in Jazz Panorama (Martin Williams, ed.) (see BluesTone Recommended Reading list). Also, the 4-CD series on Classics Records contains James P. Johnson's complete recordings (as a leader) and is recommended (see cover art above).
137359 Carolina Shout played by the composer James
P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 100999 / ca. February 1921)
Carolina Shout is certainly one of the best piano rolls ever made. It is a jazz classic that runs rings around anything that preceded it. Duke Ellington himself learned to play Carolina Shout from this piano roll, as he tells in his autobiography Music Is My Mistress. Chorus after chorus, this roll displays Johnson's gift for improvising clever variations on his terrific piece. I simply can't praise this roll highly enough. It is hotter than all get out, and should be in every hot piano roll collection! OK, I'm done!
137101 Carolina Shout played by the composer James
P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on Artempo 12975 / February 1918)
I am proud to offer this very special rarity. Only two original copies of this roll have ever surfaced, and this is the first time it has ever been recut. To make it even better, the two major edit flaws in the original roll have been corrected, making this roll flow more like it surely did when James P. originally recorded it (a detailed explanation and justification of these changes is included with the roll). It is exciting to finally hear this performance without the obvious errors added by the Artempo editors.
137281 Caprice Rag played by the composer James
P. Johnson $15
and After Tonight (Farrell) played by James P. Johnson
(originally issued on Perfection 87023 and Perfection
87020)
These are two of the earliest James P. rolls, recorded for Perfection and issued in June & July of 1917. It's thrilling to be able to hear these performaces, issued a full five years before he made phonograph recordings - especially when it includes a classic like Caprice Rag! I think After Tonight is excellent, too - it sounds similar to Birmingham Blues to my ear. This is not the same tune as James P. wrote & recorded in 1939 (which is available on the Classics CD label).Be sure to re-read the interesting liner notes Mike Montgomery wrote for the Biograph LP which includes these performances. These are terrific, historically important performances.
137038 Daintiness Rag and Stop It played by
the composer James P. Johnson $15
(originally issued on Perfection 87023 and Perfection
87020) - sheet music for Stop It included with roll
This is only the second time these two very early James P. Johnson rolls have been recut. Both show James P. in fine form in these 1917 versions of his compositions (Stop It is particularly hot on this roll). The fact that Johnson didn't make any acoustic recordings until 1921 makes these early roll issues especially significant. Johnson's solo recordings of Daintiness Rag can also be heard on Folkways LP #2850 from a 1943 recording, and on Herwin LP #403 from a 1947 recording. The sheet music for Stop It is included, courtesy of one of my customers (thank you, Bob Pinsker!). This is top-notch stuff!
137258 Fascination Rag played by the composer James
P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on Metro-Art 203226)
This is what recut lists live for! Folks, here is one of the last of the never-before-recut James P. Johnson composer-played rag rolls, and it's a smooth, tasty piece which appeared on a Biograph LP years ago along with a recording of James P. playing it in 1939. Mike Montgomery was kind enough to make this available to us, and Trebor dug up a copy of the published version of the sheet music, which has never been reprinted either (hence its inclusion here). It's getting hard to offer you never-before-available James P. material, and this is possibly the end of the line!
137224 Innovation Rag played by the composer James
P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on Universal 203255)
Innovation Rag was the fifth of a series of six incredible composer-played rags JPJ recorded for Universal which were issued throughout 1917 (see the list in Rags and Ragtime; all have now been issued on BluesTone). Only one of these was published or copyrighted, and they all feature the same hot, exciting James P. style. JPJ is probably second only to Jelly Roll Morton for the quality and quantity of great performances he recorded on piano rolls -- and these are among his best.
137141 Steeplechase Rag played by the composer James P.
Johnson $12
(originally issued on Universal 203179)
137142 Caprice Rag played by the composer James P.
Johnson $12
(originally issued on Universal 203177)
These two rolls are some outstanding, early hand-played-by-the-composer rolls recorded by James P. Johnson and released in May 1917. They're "basic piano roll repertoire" material, so when I got access to original copies of each I had them read into the computer at high resolution and double-checked for accuracy by Rob Rhodes before perforating the production copies. Johnson recorded a number of his composition on piano rolls which were never copyrighted or published; Steeplechase was eventually published as Over The Bars. James P.'s discographer Robert Hilbert lists these piano rolls among the very first Johnson recordings ever released, and they give us a taste of how James P. was playing piano in 1917 (his first phonograph recordings weren't made until October 1921). Caprice Rag includes the original Themodist "snakebites".
137162 Twilight Rag played by the composer James
P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on Metro-Art 203274) ­ with Themodist
perforations
Here is a real treat -- a great James P. Johnson composer that has never been recut before! Twilight Rag is officially a duet roll, but sounds less "arranged" than many "solo" rolls. It is also one of that elite class of composer-played rag rolls which were never copyrighted or published.
137372 Loveless Love / played by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1340 / May 1921) - lyric sheet
included with roll
137373 Harlem Choc'late Babies On Parade / played by
James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 3526 / July 1926) - lyric
sheet included with roll
Loveless Love is one of my favorite James P. Johnson rolls. This is a W. C. Handy composition with very interesting lyrics. This roll has been reissued several times, but hasn't been available in about 10 years. There is a nice, long solo verse at the end where Jimmy really stretches out!
Harlem Choc'late Babies On Parade is a lively, strutting piece from 1926. It also happens to be an unpublished composition by James P. Johnson, so what we have here is a composer-played roll! Research by Mike Montgomery has determined that this song was copyrighted in April, 1926 with music by James P. Johnson and lyrics by Henry Creamer. Since this tune was never published or recorded by anyone else, this roll is the only existence of this Johnson composition! Henry Creamer is better know for co-writing such hits as Strut Miss Lizzie and the classic That's A-Plenty. There's an interesting section on these composers in Jasen & Jones' book "Spreadin' Rhythm Around" (see my "recommended reading" web page for more info).
137374 Cryin' For My Used To Be /
played by James P. Johnson and "Fats" Waller $12
(originally issued on QRS 3800 / February 1927) - lyric
sheet included with roll
137375 Wasn't It Nice / played by James P. Johnson
$12
(originally issued on QRS 3996 / August 1927) - lyric
sheet included with roll
Cryin' For My Used To Be is an exceedingly scarce roll (only one original has ever surfaced!) and one of only two duets issued by James P. Johnson and "Fats" Waller. It was reissued once by Mike Schwimmer and hasn't been available since. The tune is very lively and my ear tells me James P. is in the bass and Waller is in the treble. Mike Montgomery was kind enough to allow me to offer if for you again here.
Wasn't It Nice is the last QRS roll issued by James P. Johnson. The tune is somewhat of a throwaway in my opinion, but the piano playing is outstanding - good bass lines, tons of blue notes in the treble, and great syncopation throughout. Every verse and chorus is different, not just a copy-and-paste of the previous section. This roll hasn't been available since the early 1980's, and is a worthy addition to your James P. Johnson collection.
137324 Black Bottom Dance (DeSylva - Brown - Henderson)
played by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 3792) - lyric sheet included
with roll
137325 Cry Baby Blues (Meyer - Lewis - Young)
played by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1623) - lyric sheet included
with roll
You know I can't put out a list unless there are James P. Johnson rolls on it, so here's the latest installment. Neither has been recut since AMR, Hollywood Vintage and/or Jazz Classics did them about 25 years ago. Black Bottom Dance is along the same vein as Charleston, and has different, lively verses and choruses every time through. Cry Baby Blues is another strutting tune with two nice, long solo verses in the middle and different piano parts each time through the verses and choruses.
137298 Birmingham Blues (McCord & Matthews)
played by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1994) - lyric sheet included
with roll
137299 Dr. Jazzes Raz-Ma-Taz (O'Flynn & Rose)
James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1473) - lyric sheet included
with roll
I've probably said it before, but these are 2 of my favorite James P. Johnson rolls and neither has been available since Hollywood Vintage issued each in the early 1970's. Birmingham Blues is a great, slower blues with lots of tasty James P. devices, and Dr. Jazzes Raz-Ma-Taz is one of the hottest rolls you'll ever find! When the label says Tempo 100 you know you'd better look out. This is right up there with Carolina Shout as one of James P.'s finest performances on piano roll.
137109 Black Man (Be On Yo' Way) (Spencer Williams) played
by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 2351) - lyric sheet included
with roll
Here's another typically excellent Johnson performance. The lyrics tell the same story as the previous roll on this list, except this time the man is getting the boot! Johnson rolls always seem to have an irresistable, strutting, swinging beat to them, and this one is just as hot as you would expect.
137067 Don't Tell Your Monkey Man (L. Johnson &
T. Koehler) played by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1338) - lyric sheet included
with roll
This tune was apparently quite popular, because it appeared on several different rolls. This JPJ performance struts and is a lot of fun to play.
137163 He's My Man (Lada) played by James P. Johnson
$12
(originally issued on QRS 3676 / October 1926) - lyric
sheet included with roll
There aren't many James P. Johnson popular song rolls which had never been recut before, but this is one! He's My Man is a typically fine James P. word roll.
137267 I Ain't Givin' Nothin' Away (Zoel & Tally)
played by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1724) - lyric sheet included
with roll
137268 Muscle Shoals Blues (George W. Thomas)
played by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1888) - lyric sheet included
with roll
I Ain't Givin' Nothin' Away is a hot, strutting word roll with a neat extended verse featuring the melody in the left hand and a vamp-y, swinging right hand "accompaniment". Muscle Shoals Blues is absolutely beautiful - it sounds good both at a faster tempo, and at a slower tempo a la Arkansas Blues. It also features more left hand melody with an indescribably hot right hand improvisation to back it up. If you're not already familiar with this roll, you really owe it to yourself.
137090 I've Got My Habits On (Jimmie Durante) played
by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1804) - lyric sheet included
with roll
This is one of my all-time favorite James
P. Johnson rolls, and it's as hot as they come. It's simply a
great pop song (by Jimmie Durante!) full of James P.'s mannerisms,
and combined with joyous lyrics ("Folks, I'm just a glutton
for struttin'...") that accent this superb, upbeat piano
performance. There isn't much else I can tell you about it; you'll
need to hear the rest for yourself.
137215 Joe Turner Blues (W. C. Handy) played by James
P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1830) - lyric sheet included
with roll
Here's a great JPJ roll, complete with two excellent, strutting solo verse (including a great boogie-woogie left hand) and many interesting, different choruses played with James P.'s usual hot, strutting style. Cool lyrics, too.
137345 Look What A Fool I've Been played by James
P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1831 / Feb. 1922) - lyric
sheet included with roll
Here are three new James P. Johnson recuts, all great examples of James P.'s great roll playing (sorry, bad pun). (If You Don't Believe I Love You) Look What A Fool I've Been is a Clarence Williams tune from 1921. This roll features two nice 12-bar solo verses, a hot double-time coda, lots of blue notes, and 3 choruses with different arrangements each time.
137346 If You've Never Been Vamped By A Brownskin,
You've Never Been Vamped At All played by James P. Johnson
$12
(originally issued on QRS 1644 / September 1921) - lyric
sheet included with roll
If You've Never Been Vamped By A Brownskin is an outstanding arrangement of the Sissle & Blake tune, which starts with a nice, easy gait then switches to a hot pace after the 1st chorus for the duration of the roll. We are treated to 4 different choruses of excellent James P. Johnson stylings.
137347 Make Me A Pallet On The Floor played by
James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 3626 / September 1926) - lyric
sheet included with roll
Make Me A Pallet (a.k.a. Atlanta Blues) is an old New Orleans tune by W. C. Handy. This is a later roll than the other two, and James P. plays it at a lovely relaxed tempo and smoother, more sophisticated, jazzy style than the earlier ones. Once again every chorus features a different piano arrangement.
All three of these have been unavailable for many years now, and are well worth picking up and enjoying.
137214 Mama's Blues played by the composer James P. Johnson
$15
(originally issued on Universal 2335)(lyric sheet
included with roll)
and Monkey Hunch played by the composer James
P. Johnson
(originally issued on Universal 2235)(lyric sheet
included with roll)
I must tell you up front that these are not the best James P. Johnson roll performances, and I am issuing them primarily for their historical value (and because I want them in my collection). They're not bad, but the arrangements are very heavy and there is less James P. inspiration than we've come to expect. If you want a great, hot James P. roll, pick up one of the next two; if you want a couple of rare Johnson rolls you haven't been able to pick up before (and two more composer's performances!), you'll be as pleased as I am.
137300 Mama's Blues played by the composer James
P. Johnson $15
(originally issued on SingA 5228) - lyric sheet included
with roll
and When It's Cherry Time in Tokio (Reid - de Rose)
played by James P. Johnson
(originally issued on Perfection 87019)
I couldn't resist offering 2 of the earliest and scarcest James P. Johnson rolls ever made, both dating from 1917. Mama's Blues has never been recut from this original roll, and Cherry Time was only available briefly when Don Rand issued it several years ago. While these are not barn-burners, these are nice rolls and important additions to any James P. collection.
137068 Railroad Man (Schoebel) played by James P. Johnson
$12
(originally issued on QRS 2302) - lyric sheet included
with roll
Here James P. dignifies a railroad song, so naturally the intro. and coda offer imitations of a train whistle. The significant point to this roll is that all three choruses are played differently, and the second chorus is one of the hottest performances James P. put down on a piano roll. Both hands bounce up and down the keyboard in beautiful, quick syncopated bursts.
137124 Roumania (Clarence & Spencer Williams) played
by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1479) - lyric sheet included
with roll
I hadn't heard Roumania before running across the original recut here. This has only been reissued once before, so even copies are hard to come by. The roll is simply a standard pop song laced from top to bottom with James P.'s file playing style, and that is precisely why I am reissuing it!
137216 Sugar (That Sugar Baby O' Mine) (Pinkard &
Alexander)
played by James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 3705) - lyric sheet included
with roll
"Sugar" has only been recut twice before, and I've never seen an original or a recut on an auction list. It has an infectious, Charleston-esque rhythm. You won't be disappointed!
137249 Vampin' Liza Jane (Marion Dickerson) played by
James P. Johnson $12
(originally issued on QRS 1836) - lyric sheet included
with roll
"Vampin' Liza Jane" is nice and long, with plenty of variations to the verses and choruses. The lyrics are humorous as you would expect from the title. Nobody has reissued this since Hollywood Vintage put it out some time ago.s