cab calloway

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so i've been listening to a cab calloway compilation recently,and really enjoying it
there doesn't seem to be a thread about him here
what do people think?
is there a lot of stuff recorded by him or will a compilation suffice?
what other music is along the same lines?
is there anything interesting written about him?
i knew him from the blues brothers for years but only started listening to the other stuff recently,its really really good

robin (robin), Monday, 24 March 2003 23:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Cab Calloway is absolute genius. That 1990 Janet Jackson video notwithstanding.

maria b (maria b), Monday, 24 March 2003 23:29 (twenty-three years ago)

He's done some great stuff but his back catalogue seems to be in a complete mess - dozens of different compilations all overlapping to varying degrees (just how many different versions of Jumpin' Jive and Minnie The Moocher does anyone actually need?).

As regards people who sound like him, Louis Jordan is the only name that really leaps to mind but Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington,and Fats Waller are obviously all well worth investigating if you haven't already (sorrry if it sounds like I'm stating the bleedin' obvious here!) or for a more contemporary equivalent you might like to try Royal Crown Revue.

Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 09:57 (twenty-three years ago)

Cab = Hip Indeed

christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 14:22 (twenty-three years ago)

four years pass...

Revive. Mostly because Talking Heads "Swamp" is supposed to be musically referencing "Minnie The Moocher" and I can kind of see how that works. I have that song and the "Ghost of Smokey Joe". Is this a particular style of music ("hardy hardy har" call and response ragtime/blues) or was Cab the only one who did it? What else is worth checking out?

the next grozart, Friday, 17 August 2007 01:30 (eighteen years ago)

Louis Jordan otm

ghost rider, Friday, 17 August 2007 01:50 (eighteen years ago)

and yes the thing you're talking about is basically jump blues.

ghost rider, Friday, 17 August 2007 01:53 (eighteen years ago)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HaZOXF83zBg

ghost rider, Friday, 17 August 2007 01:55 (eighteen years ago)

Nice! Cheers.

the next grozart, Friday, 17 August 2007 02:08 (eighteen years ago)

What's the song that sounds like minnie The Moocher that they kind of changed for a Quavers crisps advert in the late 80s/early 90s? Remember it?

the next grozart, Friday, 17 August 2007 02:11 (eighteen years ago)

i am american, i cannot help you there

ghost rider, Friday, 17 August 2007 02:14 (eighteen years ago)

ah ok. maybe they only did it for the ad, but i'm sure i've heard it elsewhere. it sounds almost exactly like minnie but slightly different melody and a bit faster. cheers for the help all the same :-)

the next grozart, Friday, 17 August 2007 02:18 (eighteen years ago)

Don't forget his performance in the Blues Brothers movie!

Fastnbulbous, Friday, 17 August 2007 17:47 (eighteen years ago)

Personally I prefer the one with St. James Infirmary Blues: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DBk3jwNSteo

Nick Minichino, Friday, 17 August 2007 18:04 (eighteen years ago)

Stone classic. Early 30's stuff is just incredible - everybody needs to hear some Cab at least once in their life.

Soukesian, Friday, 17 August 2007 18:23 (eighteen years ago)

four years pass...

Sadly, the recent PBS documentary on Cab isn't all that great but skip ahead to the interviews with Landis, Cropper, Dunn for some great Blues Brothers stories.

Vini Reilly Invasion (Elvis Telecom), Saturday, 5 May 2012 05:14 (fourteen years ago)

two years pass...

Hey, I just saw that documentary and, yeah, it's pretty thin but what do you expect for just an hour on such a grand man? One thing I did get out of it was that I didn't realize his older sister was a bandleader herself, travelling around the south and in general way, way ahead of her time. I'm going to listen to her stuff shortly.

Anyone have the "This Is Hep" box set from Proper? Thoughts?

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 19 September 2014 01:19 (eleven years ago)

Morris Day pinched his act.

son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Friday, 19 September 2014 02:58 (eleven years ago)

four years pass...

saw this short film last night with an audience, somewhat naughty and lotsa fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-kJqM7he9o

a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 21 May 2019 18:18 (seven years ago)

Damn, that's fantastic, thanks for sharing! I love Cab, it seems like James Brown picked up a trick or two from him.

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 14:34 (seven years ago)

Lol’d at the final gag. I’ve seen a clip of the lady with the fan song, never realized it was from a longer piece. There are times when I think he may be the best entertainer who ever lived.

One Eye Open, Thursday, 23 May 2019 11:56 (seven years ago)


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