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Topic: Andy Iona "Sings" |
Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 9:25 am |
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Literally ...
Why Do Hawaiians Sing Aloha ?
To quote Cumquats liner notes to Vol 8 ...
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| The slightly demented title track highlights Andy himself, pretending to be a singer. (Ol' Blue Eyes must have been trembling in his boots) |
This is kinda a sad post for me to make ... my last "plug" for the Andy Iona series of recordings by Bruce Clarke & Cumquat Records.
Vol 8, 9 & 10 are filled with "goodies" that Iona fans will really enjoy.
Various versions of songs, the "Original" Sand recording ... and ...
quote:
... Andy's final recorded work and they reveal a different sounding artist and style of arranging. The difference in sound and style that may simply be due to the ever-growing musical maturity of a creative mind.
Or are they the result of abandoning his old Rickenbacher Frypan?
My personal thanks to Bruce and Dallas Clarke, Dirk Vogel and everyone else involved in making Andy Iona ... live again !!!
Courtesy of Cumquat Records
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Aiello's House of Gauss
My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 9:41 am
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Rick, your following quote makes me sad....
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| This is kinda a sad post for me to make ... my last "plug" for the Andy Iona series of recordings |
Why not think of it as first attempts to expose the Steel Guitar world to the virtues of Andy Iona which will be followed up at later dates with reminders of how great he was. Just a thought. 
A modern day reminder of Andy Iona is the steel guitar playing of Dirk Vogel. He comes as close to anyone that I have heard in sounding like Andy Iona. He also plays alot of Andy's songs.
Dirk is the president of the Aloha International Steel Guitar Club. He plays at their annual convention in Winchester (just completed) and sometimes he plays at the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Assn convention in Joliet, coming October, 2005.
Aloha,
Don
[This message was edited by Don Kona Woods on 23 July 2005 at 10:42 AM.] |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 9:52 am
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| I think Andy sings just fine. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 9:56 am
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Rick's been doing that for a while now. Doesn't seem like too many folks are into it, unfortunately.
One of things about listening to these great recordings is that it's great from top to bottom. No slouches in those groups. After hearing these recordings it's impossible for me to listen to canned tracks...but that's just me. To me, it's all about the group sound on the whole, which is why I like old records so much. I'd rather hear great music with poor fidelity than vice versa.
I guess I'll have to start counting those pennies. |
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c c johnson
From:
killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 10:07 am
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| Rick are you sure that wasn't Louis Armstrong? cc |
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c c johnson
From:
killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 11:56 am
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| Rick don't mind me just a futile attempt at being humorous. CC |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 11:58 am
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I think there's nothing quite like a full band of musicians, all listening and responding to each other. I don't think there's any equal to late 30's and early 40's steel - especially with Andy Iona's full band arrangements.
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 3:02 pm
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Thanks for posting the sound clip, Rick! I remember reading that disparaging comment regarding Andy Iona's vocal on that song. I'm with John. I don't see anything wrong with it.
I first heard Andy Iona on one of those Interstate Music (Harlequin) Hawaiian music compilations. It's a great series, and has been a sort of "primer" of recorded Hawaiian music history for me. The liner notes from "Tickling the Strings" describe a session recorded in 1934 with Andy Iona and his Islanders. (Danny Stewart on steel) One of the very first (maybe THE first?) recordings featuring electric steel: "Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wa-I" and "Minnehaha".
Anyway, what always impressed me was just how "right" they got that new instrument to sound--the first recording out! To my ears, that tone for electric steel guitar in Hawaiian music has never been surpassed. And here we are, what, 70+ years later--with all the technological advances in the meantime--and many of us are still chasing "that sound". Amazing!
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 24 Jul 2005 8:41 am
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Just in from forum member Mitch Drumm ...
The recording that is mentioned in Bruce Clarke's liner notes ... as the only other recorded version of this song (to his knowledge) ...
Fats Waller with Ceele Burke on steel ... playing with jazz groups of the time, circa 1940.
Thanks Mitch ... too  |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 24 Jul 2005 8:49 am
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| Ceele Burke was Canadian multi-instrumentalist who, in addition to leading his own orchestra, played steel with Louis Armstrong. |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 24 Jul 2005 2:13 pm
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Since we're doing liner notes, will you indulge me in one more? This one from the box set "Louis Armstrong, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" describing "I'm Confessin'(That I Love You)" 1930 with Ceele Burke steel guitar(?)
"Not many artists can create something powerful enough to overcome a twangy Hawaiian guitar, but Louis could."
Ouch. This will make me sound like a jazz lightweight, but I was actually turned on to Louis Armstrong through his recording of "On A Coconut Island" with Sam Koki on steel. Don't get me wrong, of course I knew about him, but only by "Hello Dolly" and that he played "Dixieland", which at the time I didn't like. Don't worry, I've since bought a clue (as well as lots more of his early work) and now recognize him as the towering artistic genius of 20th century that he was. But it was his phrasing on what for him was probably a throw away novelty number that got me hooked.
Sorry to digress off the original post. Just to keep it on topic, Bruce Clarke has done a huge service to those of us who love Hawaiian music and steel guitar in particular. What a treasure trove of material! |
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Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 24 Jul 2005 2:47 pm
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Here's I'm Confessin
I've always wondered about that cut...who played steel. I also wonder if there were any other cuts made from that session with steel. But, I've never found any. The only reference I have is that is was recorded on 8/19/1930.
I really enjoyed hearing that Fats Waller cut. Fats had one of the swingin'est bands in that era. I have some recordings of his from the 30's (Bluebird Recordings) that really swing! [This message was edited by Jeff Strouse on 24 July 2005 at 03:52 PM.] |
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Colin Brooks
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Posted 25 Jul 2005 3:05 am
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If you want more of Mr (A)Iona when you have all the Cumquats there are several further jazz oriented 1929 Andy Aiona's Novelty Four tracks on this compilation, 'Honolulu to Hollywood'
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000JMFU/104-9974343-4967101?v=glance#product-details
'That Lovin' Hula' has a beautiful break on what sounds to me like a Weissenborn (Andy, Sol, ?). I rate this one of the best compilations of earlier stuff for both choice of tracks and sound quality. |
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