Dave Bartholomew was the driving force behind Fats Domino and lots of other New Orleans artists back in the fifties. As bandleader, producer, arranger and co-writer he contributed to many hits. Sadly, his own recordings as vocalist and trumpet-player never became hits, yet they were easily as good.
Some of those songs have been rediscovered in recent years. '
The Monkey (Speaks His Mind)' showed up on various compilations, and Jazzman Records included two Bartholomew 45s in their Jukebox Jam Series, first '
Shrimp and Gumbo' backed with 'Ah Cubanas (2010 JBJ 1004), then 'Carnival Day' b/w 'Cat Music' (2011 JBJ 1026). Also, there's a repro 45 of his Imperial single 'Can't Take It No More'.
The material that Bartholomew recorded between 1949 and 1960 in New Orleans for the Los Angeles-based Imperial-label can be bought best on three LP's released in France by EMI/Pathé Marconi.
The first was 'Jump Children' (1983), which I happened to find in a bargain bin years ago. Worth its price for the cover alone ofcourse, but the record is even better. Track A1 'Country Gal' immediately blew me away, then '
Carnival Day' did. Great horns, weird rhythms, nothing like I had heard before.
More highlights: '
Ah Cubanas', '
Jump Children' and '
Can't Take It No More'.
Second in the series of French LP's was 'The Monkey' (1985), again with fourteen songs from the same era and almost as good, yet at a little more laid back pace. The title track (see link above) stands out, with its infectious jumping rhythm topped by witty lyrics:
"Three monkeys sat in a coconut tree, discussing things as they are said to be.
Said one to the other, now listen you two: There's a certain rumour that can't be true.
That man descended from our noble race, the very idea is a big disgrace.
No monkey ever deserted his wife, starved her baby and ruined her life."
- Yeah, the monkey speaks his mind! -
Closing side B is Bartholomew's faithful cover of the instrumental 'Hard Times (The Slop)', originally by saxman Noble "Thin Man" Watts with Wild Jimmy Spruill on guitar, both recorded in 1957.
If God is willing one day we'll be able to add LP numéro trois, 'Shrimp and Gumbo' (1986) to our ménage (household), an LP containing the title track and 'Cat Music'. But if not (you can't always get what you want / in every dreamhome a heartache), we can do with the unofficial CD-compilation 'The Very Best of Dave Bartholomew' (2003 Bayou Records). The majority of the 42 LP-tracks is included on this 32-song-disc, albeit with inferior sound and without liner notes or session details.
Newcomers might as well try the latest Bartholomew compilation 'Golden Rule in New Orleans - King and Imperial sides 1950-1961', released March 2016 on Hoodoo Records. Must admit, haven't heard this one yet, but the 30 tracks include his most important stuff. But who the hell decided this CD should start with his two most cheesy songs?! First you get 'Who drank my beer while I was in the rear', then it gets even worse with the original version of 'My Ding-a-ling' (1952), the same simple song that gave Chuck Berry his first US-#1 some twenty years later. Trust me, it only gets better after that, promised.
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September 2020 update:
Everything above was written March 2016. Soon after I bought the Hoodoo CD of course. Then in 2017 I finally managed to find a reasonably priced copy of the third Imperial LP Shrimp and Gumbo. No more heartaches in this dreamhome, mission completed!
But the same year, the UK-based Jasmine Records released the most complete Bartholomew collection so far: the 2CD-set 'Jump Children! Imperial singles 1950-1962' (Jasmine JASCD 845).
A whopping 57 tracks, in chronological order. All the highlights I mentioned above are included: Carnival Day, Cubanas, Country Gal, Jump Children, Cat Music, Shrimp and Gumbo, The Monkey.
If you're new to Dave Bartholomew, this is the place to start.
Dave Bartholomew, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Christmas Eve 2018, passed away the following year on June 23rd. Jasmine Records was just about to release another 2CD-set, which turned out to be a fitting tribute: 'The King Of New Orleans R&B' (2019 Jasmine JASCD 866).
48 tracks cover Dave's recordings for Deluxe, Decca, King, Specialty and Park from 1947 to 1952.
Don't let the subtitle 'the best of the rest' put you off, buy this if you enjoyed the first volume.
