The third volume of The Complete Bert Williams. 24 songs from 1919-1922, recorded in New York and Chicago, including both "Elder Eatmore" sermons. Booklet now (2005) expanded to 20 pages, with notes on Williams' final years, sheet music illustrations, and other rare graphics. Sound of some noisier tracks now improved. List price: $16.49
OVERVIEW
- Catalogue number: ARCH 5002
- UPC: 656605918129
- Original release date: July 2, 2001
- Running length: 71:41 / 24 tracks
- Notes & packaging: Includes a 20-page booklet
- Tracks recorded: 1919-1922
- Volume 3 of The Complete Bert Williams
- In Archeophone’s Pioneers series
Sample all tracks
| Tracklist | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Oh! Lawdy | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 2. | Bring Back Those Wonderful Days | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 3. | Everybody Wants a Key to My Cellar | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 4. | It’s Nobody’s Business But My Own | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 5. | Elder Eatmore’s Sermon on Generosity | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 6. | Elder Eatmore’s Sermon on Throwing Stones | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 7. | I’m Sorry I Ain’t Got It | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 8. | The Moon Shines on the Moonshine | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 9. | Checkers | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 10. | Somebody | Bert Williams | 1919 | |
| 11. | Ten Little Bottles | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 12. | Unlucky Blues | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 13. | Lonesome Alimony Blues | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 14. | Get Up | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 15. | Save a Little Dram for Me | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 16. | I Want to Know Where Tosti Went | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 17. | You Can’t Trust Nobody | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 18. | Eve Cost Adam Just One Bone | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 19. | You’ll Never Need a Doctor No More | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 20. | My Last Dollar | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 21. | I’m Gonna Quit Saturday | Bert Williams | 1920 | |
| 22. | Brother Low Down | Bert Williams | 1921 | |
| 23. | Unexpectedly | Bert Williams | 1921 | |
| 24. | Not Lately | Bert Williams | 1922 | |
Known largely as a stage performer and vaudeville pioneer, Bert Williams left an amazing legacy of sound. During the last three years of his life, 24 sides recorded by Williams were released. With Bert Williams: His Final Releases, 1919-1922, these sides are finally available in chrononological order on a commercial reissue. Starting with “Oh! Lawdy,” from Williams’ earliest sessions in 1919 and ending with “Not Lately”—recorded a mere three days before the star’s collapse on a Detroit stage—no other CD gives you all 24 of Bert’s final releases, sequenced in the order they were recorded. The package includes a 16-page booklet that gives discographical information, biographical notes focusing on Williams’ life and career during these years, and dicussion about some of the major themes in his recordings.
The genius of his voice
Interest in Bert Williams has grown over the last few years, as television documentaries and college classrooms explore the importance of early African-American performers. Despite the interest, few documentaries feature Williams’ recordings, and many who study him have never heard his voice. This collection is an attempt to let modern audiences hear Williams’ unique performing style and material.
The Elder has spoken
Bert Williams: His Final Releases includes some of Williams’ most famous songs and routines, including both of his “Elder Eatmore” sermons. These two recordings—“Elder Eatmore’s Sermon on Generosity” and “Elder Eatmore’s Sermon on Throwing Stones”—capture Williams’ ability to portray hypocritical religious figures. His latest spoken word recordings, the Elder Eatmore records give us a taste of his stage presence.
The Prohibition blues
Many of Bert’s final sides centered on one of the biggest news items of the day: national Prohibition. With songs like “Ten Little Bottles,” “Save a Little Dram for Me,” “Everybody Wants a Key to My Cellar” and “The Moon Shines on the Moonshine,” Bert sings the blues of a land gone dry.
A pioneer of unparalleled talent
Booker T. Washington claimed that Bert Williams did more for his race by singing and acting his way into people’s hearts than Washington ever did in his books. Hear for yourself firsthand why Williams continues to be so influental.
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