[Dixielandjazz] Remembering Those Old Time Fake Books

[Larry Walton Entertainment]

Funny you should mention that about transposing.  I played with a band 
for about 15 years and transposed everything.  When I started to job 
with other bands I almost had to learn to read Bb charts all over again 
too.  I really don't have a problem with transposing but the Bb books 
are just a little easier.  I still transpose for alto often.
Larry Walton
St. Louis
Steve barbone wrote:
> Larry Walton Entertainment <larrys.bands at charter.net> wrote (polite snip)
> About Fake Books of yesteryear
>
>   
>> .  .  . When I say "trade" I mean
>> sold owned and distributed by professionals to professionals and not the
>> general public often "under the counter".  Many of you remember the old
>> book number 1 that had about a thousand tunes, 2-3 to a page,  that you
>> could go out and play gigs with.  It was in C and some years later came
>> out in a dual Eb Bb version.  If you didn't have this book you didn't
>> work because all the bands here used them.  I had to know the tunes
>> because the books only existed in C. .  .
>>     
>
>   
>> I own one 
>> Dixieland fake book that was purchased complete with all the cloak and
>> dagger from a local music store that specializes in off the wall music
>> and used recordings.  The guy actually took me to a back room, wanted to
>> know who told me he had them and wanted cash. (Knock three times and
>> whisper low that you and I were sent by Joe) It was like buying drugs or
>> trading national secrets.  What a hoot.
>>     
>
> Yes sir, it was worth your life to get one of those "trade" books. Very
> secretive because we were all afraid that Guido from ASCAP would break our
> legs if we were caught cheating them out of "their" money.
>
> I got mine the same way, circa 1950 from the local drug pusher/thug who also
> pushed fake books on the side.
>
> One good thing about that "C" book. It taught me to read chords in C and
> transpose them to Bb for the clarinet. Downside? Today, I read concert key
> automatically transposing, but have trouble with charts in my key.
>
> That's why I bought Sheik's fake books, and all the Great American Songbook
> fake books I own today, in "C".
>
> Cheers,
> Steve
>
>
>
>
>
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