[Dixielandjazz] Muskat or Muskrat Ramble

[Stephen G Barbone]

To answer Mike's question about recordings of "Muskat" Ramble:

According to the book: "The original Hot Five Recordings of Louis  
Armstrong" -by Gene Henry Anderson and Michael J. Budds, . . .   
Muskrat Ramble:

"became, along with "Heebie Jeebies" the most frequently recorded of  
the Hot Fives and the groups only tune to approach the status of a  
"jazz standard". Confusion over the title has long ago been put to  
rest. 'Muskat' appeared on the recording's initial release, but  
'Muskrat' is indeed the name found on the copyright deposit. (see  
Appendix 1). The original label copy, now in the Sony Archives has  
"Muskat' crossed out and 'Muskrat' pencilled in."

"Ory says he originally conceived Muskrat Ramble in Los Angeles,  
revising it out of an exercise in a saxophone study book. 'I wrote it  
back around 1921 when I was playing in a taxi dance hall at Third and  
Main in Los Angeles. It had no name then. Lil Armstrong gave it that  
title at a recording session'."

The book then goes on to repeat the claim of Louis Armstrong that he  
wrote it and Ory named it as well as the Sidney Bechet claim that it  
was The Old Cow Died etc.

Basically this book ties in with what Dick Baker previously posted  
about the tune.

If you google search:

The Hot Five Recordings of Louis Armstrong Budds

You will come up with the Google Books hit as the first site. Then,  
check the index and click on Muskrat Ramble for an outstanding  
technical discussion and charts of the song, the Hot Five arrangement,  
the solos etc.

Plus, if you further surf the book site, you will find an plethora of  
information about all of the Hot Five recordings. Fun stuff for  
researchers.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband