[Dixielandjazz] Jelly Roll Morton, was NO Wanderers

[Bill Haesler]

Anton Crouch wrote:
> The only point that I was trying to make is that, despite the identicality of the arrangements, the two performances "feel" different in ways other than those due to tempo. Waffly stuff, I know, but there it is.
> Take 1 - "fast"; Mitchell's flurry. Hold; subsequently issued on Bluebird B10254
> Take 2 - "slow"; Mitchell's articulation. Master; original choice; issued on Victor 20431

and Ken replied:

I'm not a trumpeter, but I'd venture the technical term for Mitchell's flurry in the modulation of Cannon Ball Blues (Take 2) might be panic or even goof. Take 1 was taken at a leisurely 110 bpm, whereas Take 2 was at 140 bpm, so Jelly's chart would be a whole lot harder to articulate in the latter. When Mitchell gets to the last bar of the modulation in Take 2, he fluffs the line as played in Take 1 (probably written out) and tries to cover it with a flurry of notes. Take 1 was actually the issued take, but ran to 3:36, which was close to the upper limit for a 78rpm record. I suspect that Take 2 (at 2:59) was meant to be the preferred take for a couple of reasons: it was about the ideal length for a 78 and, in JRM's solo (behind the horns playing organ chords), the piano is more prominent in the mix than in Take 1. However Mitchell's articulation problem in the modulation and Jelly's slight rhythmic unease in his solo behind the horns (he rushes in bars 5 & 6) might have convinced Victor to release Take 1. 

Dear Anton and Ken,
Apart from Ken switching the takes around (the fast version was the first attempt, the slower one was the second and the issued rarer Victor version in May 1927) neither of you have commented on St Cyr's guitar solo.
On the faster version (take -1) it is 'perfect'. On the second (originally issued) take there are unfortunate breakdowns in bars 5, 6 and 7.
How that was let through is anyone's guess in an era when the powerful A&R men could, and did, overrule the artist(s).
The faster, better known version (to us older collectors), was not released until mid 1939 on Victor's budget 'Bluebird' label.
A consecutive batch of seven JRM Red Hot Peppers discs, featuring some alternate takes and issued shortly after in Canada, Britain & Australia (HMV) and Europe.
Very kind regards,
Bill.