Reviewed individually, as these volumes are in this database, some of the individual volumes receive the highest rating possible, while all of them receive extensive critical praise. This praise is all for the music, as well as aspects of the sonic presentation such as the mastering and sequencing. With more specific comments on view in the individual reviews, this review focuses on the box set itself, one of the first of its kind devoted to classic jazz music in an industry that for many years had relegated box sets as a ...
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Reviewed individually, as these volumes are in this database, some of the individual volumes receive the highest rating possible, while all of them receive extensive critical praise. This praise is all for the music, as well as aspects of the sonic presentation such as the mastering and sequencing. With more specific comments on view in the individual reviews, this review focuses on the box set itself, one of the first of its kind devoted to classic jazz music in an industry that for many years had relegated box sets as a status symbol of classical music alone. The stateside RCA was busy chasing pop music phantoms in the early '70s, leaving it to the cultured French to establish a shrine for Fats Waller, one of the greatest American musical artists of all time. The somewhat lower rating offered for the box set is a reflection of factors that have nothing to do whatsoever with the music. If a consumer were to pick up all five volumes separately, it would be a smart move because the packaging decisions involved in the original production result in a box that takes up too much room while falling apart in the process. As far as the type of copious printed information that buyers of box sets like to cuddle up with, this set offers next to nothing. One imagines a room full of harassed recording company employees, realizing that nothing had been prepared only days before the set was due to be assembled at the pressing plant. "Mon dieu!" they cried. What other reason is there for the inclusion of only one flimsy page of recording credits, the printing on a level that a bootleg company would find substandard. Packaging the individual volumes in slick cardboard packages containing single photos of Waller wasn't a bad move, except that the construction of the box itself is not sturdy enough to deal with five of these said cardboard sleeves inside. Many consumers toss out the box and simply store the records in these sleeves, but the shame in that is that the artwork on the front of the box is actually handsome. Musically, the set provides such a generous offering of this artist's genius that it is a bit like having a treasure chest dropped on one's front porch. All the records contained generous playing time in the 40-minutes-plus range, so that times five adds up to fat Waller. The first record is all solo piano and organ, while the remainder follow his combo with its regular gang of sidemen up to the outset of the second World War. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi
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Add this copy of Fats Waller Memorial No. 1 & No. 2 (Two Box Sets, 10 Lp to cart. $125.00, like new condition, Sold by Balcony Books and Music, ships from Eugene, OR, UNITED STATES, published by RCA Victor Records.
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Seller's Description:
Fine Vinyl Record Set/In Original Boxes. This set includes the two definitive box sets issued by RCA France FATS WALLER MEMORIAL, VOLUMES ONE AND TWO. Each box includes 5 LP records and a twelve page booklet (10 LP's total). The most extensive collection of Waller material available together, on superb quality French Vinyl. Booklets are illustrated, and include text in French and English.
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