This whopping 81-cut, four-disc box collects the vast majority of master takes Louis Jordan & His Tympani Five recorded for Decca in the 1940s. While it's true that Germany's Bear Family label did a better job by putting together a seven-disc box with alternates and a number of unreleased masters along with an LP of his duets with Ella Fitzgerald, this collection cannot be faulted, especially for the price especially since it also represents Jordan's music from the late '30s to the early '50s. One can hear the grand lyric phrasing and rhythmic influence Jordan had on Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Johnny Otis, and Otis Blackwell. From "Five Guys Named Moe," "That Chick's Too Young to Fry," and "Somebody Done Changed the Lock on My Door" to "If You're So Smart How Come You Ain't Rich," "Fast Sam from Birmingham," "Baby It's Cold Outside" (with Ella), and many many more, there isn't a weak take on this set.
Disc 1: Five Guys Named Moe (PI 285)
01. Honey In The Bee Ball 03:10
02. Keep A-Knockin' (But You Can't Come In) 02:37
03. Sam Jones Done Snagged His Britches On 02:46
04. Doug The Jitterbug 02:34
05. At The Swing Cats Ball 02:33
06. Honeysuckle Rose 03:10
07. But I'll Be Back 02:39
08. You're My Meat 03:02
09. June Tenth Jamboree 02:44
10. You Run Your Mouth And I'll Run My Business 02:38
11. Somebody Done Hoodooed The Hoodoo Man 02:41
12. Oh Boy, I'm In The Groove 02:49
13. Never Let Your Left Hand Know What Your Right Hand's Doin' 03:04
14. A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird 02:37
15. Pinetop's Boogie Woogie 02:57
16. Saint Vitus Dance 02:51
17. Saxa-Woogie 02:39
18. Boogie Woogie Came To Town 03:09
19. How 'Bout That? 02:55
20. Knock Me A Kiss 02:48
21. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town 02:52
22. What's The Use Of Gettin' Sober 02:51
23. The Chicks I Pick Are Slender, Tender And Tall 02:29
24. I'm Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town 03:06
25. That'll Just About Knock Me Out 03:09
26. Five Guys Named Moe 03:01
27. Ration Blues 03:08
Disc 2: Let The Good Times Roll (PI 286)
01. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby? 02:45
02. Deacon Jones 02:57
03. I Like 'Em Fat Like That 02:40
04. Mop-Mop 02:57
05. G.I. Jive 03:00
06. You Can't Get That No More 03:21
07. My Baby Said Yes (Yip, Yip De Hootie) 02:48
08. Buzz Me 02:51
09. Caldonia Boogie 02:43
10. Somebody Done Changed The Lock On My Door 03:16
11. How Long Must I Wait For You? 02:36
12. Salt Pork, West Virginia 02:53
13. Don't Worry 'Bout That Mule 02:31
14. Stone Cold Dead In The Market 02:43
15. Reconversion Blues 02:22
16. Beware 02:53
17. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' 02:59
18. Choo Choo Ch'boogie 02:44
19. Ain't That Just Like A Woman 02:53
20. That Chick's Too Young To Fry 02:24
21. No Sale 02:52
22. Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens 03:05
23. Let The Good Times Roll 02:49
24. All For The Love Of Lil 02:51
25. Texas And Pacific 03:05
26. Jack, You're Dead 02:33
Disc 3: Look Out! (PI 287)
01. Reet, Petite, And Gone 02:44
02. Sure Had A Wonderful Time 03:00
03. I Know What You're Puttin' Down 03:07
04. Open The Door Richard 03:03
05. Boogie Woogie Blue Plate 02:46
06. Barnyard Boogie 02:47
07. Every Man To His Own Profession 03:18
08. Early In The Morning 03:23
09. Run Joe 03:22
10. Look Out 02:53
11. Have You Got The Gumption? 03:05
12. We Can't Agree 02:49
13. Chicky-Mo Craney-Crow 02:30
14. Roamin' Blues 02:56
15. You're Much Too Fat (And That's That) 02:43
16. Pettin' And Pokin' 02:34
17. You're On The Right Track, Baby 03:03
18. Don't Burn The Candle At Both Ends 02:44
19. Daddy-O 03:18
20. You Broke Your Promise 02:50
21. Cole Slaw 02:44
22. Beans And Cornbread 02:51
23. Onions 02:54
24. Baby's Gonna Go, Bye-Bye 02:48
25. Psycho-Loco 03:02
Disc 4: Saturday Night Fish Fry (PI 288)
01. Baby It's Cold Outside 02:45
02. School Days 02:35
03. Hungry Man 03:07
04. Saturday Night Fish Fry, Pts 1 & 2 05:24
05. I Want A Roof Over My Head 02:40
06. Show Me How (You Milk The Cow) 02:52
07. Blue Light Boogie, Pts 1 & 2 05:11
08. Tamburitza Boogie 03:13
09. (You Dyed Your Hair) Chartreuse 02:36
10. Lemonade 03:17
11. It's A Great, Great Pleasure 03:09
12. Teardrops From My Eyes 03:01
13. Weak Minded Blues 02:30
14. Is My Pop In There? 02:30
15. I Can't Give You Anything But Love 02:31
16. If You're So Smart How Come You Ain't Rich? 02:59
17. Louisville Lodge Meeting 03:31
18. How Blue Can You Get? 02:46
19. Please Don't Leave Me 03:16
20. Bone Dry 03:03
21. Three Handed Woman 02:46
22. Fat Sam From Birmingham 03:01
23. Cock-A-Doodle-Doo 02:12
24. Lay Something On The Bar (Besides Your Elbow) 02:40
