Honky Tonk Piano (RCA LPM-26/RCA LPM-3080 - 1951/1953) - Frankie Carle

This entry constitutes two volumes of honky-tonk piano played by famous bandleader and pianist Frankie Carle for RCA Victor in the early 1950s while the style, part of the first ragtime revival, was a hot commodity. Although there were some common threads and stylistic cues he shared with Lou Busch, one of the top players of the genre, Carle's style differed more toward jazz and stride in some instances. The majority of tracks are steeped in old songs, although there are a couple of rags, and the newest entry of the bunch, The Old Piano Roll Blues. A nice overall nostalgic journey. Restored into high fidelity mono, as were the original recordings,
00:00 In a Little Spanish Town
01:54 Crazy Bone Rag
04:34 Frankie Carle Rag (Old Folks at Home)
07:15 Frankie and Johnny
10:22 The Prisoner's Song
13:02 The Old Piano Roll Blues
15:15 Memories
17:32 Nobody's Sweetheart
19:40 I Can't Give You Anything but Love Baby
21:46 Someday Sweetheart
24:07 I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
27:01 Just a Girl That Men Forget
29:51 Alexander's Ragtime Band
32:02 Who's Sorry Now?

[@mrob75]

wonderful research here, Bill! One can tell that you have studied this genre I’m assuming for YEARS….I enjoyed the fun music just as much as I did reading your incredible notes. Couldn’t help but remember how Teresa Brewer’s success came right off of this genre right into the mainstream. I could never really pin point why her style and sound were such a hit, but now I do. Thanks Bill for this fab upload! (P.S. Since there is such a copious amount of valuable musical information here, I will be returning to this clip quite often…takes some time to process all of this.)

[@lynnbrumley8040]

Frankie Carle and Carmen Cavallaro are my two favorite pianists of all time.
Each played with a style unique to them and their
distinctive playing has never been duplicated, in my opinion. Both were truly artists at their craft and oh so enjoyable to listen to!