The Vintage Recordings of Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) | Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards

The Vintage Recordings of Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) | Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards | An artist that should be remembered

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The Vintage Record...

	The Vintage Recordings of Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards Take Two Records, 2005 average customer review:based on 4 reviews view larger image
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One of the 1st jazz singers, and a ukulele great

Cliff Edwards took a scat chorus on record before Louis Armstrong ever did, and he was a great "hot" vocalist often leading dixieland style combos(with his Hot Combination) in the 20's(several examples of that here). This cd also features Edwards exellent ukulele strumming, and novelty songs. This cd covers from the mid twenties thru the 1940's. Great music, and a great singer, and a superb ukulele player. A great CD!!! I can't wait until a complete set of his "Hot Combination" recordings comes out.

An artist that should be remembered

Cliff Edwards should be remembered as the consummate artist that he was. Not only did he perform with precision, superb pitch and diction, but his interpretations of pieces reflected considerable individuality and depth. Edwards was able to take an old chestnut and deliver it with life and emotion. Songs like Somebody Loves Me and Together take on an amazing tenderness and bittersweet quality, then he takes a 180 degree turn and hits the listener a song that is raucous, wild and hot. His scat and freak singing can't be beat. And we mustn't forget how much music he got out of a little ukelele.

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Ukulele Ike was great

In the twenties, there were a dozen or so people who became millionaires in show biz: Chaplin, Mary Pickford, D.W. Griffith, and Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike). It is difficult for most people today to relaize that this near-forgotten star was as huge as he was in the twenties. He was a great crooner and played the ukulele with great skill (he didn't strum it; he mastered it). Ike helped to popularize jazz and interpret it for mainstream America. He sang and crooned beautifully. Unfortunately, he couldn't change his style when swing came into vogue. He also gambled and drank a lot. He died in obscurity (alhtough he had a brief revival playing Jiminy Cricket in Disney's "Pinocchio.) These recordings are just a sample of work from his heyday. Excellent.

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Early Cliff Edwards