A nice mix of tunes that works well in this unusual context. Pianist Billy Rowland performs for two of the early 'Knuckles' O'Toole albums mixing honky-tonk with music from Mexico, South America and France. Two lesser-known but truly gifted ragtime artists, Bill Krenz - 'Tallest pianist in captivity' - and Burt Bales, 'play that thing' on mostly very rare cuts that have not been available for many decades, and never on CD.įamous band leader and composer Frankie Carle displays his unique interpretive skills on this album culled from his first two 10' Honky-Tonk LPs, and assorted ragtime-themed singles with small ensembles or his band from the 1940s and 1950s, all together for the first time. For more info on the artists and the genre, read my article on Ragtime and Honky-Tonk of the 1950s. This collection will be added to extensively over 2006 as sources become available, and they should prove to be collectibles as well. The original cover art for all albums has also been restored, and original and supplemental liner notes included.

There is generally from 55 to 80 minutes per disc of music, representing a minimum of two 12' or three 10' LPs.

The reviews from well-known veteran ragtime collectors have been extremely positive. These are all restorations from studio master tape sources or the original vinyl or acetate, usually with multiple sources available so the best tracks are picked. There was a lot of great ragtime (often spuriously labeled honky-tonk) recorded from 1945 to the early 1960s, and it should be available again as it is historical as well as entertaining. Many of these recordings have not been available in stores for four to five decades, and only through used record stores or private sellers. They have been formatted to fit your CD player. These records have been modified from the originals.

Temptation rag player piano