Alone
Title
Alone
Description
Solo jazz recording by Jean Kittrell for Fat Cat's Jazz Records made in 1974 in Manassas, Virginia. Full liner notes, track list, and additional personnel for the track "Delia" are available in the transcription field.
Creator
Jean Kittrell
Publisher
Fat Cat's Jazz Records
Date
1974
Rights
For digital rights and permissions, see https://www.siue.edu/lovejoy-library/about/policies.shtml
In copyright. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Relation
Jean Kittrell Digital Collection
Type
Sound
Identifier
FatCatJazz_169
Transcription
[Front cover]
Jean Kittrell
To my dear brother-in-law and sister - with much love - Jean Kittrell
Nov. 75
ALONE
Jazz Vocals & Piano
[Inside jacket]
JEAN KITTRELL ALONE
It's hard to think that Jean Kittrell might ever be alone. She has brightened the output of traditional jazz bands for a number of years with her special enthusiasm and sparkle. And her ebullient personality gives her such great personal magnetism, so that in your mind's eye, you always think of her as the center of attraction in any crowd of happy music lovers.
But here she is --ALONE. And ain't it wonderful. If you're looking for that "All Alone By My Telephone" mood, this album is not for you. This is Jean Kittrell at her hip-swinging, bugle bead busting, bluesy best adding just the right amount of spice to hark you back to speakeasys, Pierce Arrows, and the Lost Generation.
Jean Kittrell is the pluperfect entertainer, creating hard'driving, leave-your-subtleties-in-the-closet images of loving, blues, and vamping in their most open and flagrant fashion.
She is also Jean Kittrell, Ph.D., Professor of English at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. In the living room of her home is a large portrait of Blues immortal, Bessie Smith, and Bessie's "Give Me A Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer" vibes can be felt clearly as Professor Kittrell sings to us of unrequired love and evil hearted women.
In 1974, Jean came to the Washington area to attend a professional seminar at the University of Maryland. And while she was here she exhausted jazz fans who spent week night evenings at the local watering holes, getting high on Jean's vivacious singing and playing, and then going to work each day in less than top condition. I can personally attest to the fact that she has more stamina than I do.
Fortunately during that hectic week, she found time to go to the Fat Cat Studio in Manassas for this record date. It became in the coldly precise manner in which Fat Cat conducts all of his music business. Most of those who were to be present were late. Fat Cat lost his stop watch, there was microphone trouble for a while and well, you know...
Fortunately, the artist didn't let these petty misfortunes get to her and she sailed through the first several numbers of the album without retakes. Jean may be a professional educator, but make no mistake she is also a highly professional musician.
However, after a while, as in any session, the pressure began to build and the natives began to get silly. It took as long to do the last two number (one of them never did make the album) as it did all of the rest. Even Jean succumbed to the laughter, and the unedited master tape sounds in some places as if Jean were doing a benefit at Bedlam.
And it isn't exactly fair to say Jean was all alone. On "Delia" she is backed up by a particularly sorry Lost Chorus that no self-respecting back-alley beer hall would countenance. The haywire choir included Kay Giltmier, Fat Cat, Tom and Fanny Martin, Eleanor Johnson, Fred and Jackie Dietrich, and myself. It is expected that all of us will be drummed out of the Potomac River Jazz Club upon release of this record.
But despite the unfair competition, Jean Kittrell shines forth loud and clear. I am a special fan of the Kittrell magic. I have all of her records. This is far and away her best effort.
On this record, Jean conjures up a world of roistering dandies with "a handful of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged." As for the women, they are "refrigeratin' mamas" who chill the philandering carousers into icicles.
And what else could these poor dears do after all. The rascals spend their money on booze and broads when the rent is due, and when they are "hangin' 'round", their performance as lovers isn't sufficient to keep these dynamite ladies happy. One goes so far as to tell her fella he needs vitamins, and to come around and see her after he's been to the drug store.
But behind all of these financial and sexual conflicts, there is always the realization that someday the bum will catch a south bound rattler and she'll wind up with the "Gulf Coast Blues." Sad! Sad! Sad! But there is always just a lilt of humor in Jean's voice to let you know that tomorrow there will be other men and other loves. It sure beats "As the World Turns."
My only regret about this record is that a Kittrell performance, in addition to being musically gratifying, is also a unique visual experience. Jean hurls herself, her smile and her wildly swishing fringed dresses into every low down beat of the music. But this performance is truly a satisfying alternative to Jean Kittrell live.
Jim Giltmier
Jean Kittrell, Piano Vocals and Commentary
SIDE ONE 25:52
1. Shorty 2:35
2. Hard Hearted Hannah 3:06
3. Daddy You've Been Holding Out Too Long 3:40
4. You've Been A Good Old Wagon 3:32
5. Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown, Whatcha Gonna Do When The Rent Comes 'Round? 2:48
6. Evil Hearted Blues 3:42
7. Mean Mistreater 2:33
8. If You Don't Have Any Money Don't Cha Bother Comin' Out 3:22
9. Close - Curse of an Achin' Heart 0:34
SIDE TWO 24:23
1. Gulf Coast Blues 4:29
2. It's Right Here For You 3:03
3. Sweet Papa 5:22
4. Frankie and Johnny 4:44
5. Delia 3:57*
6. Baby, Won't Cha Please Come Home 2:48
*Chorus on Delia - Eleanor Johnson, Jackie Dietrich, Kay Giltmier, Fannie Martin, Fred Dietrich, Jim Giltmeir, Tom Martin, Johnson McRee, Jr.
CREDITS
Cover Design - Johnson McRee, Jr. and Willard Press
Cover Photo - Ken MacSwan
Liner Photos - Cyndi Young and Ken Underwood
Recording - Hal Farmer and Johnson McRee, Jr.
Mastering - Johnson McRee, Jr. and Don Van Gordon
Annotation - Jim Gitmier
Produced By Fat Cat's Jazz Records P.O. Box 458, Manassas, VA. 22110
Jean Kittrell
To my dear brother-in-law and sister - with much love - Jean Kittrell
Nov. 75
ALONE
Jazz Vocals & Piano
[Inside jacket]
JEAN KITTRELL ALONE
It's hard to think that Jean Kittrell might ever be alone. She has brightened the output of traditional jazz bands for a number of years with her special enthusiasm and sparkle. And her ebullient personality gives her such great personal magnetism, so that in your mind's eye, you always think of her as the center of attraction in any crowd of happy music lovers.
But here she is --ALONE. And ain't it wonderful. If you're looking for that "All Alone By My Telephone" mood, this album is not for you. This is Jean Kittrell at her hip-swinging, bugle bead busting, bluesy best adding just the right amount of spice to hark you back to speakeasys, Pierce Arrows, and the Lost Generation.
Jean Kittrell is the pluperfect entertainer, creating hard'driving, leave-your-subtleties-in-the-closet images of loving, blues, and vamping in their most open and flagrant fashion.
She is also Jean Kittrell, Ph.D., Professor of English at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. In the living room of her home is a large portrait of Blues immortal, Bessie Smith, and Bessie's "Give Me A Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer" vibes can be felt clearly as Professor Kittrell sings to us of unrequired love and evil hearted women.
In 1974, Jean came to the Washington area to attend a professional seminar at the University of Maryland. And while she was here she exhausted jazz fans who spent week night evenings at the local watering holes, getting high on Jean's vivacious singing and playing, and then going to work each day in less than top condition. I can personally attest to the fact that she has more stamina than I do.
Fortunately during that hectic week, she found time to go to the Fat Cat Studio in Manassas for this record date. It became in the coldly precise manner in which Fat Cat conducts all of his music business. Most of those who were to be present were late. Fat Cat lost his stop watch, there was microphone trouble for a while and well, you know...
Fortunately, the artist didn't let these petty misfortunes get to her and she sailed through the first several numbers of the album without retakes. Jean may be a professional educator, but make no mistake she is also a highly professional musician.
However, after a while, as in any session, the pressure began to build and the natives began to get silly. It took as long to do the last two number (one of them never did make the album) as it did all of the rest. Even Jean succumbed to the laughter, and the unedited master tape sounds in some places as if Jean were doing a benefit at Bedlam.
And it isn't exactly fair to say Jean was all alone. On "Delia" she is backed up by a particularly sorry Lost Chorus that no self-respecting back-alley beer hall would countenance. The haywire choir included Kay Giltmier, Fat Cat, Tom and Fanny Martin, Eleanor Johnson, Fred and Jackie Dietrich, and myself. It is expected that all of us will be drummed out of the Potomac River Jazz Club upon release of this record.
But despite the unfair competition, Jean Kittrell shines forth loud and clear. I am a special fan of the Kittrell magic. I have all of her records. This is far and away her best effort.
On this record, Jean conjures up a world of roistering dandies with "a handful of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged." As for the women, they are "refrigeratin' mamas" who chill the philandering carousers into icicles.
And what else could these poor dears do after all. The rascals spend their money on booze and broads when the rent is due, and when they are "hangin' 'round", their performance as lovers isn't sufficient to keep these dynamite ladies happy. One goes so far as to tell her fella he needs vitamins, and to come around and see her after he's been to the drug store.
But behind all of these financial and sexual conflicts, there is always the realization that someday the bum will catch a south bound rattler and she'll wind up with the "Gulf Coast Blues." Sad! Sad! Sad! But there is always just a lilt of humor in Jean's voice to let you know that tomorrow there will be other men and other loves. It sure beats "As the World Turns."
My only regret about this record is that a Kittrell performance, in addition to being musically gratifying, is also a unique visual experience. Jean hurls herself, her smile and her wildly swishing fringed dresses into every low down beat of the music. But this performance is truly a satisfying alternative to Jean Kittrell live.
Jim Giltmier
Jean Kittrell, Piano Vocals and Commentary
SIDE ONE 25:52
1. Shorty 2:35
2. Hard Hearted Hannah 3:06
3. Daddy You've Been Holding Out Too Long 3:40
4. You've Been A Good Old Wagon 3:32
5. Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown, Whatcha Gonna Do When The Rent Comes 'Round? 2:48
6. Evil Hearted Blues 3:42
7. Mean Mistreater 2:33
8. If You Don't Have Any Money Don't Cha Bother Comin' Out 3:22
9. Close - Curse of an Achin' Heart 0:34
SIDE TWO 24:23
1. Gulf Coast Blues 4:29
2. It's Right Here For You 3:03
3. Sweet Papa 5:22
4. Frankie and Johnny 4:44
5. Delia 3:57*
6. Baby, Won't Cha Please Come Home 2:48
*Chorus on Delia - Eleanor Johnson, Jackie Dietrich, Kay Giltmier, Fannie Martin, Fred Dietrich, Jim Giltmeir, Tom Martin, Johnson McRee, Jr.
CREDITS
Cover Design - Johnson McRee, Jr. and Willard Press
Cover Photo - Ken MacSwan
Liner Photos - Cyndi Young and Ken Underwood
Recording - Hal Farmer and Johnson McRee, Jr.
Mastering - Johnson McRee, Jr. and Don Van Gordon
Annotation - Jim Gitmier
Produced By Fat Cat's Jazz Records P.O. Box 458, Manassas, VA. 22110
Original Format
Archival compact disc
Duration
50:15:00
Collection
Citation
Jean Kittrell, “Alone,” Digital Exhibits, accessed April 28, 2024, https://digitallis.isg.siue.edu/items/show/2801.
