In his brief life of 39 years, Tom Waller (better known as ‘Fats’) took what he learned from the church organ and broke the bonds of sacred for the swinging sounds that he would learn from Willie “The Lion” Smith, James P. Johnson, and Eubie Blake. While the organ (or, as he liked to call it “The God Box”) was his first love, it was his songwriting and ebullient personality that would infuse his melodies that set him apart. The American Songbook chapter called “Joy” is full of his music and the tragedy of losing him too soon to his demons likely prevented us being further enriched. Tune in for two hours of music that inspired Fats as well as the music he gave us.
| No. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artist | Title | Album | Buy |
| 2 | Duke Ellington | That Rhythm Man | The Okeh Ellington [Disc 2] |  |
| 3 | James P. Johnson | What's The Use Of Being Alone | A Piano Anthology | |
| 4 | James P. Johnson | The Harlem Strut (BS 2026, P-151-1) | The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927) | |
| 5 | James P. Johnson | Carolina Shout | Jazz In The Charts Vol. 2 – Hot Lips | |
| 6 | Fats Waller | Carolina Shout | The Joint Is Jumpin' | |
| 7 | Willie The Lion Smith & His Cubs | More Than That | Harlem Jazz (The 30's) | |
| 8 | Willie "The Lion" Smith | Morning Air | A Piano Anthology | |
| 9 | Clarence Williams' Blue Five Feat. Eva Taylor | Cake Walkin' Babies From Home | The Complete Clarence Williams Sessions, Vol. 2 – 1923-1925 | |
| 10 | Fats Waller | The Joint Is Jumpin' | The Joint Is Jumpin' | |
| 11 | Fats Waller | I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby | The Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2: A Handful Of Keys, [Disc 2] | |
| 12 | Fats Waller | I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby | The Joint Is Jumpin' | |
| 13 | Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards | I'm Goin' Huntin' | The Ultimate Collection [Disc 1] | |
| 14 | Fats Waller With Morris' Hot Babies | Fats Waller Stomp | The Compete Recorded Works Vol. 1, [Disc 2] | |
| 15 | Fats Waller & His Rhythm | Mamacita | 100 Ans De Jazz | |
| 16 | Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Thomas "Fats" Waller & Jeni Le Gon | Living In A Great Big Way | Hollywood Swing & Jazz: Hot Numbers [Disc 1] | |
| 17 | Fats Waller | I Wish I Were Twins | The Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2: A Handful Of Keys, [Disc 4] | |
| 18 | Ethel Waters | What Did I Do to Be So Black and Blue? | Ethel Waters 1929 -1939 (feat. Duke Ellington & Benny Goodman) | |
| 19 | Fats Waller | Ain't Misbehavin' | Music By Fats Waller | |
| 20 | Fats Waller | I'm Going To Sit Down & Write Myself A Letter | Music By Fats Waller | |
| 21 | Fats Waller | (Take Me Back To) The Wide Open Places | compliments of grimriper2u@yahoo.com | |
| 22 | Fats Waller | Your Feet's Too Big | Fats Waller Greatest Hits | |
| 23 | Fats Waller & His Rhythm | It's A Sin To Tell A Lie | Fats Waller – The Complete Recorded Works Volume 3 – Rhythm and Romance 1934-1936 | |
| 24 | Fats Waller | Honeysuckle Rose | Nippers 30's-Vol.1 | |
| 25 | Nat King Cole Trio | Honeysuckle Rose | A Piano Anthology | |
| 26 | Fats Waller & His Rhythm | Big Chief De Sota | Fats Waller – The Complete Recorded Works Volume 3 – Rhythm and Romance 1934-1936 | |
| 27 | Fats Waller | Let's Pretend There's A Moon | The Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2: A Handful Of Keys, [Disc 4] | |
| 28 | Fats Waller & His Rhythm | You're The Picture | Complete Recorded Works Vol.3 | |
| 29 | Fats Waller | Sweet Savannah Sue | The Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2: A Handful Of Keys, [Disc 1] | |
| 30 | Fats Waller | St. Louis Blues | The Compete Recorded Works Vol. 1, [Disc 2] | |
| 31 | Fats Waller | You're Not The Only Oyster I Saw | The Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2: A Handful Of Keys, [Disc 4] | |