No Moe! Louis Jordan's Greatest Hits CD

Personnel includes: Jimmy Cleveland, Ernie Royal, Budd Johnson.
These are not the original tracks Jordan cut for Decca in the '40s, but re-recordings he made at Mercury in the '50s.
With the exception of four numbers taken from a 1957 set in which he heads a quintet co-starring organist Jackie Davis, this CD consists of a dozen songs taken from a 1956 date already reissued (with additional material) on the previously issued CD Rock 'n' Roll. Louis Jordan, who had not had a new hit since 1951 (and unfortunately none were in the future) is mostly heard remaking his earlier triumphs such as "Saturday Night Fish Fry," "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens," and "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie." The music is spirited, but the earlier CD is the better purchase. ~ Scott Yanow
Jump blues legend Louis Jordan's career peaked during the 1940's, when the hip and hilarious band leader cranked out a series of hits with his band, the Timpani Five. By the early '50s, however, the hit parade and Jordan's association with Decca Records (for whom he recorded all his big tunes) had ended, and Jordan had announced his retirement. Fortunately, Jordan soon decided to return to stage and studio. In 1956, he signed with Mercury Records and, as stars often do, immediately re-recorded his biggest hits for his new label. NO MOE! contains 16 of these updated versions of Jordan classics.
All but four of the recordings on NO MOE! were supervised by Quincy Jones, who goosed Jordan's music with some nice hot-jazz and pseudo-rock and roll flourishes. R&B guitarist Mickey Baker is prominently featured, further heating up the proceedings. Jordan's original Decca takes on these songs are still the classics (the can be found on LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL), but NO MOE! adds a satisfying coda to the career of a great jazz musician and entertainer.