Cake Walkin': The Modern Reccordings 1947-48 Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette

£12.56

Genre:
Rhythm & Blues
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 1233

This product is also available in these versions:
Cake Walkin': The Modern Reccordings 1947-48 (MP3), MP3 (£7.99)

This collection of excellent music from the Modern vaults has been a long time coming. Compiled more than two years ago, it was back-burnered while I consulted the various oracles of R&B research for information on Albert C Wichard, aka “Cake”. Virtually nothing is known about the man whose drumming had been at the core of almost all of Modern’s early sessions, other than he’d been dead a long time and that he died young. But Cake Wichard was high profile enough to have had several sessions for Modern in his own name, and this top-notch package collects up the contents of all of them, in many cases for the first time on CD.

It’s fair to say that most of those featured on “Cake Walkin” are of higher profile than the mysterious Mr Wichard. There can’t be a blues fan alive or dead who hasn’t heard of Jimmy Witherspoon, Pee Wee Crayton and Jay McShann, while Big Duke Henderson has been an R&B cult hero for decades. They are all heard to excellent advantage here, particularly ’Spoon, whose first sessions for Modern these were and who shows a youthful exuberance in these sides that is missing from the recordings he made as a more mature singer from the late 1950s onwards. A little unbelievably for an artist of his stature, several of the sides here that feature Witherspoon are receiving their first ever release in this package. (The remaining three Wichard/’Spoon cuts that are not featured have been earmarked for future volumes of “Mellow Cats & Kittens”).

The somewhat less prolific Duke Henderson is also at the peak of his vocal powers here, particularly on the fearsome ‘His Majesty’s Boogie’. Not everyone can be as successful as they are talented, but in Sylvester Henderson’s case it’s a real shame that the quality of his performances did not result in some bigger hits.

There’s no existing session paperwork to confirm the presence of any individuals other than Wichard and the featured vocalists/instrumentalists, but it can be assumed that Hadda Brooks on piano and Bill Davis and/or Bill Day are in the mix on at least some of the tracks, providing a rock-solid rhythm section that’s always underpinned by Wichard’s metronomic timing. As small group mid-40s R&B goes, it’s pretty unbeatable.

Unfortunately, Al Wichard’s life was short and he passed away in the late 1950s before most researchers began their sterling work. Most of those who worked with him (including all the identifiable musicians on this CD) are also now gone, as are his wife and son. We may never find out more than the little we know now, but we can always say for sure that the early post-WWII Central Avenue R&B scene would have been much the poorer without his contribution.

By Tony Rounce

Share

Track listing

Show

Side 1

Delivery & Returns

Show

We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

Show

A major triumph. ★★★★

Record Collector

Customer reviews

Show

Related products

Customers who bought this item also bought