Live at Earthquake McGoon's 1970

by The Firehouse Five Plus Two

Overview

Between 1949-1969, the Firehouse Five Plus Two was one of the most popular Dixieland bands around. Recording steadily for the Good Time Jazz label, performing regularly in the Southern California area while wearing fireman outfits and gaining quite a bit of publicity, the group combined the fun of Dixieland with bits of corny but usually inspired humor. The year after what would be their final regular recording, Firehouse Five Plus Two appeared at Turk Murphy's Earthquake McGoon's in San Francisco; in 2005 a tape of their performances was released for the first time. It is a pity that it is not much better. The recording quality is OK, but the cornball humor really wears thin quickly and completely overshadows the music. In particular, trombonist-leader Ward Kimball is the main guilty party, utilizing duck calls (!) on at least three of the numbers for an excessive length of time. There are too many so-so vocals, soprano saxophonist George Probert apparently finds it impossible to play in tune, and the few worthwhile moments are brief and ruined by extra musical effects. This set is only for completists of the band. Anyone else is advised to pick up a sampling of their Good Time Jazz recordings. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	09/20/2005
Label:	Ghb Records
UPC:	0762247545026

Tracks

1. At a Georgia Camp Meeting
2. Beale Street Mama
3. The Waltz You Saved for Me
4. Auntie Skinner's Chicken Dinner
5. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate
6. Down in Jungle Town
7. Winin' Boy Blues
8. Bye, Bye Blues
9. I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll
10. Sugar Blues
11. Doctor Jazz
12. San Antonio Rose
13. Canal Street Blues
14. Who Walks in When I Walk Out?

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Firehouse Five Plus Two   Primary Artist
Ward Kimball   Vocals,Trombone
Bob Short   Tuba
George Probert   Sax (Soprano)
Danny Alguire   Cornet,Vocals
K.O. Eckland   Piano
Eddie Forrest   Drums

Technical Credits

Leon Oakley   Engineer,Photography
Ward Kimball   Leader
Edward Madden   Composer
Theodore Morse   Composer
Joe "King" Oliver   Composer
Dave Bennett   Composer
Spencer Williams   Composer
Bob Wills   Composer
Chauncey Gray   Composer
Earl "Speedo" Carroll   Composer
Lou Handman   Composer
Walter Melrose   Composer
Louis Armstrong   Composer
Jelly Roll Morton   Composer
Roy Turk   Composer
Ralph Freed   Composer
Armand Piron   Composer
Bryan Shaw   Mastering
Arthur Fields   Composer
Bert Lown   Composer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Clarence Williams   Composer
Wayne King   Composer
George H. Buck, Jr.   Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Kenny Mills   Composer
Lucy Fletcher   Composer
K.O. Eckland   Text
Fred Hamm   Composer