HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Les Paul

Birth of Modern Jazz: Mary Ford with Les Paul

Mary Ford & Les Paul

Guitarist, Les Paul (Lester William Polsfuss), was born on 9 June 1915 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He began getting called "Red" as a teenager due to his red hair. Paul dropped out of high school in October of 1932 and left Waukesha to play professionally as Rhubarb Red at KMOX radio in St. Louis, Missouri. He first shows up in Lord per radio transcriptions in February, April and May of 1935 in New York City to back vocalist, Kay Thompson, with Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians on 'Oh Suzanna, Dust Off the Old Piana', 'It Must Have Been a Devil in the Moon' and 'What's the Reason I'm Not Pleasing You'. Those saw later issue in 2003 on 'Kay Thompson: The Queen of Swing Vocal & Her Rhythm Singers 1933 to 1937' (Baldwin Street Music BJH 313).

May 12 of 1936 saw Paul backing Georgia White on 'I'll Keep Sitting on It (If I Can't Sell It)' (Decca 7192). Tom Lord has Paul recording as Rhubarb Red and His Rubes on 20 May of 1936 in Chicago: 'Just Because', 'Answer to Just Because', 'Deep Elem Blues No. 2' and 'Deep Elem Blues' are given Montgomery Ward issue numbers MW 8012 and MW 8013, also available on the 1997 compilation 'The Complete Decca Trios' on MCA MCAD2-11708. Paul features at acoustic or electric guitar on every sample on this page.

'I'll Keep Sitting On It (If I Can't Sell It)' Les Paul and his Trio backing Georgia White

11 May 1936 in Chicago Matrix 90721-A Vocalion 3201

See the compilation 'The Complete Decca Trios' on CMCAD2 11708 / 1997

Music: Alex Hill Lyrics: Andy Razaf

Paul formed the Les Paul Trio in 1937 with Jim Atkins (guitar) and Ernie Darius Newton (bass) [Discogs]. ODP and Praguefrank's have the same recording 'Where Is Love' / 'Swanee River' in October 1939 going toward Okeh 6027. Come radio broadcasts from 1939 to 1941 to see issue on 'The Legendary Fred Waring Broadcasts: Historic Live Performances (1939-1941)' on Cambria CAMCD-1146 in 2004.

'Where Is Love' Les Paul Trio

Oct 1939 in NYC Matrix 25419 Okeh 06027

Guitar / vocal: Jim Atkins Bass: Ernie Newton

Sometime in the early forties Paul again transcribed as Rhubarb Red & his Rubes, those broadcasts released on an unknown date in Germany on 'Les Paul's Country Roots' (Bronco Buster CD 9023). Sometime during the early forties the Les Paul Trio had come to consist of Cal Gooden (rhythm) and Clint Nordquist (bass). It was that configuration with which transcriptions were made with pianist, Art Tatum, sometime in 1944, titles like 'Ja-Da' and 'Somebody Loves Me' eventually released in 2008 on 'Art Tatum' 1934-56 (Storyville 108 8603). Paul and partners transcribed numerously in 1944 including for AFRS and McGregor. Titles per the 'California Melodies' radio program have been issued by Collectors Choice.

Lord's disco has Paul with Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) on three dates from July 2 of 1944 to May 24 of 1947, that last at Carnegie Hall with Roy Eldridge for 'Perdido' (unissued), 'What Is This Thing Called Love?' (unissued) and 'Blues'. Paul's titles with the JATP have been variously issued on Mercury, Clef and Verve.

Come a string of transcriptions with Paul's trio (with Gooden and Nordquist) for World in January and February of 1945, titles like 'Undecided' and 'Out of Nowhere' getting released in 2010 on 'After You've Gone' (Audiophile ACD-042). Lord has Milt Raskin or Buddy Cole at piano on those.

MacGregor Transcriptions Les Paul and his Trio

C 1944 in NYC

See the album 'Les Paul and Trio' on Tops L1602 / 1957

(Transferred from 78 rpm shellac to 33 1/3 rpm vinyl)

Piano: Milt Raskin Rhythm guitar: Cal Gooden Bass: Clint Nordquist

Praguefrank's has Paul privately recording 'Hip-Billy Boogie' and 'What Is This Thing Called Love' circa March 3, 1945, not issued until April of 1948 on Capitol 15070 [45Worlds]. Come a session on 12 July with his trio backing Bing Crosby on 'It's Been a Long Long Time' / 'Whose Dream Are You' issued in September on Decca 18708. Paul issued 'Rumors Are Flying' with the Andrews Sisters on Decca 23656 in 1946. Unable to discover more specific dates, titles in 1947 below may or may not be in correct chronological sequence.

'It's Been a Long, Long Time' Les Paul backing Bing Crosby

12 July 1945 in Los Angeles Matrix L 3889 Decca 18708

Composition: Jule Styne / Sammy Cahn

'It's a Pity to Say Goodnight' Les Paul backing the Andrews Sisters

With the Vic Schoen Orchestra

22 July 1946 in Los Angeles

Composition: Billy Reid

'My Blue Heaven' Les Paul Trio backing Gene Austin

Sometime 1947 Matrix UR-8690 Universal 100 / Musicana 7012

Composition: Walter Donaldson / George Whiting 1927

'Short Circuit' Les Paul and his Trio

Sometime 1947 MacGregor Transcription

See the album 'Les Paul Trio: The Jazz Collector Edition' on LaserLight Digital – 15 741 / 1991

Piano: Paul Smith Rhythm guitar: Cal Gooden Bass: Bob Meyer

Composition: Carol Bratman / Harry Breuer

'Nobody But You' Les Paul Trio backing Clancy Hayes

Sometime 1948 Matrix 1681-1 Mercury 5137

Composition: Buddy Pepper

Paul was famous for his musical partnership with his wife, guitarist, Mary Ford. Their first meeting had been in 1945, leading to their first performance together in 1946, touring in 1947. Come recording and marriage in 1949, the 'Les Paul Show' in 1950 (NBC Radio) and a number of high charting titles with Ford like 'Tennessee Waltz' (1950), 'How High the Moon' (1951), 'Tiger Rag' 1952) and 'Vaya Con Dios' (1953). Paul collaborated with Ford until their divorce in December 1964. Ford plays guitar and sings on all examples below:

'Jealous' Les Paul & Mary Ford (wife)

12 April 1950 Matrix 5854-1 Capitol F1014

Composition: Dick Finch / Jack Little / Tommie Malie

'Nola' Les Paul & Mary Ford (wife)

12 April 1950 Matrix 5860-1 Capitol F1014

Composition: Felix Arndt / James Burns

'How High the Moon' Les Paul & Mary Ford (wife)

Television 1951

Music: Morgan Lewis Lyrics: Nancy Hamilton 1940

'Send Me Money' Les Paul & Mary Ford (wife)

Early 1956 Matrix 15135 Capitol F3389

Composition: Zeke Clements

'C Jam Blues' Les Paul w the Oscar Peterson (piano) Trio

Norman Granz and Jazz at the Philharmonic 1956

Trumpet: Roy Eldridge Tenor sax: Illinois Jacquet / Flip Phillips

Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Composition: Duke Ellington 1942

'Gentle Is Your Love' Les Paul & Mary Ford (wife)

C Feb 1963 in Mahwah NJ Matrix 4-42754

Composition: Phil Zeller

Paul's release of 'What is This Thing Called Love?' in 1948 had claimed the #11 tier on Billboard that May. Other strong solo titles during his period with Ford were 'Nola' ('1950), 'Little Rock Getaway' (1950), 'Whispering' (1951), 'Meet Mister Callaghan' (1952) and 'Lady of Spain' (1952). Other notable issues were 'Lover' / 'Brazil' released in 1951 on Capitol 1600 (shellac 78) and F1600 (vinyl 45).

Paul's fame as a guitar player was eventually overshadowed by his collaboration with Orville Gibson on the design of the Gibson Les Paul solid body electric guitar first marketed in 1952. Paul had an innovative lean, from assembling a neck brace as a boy so he could play guitar and harmonica at once, to the invention of multi-track recording, overdubbing and, the little black box attached to his guitars called the paulverizer. Among results from his early experiments in audio engineering were the bass and percussion on recordings with Ford which were actually Paul's guitar.

After his period with Ford, Paul relaxed his pace. He released 'Les Paul Now' in 1968. A couple albums with Chet Atkins followed in the seventies: 'Chester and Lester' (1976) and 'Guitar Monsters' (1978). Often performing at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City in his latter years, Paul issued 'Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played' in 2006, that consisting of dubbed parts played by various such as Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, Buddy Guy and Steve Miller.

'13 Golden Earrings' Les Paul

1967 From the album ' Les Paul Now!' on London Records SP 44101 / 1968

Composition: Victor Young / Jay Livingston / Ray Evans

'Live at Fat Tuesday's' Les Paul

New York City 1987

Guitar: George Benson Rhythm guitar: Lou Pallo Bass: Gary Mazzaroppi

'Live at Sevilla' Including 'How High the Moon' Les Paul

18 Oct 1991

Bass: Gary Mazzaroppi

Paul began performing on Mondays at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City in 1996 [Wikipedia / YouTube]. Paul remained with the Iridium for above a decade until he there delivered his final performance on his 90th birthday on June 15, 2009.