The Middle Years 1910-1918

AMG Review of The Middle Years 1910-1918

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

The pioneering African-American performer Bert Williams was best-known for his humorous and philosophical monologues during various editions of the Ziegfeld Follies. He was also a decent singer (particularly in his early days), and the first solo, non-religious, African-American artist to be recorded. Archeophone has been releasing Williams' formerly rare recordings, complete and in chronological order. On the second of three CDs, Bert WIlliams: The Middle Years, 1910-1918, Williams is heard at his peak, performing such classics as "You Can't Do Nothing Till Martin Gets Here," "Woodman, Spare That Tree," "Nobody" (his greatest hit), his tribute to ragtime, "You Can't Get Away From It," and "O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?" Some of the songs are monologues, while others have Williams singing and talking while backed by an orchestra. The liner notes (which include a long piece about comedy written by Williams) are unbeatable, and many of the performances are classics. This is a perfectly done reissue.