30th
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Week of Waller: Day Five
Ain’t Misbehavin’ (radio broadcast, year unknown)
Because this is probably his best-known original composition, I was going to avoid posting it. However, this version is from a radio broadcast (I don’t know the year because I got it from an unlabeled cassette tape at the library) and it’s worth hearing for two reasons. First, it’s nice to hear Fats having fun with his own song. I mean, he’s probably played it hundreds, if not thousands of times. It only makes sense that he’d start undermining the lyrics by saying things like, “I’m saving my love for you, and you, especially you, yes.”
And second, I absolutely love the introduction. (An edited version appeared as the outgoing message on my answering machine circa 1997.) “Hugh” sounds so white, it’s painful. Everything about the exchange between this unlikely pair feels contrived and awkward – definitely comical in a way not originally intended.
“If I felt any better, I’d be ashamed of myself.” Ha! I need to start answering every perfunctory “howareya?” that way.
