NRR Project: 'Caldonia' (Jan. 19, 1945)

 

NRR Project: ‘Caldonia’

Written by Louis Jordan

Performed by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five

Recorded Jan. 19, 1945

2:40

He’s the grandfather of rock and roll. It’s the birth of rhythm and blues. It’s proto-rap. It’s infectious. It’s an inspiration for a whole generation of music-makers.

Louis Jordan (1908-1975) played the alto sax, sang, wrote songs, and led a band. He got his start in the Swing Era of the 1930s, with drummer Chick Webb’s band. He set out on his own and really connected with the mood of the times. The war was almost over; people wanted something upbeat, something propulsive. “Caldonia” is all that.

Jordan starts things off with a straight-ahead boogie woogie riff on the piano. The horns join in slyly. Jordan begins to sing.

“Walkin' with my baby she's got great big feet

She's long, lean, and lanky and ain't had nothing to eat

She's my baby and I love her just the same

Crazy 'bout that woman cause Caldonia is her name

 

Caldonia, Caldonia

What makes your big head so hard?

I love you. I love you just the same

I’ll always love you baby cause Caldonia is her name”

 A nifty sax break follows, then an interplay. Then there’s spoken engagement, reminiscent of the approach of the late Fats Waller, and destined to be passed on to Chuck Berry, Bill Hailey, and even unto James Brown, Our Godfather of Soul.

 “You know what mama told me? She told me to leave Caldonia alone, that’s what she told me. No kidding. That’s what she told me. That’s what she said, she said, ‘Son, leave that Caldonia alone. She ain’t no good. Don’t bother her.’ But Mama didn’t know what Caldonia was puttin’ down. So I’m going to Caldonia’s house and going to ask one more time:”

 “Caldonia, Caldonia

What makes your big head so hard?

I love her. I love her just the same

Crazy 'bout that woman cause Caldonia is her name”

“MOP!” yells Jordan, and it sounds appropriate. Jordan would continue to entertain for decades. His record is unmatched. He spent almost twice as many weeks on the R & B charts than any other performer. He had 54 Top 10 hits, including “Saturday Night Fish Fry,” “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens,” “Five Guys Named Moe,” “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby,” and “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie”. He made Decca Records.

In 1945, they made a two-reel movie of “Caldonia,” in which Jordan and company do the title song, “Honey Child,” “Tillie,” and “Buzz Me.” You can dial him up and watch him at work.

The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry in chronological order. Next time: Ko Ko.