Music by Eubie Blake
Lyrics by Noble Sissle, Andy Razaf, F.E. Miller, Jim Europe, and Micki Grant

In 1978 two African-American musicals opened on Broadway within months of each other – the first, Ain’t Misbehavin’, was a tribute to the songs of Fats Waller. The second, Eubie!, was a tribute to the songs of the great Eubie Blake.

Eubie! was conceived and directed by Julianne Boyd, with choreography by Billy Wilson and Henry LeTang. Boyd assembled a great cast, which included the Hines brothers, Gregory and Maurice, Alaina Reed, Lynnie Godfrey, Terry Burrell, and other terrific singers and dancers. The show was nominated for three Tony Awards – Gregory Hines for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, Billy Wilson and Henry LeTang for Best Choreography, and, most interestingly, for Best Original Score (that probably couldn’t happen these days).

The musical arrangements by musical supervisor Danny Holgate are incredible and musical director Vicki Carter leads what can only be called a totally kick-ass band. But the star of the show, always front and center, is Eubie Blake and his songs. His amazing melodies are tuneful and infectious and they’re performed by a stellar cast with incredible voices energy. It all adds up to a toe-tapping delight from start to finish. And in a lovely bit of serendipity to the release of this wonderful cast album making its CD debut, a show about the making of Blake’s groundbreaking musical, Shuffle Along, is about to open.

Eubie! was mastered from the original master tapes from the Warner Bros./Rhino vaults and sounds incredible. -KRITZERLAND

1. Charleston Rag (1899)/Shuffle Along The Company (lyrics to “Shuffle Along” – Noble Sissle – 1921)
2. In Honeysuckle Time Lonnie McNeil & Company (lyrics – Noble Sissle – 1921)
3. I’m Just Wild About Harry Lynnie Godfrey & Company (lyrics – Noble Sissle – 1921)
4. Daddy Lynnie Godfrey (lyrics – Noble Sissle – 1921)
5. I’m a Great Big Baby Jeffrey V. Thompson (lyrics – Andy Razaf – 1940)
6. My Handyman Ain’t Handy No More Alaina Reed (lyrics – Andy Razaf – 1930)
7. Low Down Blues Gregory Hines (lyrics – Noble Sissle – 1921)
8. Gee, I Wish I Had Someone to Rock Me in the Cradle of Love/Low Down Blues & Cradle of Love Duet (lyrics – Noble Sissle – 1919 – duet arrangement by Vicki Carter)
9. Dixie Moon Mel Johnson, Jr. & Company (lyrics – Noble Sissle – 1924)
10. Weary/Roll Jordan Terry Burrell & Company/Alaina Reed (soloist) with Janet Powell & Company (lyrics – Andy Razaf – 1941/1930 additional lyrics – Micki Grant)
11. Memories of You Ethel Beatty (lyrics – Andy Razaf – 1930)
12. If You’ve Never Been Vamped by a Brownskin, You’ve Never Been Vamped at All Marion Ramsey & Company (lyrics – Noble Sissle – 1921)
13. You Got to Git the Gittin’ While the Gittin’s Good Maurice Hines (lyrics – F.E. Miller – 1956)
14. I’m Craving for That Kind of Love Lynnie Godfrey (lyrics – Noble Sissle – 1921)
15.Goodnight Angeline Ethel Beatty, Mel Johnson, Jr., Lonnie McNeil & Janet Powell (lyrics – Noble Sissle, Jim Europe – 1919)
16. Finale The Company