First Extensive Anthology Of Charlie Watts' Jazz Catalogue Announced

05-11-2023

Charlie Watts Cover art

Cover art

(Big Hassle) The first extensive anthology drawn from the bespoke jazz catalogue of one of the world's most loved and admired drummers, the legendary Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, will be released by BMG on June 30th.

Available both in double vinyl and double CD editions, Anthology is a monument to the "other" musical identity of the giant who underpinned the Rolling Stones for more than 55 years. It draws on a near 20-year period in his substantial catalogue of jazz recordings in various configurations, including quartet, quintet, tentet, and orchestra. The collection is both the perfect memento of a unique artist for long-time devotees and the perfect introduction for new admirers.

Anthology is a celebration of the faultlessly tasteful and inventive playing of a true inspiration to millions, who generously diverted the spotlight onto his brilliant, hand-picked collaborators. Across Anthology, these include such greats as his lifelong friend and double bass stalwart Dave Green, saxophonists such as Peter King, Evan Parker and Courtney Pine, trumpeter Gerard Presencer, fellow drum titan Jim Keltner and vocalist and Rolling Stones live band member Bernard Fowler.

This highly desirable retrospective begins in 1986, when Watts had his own name on an album for the first time - with typical modesty, some 25 years after his drumming first became the talk of his peers - on Live At Fulham Town Hall. It then features selections from the Charlie Watts Quintet's 1991 mini-album From One Charlie, their albums A Tribute to Charlie Parker with Strings (1992), Warm and Tender (1993) and Long Ago and Far Away (1996), the 2000 collaboration Charlie Watts - Jim Keltner Project and another live set, 2004's Watts at Scott's, as the Charlie Watts Tentet.

The expanded CD track listing is further augmented by the inclusion of three sought-after tracks from a performance by Watts and his group at Swindon Arts Centre, featuring versions of "Rockhouse Boogie," "Ain't Nobody Minding Your Store," and "Swindon Swing."

Anthology features liner notes by music journalist and broadcaster Paul Sexton, the author of Charlie's Good Tonight: The Authorized Biography of Charlie Watts, published by HarperCollins. Pre-order here.

Vinyl Tracklisting

LP 1 SIDE 1:
Stompin' At The Savoy
Flying Home
Practising, Practising, Just Great
Relaxing At Camarillo

SIDE 2:
Blackbird - White Chicks
Cool Blues
You Go To My Head
If I Should Lose You
My Ship

LP 2 SIDE 3:
Long Ago (And Far Away)
Good Morning Heartache
Never Let Me Go
Roy Haynes (Reprise)
Airto

SIDE 4 Roll 'Em Charlie
What's New
Take The "A" Train

CD TRACKLISTING

CD 1
Stompin' At The Savoy
Flying Home
Practising, Practising, Just Great
Relaxing At Camarillo
Blackbird - White Chicks
Cool Blues
You Go To My Head
If I Should Lose You
My Ship
Long Ago (And Far Away)
Good Morning Heartache
Never Let Me Go

CD 2
Roy Haynes
Airto
Roll 'Em Charlie
What's New
Tin Tin Deo
Sunset and The Mockingbird
Take the "A" Train
Rockhouse Boogie (Previously Unreleased)
Ain't Nobody Minding Your Store (Previously Unreleased)
Swindon Swing (Previously Unreleased)