LP-616

Chet Roble - Chet Chats

Released 1958

Recording and Session Information

Chicago, December 10 1957
Chet Roble, vocals, piano; Joe Hazdra, guitar; Sid Thai, bass; Wally Gordon, drums

Sugar
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
I'm In The Market For You
The First Baseball Game
Easy Living
Have Another One, Not Me
Lil' Augie Is A Natural One Man
Memphis In June
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
Judy
Lazy River

Track Listing

Sugar	Mitchell, Packard	December 10 1957
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me	McHugh, Gaskill	December 10 1957
I'm In The Market For You	Hanley, McCarthy Sr	December 10 1957
The First Baseball Game	Raye, DePaul	December 10 1957
Easy Living	Robin, Rainger	December 10 1957
Have Another One, Not Me	Mooney	December 10 1957
Lil' Augie Is A Natural One Man	Mercer, Arlen	December 10 1957
Memphis In June	Webster, Carmichael	December 10 1957
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans	Alter, Delange	December 10 1957
Judy	Carmichael, Lerner	December 10 1957
Lazy River	Carrie Bond	December 10 1957

Liner Notes

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST

Chet Roble is an animate Chicago landmark.

He is as much a part of the city as the Merchandise Mart or the White Sox. This is not surprising, since he has been active on many fronts in Chicago since he was born there 45 years ago.

Educated in Chicago schools, Chet studied at the University of Illinois, too. In 1932, a professional career as a band pianist beckoned; he joined Ace Brigode's band and remained with it for 18 months. After the Brigode tour of duty, he returned to Chicago to stay.

He worked with a variety of local groups. In the '40s, after a stint at a cafe owned by Mike Todd, he began a two-week booking at Helsing's Vodvil lounge on Chicago's north side. He remained as chief custodian of the piano for four years.

Throughout this period, he worked exclusively as a pianist. When he formed a trio with Boyce Brown and Sammy Aron, however, he decided to supplement the group's instrumental efforts with a chorus or two of lyric-exploring singing.

He's been singing ever since.

Beginning in 1950, he participated in many Chicago television shows. This was a flourishing period for Chicago TV and Roble assisted in making it a living thing. He worked on shows at ABC and NBC, including The Little Review (ABC), Studs Place (NBC and ABC), and Garrotvay-at-large (NBC).

Since 1951, he's been the figure behind the piano at the Sherman Hotel's College Inn cocktail lounge. For several years, he's made the inn's 6:30 to 12:30 evening shift a delight for countless visitors.

Chet is not competing with Caruso, Joe Williams, or Frank Sinatra. He doesn't pretend to be more than he is. It is this unpretentious, honest, warm approach to interpreting songs that has kept his unofficial fan club in action for years.

This LP was Jack Tracy's idea. Jack, former editor of Down Beat magazine, has turned from judging LPs to producing them, in his present capacity at EmArcy Records. Jack and Chet are old friends and the former felt that the time had come for Chet to be decently represented in LP form.

"I have always admired Chet as a singer whose personality comes through in his singing," Jack told me. "He is friendly, warm-hearted, and loves the good life," he added.

It is this warm appeal inherent in Chet's approach that makes this LP more than listenable without slugging the listener with special effects, Chet manages to communicate pointedly.

All the tunes included here are tunes Chet performs currently. To complete the "at home" atmosphere, he is supported by musicians he's known and worked with for years. Joe Hazdra on guitar is working with another group at the Sherman hotel. Bassist Sid Thal has worked with Chet on many occasions. Chet and drummer Wally Gordon have been close friends and musical associates since they were together in a band Gordon headed at Schurz high school in Chicago.

The tunes included were selected with infinite care and considerable love, because Chet doesn't sing a tune unless he can make it a part of himself. These are tunes he "feels" strongly. Among them are several gems, including the almost-forgotten (except by Chet) I'm In The Market For You, Joe Mooney's Have Another One, Not Me, Hoagy Carmichael's lovely Memphis In June and Judy, and the delicate Easy Living. And there's a story behind Chet's The First Baseball Game.

In his effort to ascertain that the tune would not prove offensive, Chet turned to the Rev. John S. Banahan, secretary of the Roman-Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and the Bishop's censor on audio-visual material.

The Rev. Banahan wrote Chet, "I read over the lyrics to The First Baseball Game quite carefully. If I were you, I would include it in the album. The question of flippancy about religious subjects is relative. It depends upon the taste and training of the audience. I know several communities of nuns who would enjoy hearing this..." This is the way Chet behaves. He finds a tune, explores it privately, and makes it a part of his repertoire only after he knows it well. There's no effort made to create "hits". Rather, Chet collects songs that speak with sincere sophistication about life's weighted moments.

There's nothing ostentatious about this album. It's simply a collection of worthwhile songs, presented warmly by a guy who knows what they're all about. It's comforting to know that there are a few such guys around.
Don Gold
Managing Editor
Down Beat Magazine

DON BRONSTEIN—COVER PHOTO & DESIGN
JACK WIENER—RECORDING ENGINEER
RECORDED DEC. 10, 1957
JACK TRACY—RECORDING DIRECTOR
DAVE USHER—PRODUCER