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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #146: Four Or Five Times

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This is the third time I'm featuring “Four Or Five Times”, one of my all-time favorite songs. This version sounds differently, though.

Listen yourself:

Four Or Five Times

Personnel: Muggsy Spanier – trumpet, Sidney Bechet – soprano sax, Carmen Mastren – guitar, Wellman Braud – bass.

Muggsy Spanier

Francis Joseph Julian “Muggsy” Spanier (Nov. 9, 1906 – Feb. 12, 1967) was a solid cornet player cultivating the Dixieland style. Some say he was a bit predictable but always enthusiastic and expressive.

He started playing the drums, switching to cornet at age 13. Two years later, he started playing professionally. His style was influenced by King Oliver and Louis Armstrong.

In the 1920s, he was part of the Chicago jazz scene, then he played with Ted Lewis for seven years (1929-1936), before joining Ben Pollack‘s big band from 1936-1938.

He became seriously ill and had to stay in hospital for three months. After recovering, he formed his octet, the Ragtimers. They recorded 16 sides in 1939. The band was set up too early, although they inspired the Dixieland revival a few years later, they didn't get enough jobs.

Spanier joined Bob Crosby‘s orchestra in 1940 and one year later, he led his own big band during 1941-1943. After breaking up the band, he spent the rest of his career in Dixieland settings, mostly as a leader.


[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B000R00K58″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/612uDAPXZHL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=”B000QOLR3E” locale=”us”]Four Or Five Times[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Muggsy Spanier feat. Sidney Bechet
Recorded: 1940
Album: [easyazon-link asin=”B000R00K58″ locale=”us”]All Star Jazz Quartets 1928-1940 – Disc A[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 116 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop



Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ iTunes US ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001S75RH0″ locale=”de”]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B000QOLR3E” locale=”us”]Amazon US[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001GJ0BYE” locale=”uk”]Amazon UK[/easyazon-link] ･ emusic


What do you think about this version? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

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Song of the Week #145: “Organ Grinder's Swing” by The Mills Brothers
Song of the Week #144: “Swingin' In The Promised Land” by Edgar Hayes
Song of the Week #143: “Splanky” by George Gee Swing Orchestra
Song of the Week #142: “Zormpas' Story” by The Speakeasies' Swing Band!
Song of the Week #141: “Summit Ridge Drive” by Billy Jack Wills & His Western Swing Band

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #95: Four Or Five Times

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From a few songs, I like to collect different versions. “Four Or Five Times” is one of them and this week's song is one of my alltime favourite swing tunes. A recording from 1937 by Jimmie Noone (23.04.1895-19.04.1944).

Beside Johnny Dodds and Sidney Bechet, Jimmie Noone is considered one of the three top New Orleans clarinetists of the 1920s. Noone had a smoother tone and his style influenced many musicians of the Swing era of the 1930s and 1940s, such as Benny Goodman.

As a child, he played the guitar before he started to take clarinet lessons at age 15. Sidney Bechet, who was 13 (thirteen!) at that time, was one of his teachers!

From 1913-1914 he played with Freddie Keppard and in 1916 with Buddy Petit and the Young Olympia Band. In 1917 he moved to Chicago (like many other musicians from New Orleans) to join Keppard's Creole Orchestra.

After breaking up in 1918 he became a member of King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, where he stayed until 1920 to join Doc Cook's Dreamland Orchestra for the next years.

In 1927/1928 he started leading a band at the Apex Club. Pianist Earl Hines and alto saxophonist Joe Poston (how interplayed with Noone) were members in the quintet. They were recording for Vocalion including an early version of “Sweet Lorraine” (Noone's theme song) and “Four or Five Times.”

Version of “Four Or Five Times” from 1928

The music they played was a transition from the early jazz style (all instruments play at the same time) to the modern swing style (solos by Earl Hines and Jimmie Noone).

Throughout the 1930s, Noone worked mostly in Chicago. On some of his late 1930s recordings he played with trumpeter Charlie Shavers. Also young singer Joe Williams became a member of his band but unfortunately, Noone and Williams never recorded together.

In 1944, Noone was in Kid Ory‘s band in California but before Noone really could gain fame, he unexpectedly died of a heart attack.

Four Or Five Times (1937)

DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #95: "Four Or Five Times" by Jimmie Noone | Shuffle Projects

Title: Four Or Five Times
Artist: Jimmie Noone
Recorded: December 1, 1937
Tempo: 168 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa


What is your favourite version of “Four Or Five Times”? Let us know in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

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more music tips and swing DJ resources!

Related Posts:

Song of the Week #59: “Four Or Five Times” by Joe Williams
Song of the Week #94: “Petite Fleur” by Sidney Bechet
Song of the Week #93: “Moonglow (Take 2)” by Benny Goodman Quartet