This CD is reissued by ArkivMusic.
Notes and Editorial Reviews
Personnel: Count Basie (piano); Gus Johnson (vocals, drums); Jimmy Rushing, Taps Miller, Billy Valentine (vocals); Freddie Green (guitar); Earle Warren, C.Q. Price (alto saxophone); Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Jimmy Tyler, Weasel Parker, Georgie Auld, Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Jack Washington (baritone saxophone); Clark Terry, Emmett Berry, Gerald Wilson, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jimmy Nottingham (trumpet); Dicky Wells, Ted Donnelly, Melba Liston, George Matthews (trombone); Butch Ballard (drums).
Liner Note Author: Dick Katz.
Recording information: Los Angeles, CA (04/11/1949-02/06/1950); New York, NY (04/11/1949-02/06/1950).
Illustrator: Joel Spector.
Read more
The cuts on this anthology were recorded with Count Basie's legendary 1940s band nearing the end. These cuts were mostly unissued and show a band still capable of playing joyous blues and vigorous swing, but also close to exhausting its creative juices. Most cuts are entertaining; some, like "Hit That Ball," and are enjoyable period pieces, but none of them equal the vitality or drive in the great music Basie made earlier in the decade. The really intriguing numbers are the three tunes by Basie with a sextet, but J. August's forgettable vocals mar "If You See My Baby," and "Sweets" offers crackling trumpet solos from Harry Edison contrasted by highly derivative tenor solos from George Auld. This disc isn't great or classic Basie, but it provides insight into a critical and seldom-evaluated period in his legacy.
Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Top Hat: Cheek to Cheek by Irving Berlin
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1935; USA
2.
Just an Old Manuscript by Don Redman
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
3.
Katy by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
4.
She's a Wine-o by Joel Cowan
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
5.
Shoutin' Blues by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
6.
Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? by Buddy Johnson
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
7.
St. Louis Baby by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
8.
After you've gone by Turner Layton
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1918; USA
9.
Wonderful Thing by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
10.
Slider by Boyd Raeburn
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Notes: Take 1B.
11.
Slider by Boyd Raeburn
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Notes: Take 1C.
12.
Mine, Too by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Notes: Take 1C.
13.
Mine, Too by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Notes: Take 1D.
14.
Walking Slow Behind You by Hy Heath
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
15.
Normania (Blee Blop Blues) by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
16.
Rocky Mountain Blues by Clarence Williams
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
17.
Slider by Boyd Raeburn
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Conductor:
Count Basie
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Notes: Take 2.
18.
If You See My Baby by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Sextet
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
19.
Rat Race by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Sextet
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
20.
Sweets by Count Basie
Performer:
Count Basie (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Count Basie Sextet
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Customer Reviews
Be the first to review this title
Review This Title
