Tag Archives: 1961

Bobby Bland: Two Steps From The Blues

On January 1, 1961, “Duke” label released “Two Steps from the Blues”, the debut Bobby Bland album. It was recorded 1956 – 1960, at “Universal Recording Corporation” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by Don Robey.

Personnel:

  • Bobby Bland – vocal (the scintillating voice)
  • Clarence Holloman  – guitar
  • Wayne Bennett  – guitar
  • Hamp Simmons  – bass
  • John “Jabo” Starks  – drums
  • Teddy Reynolds  – piano
  • Robert Skinner  – tenor saxophone
  • L. A. Hill  – tenor saxophone
  • Rayfield Devers  – baritone saxophone
  • Joe Scott  – trumpet, arranger
  • Melvin Jackson  – trumpet
  • Pluma Davis  – trombone
  • Rene Williams – design
  • Dzondria LaIsac – design, liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Two Steps from the Blues – Don D. Robey, John Riley Brown
  2. Cry Cry Cry – Don D. Robey
  3. I’m Not Ashamed – Don D. Robey, Joseph Scott
  4. Don’t Cry No More – Don D. Robey
  5. Lead Me On – Don D. Robey
  6. I Pity the Fool – Deadric Malone
  7. I’ve Just Got to Forget You – Don D. Robey
  8. Little Boy Blue – Charles Harper
  9. St. James Infirmary – traditional, credited to Joe Primrose
  10. I’ll Take Care of You – Brook Benton
  11. I Don’t Want No Woman – Don D. Robey
  12. I’ve Been Wrong So Long – Don D. Robey, Ray Agee

Etta James: The Second Time Around

On December 14, 1961, “Argo” label released “The Second Time Around”, the second Etta James studio album. It was recorded 1960 – 1961, and was produced by Phil Chess and Leonard Chess.

Personnel:

  • Etta Jemes – vocals
  • Riley Hampton – arrangements, conductor
  • Johnny Magnus – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Cry Baby – Saul Bernie, James P. Johnson, Stella Unger
  2. Fool That I Am – Floyd Hunt
  3. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  4. In My Diary – Michael Angelo Graham, Mark Silverman
  5. Saven Day Fool – Billy Davis, Berry Gordy, Sonny Woods
  6. It’s Too Soon to Know – Deborah Chessler, E.H. Morris
  7. Dream – Johnny Mercer
  8. I’ll Dry My Tears – Etta James, Clyde Walker
  9. Plum Nuts – Robert Plummer
  10. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell

Bob Brookmeyer: Gloomy Sunday And Other Bright Moments

In December 1961, “Verve” label released “Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments”, the 19th Bob Brookmeyer album. It was recorded in November 1961, in New York City, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Bob Brookmeyer – valve trombone, arrangements
  • Eddie Caine – alto saxophone, flute
  • Phil Woods – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Gene Quill, Eddie Wasserman – alto saxophone
  • Phil Bodner – tenor saxophone, oboe, English horn
  • Al Cohn – tenor saxophone
  • Gene Allen – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
  • Bernie Glow, Joe Newman, Doc Severinsen, Clark Terry, Nick Travis – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre, Billy Byers, Bill Elton, Alan Raph – trombone
  • Wally Kane – bassoon
  • Eddie Costa – vibraphone, percussion
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • George Duvivier – bass
  • Mel Lewis – drums
  • Ralph Burns, Al Cohn, Gary McFarland, Eddie Sauter – arrangements
  • Olga Albizu – cover painting
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Caravan – Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  2. Why Are You Blue – Gary McFarland
  3. Some of My Best Friends – Al Cohn
  4. Gloomy Sunday – Rezső Seress
  5. Ho Hum – Bob Brookmeyer
  6. Detour Ahead – Herb Ellis, Johnny Frigo, Lou Carter
  7. Days Gone By; Oh My! – Gary McFarland
  8. Where, Oh Where – Cole Porter

Grant Green: Sunday Mornin’

In November 1962, “Blue Note” label released “Sunday Mornin’”, the fourth Grant Green album. It was recorded in June 1961, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Grant Green – guitar
  • Kenny Drew – piano
  • Ben Tucker – bass
  • Ben Dixon – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Joe Goldberg – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Grant Green except where noted.

  1. Freedom March
  2. Sunday Mornin’
  3. Exodus – Ernest Gold
  4. God Bless the Child – Arthur Herzog, Jr. Billie Holiday
  5. Come Sunrise
  6. So What – Miles Davis

Cannonball Adderley Quintet: Plus

In November 1961, “Riverside” label released “Plus”, the 21st Cannonball Adderley album (credited to Cannonball Adderley Quintet). It was recorded in May 1961, at “Plaza Sound” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Cannonball Adderley – alto saxophone
  • Nat Adderley – cornet
  • Wynton Kelly – piano
  • Victor Feldman – piano, vibes
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Louis Hayes – drums
  • Ken Deardoff – design
  • Don Bronstein – cover photography
  • Steve Schapiro – photography
  • Ed Sherman – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Arriving Soon – Eddie Vinson
  2. Well, You Needn’t – Thelonious Monk
  3. New Delhi – Victor Feldman
  4. Winetone – Wynton Kelly
  5. Star Eyes – Gene de Paul, Don Raye
  6. Lisa (take 8) – Victor Feldman, Phil Zito

Cal Tjader: In A Latin Bag

In November 1961, “Verve” label released “In a Latin Bag”, the 26th Cal Tjader album. It was recorded in August 1961, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Cal Tjader – vibraphone, piano
  • Paul Horn – flute, alto saxophone
  • Lonnie Hewitt – piano
  • Al McKibbon – bass
  • Johnny Rae – drums
  • Wilfredo Vicente – congas
  • Armando Peraza – bongos
  • Pete Turner – photography
  • Dick Hadlock – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Cal Tjader, except where noted.

  1. Ben-Hur – Miklós Rózsa
  2. Green Dolphin Street – Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington
  3. Pauneto´s Point
  4. Speak Low – Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash
  5. Triste
  6. Misty – Erroll Garner
  7. Mambo in Miami – Armando Peraza
  8. Ecstasy – Paul Horn
  9. Half and Half – Paul Horn

Wes Montgomery: So Much Guitar!

In October 1961, “Riverside” label released “So Much Guitar!”, the fourth Wes Montgomery album. It was recorded in August 1961, at “Plaza Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Wes Montgomery – guitar
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Lex Humphries – drums
  • Ray Barretto – conga
  • Ray Fowler – engineer
  • Ken Deardoff – design

Track listing:

  1. Twisted Blues – Wes Montgomery
  2. Cotton Tail – Duke Ellington
  3. I Wish I Knew – Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
  4. I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So – Duke Ellington, Mack David
  5. Repetition – Neal Hefti
  6. Somethin’ Like Bags – Wes Montgomery
  7. While We’re Young – Morty Palitz, Alec Wilder
  8. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer

Freddie Hubard: Hub Cap

In October 1961, “Blue Note” label released “Hub Cap”, is the third Freddie Hubbard album. It was recorded in April 1961, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone
  • Julian Priester – trombone
  • Cedar Walton – piano
  • Larry Ridley – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Freddie Hubbard, except where noted.

  1. Hub Cap
  2. Cry Me Not – Randy Weston
  3. Luana
  4. Osie Mae
  5. Plexus – Cedar Walton
  6. Earmon Jr.

Red Garland: Bright And Breezy

In October 1961, “Jazzland” label released “Bright and Breezy”, the 26th Red Garland album. It was recorded in July 1961, at “Plaza Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Red Garland – piano
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Charlie Persip – drums
  • Ray Fowler – recording
  • Ken Deardoff – design
  • Steve Schapiro – photography

Track listing:

  1. On Green Dolphin Street – Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington
  2. I Ain’t Got Nobody – Spencer Williams, Roger A. Graham
  3. You’ll Never Know – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
  4. Blues in the Closet – Oscar Pettiford
  5. What’s New – Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke
  6. Lil’ Darlin’ – Neal Hefti
  7. What Is There to Say? – E. Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke
  8. So Sorry Please – Bud Powell

Grant Green: Green Street

In October 1961, “Blue Note” label released “Green Street”, the third Grant Green album. It was recorded in April 1961, at “Van Helder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Grant Green – guitar
  • Ben Tucker – bass
  • Dave Bailey – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Volff – photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Grant Green except where noted.

  1. No. 1 Green Street
  2. ‘Round About Midnight – Thelonious Monk
  3. Grant’s Dimensions
  4. Green with Envy
  5. Alone Together – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz