Tag Archives: Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe

Oscar Peterson: Oscar Peterson Plays the Harold Arlen Songbook

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In May 1960, “Verve” label released “Oscar Peterson Plays the Harold Arlen Songbook”, album by Oscar Peterson. It was recorded July – August 1959, at “Universal Recorders” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Oscar Peterson – piano
  • Herb Ellis – guitar 
  • Ray Brown – double bass
  • Ed Thigpen – drums
  • Merle Shore – design

Track listing:

  1. As Long as I Live – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  2. Come Rain or Come Shine – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  3. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  4. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  5. I’ve Got the World on a String – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  6. That Old Black Magic – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  7. Let’s Fall in Love – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  8. Stormy Weather – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  9. Over the Rainbow – Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg
  10. Happiness is a Thing Called Joe – Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg
  11. The Man that Got Away – Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin
  12. Ill Wind – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler

Cal Tjader: Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen

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In February 1962, “Fantasy” label released “Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen”, the 29th Cal Tjader album. It was recorded in June 1960.

Personnel:

  • Cal Tjader – vibraphone
  • Buddy Motsinger – piano
  • Al McKibbon – bass
  • Red Mitchell – bass
  • Willie Bobo – drums
  • Johnny Rae – drums
  • String section with harp
  • Clare Fischer – arrangements, conductor
  • Fred Schill – cover
  • Dick Hadlock – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  2. Ill Wind (You’re Blowing Me No Good) – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  3. When the Sun Comes Out – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  4. Happiness is a Thing Called Joe – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg
  5. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  6. Come Rain or Come Shine – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  7. Over the Rainbow – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg
  8. Out of This World – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  9. Last Night When We Were Young – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg
  10. The Man That Got Away – Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin
  11. Blues in the Night – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer

J. J. Johnson & Kai Winding: Jay & Kai

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In April 1957, “Columbia” label released “Jay and Kai”, album by J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding. It was recorded in November 1955, July – December 17, 1956, and January 1957 in New York City.

Personnel:

  • J. J. Johnson – trombone, trombonium 
  • Kai Winding – trombone, trombonium
  • Wayne Andre, Carl Fontana – trombone
  • Dick Leib – bass trombone 
  • Bobby Jaspar – tenor saxophone
  • Roy Frazee, Hank Jones, Dick Katz – piano
  • Bill Crow, Percy Heath, Milt Hinton, Kenny O’Brien – bass
  • Kenny Clarke, Jack Franklin, Elvin Jones, Shadow Wilson – drums
  • Candido Camero – bongos

Track listing:

  1. You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To – Cole Porter
  2. Caribe – Kai Winding
  3. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg
  4. The Song Is You – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
  5. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – David Mann, Bob Hilliard
  6. Yes, You – Dick Leib
  7. Tromboniums in Motion – J. J. Johnson
  8. How High the Moon – Morgan Lewis, Nancy Hamilton
  9. Violets for Your Furs – Matt Dennis, Tom Adair
  10. Too Close for Comfort – Jerry Bock, George David Weiss, Larry Holofcener
  11. ‘S Wonderful – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  12. I Should Care – Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn

Abbey Lincoln: That’s Him!

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In December 1957, “Riverside” label released “That’s Him!”, the second Abbey Lincoln album. It was recorded in October 1957, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Grauer and Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Abbey Lincoln – vocals
  • Kenny Dorham – trumpet
  • Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
  • Wynton Kelly – piano, bass
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Max Roach – drums

Track listing:

  1. Strong Man – Oscar Brown, Jr.
  2. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe – Harold Arlen, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg
  3. My Man – Jacques Charles, Channing Pollack, Albert Willemetz, Maurice Yvain
  4. Tender as a Rose – Phil Moore
  5. That’s Him – Ogden Nash, Kurt Weill
  6. I Must Have That Man! – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
  7. Porgy – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward
  8. When a Woman Loves a Man – Bernie Hanighen, Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mercer
  9. Don’t Explain – Arthur Herzog, Jr., Billie Holiday