Tag Archives: Johnny Mercer

Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Swings Lightly

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In December 1958, “Verve” label released “Ella Swings Lightly”, album by Ella Fitzgerald. It was recorded in November 1958, at “Radio Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Norman Granz. This album won Ella Fitzgerald the 1960 Grammy award for the Best Improvised Jazz Solo.

Personnel:

  • Ella Fitzgerald – vocal
  • Marty Paich’s Dek-Tette: Bud Shank – alto saxophone 
  • Bill Holman – tenor saxophone
  • Med Flory – baritone saxophone 
  • Don Fagerquist, Al Porcino – trumpet
  • Bob Enevoldsen – valve trombone, tenor saxophone 
  • Vincent DeRosa – French horn
  • Lou Levy  – piano
  • Joe Mondragon – bass 
  • Mel Lewis – drums 

Track listing:

  1. Little White Lies – Walter Donaldson
  2. You Hit the Spot – Mack Gordon, Harry Revel
  3. What’s Your Story, Morning Glory? – Jack Lawrence, Paul Francis Webster, Mary Lou Williams
  4. Just You, Just Me – Jesse Greer, Raymond Klages
  5. As Long as I Live – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  6. Teardrops from My Eyes – Rudy Toombs
  7. Gotta Be This or That – Sunny Skylar
  8. Moonlight on the Ganges – Sherman Myers, Chester Wallace
  9. My Kinda Love – Louis Alter, Jo Trent
  10. Blues in the Night – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  11. If I Were a Bell – Frank Loesser
  12. You’re an Old Smoothie – Nacio Herb Brown, Buddy DeSylva, Richard A. Whiting
  13. Little Jazz – Roy Eldridge, Buster Harding
  14. You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me – Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal, Peter Norman
  15. Knock Me a Kiss – Mike Jackson
  16. 720 in the Books – Harold Adamson, Jan Savitt, Leo Watson

Gigi Gryce: Reminiscin’

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In December 1960, “Mercury” label released “Reminiscin’”, the 13th Gigi Gryce album. It was recorded in November 1960, in New York City.

Personnel:

  • Gigi Gryce – alto saxophone
  • Richard Williams – trumpet
  • Eddie Costa – vibraphone
  • Richard Wyands – piano
  • George Duvivier, Julian Euell, Reggie Workman – bass
  • Walter Perkins, Bobby Thomas – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Gigi Gryce except where noted.

  • Blue Lights
  • Caravan – Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol, Irving Mills
  • Reminiscing
  • Yesterdays – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
  • Gee Blues Gee – Randy Weston
  • A Night in Tunisia – Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli
  • Dearly Beloved – Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer
  • Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn

Johnny “Hammond” Smith:That Good Feelin’

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In December 1959, “New Jazz Label” released “That Good Feelin’”, the fourth Johnny “Hammond” Smith album. It was recorded in November 1959, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs”, New Jersey, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.

Personnel:

  • Johnny “Hammond” Smith – organ
  • Thornel Schwartz – guitar
  • George Tucker – bass
  • Leo Stevens – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks Johnny “Hammond” Smith except where noted.

  1. That Good Feelin’
  2. Bye Bye Blackbird – Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson
  3. Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert
  4. I’ll Remember April – Gene de Paul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye
  5. Billie’s Bounce – Charlie Parker
  6. My Funny Valentine – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  7. Puddin’

Coleman Hawkins: Desafinado

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In November 1962, “Impulse!” label released “Desafinado”, the 49th Coleman Hawkins album. It was recorded in September 1962, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Coleman Hawkins — tenor saxophone
  • Howard Collins, Barry Galbraith — guitar
  • Major Holley — bass
  • Eddie Locke — drums, percussion
  • Tommy Flanagan — claves
  • Willie Rodriguez — percussion
  • Manny Albam — arrangements
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Desafinado – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça
  2. I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover (Jazz Samba) – Mort Dixon, Harry M. Woods
  3. Samba Para Bean – Manny Albam
  4. I Remember You – Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger
  5. One Note Samba – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça
  6. O Pato (The Duck) – Jayme Silva, Neuza Teixeira
  7. Un Abraco No Bonfa (An Embrace to Bonfa) – João Gilberto
  8. Stumpy Bossa Nova – Coleman Hawkins

The Bobby Timmons Trio: In Person

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In November 1961, “Riverside” label released “In Person”, album by Bobby Timmons Trio (fifth Bobby Timmons album overall). It was recorded in October 1961, at “Village Vanguard” in New York, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Bobby Timmons – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Albert Heath – drums

Track listing:

 All tracks by Bobby Timmons except where noted.

  1. Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert
  2. So Tired
  3. Goodbye – Gordon Jenkins
  4. Dat Dere (Theme)
  5. Popsy
  6. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  7. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg
  8. Dat Dere (Theme)

Jimmy Forrest: Most Much!

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In November 1961, “Prestige” label released “Most Much!”, the seventh Jimmy Forrest album. It was recorded in October 1961, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.

Personnel:

  • Jimmy Forrest – tenor saxophone
  • Hugh Lawson – piano
  • Tommy Potter – bass
  • Clarence Johnston – drums
  • Ray Barretto – congas
  • Esmond Edwards – supervisor
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Jimmy Forrest except where noted.

  1. Matilda – Norman Span
  2. Annie Laurie – traditional
  3. Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert
  4. My Buddy – Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
  5. Soft Winds – Benny Goodman
  6. Robbin’s Nest – Illinois Jacquet, Bob Russell, Sir Charles Thompson
  7. Most Much

Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson Presents Smile

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On September 28, 2004, “Nonesuch” label released “Brian Wilson Presents Smile”, the fifth Brian Wilson studio album. It was recorded April – July 2004, at “Sunset Sound Recorders”, “Your Place or Mine Recording” in California, and was produced by Brian Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Brian Wilson – vocals, keyboards, arrangements
  • Jeffrey Foskett – vocals, guitar, hammer
  • Probyn Gregory – vocals, guitar, brass, Tannerin, whistles
  • Scott Bennett – vocals, guitar, keyboards, mallets
  • Bob Lizik – bass guitar, guitar, beret
  • Jim Hines – drums, mallets, saw, sound effects
  • Nelson Bragg – vocals, percussion, whistles, celery
  • Nick Walusko – vocals, guitar
  • Darian Sahanaja – vocals, keyboards, mallets, drill
  • Paul Mertens – woodwinds, saxophone, harmonica, semi-conductor
  • Taylor Mills – vocals, power drill, leg-slap

Stockholm Strings ‘n’ Horns

  • Victor Sand – saxophone, flute, clarinet
  • Björn Samuelsson – trombone
  • Staffan Findin – bass trombone
  • Andreas Forsman – violin
  • Malin-My Nilsson – violin
  • Erik Holm – viola
  • Anna Landberg – cello
  • Markus Sandlund – cello
  • Mark Linett – recording, mixing
  • Kevin Deane – engineer assistant
  • Pete Magdaleno – engineer assistant
  • Daniel S. McCoy – engineer assistant
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Mark London – package design and art
  • Dennis Loren – graphic layouts

Track listing:

All tracks by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, except where noted.

Movement One

  1. Our Prayer / Gee – Brian Wilson, William Davis, Morris Levy
  2. Heroes and Villains
  3. Roll Plymouth Rocks
  4. Barnyard
  5. Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine – Haven Gillespie, Beasley Smith
  6. Cabin Essence

Movement Two

  • Wonderful
  • Song for Children
  • Child Is Father of the Man
  • Surf’s Up

Movement Three

  1. I’m in Great Shape / I Wanna Be Around / Workshop – Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, Johnny Mercer, Sade Vimmerstedt
  2. Vega Tables
  3. On a Holiday
  4. Wind Chimes
  5. Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow – Brian Wilson
  6. In Blue Hawaii
  7. Good Vibrations – Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, Michael Love

Instrumental bonus tracks (side four of the vinyl release)

  1. Heroes and Villains
  2. Cabin Essence
  3. On a Holiday
  4. Wind Chimes

Frank Sinatra: Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely

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On September 8, 1958, “Capitol” label released “Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely”, the fifteenth Frank Sinatra studio album. It was recorded May – June 1958, at “Capitol Studio A” in Hollywood, and was produced by Dave Cavanaugh. “Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely” won the “Grammy Award for Best Album Cover”.

Personnel:

  • Frank Sinatra – vocal
  • Nelson Riddle – conductor, arrangements
  • Felix Slatkin – conductor
  • Nick Volpe – cover art
  • Sammy Cahn And James Van Heusen – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Only the Lonely – Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen
  2. Angel Eyes – Matt Dennis, Earl Brent
  3. What’s New – Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke
  4. It’s a Lonesome Old Town – Harry Tobias, Charles Kisco
  5. Willow Weep for Me – Ann Ronell
  6. Goodbye – Gordon Jenkins
  7. Blues in the Night – Harold Arien, Johnny Mercer
  8. Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  9. Ebb Tide – Robert Maxwell, Carl Sigman
  10. Spring is Here – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  11. Gone with the Wind – Allie Wrubel, Herb Magidson
  12. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road} – Harold Arien, Johnny Mercer

Kahil El’Zabar’s Ritual Trio: Africa N’Da Blues

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On August 15, 2000, “Delmark” label released “Africa N’Da Blues”, the ninth Kahil El’Zabar’s Ritual Trio album. It was recorded in December 1999, at “Riverside Studio” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by Robert G. Koester and Kahil El’Zabar.

Personnel:

  • Kahil El’Zabar – drums, percussion
  • Ari Brown – piano, soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Pharoah Sanders – tenor saxophone
  • Malachi Favors – bass
  • Susana Sandoval – spoken word

Track listing:

All tracks by Kahil El’Zabar, except where noted.

  1. Ka-Real (take 2) – Joseph Bowie
  2. Africanos/ Latinos – Kahil El’Zabar, Susana Sandoval
  3. Miles’ Mode – John Coltrane
  4. Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma, Jacques Prévert, Johnny Mercer
  5. Africa N’Da Blues
  6. Pharoah’s Song
  7. Ka-Real (take 1) – Joseph Bowie

Aretha Franklin: Laughing on the Outside

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On August 12, 1963, “Columbia” label released “Laughing on the Outside”, the fourth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in April – June 1963, at “Columbia Recording Studios” in New York and Hollywood, and was produced by Robert Mersey.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals
  • Robert Mersey – arrangements, conductor
  • Don Arnome, Tommy Tedesco, Billy Strange – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Dave Grusin, Andrew Acker, Leon Russell – piano
  • C. Bosler, Ray Pohlman, Melvin Pollan – bass guitar
  • Hindel Butts, Hal Blaine – drums
  • Plas Johnson – saxophone
  • Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet
  • Robert Ascher – trombone
  • Bernard Eichenbaum, Julius Schacter, Leo Kahn, Berl Senofsky, Felix Gigol, Max Pollikoff, George Ockner, John Rublowsky, Sid Sharp, Tibor Zelig, George Poole, Irving Lipschultz, Irving Weinper, Darrel Terwilliger – violin
  • R. Dickler, Theodore Israel, Jacob Glick – viola
  • Jesse Erlich, Anthony Twardowsky, Joseph Tekula – cello

Track listing:

  1. Skylark – Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael
  2. For All We Know – Sam M. Lewis, J. Fred Coots
  3. Make Someone Happy – Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne
  4. I Wonder (Where Are You Tonight) – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  5. Solitude – Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLange, Irving Mills
  6. Laughing on the Outside – Bernie Wayne, Ben Raleigh
  7. Say It Isn’t So – Irving Berlin
  8. Until The Real Thing Comes Along – Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, L. E. Freeman
  9. If Ever I Would Leave You – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
  10. Where Are You? – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
  11. Mr. Ugly – Norman Mapp
  12. I Wanna Be Around – Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstedt