Tag Archives: Johnny Mercer

Ahmad Jamal: Tranquility

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In August 1968, “ABC” label released “Tranquility”, the 25th Ahmad Jamal album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Ahmad Jamal – piano
  • Jamil Sulieman – bass
  • Frank Gant – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Ahmad Jamal except where noted

  1. I Say a Little Prayer – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  2. The Look of Love – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  3. When I Look in Your Eyes – Leslie Bricusse
  4. Illusions Opticas – Joe Kennedy
  5. Nothing Ever Changes My Love for You – Jack Segal, Marvin Fisher
  6. Emily – Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer
  7. Tranquility
  8. Free Again – Armand Canfora, Joss Baselli, Robert Colby
  9. Manhattan Reflections

Frank Sinatra: Swing Easy

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On August 2, 1954, “Capitol” label released “Swing Easy!”, the eighth Frank Sinatra studio album. It was recorded in April 1954, at “Capitol” in Hollywood, and was produced by Voyle Gilmore. It was released in 10” vinyl format.

Personnel:

  • Frank Sinatra – vocals
  • Nelson Riddle – arrangements, conductor

Track listing:

  1. Just One of Those Things – Cole Porter
  2. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter) – Fred E. Ahlert, Joe Young
  3. Sunday – Chester Conn, Benny Krueger, Ned Miller, Jule Styne
  4. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams – Harry Barris, Ted Koehler, Billy Moll
  5. Taking a Chance on Love – Vernon Duke, Ted Fetter, John Latouche
  6. Jeepers Creepers – Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer
  7. Get Happy – Ted Koehler, Harold Arlen
  8. All of Me – Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons

June Christy: Something Cool

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On August 2, 1954, “Capitol” label released “Something Cool”, the debut June Christy album. It was recorded August 1953 – March 1954, and was produced by Lee Gillette. The album was released in 10” vinyl format.

Personnel:

  • June Christy — vocals
  • Pete Rugolo — arranger, conductor
  • Gus Bivona, Harry Klee, Bud Shank — flute, alto flute, alto saxophone
  • Bob Cooper, Ted Nash — flute, tenor saxophone
  • Skeets Herfurt, Willie Schwartz — alto saxophone
  • Fred Falensby, Jimmy Giuffre — tenor saxophone
  • Chuck Gentry, Bob Gordon, John Rotella — baritone saxophone
  • Frank Beach, Conte Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn, Ollie Mitchell, Uan Rasey, Shorty Rogers, Ray Triscari, Jimmy Zito — trumpet
  • Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, Nick Dimaio, Bob Fitzpatrick, Herbie Harper, Tommy Pederson, Dick Reynolds, Frank Rosolino — trombone
  • Dick Noel, George Roberts — bass trombone
  • Vincent DeRosa, John Graas — French horn
  • Paul Sarmento, Phil Stephens — tuba
  • Buddy Collette, Paul Horn — reeds
  • Joe Castro, Geoff Clarkson, Russ Freeman, Paul Smith, Claude Williamson — piano
  • Barney Kessel, Jack Marshall, Tony Rizzi, Howard Roberts — guitar
  • Harry Babasin, Joe Comfort, Joe Mondragon — bass
  • Larry Bunker, Frank Carlson, Shelly Manne, Alvin Stoller — drums

Track listing:

  1. Something Cool – Billy Barnes
  2. It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  3. Lonely House – Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes
  4. Midnight Sun – Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer
  5. I’ll Take Romance – Ben Oakland, Oscar Hammerstein II
  6. A Stranger Called the Blues – Mel Torme, Robert Wells
  7. I Should Care – Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl

Charles Lloyd: Dream Waver

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In July 1966, “Atlantic” label released “Dream Weaver”, the third Charles Lloyd album. It was recorded in March 1966, and was produced by Arif Mardin and George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Charles Lloyd – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Keith Jarrett – piano
  • Cecil McBee – bass
  • Jack DeJohnette – drums
  • Phil Lehle – engineer
  • Marvin Israel – design
  • Charles Stewart – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Lloyd, except where noted.

  1. Autumn Sequence: Autumn Prelude/Autumn Leaves/Autumn Echo – Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert, Charles Lloyd
  2. Dream Weaver: Meditation/Dervish Dance
  3. Bird Flight
  4. Love Ship
  5. Sombrero Sam

Julie London: Lonely Girl

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In June 1956, “Liberty” label released “Lonely Girl”, the second Julie London album. It was recorded in April 1956, at “Western Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Bobby Troup.

Personnel:

  • Julie London – vocals
  • Al Viola – guitar
  • John Neal – engineer
  • Ray Jones – photography
  • Chris Ingham – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Lonely Girl – Bobby Troup
  2. Fools Rush In – Rube Bloom, Johnny Mercer
  3. Moments Like This – Frank Loesser, Burton Lane
  4. I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City – Leon Rene, Johnny Lange
  5. It’s the Talk of the Town – Jerry Livingtson, Al J. Neiburg, Marty Symes
  6. What’ll I Do – Irving Berlin
  7. When Your Lover Has Gone – Einar A. Swan
  8. Don’t Take Your Love from Ne – Henry Nemo
  9. Where or When – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  10. All Alone – Irving Berlin
  11. Mean to Me – Roy Turk, Fred E. Ahlert
  12. How Deep Is the Ocean – Irving Berlin
  13. Remember – Irving Berlin

Tony Bennett With The Count Basie Orchestra: Strike Up The Band

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In May 1959, “Roulette” label released “Strike Up the Band”, album by Tony Bennett with the Count Basie Orchestra. It was recorded in January 1959, at “Capitol Studios” in New York, and was produced by Teddy Reig.

Personnel:

  • Tony Bennett – vocals
  • Ralph Sharon – piano, arrangements

The Count Basie Orchestra:

  • Count Basie – piano
  • Marshal Royal, Frank Wess – alto saxophone
  • Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell – tenor saxophone
  • Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
  • Thad Jones, Snooky Young, Wendell Culley, Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Benny Powell, Henry Coker, Al Grey – trombone
  • Freddie Green – guitar
  • Eddie Jones – bass
  • Sonny Payne – drums

Track listing:

  1. Strike Up the Band – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  2. I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
  3. Chicago – Fred Fisher
  4. With Plenty of Money and You – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
  5. Anything Goes – Cole Porter
  6. Life Is a Song – Fred E. Ahlert, Joe Young
  7. I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
  8. Jeepers Creepers – Johnny Mercer, Harry Warren
  9. Growing Pains – Dorothy Fields, Arthur Schwartz
  10. Poor Little Rich Girl – Noël Coward
  11. Are You Havin’ Any Fun? – Sammy Fain, Jack Yellen

The Steve Kuhn Quartet: Last Year’s Waltz

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In March 1982, “ECM” label released “Last Year’s Waltz”, a live album by Steve Kuhn Quartet (The). It was recorded in April 1981, at “Fat Tuesday” in New York City, and was produced by Robert Hurwitz.

Personnel:

  • Steve Kuhn – piano
  • Sheila Jordan – voice
  • Harvie Swartz – bass
  • Bob Moses – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Kuhn, except where noted.

  1. Turn to Gold
  2. The Drinking Song
  3. Last Year’s Waltz
  4. I Remember You – Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger
  5. Mexico
  6. The Fruit Fly
  7. The Feeling Within
  8. Medley: Old Folks / Well You Needn’t – Dedette Lee Hill, Willard Robison, Thelonious Monk
  9. Confirmation – Charlie Parker
  10. The City of Dallas – Steve Swallow

John Coltrane: Coltrane Jazz

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In February 1971, “Atlantic” label released “Coltrane Jazz”, album by John Coltrane. It was recorded March, November, December 1959 – October 1960, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Nesuhi Ertegun.

Personnel:

  • John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
  • McCoy Tyner – piano
  • Wynton Kelly – piano
  • Cedar Walton – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Steve Davis – bass
  • Elvin Jones – drums
  • Lex Humphries – drums
  • Jimmy Cobb – drums
  • Tom Dowd, Phil Lehle – engineer
  • Eutemey – cover design
  • Lee Friedlander – photography
  • Zita Carno – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by John Coltrane, except where noted.

  1. Little Old Lady – Hoagy Carmichael, Stanley Adams
  2. Village Blues
  3. My Shining Hour – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  4. Fifth House
  5. Harmonique
  6. Like Sonny
  7. I’ll Wait and Pray – George Treadwell, Jerry Valentine
  8. Some Other Blues

Aretha Franklin: Unforgettable: A Tribute To Dinah Washington

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On February 18, 1964, “Columbia” label released “Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington”, the fifth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in February 1964, at “Columbia Recording Studios” in New York, and was produced by Robert Mersey.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals, piano
  • Ernie Hayes – piano, organ
  • Paul Griffin – organ
  • George Duvivier – bass guitar
  • Gary Chester – drums
  • Buddy Lucas – tenor saxophone, harmonica
  • Teddy Charles – vibraphone
  • Ernie Royal – trumpet
  • Bob Asher – trombone
  • Robert Mersey – strings arrangements, conductor
  • Adam Block – legacy’s rhythm and soul series director  
  • Tony Sellari – art direction
  • C.M.O.N. – design
  • John Berg – jacket cover
  • Robert Constanzo – packaging manager

Track listing:

  1. Unforgettable – Irving Gordon
  2. Cold, Cold Heart – Hank Williams
  3. What a Diff’rence a Day Made – Stanley Adams, María Méndez Grever
  4. Drinking Again – Johnny Mercer, Doris Tauber
  5. Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning – Tom Delaney, Pearl Delaney
  6. Evil Gal Blues – Lionel Hampton, Leonard Feather
  7. Don’t Say You’re Sorry Again – Lee Pearl, Art Berman, Eugene West
  8. This Bitter Earth – Clyde Otis
  9. If I Should Lose You – Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin
  10. Soulville – Titus Turner, Morris Levy, Henry Glover, Dinah Washington

Johnny Hartman: I Just Dropped By To Say Hello

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In February 1964, “Impulse!” label released “I Just Dropped by to Say Hello”, album by Johnny Hartman. It was recorded in October 1963, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Hartman – vocals
  • Illinois Jacquet – tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Burrell – guitar
  • Jim Hall – guitar
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • Milt Hinton – double bass
  • Elvin Jones – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Charade (from Charade) – Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
  2. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – Bob Hilliard, David Mann
  3. A Sleepin’ Bee – Harold Arlen, Truman Capote
  4. Don’t You Know I Care (Or Don’t You Care to Know) – Mack David, Duke Ellington
  5. Kiss & Run – Rene Denoncin, William Engvick, Jack Ledru
  6. If I’m Lucky – Eddie DeLange, Josef Myrow
  7. I Just Dropped by to Say Hello – Sid Feller, Rick Ward
  8. Stairway to the Stars – Matty Malneck, Mitchell Parish, Frank Signorelli
  9. Our Time – Stanley Glick, Johnny Hartman
  10. Don’t Call It Love – Ronnell Bright
  11. How Sweet It Is to Be in Love – George Cardini, Danny DiMinno