Tag Archives: Johnny Mercer

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

Aretha Franklin: Soft And Beautiful

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In April 1969, “Columbia” label released “Soft and Beautiful”, the fifteenth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in July 1964, and was produced by Clyde Otis.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocal
  • Belford C. Hendricks – arrangements, conductor
  • Stan Tonkel – engineer
  • Stan Weiss – engineer
  • Thomas B. Allen – painting
  • Linda Solomon – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Only the Lonely – Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen
  2. I Wish I Didn’t Love You So – Frank Loesser
  3. (Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young – Johnny Mercer, M. Philippe-Gérard
  4. Shangri-La – Carl Sigman, Robert Maxwell, Matty Malneck
  5. A Mother’s Love – Cliff Owens
  6. My Coloring Book – John Kander, Fred Ebb
  7. Jim – Nelson Shawn, Caesar Petrillo, Edward Rose
  8. Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love) – Paul Francis Webster, Dimitri Tiomkin
  9. But Beautiful – Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen
  10. People (from Funny Girl) – Jule Styne, Bob Merrill

The Three Sounds: Out Of This World

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In April 1966, “Blue Note” label released “Out of This World”, the twelve Three Sounds (The) album. It was recorded February – March 1962, at “Van Gelder Studios” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Gene Harris – piano
  • Andrew Simpkins – bass
  • Bill Dowdy – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording, lacquer cut
  • Reid Miles – design, photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Gene Harris except where noted.

  1. Girl of My Dreams – Sunny Clapp
  2. Out of the Past – Benny Golson
  3. Just in Time – Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne
  4. I’ll Be Around – Alec Wilder
  5. My Silent Love – Edward Heyman, Dana Suesse
  6. Sanctified Sue
  7. Out of This World – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  8. You Make Me Feel So Young – Mack Gordon, Josef Myrow

Dave Douglas: Riverside

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On April 15, 2014, “Greenleaf” label released “Riverside”, the 39th Dave Douglas album. It was recorded in August 2012, at “Humber College Recording Studio” in Toronto, and was produced by Chet Doxas and Dave Douglas.

Personnel:

  • Dave Douglas – trumpet
  • Chet Doxas – clarinet, saxophone
  • Steve Swallow – electric bass
  • Jim Doxas – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Dave Douglas, except where noted.

  1. Thrush
  2. The Train and the River – Jimmy Giuffre
  3. Old Church, New Paint (Intro) – Chet Doxas
  4. Old Church, New Paint – Chet Doxas
  5. Handwritten Letter
  6. Big Shorty – Chet Doxas
  7. Front Yard
  8. Backyard
  9. No Good Without You
  10. Travelin’ Light – Trummy Young, Jimmy Mundy, Johnny Mercer
  11. Sing on the Mountain High/Northern Miner – Chet Doxas

Lou Donaldson: The Time Is Right

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In April 1960, “Blue Note” label released “The Time Is Right”, the eleventh Lou Donaldson album. It was recorded October – November 1959, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Lou Donaldson – alto saxophone
  • Blue Mitchell – trumpet
  • Horace Parlan – piano
  • Laymon Jackson – bass
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Dave Bailey – drums
  • Al Harewood – drums
  • Ray Barretto – congas
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording, mastering
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Ira Gitler – technical personnel

Track listing:

  1. Lou’s Blues – Lou Donaldson
  2. Be My Love – Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn
  3. Idaho – Jesse Stone
  4. The Nearness of You – Hoagy Camichael, Ned Washington
  5. Mack the Knife – Marc Blitzstein, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill
  6. Crosstown Shuffle – Lou Donaldson
  7. Tangerine – Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger

Gary McFarland: Soft Samba

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In March 1966, “Verve” label released “Soft Samba”, the fourth Gary McFarland album. It was recorded June, September and October 1964, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Gary McFarland – arranger, vibraphone
  • Jimmy Cleveland – trombone
  • Seldon Powell, Spencer Sinatra – flute
  • Patty Bowen – piano
  • Antônio Carlos Jobim, Kenny Burrell – guitar
  • Richard Davis – double bass
  • Arnie Wise, Sol Gubin, Willie Bobo – percussion
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Val Valentin – director of engineering
  • Michael J. Malatak – design
  • Lester Bookbinder – cover photography
  • Wally King – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Ringo, Won’t You Marry Me – Linda Laurie, Jerry Mack
  2. From Russia with Love – Lionel Bart
  3. She Loves You – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  4. A Hard Day’s Night – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. The Good Life – Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon
  6. More (Theme from Mondo Cane) – Riz Ortolani, Nino Oliviero, Marcello Ciorciolini, Norman Newell
  7. And I Love Her – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  8. The Love Goddess – Percy Faith, Mack David
  9. I Want to Hold Your Hand – John Lennon, McCartney
  10. Emily – Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer
  11. California, Here I Come – Buddy DeSylva, Al Jolson, Joseph Meyer
  12. La Vie en Rose – Pierre Louiguy, Édith Piaf, Mack David

Frank Sinatra: Songs For Swingin’ Lovers

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On March 5, 1956, “Capitol” label released “Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!”, the tenth Frank Sinatra studio album. It was recorded October 1955 – January 1956, at “Capitol Studio A” in Hollywood, and was produced by Voyle Gilmore.

Personnel:

  • Frank Sinatra – vocal
  • Bill Miller – piano
  • George Van Eps – guitar
  • Mahlon Clark, Justin Gordon, Champ Webb, Robert Lawson – saxophone
  • Ted Nash, Babe Russin, Justin Gordon, James Williamson – tenor saxophone
  • Mort Friedman – baritone saxophone
  • Conrad Gozzo, Shorty Sherock, Zeke Zarchy, Johnny Best, Mickey Mangano, Mannie Klein, Harry Edison – trumpet
  • Joe Howard, Milt Bernhart, Dick Noel, Paul Tanner, Jimmy Priddy, Juan Tizol – trombone
  • George Roberts – bass trombone
  • Willie Schwartz, Harry Klee – alto clarinet
  • Nathan Ross, Alex Murray, Henry Hill, Alex Beller, Walter Edelstein, Victor Bay, Paul Nero, Harold Dicterow, David Frisina, Mischa Russell, Felix Slatkin, Paul Shure, Marshall Sosson, Dan Lube, Harry Bluestone, Emo Neufeld, Samuel Cytron, Robert Gross, Alex Murray – violin
  • Maxine Johnson, Milton Thomas, Alvin Dinkin, David Sterkin, Paul Robyn – viola
  • Eleanor Slatkin, Ennio Bolognini, Ray Kramer, Edgar Lustgarten, Cy Bernard – cello
  • Kathryn Julye – harp
  • Joe Comfort – bass
  • Alvin Stoller – drums
  • Irving Cottler – drums
  • Frank Flynn – percussion
  • Clark Yocum, Allan Davies, Charles Schrouder, Lee Gotch – vocals
  • Nelson Riddle – arrangements
  • John Palladino – engineer

Track listing:

  1. You Make Me Feel So Young – Josef Myrow, Mack Gordon
  2. It Happened in Monterey – Mabel Wayne, Billy Rose
  3. You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me – Harry Warren, Al Dubin
  4. You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me – Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal, Pierre Norman
  5. Too Marvelous for Words – Richard Whiting, Johnny Mercer
  6. Old Devil Moon – Burton Lane, E. Y. Harburg
  7. Pennies from Heaven – Arthur Johnston, Johnny Burke
  8. Love Is Here to Stay – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  9. I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Cole Porter
  10. I Thought About You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer
  11. We’ll Be Together Again – Carl T. Fischer, Frankie Laine
  12. Makin’ Whoopee – Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
  13. Swingin’ Down the Lane – Isham Jones, Gus Kahn
  14. Anything Goes – Cole Porter
  15. How About You – Frankie Lane, Ralph Freed

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

David “Fathead” Newman: Diamondhead

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On January 29, 2008, “High Note” label released “Diamondhead”, the 37th David “Fathead” Newman album. It was recorded in 2007, at “M&I Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Houston Person and David “Fathead” Newman.

Personnel:

  • David “Fathead” Newman – alto and tenor saxophone, flute
  • Curtis Fuller – trombone
  • Cedar Walton – piano
  • Peter Washington – bass
  • Yoron Israel – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by David Newman except where noted.

  1. Diamondhead
  2. Can’t We Be Friends? – Paul James, Kay Swift
  3. New York State of Mind – Billy Joel
  4. Cedar’s Blues – Cedar Walton
  5. My Full House
  6. Skylark – Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer
  7. Star Eyes – Gene de Paul, Don Raye
  8. Mama-Lou
  9. It’s You or No One – Jule Styne Sammy Cahn

Sheila Jordan: Portrait of Sheila

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In January 1963, Blue Note” label released “Portrait of Sheila”, the debut Sheila Jordan album. It was recorded September – October 1962, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion. In the 1963 “Down Beat” magazine “Critics Poll”, Sheila Jordan was ranked first in the vocal category for “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition”.

Personnel:

  • Sheila Jordan – vocal
  • Barry Galbraith – guitar
  • Steve Swallow – bass
  • Denzil Best – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Ziggy Willmann – photography
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Falling in Love with Love – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  2. If You Could See Me Now – Tadd Dameron, Carl Sigman
  3. Am I Blue – Grant Clarke, Harry Akst
  4. Dat Dere – Bobby Timmons
  5. When the World Was Young – M. Philippe-Gérard, Johnny Mercer
  6. Let’s Face the Music and Dance – Irving Berlin
  7. Laugh, Clown, Laugh – Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young, Ted Fiorito
  8. Who Can I Turn To Now – Alec Wilder, William Engvick
  9. Baltimore Oriole – Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Francis Webster
  10. I’m a Fool to Want You – Jack Wolf, Joel Herron, Frank Sinatra
  11. Hum Drum Blues – Oscar Brown Jr.
  12. Willow Weep for Me – Ann Ronell