Bennett & Basie Strike Up The Band

Bennett as usual was terrific. Basie got the "short end of the stick" as the arrangements were below average. Whoever wrote the charts seemed to be striving for artistry rather than a complement to Bennett's fine singing.

Love the Count Basie band!!

The 1963 ROULETTE Records re-release entitled STRIKE UP THE BAND (R 25231) was in 1959 called COUNT BASIE SWINGS, TONY BENNETT SINGS (SR 25072). This earlier LP (with a rearranged playlist) is so rare there are as of this date no AMMY listings for it. My link here is to a CD version.The Basie-Bennett sessions were an unusual cooperative effort of two record companies, ROULETTE and COLUMBIA. Simultaneous to the former publishing this album, COLUMBIA also issued a Bennett/Basie set (with different songs) called IN PERSON! TONY BENNETT, COUNT BASIE And His Orchestra.These two talents were made for each other. The Count's powerful band inspired Tony, while his great vocals gave energy back to the musicians. Theirs was a symbiosis that produced great sounds, as this set clearly demonstrates.Trumpeter Joe Newman is featured on "Chicago." He plays with mute on "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" and "Life is a Song." Al Gray's trombone rings forth on "Are You Havin' Any Fun." Billy Mitchell's tenor sax is spotlighted on the album opener, "Strike Up the Band." This set's change-of-pace lullabye, "Growing Pains" is an opportunity for bassist Eddie Jones and guitarist Freddie Green to shine. Flautist Frank Weiss is the only other player on this quiet track. Thad Jones has a trumpet solo on "Poor Little Rich Girl." Frank Foster's tenor sax sings right alongside Bennett on "Plenty of Money." Weaving in and out of all these is the inimitable piano of William 'Count' Basie.SIDE ONE[1:30] Strike Up the Band[2:38] I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans[2:02] Chicago[1:29] With Plenty of Money and You[2:15] Anything Goes[2:51] Life is a SongSIDE TWO[2:56] I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face[2:05] Jeepers Creepers[3:28] Growing Pains[3:30] Poor Little Rich Girl[2:43] Are You Havin' Any FunTOTAL TIME: 27:27 COUNT BASIE SWINGS, TONY BENNETT SINGSIN PERSON! TONY BENNETT, COUNT BASIE And His Orchestra

The 1963 ROULETTE Records re-release entitled STRIKE UP THE BAND (R 25231) was in 1959 called COUNT BASIE SWINGS, TONY BENNETT SINGS (SR 25072). This earlier LP (with a rearranged playlist) is so rare there are as of this date no AMMY listings for it. My link here is to a CD version.The Basie-Bennett sessions were an unusual cooperative effort of two record companies, ROULETTE and COLUMBIA. Simultaneous to the former publishing this album, COLUMBIA also issued a Bennett/Basie set (with different songs) called IN PERSON! TONY BENNETT, COUNT BASIE And His Orchestra.These two talents were made for each other. The Count's powerful band inspired Tony, while his great vocals gave energy back to the musicians. Theirs was a symbiosis that produced great sounds, as this set clearly demonstrates.Trumpeter Joe Newman is featured on "Chicago." He plays with mute on "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" and "Life is a Song." Al Gray's trombone rings forth on "Are You Havin' Any Fun." Billy Mitchell's tenor sax is spotlighted on the album opener, "Strike Up the Band." This set's change-of-pace lullabye, "Growing Pains" is an opportunity for bassist Eddie Jones and guitarist Freddie Green to shine. Flautist Frank Weiss is the only other player on this quiet track. Thad Jones has a trumpet solo on "Poor Little Rich Girl." Frank Foster's tenor sax sings right alongside Bennett on "Plenty of Money." Weaving in and out of all these is the inimitable piano of William 'Count' Basie.SIDE ONE[1:30] Strike Up the Band[2:38] I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans[2:02] Chicago[1:29] With Plenty of Money and You[2:15] Anything Goes[2:51] Life is a SongSIDE TWO[2:56] I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face[2:05] Jeepers Creepers[3:28] Growing Pains[3:30] Poor Little Rich Girl[2:43] Are You Havin' Any FunTOTAL TIME: 27:27 COUNT BASIE SWINGS, TONY BENNETT SINGSIN PERSON! TONY BENNETT, COUNT BASIE And His Orchestra