36. Bob Dylan | The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Blowin' in the Wind
2. Girl from the North Country
3. Masters of War
4. Down the Highway
5. Bob Dylan's Blues
6. A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall
7. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
8. Bob Dylan's Dream
9. Oxford Town
10. Talkin' World War III Blues
11. Corrina, Corrina
12. Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance
13. I Shall Be Free

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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan is a philosophical and poetic album. Bob Dylan has a lot to say; it's clever and it isn't trivial. Of course, it isn't the deep kind of philosophy you'd get from a university philosophy class. It's also a poetic album, but it isn't the poetry you'd read in a university literature class. But neither is the point; Dylan is just starting the conversation.

The music is simple, but the messages are strong. More complex music may have been just a distraction.

This is another album that must be listened to. It's not as complete a game changer like With The Beatles is, but it opens the door to lyrics with more substance, which certainly had been missing in most of the previous albums. All the songs are quite good, but the best ones are: Blowin' in the Wind, Girl from the North Country, Masters of War, Bob Dylan's Blues, A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall, Talkin' World War III Blues and I Shall Be Free.
★★★★★★★★★★

35. The Beatles | With The Beatles (1963)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. It Won't Be Long
2. All I've Got to Do
3. All My Loving
4. Don't Bother Me
5. Little Child
6. Till There Was You
7. Please Mister Postman
8. Roll Over Beethoven
9. Hold Me Tight
10. You Really Got a Hold on Me
11. I Wanna Be Your Man
12. Devil in Her Heart
13. Not a Second Time
14. Money (That's What I Want)

---

With The Beatles is a superb album. It's a rush of energy from the beginning to the end and the intensity just builds upon itself, ending in the cloudburst that is Money (That's What I Want). Not only does the album build in intensity, but most of the songs do to. John Lennon also adds another level of excitement when he is singing.

The album is very consistent even with the variety of genres featured. The rock and roll songs have the typical teenage girl themes that were common to the The Everly Brothers' A Date with the Everly Brothers and common to Elvis' Elvis Is Back! If there's any drawback it's that.

This is certainly an album that must be listened to. In the context of the 1001 albums list, it's a game changer like Miles Davis' Kind of Blues would have been if the Beatles never came on the scene. All of the songs are excellent, which makes it hard for them to stand out from one another, so here are the exceptional songs: It Won't Be Long, All My Loving, Don't Bother Me, Little Child, Please Mister Postman, Roll Over Beethoven, You Really Got a Hold on Me, I Wanna Be Your Man and Money (That's What I Want). As for Money, it's simply an amazing version of the song. In fact, its intensity is more overwhelming than the previous songs combined.

The Beatles are also the first true band on the 1001 Albums list in the sense that no member is featured over the others.
★★★★★★★★★★

34. Ray Price | Night Life (1962)

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Tracks

1. Introduction And Theme / Night Life         
2. Lonely Street         
3. The Wild Side Of Life         
4. Sittin' And Thinkin'         
5. The Twenty Fourth Hour         
6. A Girl In The Night         
7. Pride         
8. There's No Fool Like A Young Fool         
9. If She Could See Me Now         
10. Bright Lights And Blonde-Haired Women         
11. Are You Sure         
12. Let Me Talk To You

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Night Life is a fair album. Ray Price has a very good and strong voice and the music is simple, but enjoyable. The fiddle is interesting and the country style of guitar playing is flavorful.

It's an archetypal country album. The lyrics and music evoke loneliness and lost opportunity—and a lot of tears. While the lyrics are compelling and well-written, those themes get tiresome after a while. The music also follows the same beat, so after the first few songs everything starts sounding alike.

At the start of the album there's an introduction by Ray Price thanking his fans for supporting him and the band and other stuff. It's nice that he's appreciative, but it's not something anyone wants to hear over and over again.

The album is worth listening to. Strange as it is, I actually like the album, but I can imagine that it's not everyone's cup of tea.  The stand out songs are Introduction And Theme / Night Life (minus Introduction and Theme), Lonely Street, The Wild Side of Life, Sittin' and Thinkin'.
★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

33. Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd | Jazz Samba (1962)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Desafinado
2. Samba Dees Days
3. O Pato
4. Samba Triste
5. Samba de Uma Nota Só
6. É Luxo Só
7. Baia

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Jazz Samba is a soothing album. You can put this album on and sit back and relax. Mainly, it's saxophone on the left channel and guitar on the right channel, with some drums for keeping time. This album has a Latin flavor, but it's not as distinct as Sabu's Palo Congo, Machito's Kenya or Tito Puente's Dance Mania. It's more ethereal than primal.

There's enough variety to make the pieces distinct from each other. It is certainly a good album to put on for background music or for listening before bedtime. Otherwise, it may be hard to actively listen without losing focus.

A good consistent album worth listening to. The stand out pieces are Desafinado, Samba de Uma Nota Só and Baia.
★★★★★★★★☆☆

32. Booker T. and the M.G.s | Green Onions (1962)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Green Onions
2. Rinky Dink
3. I Got a Woman
4. Mo' Onions
5. Twist and Shout
6. Behave Yourself
7. Stranger on the Shore
8. Lonely Avenue
9. One Who Really Loves You
10. You Can't Sit Down
11. A Woman, a Lover, a Friend
12. Comin' Home Baby

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Green Onions has a nice, crisp sound. Except for Green Onions and Mo' Onions, all the songs are instrumental cover versions. Besides sounding good, it's not very interesting. More interesting is that the organ reminds me of being at the Boston Garden as a kid and watching the Boston Bruins.

It's worth listening to for the sound and if you really enjoy organs. No matter what though, Green Onions is definitely worth listening to, and Behave Yourself and One Who Really Loves You are pretty good, too.
★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

31. Ray Charles | Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Bye Bye Love
2. You Don't Know Me
3. Half as Much
4. I Love You So Much It Hurts
5. Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way)
6. Born to Lose
7. Worried Mind
8. It Makes No Difference Now
9. You Win Again
10. Careless Love
11. I Can't Stop Loving You
12. Hey, Good Lookin'

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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music is a pleasant album. Ray Charles covers a dozen country and western songs—a bold and risky move for a soul musician! He could have alienated his fans and not won over any country and western listeners. But, Ray Charles is a charismatic guy and it always comes out in his music. So, of course his experiment worked!

He certainly gives a few of the songs a rhythm and blues twist, but with the others, he stays true to their origin as country and western songs. The more lively songs such as Bye Bye Love and Hey Good Lookin' are great. The slower songs are well done, but some of them are a drag on the album.

It's definitely an album worth listening to. The songs that really stand out are Bye Bye Love, You Don't Know Me, Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way), It Makes No Difference Now, You Win Again, I Can't Stop Loving You and Hey, Good Lookin'.
★★★★★★★★☆☆

30. Bill Evans | Sunday at the Village Vanguard (1961)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Gloria's Step (take 2)
2. My Man's Gone Now
3. Solar
4. Alice in Wonderland (take 2)
5. All of You (take 2)
6. Jade Visions (take 2)

---

Sunday at the Village Vanguard is a beautiful album. It has a really nice sound to it. Each instrument sounds like its Platonic form, and that's because these guys appear to know their instruments intimately.

The drums are really quiet; I don't think I heard the bass drum once! So, the interplay between the bass and piano becomes the main feature. In fact, through my headphones, the bass is being played through the left channel and the piano through the right.

This jazz album has very little structure within each piece than the jazz albums previously discussed. So, while it sounds beautiful, it may seem confusing or perplexing. However, maybe beauty has structure and that's the structure being heard.

Perhaps the only trouble with the album is that the pieces sound alike. I believe it takes real skill to differentiate the pieces enough to know which one you are listening to without looking at the playlist.

No matter what, it's worth listening to. It's instantly enjoyable and just grows on you the more times you listen to it. All of the pieces are truly outstanding, but the ones I enjoyed a lot were Gloria's Step (take 2) and Solar.

★★★★★★★★★☆

29. Muddy Waters | At Newport 1960 (1960)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. I Got My Brand On You
2. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
3. Baby, Please Don't Go
4. Soon Forgotten
5. Tiger In Your Tank
6. I Feel So Good
7. Got My Mojo Working
8. Got My Mojo Working, Pt. 2
9. Goodbye Newport Blues

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At Newport 1960 is an outstanding and instantly likeable album. Listening to it more than once just makes it all the more enjoyable.

There is a lot of interaction between the musicians. The drums and bass work together to establish the groove. That allows the guitar, harmonica and singers to create a tension, through fills, call and response and changing chords, that builds within the song until it erupts into a frenzied climax. This is what makes this album so fun and exciting to listen to.

The first eight songs are so good and really worth listening to, but none of them stand out from the others. The last song, Goodbye Newport Blues, however does stand out as being the only slow blues song on the album.


★★★★★★★★★★

28. Jimmy Smith | Back at the Chicken Shack (1960)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Back at the Chicken Shack
2. When I Grow Too Old to Dream
3. Minor Chant
4. Messy Bessie

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Back at the Chicken Shack is a decent album. The music is certainly pleasing enough. Jimmy Smith plays an electric organ. It has a novel sound, but the novelty wears off quick enough and, I think, it just becomes a distraction.

All the pieces are worth listening to, but there's not much difference between them, so there aren't any that stand out from the rest.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

27. The Everly Brothers | A Date with the Everly Brothers (1960)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Made to Love
2. That's Just Too Much
3. Stick With Me Baby
4. Baby What You Want Me to Do
5. Sigh, Cry, Almost Die
6. Always It's You
7. Love Hurts
8. Lucille
9. So How Come (No One Loves Me)
10. Donna, Donna
11. A Change of Heart
12. Cathy's Clown

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A Date with the Everly Brothers is a very good album. I didn't expect to like this album. In fact, from the album cover and title, I figured it would be a sappy, love song-heavy album by two effeminate singers. This album certainly is filled with sappy love songs, and their brand of rock and roll certainly doesn't have an edge to it, except for Lucille, but the album is also enchanting, beautiful and fun. It's just not the kind of rock and roll played by the likes of Elvis, Little Richard or Buddy Holly.

The Everly Brothers have wonderful voices and I do enjoy close harmony singing, but they lack an emotional connection to the lyrics or perhaps the lyrics are too trite to make a connection with. However, Elvis was able to accomplish it with similar songs on Elvis Is Back!.

Nevertheless, the album is very solid and consistent. The song that stand out are: Made to Love, That's Just Too Much, Always It's You, Love Hurts, Lucille, Donna, Donna, A Change of Heart and Cathy's Clown.

★★★★★★★★★☆

26. Miriam Makeba | Miriam Makeba (1960)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. The Retreat Song
2. Suliram
3. The Click Song
4. Umhome
5. Olilili
6. Lakutshn, Ilanga
7. Mbube
8. The Naughty Little Flea
9. Where Does It Lead
10. Nomeva
11. House of the Rising Sun
12. Saduva
13. One More Dance
14. Iya Guduza

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Miriam Makeba is a pleasant album. Miriam Makeba has a beautiful, disarming and happy-sounding voice. Yet, her voice is very powerful. The songs are simple and mainly consist of Ms. Makeba singing with either a supporting chorus, a guitar, or drums or a combination thereof. That there is so little musical accompaniment demonstrates her talents, but also demonstrates how powerful an instrument the voice really is.

This album really grew on me the more I listened to it. I was ready to dismiss it at first, but now I really enjoy it. The first half is much stronger than the second half. I think it loses its focus with songs like The Naughty Little Flea, One More Dance and even with House of the Rising Sun. They aren't terrible, just distracting.

The songs that stand out are: The Retreat Song, Suliram, The Click Song, Umhome, Olilili, Lakutshn, Ilanga, Mbube and Iya Guduza.

★★★★★★★★★☆

25. Elvis Presley | Elvis Is Back! (1960)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Make Me Know It
2. Fever
3. The Girl of My Best Friend
4. I Will Be Home Again
5. Dirty, Dirty Feeling
6. Thrill of Your Love
7. Soldier Boy
8. Such A Night
9. It Feels So Right
10. Girl Next Door Went a'Walking
11. Like A Baby
12. Reconsider Baby

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Elvis Is Back! is a solid album.The album starts off well, but trips up a bit. It gets its legs with the last half of songs. And the final song ends the album with a bang.

This album features a lot of different kinds of music, from rock and roll to country to blues to doo wop, but they all work well together. There's also an intensity on this album that was lacking on his debut album. Elvis put more effort and emotion into his singing, so the songs are more authentic and convincing.

Many of the songs are sappy love songs and would be easily dismissed if they didn't have the support of good song writing and Elvis' vocal efforts. The outstanding ones are: Make Me Know It, Fever (which may be one of the best songs ever), Dirty, Dirty Feeling, Such a Night, It Feels So Right, Like a Baby and Reconsider Baby.

★★★★★★★★★☆

24. Joan Baez | Joan Baez (1960)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Silver Dagger
2. East Virginia
3. Fare Thee Well (10,000 Miles)
4. House of the Rising Sun
5. All My Trials
6. Wildwood Flower
7. Donna Donna
8. John Riley
9. Rake and Rambling Boy
10. Little Moses
11. Mary Hamilton
12. Henry Martin
13. El Preso Número Nueve

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Joan Baez is a simple album. With such little variation, the songs could have all ended up sounding the same, but Joan Baez is able to make them all quiet distinct from one another. She has a beautiful voice that is both powerful and delicate.

Her guitar playing does well to support her voice and never does it get in the way of her voice. When most of the songs are about people, the voice is and should be the most important instrument.

This album is worth listening to, carefully. The more attention paid to it, the richer the reward is. East Virginia, House of the Rising Sun, All My Trials, Donna Donna, John Riley, Little Moses, Mary Hamilton, Henry Martin and El Preso Número Nueve are the most rewarding songs.

★★★★★★★★★☆

23. Dave Brubeck | Time Out (1959)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Blue Rondo à la Turk
2. Strange Meadow Lark
3. Take Five
4. Three to Get Ready
5. Kathy's Waltz
6. Everybody's Jumpin'
7. Pick Up Sticks

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Time Out is a fair album. There are exciting passages within some pieces, but they are merely fleeting moments on, what is for the most part, a very uninspiring album. The pieces are slow, and, while that's not a problem in itself, it becomes one when the pieces seem to lack focus.

Blue Rondo à la Turk and Take Five are pretty good.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

22. Marty Robbins | Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Big Iron
2. Cool Water
3. Billy The Kid
4. A Hundred And Sixty Acres
5. They're Hanging Me Tonight
6. The Strawberry Roan
7. El Paso
8. In The Valley
9. The Master's Call
10. Running Gun
11. The Little Green Valley
12. Utah Carol

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Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs is a solid album. I fell in love with this album the very first time I heard it and haven't given up the love affair. Each song evokes brilliantly clear images of the Old West. Marty Robbins has the most perfect voice for this kind of music; he sounds just like the rough and rugged characters he sings about.

All the songs are thematically and stylistically linked, but they are unique enough to complement each other. The strongest songs are Big Iron, Cool Water, They're Hanging Me Tonight, El Paso, The Master's Call and Utah Carol.
★★★★★★★★★★

21. Miles Davis | Kind of Blue (1959)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. So What
2. Freddie Freeloader
3. Blue in Green
4. All Blues
5. Flamenco Sketches

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Kind of Blue is a brilliant album. It's a very different style of jazz from the previous jazz featured. It's laid back. It has a clear sound and it's simple to follow. Listening, it's almost as if anybody could play this music, but the musicians on this album are not mere mortals.

Each piece on this album is worth listening to over and over and again and again. All Blues is my favorite piece though.

★★★★★★★★★★

20. Ray Charles | The Genius of Ray Charles (1959)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Let the Good Times Roll
2. It Had to Be You
3. Alexander's Ragtime Band
4. Two Years of Torture
5. When Your Lover Has Gone
6. 'Deed I Do
7. Just for a Thrill
8. You Won't Let Me Go
9. Tell Me You'll Wait for Me
10. Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'
11. Am I Blue
12. Come Rain or Come Shine

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The Genius of Ray Charles is a superb album. Half the songs are vibrant and lively pieces, while the other half are soulful ballads. And while the music is great, they wouldn't be as outstanding without a singer like Ray Charles. He is so charismatic that he easily convinces you that the emotion and feeling in his singing is sincere.

While the first group of songs on the album are undoubtedly excellent and are more exciting, lively and easier to connect with at first blush, it's the ballads on the last half of the album that will leave a more lasting impact.

This is another album that I will never tire of hearing. All the songs are excellent, but the absolute stand outs are: Let the Good Times Roll, Alexander's Ragtime Band, When Your Lover Has Gone, You Won't Let Me Go, Tell Me You'll Wait for Me, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin', Am I Blue and Come Rain or Come Shine.

★★★★★★★★★★

19. Ella Fitzgerald | Sings the Gershwin Song Book (1959)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Sam and Delilah
2. But Not for Me
3. My One and Only
4. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
5. (I've Got) Beginner's Luck
6. Oh, Lady be Good!
7. Nice Work If You Can Get It
8. Things Are Looking Up
9. Just Another Rhumba
10. How Long Has This Been Going On?
11. 'S Wonderful
12. The Man I Love
13. That Certain Feeling
14. By Strauss
15. Someone to Watch Over Me
16. The Real American Folk Song (Is a Rag)
17. Who Cares?
18. Looking For a Boy
19. They All Laughed
20. My Cousin in Milwaukee
21. Somebody from Somewhere
22. A Foggy Day
23. Clap Yo' Hands
24. For You, For Me, For Evermore
25. Stiff Upper Lip
26. Boy Wanted
27. Strike Up the Band
28. Soon
29. I've Got a Crush on You
30. Bidin' My Time
31. Aren't You Kind Of Glad We Did?
32. Of Thee I Sing
33. 'The Half of it, Dearie' Blues
34. I Was Doing All Right
35. He Loves and She Loves
36. Love is Sweeping the Country
37. Treat Me Rough
38. Our Love is Here to Stay
39. Slap That Bass
40. Isn't It a Pity?
41. Shall We Dance?
42. Love Walked In
43. You've Got What Gets Me
44. They Can't Take That Away from Me
45. Embraceable You
46. I Can't Be Bothered Now
47. Boy! What Love Has Done To Me!
48. Fascinating Rhythm
49. Funny Face
50. Lorelei
51. Oh, So Nice!
52. Let's Kiss and Make Up
53. I Got Rhythm

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At around three hours in length, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Gershwin Song Book is an epic work. The music is wonderful and Ella Fitzgerald has a beautiful, crystal-clear voice. In fact, her voice is nearly perfect, but I didn't sense any emotion or feeling coming through in her singing. Or perhaps, the songs weren't that inspiring lyrically. Either way, none of the songs really made a lasting impression on me.

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Gershwin Song Book is certainly worth listening to. However, listening to the whole album in one go is truly a feat of endurance, so, to get a better appreciation of the album, it's probably best to listen to it in small doses.

Some of the more notable songs on the album are: Sam and Delilah, My One and Only, Just Another Rhumba, 'S Wonderful, By Strauss, Someone to Watch Over Me, They All Laughed, My Cousin in Milwaukee, Stiff Upper Lip, Boy Wanted, Bidin' My Time, 'The Half of it, Dearie' Blues, He Loves and She Loves, Treat Me Rough, Our Love is Here to Stay, Slap That Bass, I Can't Be Bothered Now, Fascinating Rhythm and I Got Rhythm.
★★★★★★★★★☆☆

18. Sarah Vaughan | At Mister Kelly's (1958)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. September in the Rain
2. Willow Weep for Me
3. Just One of Those Things
4. Be Anything (But Be Mine)
5. Thou Swell
6. Stairway to the Stars
7. Honeysuckle Rose
8. Just a Gigolo
9. How High the Moon

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At Mister Kelly's is a decent album. Sarah Vaughan has a beautiful voice and the jazz trio supporting her were superb enough that it would have been great to listen to on their own. Together, they are irresistible.

Despite that, there are a few gaffes on this album which and it's inexplicable how they got on the album. On Willow Weep for Me, the pianist starts off in the wrong key and later on in the piece Sarah or someone knocks over something. Then at the end of the piece, Sarah mentions that someone is motioning to her that the song is over, but the band is still playing.

Then, on How High the Moon, Sarah forgets the lyrics even though it's mentioned at the start of the recording that the audience should ignore the fact that she will be singing from a lyric sheet. it's really only the forgotten lyrics that's a real problem.

At the start of the album, the announcer mentions that Mercury Records was going to be recording Sarah over the next few nights. Also, in 1991, there was a reissue of the album with another ten tracks included. So, there seems to have been ample material to release a gaffe-free album. I suppose there was a good reason to release an album containing gaffes, but I haven't heard it explained.

Besides the problems, the pieces on this album are very good. No piece really stands out above any other. Although, it is interesting to hear her version of Just a Gigolo. It's a lot different from Louis Prima's. It's a very good example of how she can really make a song her own.

★★★★★★★★☆☆☆

17. Jack Elliott | Jack Takes the Floor (1958)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. San Francisco Bay Blues
2. Ol' Riley
3. Boll Weevil
4. Bed Bug Blues
5. New York Town
6. Grey Goose
7. Mule Skinner Blues
8. Cocaine
9. Dink's Song
10. Black Baby
11. Salty Dog

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Jack Takes the Floor is a fun and entertaining album. Jack Elliott's lyrics are simple, yet picturesque conjurations of Americana. Each song is prefaced with a short, but interesting introduction. These introductions make him sound as simple as his stories, like a country bumpkin, but it seems he's just being playful.

I really enjoyed the album. Jack Elliott's guitar playing and singing seemed very natural, fresh, honest, personal and unfiltered.

The whole album is worth listening to, but the best songs are San Francisco Bay Blues, Boll Weevil, Bed Bug Blues, Mule Skinner Blues, Cocaine and Dink's Song.

★★★★★★★★★☆

16. Billie Holiday | Lady In Satin (1958)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. I'm a Fool to Want You
2. For Heaven's Sake
3. You Don't Know What Love Is
4. I Get Along Without You Very Well
5. For All We Know
6. Violets for Your Furs
7. You've Changed
8. It's Easy to Remember
9. But Beautiful
10. Glad to Be Unhappy
11. I'll Be Around
12. The End of a Love Affair

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There's nothing uplifting at all about Lady in Satin. Most of the songs are about love, but Billie Holiday's voice and the musical accompaniment only convey loneliness.

I haven't heard Billie Holiday sing anywhere else but on this album, but apparently, by the time she had recorded this album, she had lost her ability to sing at the upper register and she also sounded like a woman much older than 44 years of age. The latter is obvious from the start. It was almost enough to turn me off from the album. However, it has also been noted that the significance of this album was not her singing, but the emotion she conveyed through each song. After having listened several times, I agree. That is indeed what makes this album so good.

The whole album is worth listening to. I suppose the stand out songs are I'm a Fool to Want You, You Don't Know What Love Is, I Get Along Without You Very Well, Violets for Your Furs, It's Easy to Remember, Glad to Be Unhappy and The End of a Love Affair.

★★★★★★★★★★

15. Tito Puente and His Orchestra | Dance Mania, Vol. 1 (1958)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. El Cayuco
2. Complicacion
3. 3-D Mambo
4. Llego Mijan
5. Cuando Te Vea
6. Hong Kong Mambo
7. Mambo Gozon
8. Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe
9. Varsity Drag
10. Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti
11. Agua Limpia Todo
12. Saca Tu Mujer

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Dance Mania, Vol. 1 is another excellent Afro-Cuban album. It's loud, dynamic and exciting, and probably good to dance to. The horns are pleasing to listen to and the percussion is very colorful. It's also well-orchestrated; together, the horns and percussion move the pieces along very well.

There's some variety in the album, but even after listening several times, the pieces still didn't seem to stand out on their own.

Dance Mania, Vol. 1 is certainly worth listening to. The highlights on the album are El Cayuco, Complicacion, Hong Kong Mambo, Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe and Saca Tu Mujer.

★★★★★★★★★☆

14. Little Richard | Here's Little Richard (1957)

Wikipedia entry

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Tracks

1. Tutti Frutti
2. True Fine Mama
3. Can't Believe You Wanna Leave
4. Ready Teddy
5. Baby
6. Slippin' and Slidin' (Peepin' and Hidin')
7. Long Tall Sally
8. Miss Ann
9. Oh Why?
10. Rip It Up
11. Jenny, Jenny
12. She's Got It

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Here's Little Richard is one of the finest albums I've ever heard. Little Richard is a very charismatic singer and he breathes life into all of the songs. He is always fun and never boring. Compare his version of Tutti Frutti with Elvis'.

The music is infectious, but the lyrics aren't memorable, except perhaps for Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally. The songs on the album are too short, and in the hands of a less skilled craftsman, their similar structures would be revealed. But Little Richard is so talented that one is awed by all his unique exteriors.
 
All the songs on this album are gems, but the best of the best are: Tutti Frutti, Ready Teddy, Long Tall Sally, Rip It Up and Jenny, Jenny.

★★★★★★★★★★

13. Machito | Kenya (1957)

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Tracks

1. Wild Jungle
2. Congo Mulence
3. Kenya
4. Oyeme
5. Holiday
6. Cannonology
7. Frenzy
8. Blues a la Machito
9. Conversation
10. Tin Tin Deo
11. Minor Rama
12. Tururato

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Kenya is a wonderful Afro-Cuban album. It has a similar manic excitement to Sabu's Palo Congo, but there is more orchestration, so it's more refind and there's no calling and less emphasis on the congas, so it feels less primal.

There are a lot of brass instruments, so most pieces tend to build up slowly to a big, brassy climax. A similar thing happens with the music of Duke Ellington and Count Basie, but less frequently. It's interesting, but it makes the pieces too similar-sounding.

All the pieces are worth listening to, but the stand out ones are Wild Jungle, Kenya, Holiday (It's a piece everyone's heard, but no one would know who performed it), Cannonology, Conversation and Minor Rama.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

12. Miles Davis | Birth of the Cool (1957)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Jeru
2. Move
3. Godchild
4. Budo
5. Venus de Milo
6. Rouge
7. Boplicity
8. Israel
9. Deception
10. Rocker
11. Moon Dreams

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Birth of the Cool is cool. The pieces are very short and confident, yet unassuming. It's a group of nine jazz musicians trying hard not to outdo each other. That these musicians are so talented makes the music seem simple and easy.

The sound is also pleasing to the ear. Sometimes trumpets and other horns can really be hard on the ears, but these pieces will save your hearing.

To people who both understand the historical context of this album and understand music, this album is one of the most significant in the history of jazz. For the layman though (me included), its strength is also its weakness; the style makes the album seem too similar-sounding.

All the pieces are good, but the ones that do stand out are Godchild, Venus de Milo, Boplicity and Move.

★★★★★★★★★☆

11. Sabu | Palo Congo (1957)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. El Cumbanchero
2. Billumba-Palo Congo
3. Choferito-Plena
4. Asabache
5. Simba
6. Rhapsodia del Maravilloso
7. Aggo Elegua
8. Tribilin Cantore

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Palo Congo is an exciting album. There's a lot of conga playing and I really enjoy congas. Since it's Afro-Cuban music, it's sung in Spanish. It's too bad I don't understand Spanish. However I suspect there's not much depth to the lyrics. The fast rhythm, the repetition, the conga-playing and the singing, which on some songs is more like loud calling, all combine to give it a real tribal, primal feeling.

The songs have a similar sound, except for Rhapsodia del Maravilloso and, perhaps, Tribilin Cantore, since both are guitar-oriented songs. Because of the similar-sounding songs, it may get tiresome to listen to this album often, but it's certainly worth taking out now and then, especially if you want to hear something a little exotic.

The songs that really stand out are El Cumbamchero, Billumba-Palo Congo, Simba, Aggo Elegua and Tribillin Cantore.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

10. Thelonious Monk | Brilliant Corners (1957)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Brilliant Corners
2. Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are
3. Pannonica
4. I Surrender Dear
5. Bemsha Swing

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Brilliant Corners is simply wonderful, but it requires the listener to pay attention to really notice its beauty. And despite how few pieces there are on the album or how long each piece is, it never becomes tiresome.

All the pieces are unique and worthy of one's attention.

★★★★★★★★★★

9. Count Basie | The Atomic Mr. Basie (1957)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Kid from Red Bank
2. Duet
3. After Supper
4. Flight of the Foo Birds
5. Double-O
6. Teddy the Toad
7. Whirlybird
8. Midnite Blue
9. Splanky
10. Fantail
11. Lil' Darlin'

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The Atomic Mr. Basie is a good album. All of the pieces sound good and most are full of energy and excitement. However, it did seem that many of the pieces sounded similar.

This is just an album that I really wanted to like a lot, but it just couldn't keep my attention completely. It's certainly worth listening to, but it's just not an album that I will think of when I want to listen to something I haven't heard in a while.

Some of the better pieces on the album are Kid from Red Bank, Flight of the Foo Birds, Teddy the Toad, Whirlybird and Splanky.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

8. The Crickets | The "Chirping" Crickets (1957)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Oh, Boy!
2. Not Fade Away
3. You've Got Love
4. Maybe Baby
5. It's Too Late
6. Tell Me How
7. That'll Be the Day
8. I'm Looking for Someone to Love
9. An Empty Cup (And a Broken Date)
10. Send Me Some Lovin'
11. Last Night
12. Rock Me My Baby

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Rock and roll has the blues as its roots as can be heard on This Is Fats Domino!. But, it also has country and western roots as The "Chirping" Crickets makes quite clear.

The rock and roll songs on this album are about as close as one can get to hearing pure rock and roll. As can be heard on this album, Buddy Holly and the Crickets set the bar really high from the start and only a few bands since have been album to reach so high and even fewer have been able to set the bar higher. It's a shame the Buddy Holly wasn't able to have a longer career. With a longer career, he could have had a greater influence on the course of rock and roll history.

As an album, it is very consistent and even. The songs don't sound the same and they don't all follow the same theme like Sinatra's two, but the songs on this album share a similar style. More to the point, the songs belong together and that makes it a very good example of a proper album.

Listening to this The "Chirping" Crickets is such a joy that I don't think I could ever get sick of hearing it. There isn't a bad song on the album, however the songs that especially stand out are: Oh Boy!, Not Fade Away, Maybe Baby, It's Too Late, That'll Be the Day, I'm Looking For Someone To Love and Rock Me My Baby.

★★★★★★★★★★

7. Frank Sinatra | Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (1956)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. You Make Me Feel So Young
2. It Happened in Monterey
3. You're Getting to be a Habit with Me
4. You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me
5. Too Marvelous for Words
6. Old Devil Moon
7. Pennies From Heaven
8. Love is Here to Stay
9. I've Got You Under My Skin
10. I Thought About You
11. We'll Be Together Again
12. Makin' Whoopee
13. Swingin' Down the Lane
14. Anything Goes
15. How About You?

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Songs for Swingin' Lovers! is such a wonderful album. It's everything its title implies.

Frank Sinatra has such a great voice for songs such as these. The music is just as good. It's restrained when Sinatra is singing, but when he's not, it's simply explosive and full of life–you can't help but want to get up and dance. The lyrics are what one would expect: superficial, carefree and full of promise–perfect for romance.

But there are a few exceptions. Makin' Whoopee is about a man's willingness to do anything for sex, like getting married and sewing; however, it doesn't mention the themes of infidelity, divorce and alimony that appear in other versions. That would be too much of a downer, I suppose. Anything Goes has a little commentary of how social standards have slipped.

Every song on this album is enjoyable, but the real highlights are: You Make Me Feel So Young, You're Getting to be a Habit with Me, Old Devil Moon, Pennies From Heaven, I've Got You Under My Skin, Makin' Whoopee and Anything Goes.

This is certainly an album worth playing at a party and certainly worth listening to again.

★★★★★★★★★★

6. Duke Ellington | Ellington At Newport 1956 (1956)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

(1956 version)

1. Festival Junction
2. Blues to Be There
3. Newport Up
4. Jeep's Blues
5. Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue

(1999 version)

1. The Star Spangled Banner
2. Father Norman O'Connor Introduces Duke & the Orchestra / Duke Introduces Tune & Anderson, Jackson & Procope
3. Black and Tan Fantasy
4. Duke Introduces Cook & Tune
5. Tea for Two
6. Duke & Band Leave Stage / Father Norman Talks About The Festival
7. Take the 'A' Train
8. Duke Announces Strayhorn's A Train & Nance / Duke Introduces Festival Suite, Part I & Hamilton
9. Part I - Festival Junction
10. Duke Announces Soloists; Introduces Part II
11. Part II - Blues to Be There
12. Duke Announces Nance & Procope; Introduces Part III
13. Part III - Newport Up
14. Duke Announces Hamilton, Gonsalves & Terry / Duke Introduces Carney & Tune
15. Sophisticated Lady
16. Duke Announces Grissom & Tune
17. Day In, Day Out
18. Duke Introduces Tune(s) and Paul Gonsalves Interludes
19. Diminuendo In Blue and Crescendo In Blue
20. Announcements, Pandemonium
21. Pause Track
22. Duke Introduces Johnny Hodges
23. I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)
24. Jeep's Blues
25. Duke Calms Crowd; Introduces Nance & Tune
26. Tulip or Turnip
27. Riot Prevention
28. Skin Deep
29. Mood Indigo
30. Studio Concert (Excerpts)
31. Father Norman O'Connor Introduces Duke Ellington / Duke Introduces New Work, Part I & Hamilton
32. Part I - Festival Junction
33. Duke Announces Soloists; Introduces Part II
34. Part II - Blues To Be There
35. Duke Announces Nance & Procope; Introduces Part III
36. Part III - Newport Up
37. Duke Announces Hamilton, Gonsalves & Terry / Pause / Duke Introduces Johnny Hodges
38. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
39. Jeep's Blues
40. Pause Track

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There are two releases of Ellington At Newport 1956: one released in 1956 and another in 1999. After listening to the recording of the band's performance at the Newport Jazz Festival, Duke Ellington didn't feel it was good enough to be released. So, he and the band went into a studio and re-recorded the performance. The studio versions of the live performance are what is heard on the 1956 version, except for Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue. However, after more than 40 years, a Voice of America recording of the performance was found. That newly found recording was the basis for the 1999 release of Ellington At Newport 1956. The 1999 release contains the complete Duke Ellington performance at the festival and also the studio recordings on the 1956 release.

Duke Ellington and his band are outstanding. They sound tight and they support the soloists really well. As I listened to a solo, I knew the band was there because I was unconsciously tapping my foot, but I was able to concentrate completely on the solo.

During the performance you can hear the musicians lending vocal support other musicians. Duke Ellington can clearly be heard encouraging the band on Festival Junction. He and other members of the band can also be heard encouraging Paul Gonsalves to keep his solo going on Diminuendo In Blue and Crescendo In Blue. It was also really nice to hear, after each piece, Duke Ellington recognizing the key musicians involved.

As the performance drew to a close, the audience seemed to get upset. They didn't want the performance to end. Duke Ellington did a great job keeping the situation under control and keeping the crowd happy by playing a few more pieces before finally ending the show.

Listening to how the crowd react is all the evidence needed to say this was a great performance. All the pieces are enjoyable, but Festival Junction, Blues to Be There, Newport Up and Diminuendo In Blue and Crescendo In Blue are the most memorable ones.

The 1999 release is about 2 hours and 10 minutes long. The Voice of America recording is 1 hour and 40 minutes long and the studio recording, which comprised the majority of the 1956 version, is 32 minutes long. While it's interesting to listen to the complete performance, it's too long. The introductions, especially from Fr. O'Connor, are too long and are unnecessary after one or two listenings. Also, the more interesting pieces are the ones found on the 1956 release. Of course, the actual live versions are better than the studio versions. (What does Duke Ellington know, right?)

So, ideally Duke Ellington should have released an album with the live versions. In fact that solution, I believe, would have worked better for the 1999 version as well. As it is, the 1999 version is a pretty complete historical document of Duke Ellington's performance at the event. But, you'll get the most enjoyment if you only listen to the tracks that were on the original release.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

5. Fats Domino | This Is Fats Domino! (1956)

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Tracks

1. Blueberry Hill
2. Honey Chile
3. What's The Reason I'm Not Pleasing You
4. Blue Monday
5. So Long
6. La La
7. Troubles Of My Own
8. You Done Me Wrong
9. Reeling And Rocking
10. The Fat Man's Hop
11. Poor Poor Me
12. Trust In Me

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[It seems the title and cover of this album as presented in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die are wrong. There is an album titled This Is Fats, but it contains different tracks. The correct album is the above mentioned This Is Fats Domino!.]

This Is Fats Domino! is a difficult album. It all seemed so simple when I was listening to it, but now that I try to write about it, it doesn't appear simple at all.

Some songs have a jazz sound, e.g. Blueberry Hill, Honey Chile, and others have a blues sound, e.g. Troubles of My Own, Reeling and Rocking. All of them, except for Poor, Poor Me which is straight blues, have a lively, uptempo rhythm. So, since the songs aren't jazz and they aren't blues, what are they? They certainly aren't country songs.

They are most likely categorized as rhythm and blues, but that's just a catch-all phrase for music marketed to black listeners. Of course, the answer is that these songs are either rock and roll songs or they are songs that bridge the gap between jazz and blues, and rock and roll.

No matter how these songs are defined or categorized, they are enjoyable to listen to. The most notable songs are Blueberry Hill, Honey Chile, Blue Monday, So Long, La La and Trust In Me. However, they are too short in length to be memorable.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

4. Louis Prima | The WIldest! (1956)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Medley: Just a Gigolo—I Ain't Got Nobody
2. (Nothing's Too Good) For My Baby
3. The Lip
4. Body and Soul
5. Oh Marie
6. Medley: Basin Street Blues—When It's Sleepy Time Down South
7. Jump, Jive, an' Wail
8. Buona Sera
9. Night Train
10. (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You

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The Wildest! is an infectiously fun swing album! Louis Prima is charismatic and his silly humor make the songs enjoyable to listen to. It's certainly an exciting album that should get anyone up and dancing.

Keely Smith is wonderful in her role as Prima's vocal sidekick, but she isn't featured enough on the album. She has just as much charisma as Prima and her voice is both powerful and beautiful. The high point of the album is her singing the lead vocal on The Lip.

The Wildest! is certainly good to play at parties and when you're in a good mood, but the songs are predictable enough that it can easily wear thin if it's played too frequently.

All the songs are good, but the truly stand out songs on the album are Medley: Just a Gigolo–I Ain't Got Nobody, (Nothing's Too Good) For My Baby, The Lip, Jump, Jive, an' Wail and Buona Sera.

★★★★★★★★☆☆