Count Basie At Newport

[Tom 1960]

I've been off this week catching up on some painting. To help pass the time away, I've kept Sirius/XM Real Jazz channel cranked to help pass the time away. At one point yesterday they played a live Count Basie cut I believe from the Newport album in '57. The track escapes me, but it really cooked. Any thoughts on this album?

Edited November 27, 2009 by Tom 1960

[JSngry]

The bonus cuts are all nice enough, but the album as originally released is spine-tingling, to put it mildly. Lester, Jimmy Rushing, & Jo Jones see to that.

[Alexander]

Yep. Great album. I love John Hammond's introduction, even if it is a bit long...

[SwingItTrev]

This was the album that got me hooked on Jazz! Highly recommended!

If you like this album, the 1959 Basie Newport performance has recently been made available here: http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/count-basie-and-his-orchestra/ It's not really on the same level in my opinion (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross don't quite do it for me) but worth a listen!

[BillF]

I've been off this week catching up on some painting. To help pass the time away, I've keeped Sirius/XM Real Jazz channel cranked to help pass the time away. At one point yesterday they played a live Count Basie cut I believe from the Newport album in '57. The track escapes me, but it really cooked. Any thoughts on this album?

The cookin' track was probably "Swingin' at Newport" which is a winner!

[king ubu]

Is this one worth upgrading? Not sure the VME is still easy to find, but so far I never bothered... did it also come out again in the more recent Newport series from Universal?

[John L]

Polka Dots and Moonbeams alone is worth 100 times the price of the album.

[CJ Shearn]

it is a great album. Incidentally I downloaded a smoking Jimmy Smith trio set from Newport in 1959 from Wolfgang's Vault.

[mjzee]

Is this one worth upgrading? Not sure the VME is still easy to find, but so far I never bothered... did it also come out again in the more recent Newport series from Universal?

Yeppers:

[John Tapscott]

Great album. Highest recommendation.

[Tom 1960]

Thanks for the overwhelming . I'll be sure to pick this up soon.

[gmonahan]

I'm particularly fond of Joe Williams's tunes on this one, especially "The Comeback." I don't think he and the band ever sounded better together.

gregmo

[king ubu]

So can anyone say something about the three different editions of this?

There was the old Verve disc (jewel case) (which I have)

Then the VME

And most recently the Newport Anniversary edition pictured above (I have a few of that series, but still need others)

Do the VME and the 50th Anniv. editions use the same remastering?

Which one is to be preferred?

Is the old one bad enough to be upgraded or is it ok?

[brownie]

Polka Dots and Moonbeams alone is worth 100 times the price of the album.

I have said it before but that Polka Dots intro by Lester Young always brings tears in my eyes. Prez at his very best!

Still cherish the original Verve LP.