Count Basie

• LIMITED EDITION CLASSIC LPs

• 180 gram VINYL-AUDIOPHILE PRESSING

• includes 3 bonus tracks

• 4 1/2 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

In the year 1958, the great Count Basie recorded the material which would be issued on the album presented here, "Chairman of the Board" (Roulette SR-52032). Even though the four sessions involved date between March and December of 1958, the final product has a definite unity of concept. This was aided by the fact that all of the songs were original compositions by the band members heard on the album (Thad Jones, Frank Foster and Frank Wess) or ex-members (Ernie Wilkins), most of which are based on the traditional blues pattern. Every one of the composers also penned the arrangements for their corresponding pieces. Three songs recorded during the same sessions have been added as a bonus.

PERSONNEL:

• COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA

• A1-A2: Thad Jones, John Anderson, Wendell Culley, Joe Newman (tp), Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb), Marshall Royal (cl, as), Frank Wess (as, ts, fl), Billy Mitchell, Frank Foster (ts), Charlie Fowlkes (bar), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d). Chicago, March 4, 1958.

• A6, B2 & B4: Same personnel as A1-A2. New York, April 28, 1958.

• A4 & B5-B6: Same personnel as A1-A2. New York, April 29, 1958.

• A3, A5, B1, B3 & B7: Same personnel as A1-A2 but Snooky Young (tp) replaces John Anderson. Freddie Green plays shaker on A5. New York, December 10-12, 1958.

TRACKS:

• A1. BLUES IN HOSS’ FLAT
• A2. H.R.H. (HER ROYAL HIGHNESS)
• A3. SEGUE IN C
• A4. KANSAS CITY SHOUT
• A5. SPEAKING OF SOUNDS
• A6. MOTEN SWING (*)

• B1. TV TIME
• B2. WHO, ME?
• B3. THE DEACON
• B4. HALF MOON STREET
• B5. MUTT & JEFF
• B6. FAIR AND WARMER (*)
• B7. IMAGINATION (*)

• (*) BONUS TRACKS:
• from the same sessions, but not included on the original LP.