Elwood Conway | Frankfort, KY United States | 05/13/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think too many people are assuming that they are buying a compilation CD when they pick up this release. In fact, this was the original album released in 1957. Ella gets top billing becuse she was the biggest of the three "names" at the time. These sessions were laid down between Jan 4, 1956 and April 30, 1957. Each artist gets a chance to showcase their talents and it is apparent that, when they all get together for the few numbers that they all share, they are really swinging and having a great time. Basie's band was in top form, the arrangements were wonderful and the vocals are spot on. This is a terrific window into the past."
Great Fidelity 1956 1957 Swing From Basie and Williams.
Original Mixed Up-Kid | New York United States | 12/04/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"What we have here is the crack "April In Paris" era Basie band with one Ella F track singing with Joe Williams on "Too Close To Comfort", a bunch of tracks with Joe taking the lead and a few great swinging instrumentals and a few alternative sides.
The whole album works well, great sound,exciting music,especially if you like the croon of Joe Williams.
The famous "Joe Williams sings CD" with Basie is considered the better,no arguing that fact, but this CD is a nice addition to your library.
Great blowing on the 3 versions of One'O'clock Jump here make it all worthwhile.
"
A good Count Basie record, but not an Ella record!
Original Mixed Up-Kid | 06/25/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is a perfectly fine, swinging Count Basie record with some great Joe Williams vocals. It just annoys the heck out of me that Ella sings a duet with Williams on only one track of 13 and she gets top billing. It is a great version of "Too Close For Comfort". The disk also includes Joe Williams classic version of "Smack Dab in the Middle". Docked one star for annoying marketing."
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ELLA?
Nikica Gilic | 07/24/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Great Basie, great Williams, but I purchased an Ella Fitzgerald CD and was appalled that she appears on only one cut. A gimmick, I'm sure, but I think it demeans the great Ella catalog. If you're a fan of Ella's, stay away from this one. If you want a good Williams CD, then buy it and consider the Fitzgerald/Williams duet a bonus."
Swinging and hot but still...
Nikica Gilic | Zagreb, Croatia | 06/19/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Yes, this is a good Joe Williams-Count Basie album, but on one hand, I've heard Williams sounding better with smaller groups (Cannonball Adderley, Clark Terry and Coleman Hawkins, etc.) and on the other hand Williams is no match for Jimmy Rushing, as demonstrated on Count Basie at NewportCount Basie at Newport.
And, yes, on the third hand (hm...) there is the question of Ella getting the top billing for doing just one song on the album (and a duet at that!)... Well, on the fourth hand, I've heard Basie's band from this period sounding better without Williams. And, surprise, surprise, probably the most interesting tune of the album is "From Coast to Coast"; not so usual example of succesful blending of Basie's drive with slightly Ellingtonish orchestral subtleties.
(BTW; not that it matters much, but I don't really like Hefti's work for Basie all that much...)
small edit from April 2010
- it took me some time to get over my Rushing thrill and fully appreciate Joe Williams; I still prefer Rushing,
but now I can clearly see (hear) the glory of Joe Williams---
But, I still think "From Coast to Coast" is the most interesting number on this album
and I still think it's a shame to label it an Ella-Count-Joe album when you have only one song with Ella."