Mercury Records Collection: MG-20124: Swing Baby

In 1950s, Ralph Marterie was very popular among collage dance scene. This was probably because the orchestra really swinged - they didn't try any complexed and difficult tunes. Instead, they always played clear-cut swingy tunes with rock solid band ensemble. This album, which consists of two distinct recording sessions, presents another good example of their good swingin' performances. The pianist Matt Alagna was said to do most of the arrangements during this period, and he surely contributes typical style of how a big band can swing well, in very popular way. Brass and reed ensemble sounds very comfortable with steady swings.

Our generation, living in the 21st century, tends to think that this kind of music is just old and boring. But there must be something special - other than running out good old music - in these tunes. We will not dance along with this music in dance halls, but we can imagine how people enjoyed the music in the ballroom dozens of years ago.

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

Track Listing

Personnel

Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, B-1, B-2, B-3:
Ralph Marterie (tp, leader) and his Orchestra, including:
Carl Bernhardt (tb), Ralph Craig (tb), Dick Bradey (tb), Vince Forrest (tb).
others unknown.
Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, IL in October 1955.

A-1, B-4, B-5, B-6:
same personnel as A-2.
Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, IL in November 1955.

The Artist Also Appears on...

Ralph Marterie (tp, leader) :

Mercury MG-25085 10-inch : Ralph Marterie And His Orchestra
Mercury MG-25102 10-inch : Marterie Moods
Mercury MG-25121 10-inch : Junior Prom
Mercury MG-25171 10-inch : Dancing On The Downbeat
Mercury MG-25195 10-inch : Marterie Blows And The Cats Play
Mercury MG-25201 10-inch : 3 Guys On A Note / Vic Damone - Ralph Marterie - Rusty Draper
Mercury MG-20010 : Sweet And Lovely (Ralph Marterie With Strings)
Mercury MG-20053 : Dance Date
Mercury MG-20054 : Alone Together (Music for Smoochin')
Mercury MG-20066 : Dance Band In Town
Mercury MG-20124 : Swing Baby
Mercury MG-20125 : On Bandstand No.1
Mercury MG-20128 : Salute To The Aragon Ballroom
Mercury MG-20174 : Love Themes From The Classics
Mercury MG-20198 : Young America Dances
Mercury MG-20294 : Jumpin' Trumpet
Mercury MG-20294 / SR-60035 : College Dance Favorites
Mercury MG-20336 : The Hits That Made Ralph Marterie And His Orchestra Famous
Mercury MG-20395 / SR-60004 : Dance Party / Ralph Marterie and his Marlboro Men
Mercury MG-20437 / SR-60109 : Music For A Private Eye
Mercury MG-20506 / SR-60183 : Big Band Man
Wing MGW-12154 : Marvelous Marterie
Wing MGW-12155 : Trumpeters Lullaby
Wing MGW-12160 : Love Themes From Classics (reissue of MG-20174)
Wing MGW-12179 / SRW-16179 : Dance Album
Wing MGW-12238 / SRW-16238 : Music For A Private Eye (reissue of MG-20437 / SR-60109)
Wing MGW-12259 / SRW-16259 : Dance Party (reissue of MG-20395 / SR-60004)