Mercury Records Collection: EmArcy MG-36129: Billy Eckstine's Imagination

MG-36129: Billy Eckstine's Imagination

Label Type :	blue EmArcy type C
Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	MG-36129A-1 MS1 M A
	SIDE-B	MG-36129B-1 MS1 M B

Comments

Inside The Groove

Billy Eckstine's newly-recorded album (at the time), featuring Pete Rugolo as an arranger.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Billy Eckstine, without any doubts, was one of the most important singers and bandleaders in the Bop era. His legendary 1940s band included such giants as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey and Sarah Vaughan. Although he was leaving his artistic peak shortly, he had performed and sung constantly in a very long period and it was a success.

This LP was his 3rd album on Mercury and EmArcy - being backed up with great big combo led by Pete Rugolo and featuring talented West-Coast studio musicians, Billy sings so fruitfully, either on ballads and on up-tempos. Great solos by Don Fagerquist, Pete Candoli and Bud Shank are also great.

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

8 out of 10

Track Listing

SIDE-A
A-1	16675 (JB183/JS41)	It Was So Beautiful (Barris - Freed)	2:01
A-2	16734 (JB185)	I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (Koehler - Arlen)	3:13
A-3	16620 (JB177/JS47)	Love Is Just Around The Corner (Robin - Gensler)	3:23
A-4	16619 (JB176/JS46)	I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You (Young - Washington - Crosby)	3:43
A-5	16735 (JB186)	A Faded Summer Love (Baxter)	3:43
A-6	16674 (JB182/JS40)	What A Little Moonlight Can Do (H.M. Woods)	3:20
SIDE-B
B-1	16671 (JB179/JS37)	Imagination (Van Heusen - Burke)	4:04
B-2	16673 (JB181/JS39)	Lullaby Of The Leaves (B. Petkere - J. Young)	2:45
B-3	16621 (JB178/JS48)	I Cover The Waterfront (J.W. Green - E. Heyman)	3:02
B-4	16733 (JB184)	I Wished On The Moon (Rainger - D. Parker)	2:50
B-5	16672 (JB180/JS38)	That's All (Bob Haymes - Alan Brandt)	4:38

Personnel

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

Billy Eckstine (vo) with Pete Rugolo (arr, cond) and his All Stars, including:
Pete Candoli (tp), Don Fagerquist (tp), Bud Shank (as, fl),
Gerald Wiggins (p), Red Callender (b), Larry Bunker (ds).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA on December 22, 1957 (A-3, A-4, B-3) and January 2, 1958 (all the rest).

The Artist Also Appears on...

Billy Eckstine (vo, tp, ldr) :

EmArcy MG-26025 10-inch : Blues For Sale
EmArcy MG-26027 10-inch : The Love Songs Of Mr. “B”
EmArcy MG-36010 : I Surrender Dear
EmArcy MG-36029 : Blues For Sale
EmArcy MG-36030 : The Love Songs Of Mr. “B”
EmArcy MG-36129 : Billy Eckstine's Imagination
Mercury MG-20316 / SR-60002 : Sings The Best Of Irving Berlin / Billy Eckstine & Sarah Vaughan
Mercury MG-20333 / SR-60086 : Billy's Best
Mercury MG-20637 / SR-60637 : Broadway, Bongos and Mr. “B”
Mercury MG-20674 / SR-60674 : Billy Eckstine and Quincy Jones At Basin Street
Mercury MG-20736 / SR-60736 : Don't Worry 'Bout Me
Mercury MG-20796 / SR-60796 : Golden Hits
Mercury MG-20916 / SR-60916 : The Modern Sound Of Mr. “B”
Wing WC-16334 : Now Singing in 10 Great Movies