Mercury Records Collection: Philips PHM 200-108: Night Lights

PHM 200-108: Night Lights / Gerry Mulligan

Label Type :	white Philips promotional (“Vendor”)
Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	PHM200108A M2 RI RR
	SIDE-B	PHM200108B M2 II RR

Comments

Equivalent release: Philips PHS 600-108 (stereo).

promotional copy (for broadcast) with white Philips label.

many writings and stamps on the back cover.

with original Philips inner sleeve.

Inside The Groove

Gerry Mulligan's famous masterpiece - a totally beautiful stream of music in the night mood.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Gerry Mulligan's first recording after his comeback to Mercury was “Spring Is Sprung” (PHM 200-077 / PHS 600-077) and it was an excellent album full of swingy, progressive sounds.

Then in 1963, Jim Hall and Art Farmer joined Mulligan's band (also, Dave Bailey replaced Gus Johnson), and they finally find totally beautiful harmonies and sounds with trumpet, trombone, baritone sax and guitar. They recorded dozens of tracks in September-October 1963, and moody tunes are included on this “Night Lights”, while “Butterfly With Hiccups” (Limelight LM-82004 / LS-86004) contains swingy/bluesy sides.

Anyway, the album “Night Lights” presents perfect totality of what the album title stands for - Art Farmer's soft and gentle flugelhorn/trumpet, Bob Brookmeyer's steady phrases blends beautifully with Farmer's horn and Gerry Mulligan's baritone saxophone (he also plays piano on some tracks), and Jim Hall's fine performance of rhythmic chords makes this album so special.

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

10 out of 10

Track Listing

SIDE-A
A-1	1-29347	Night Lights (Gerry Mulligan)	4:50
A-2	1-29384	Morning Of The Carnival (Luiz Bonfa)	5:24
A-3	1-29348	Wee Small Hours (Dave Mann - Bob Hilliard)	5:34
SIDE-B
B-1	1-29390	Prelude In E Minor (Chopin)	4:12
B-2	1-29349	Festive Minor (Gerry Mulligan)	6:44
B-3	1-29388	Tell Me When (Gerry Mulligan)	4:04

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-1:
Art Farmer (tp, flh), Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb),
Gerry Mulligan (p, arr), Jim Hall (g), Bill Crow (b), Dave Bailey (ds).
Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studios, New York City on September 12, 1963.

A-3, B-2:
same personnel/date/place as A-1, except: Gerry Mulligan (bs, arr).

A-2, B-1, B-3:
same personnel as A-3.
Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studios, New York City on October 3, 1963.

Recording engineer: Tommy Nola.
Recording director: Hal Mooney.