Mercury Records Collection: SR-60183: Big Band Man

Ralph Marterie's unusual big band album playing Jimmy McHugh's compositions, featuring Pete Rugolo as a producer, as well as gorgeous West-Coast musicians and arrangers.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Ralph Marterie's last LP session on Mercury - this is not a recording by Ralph Marterie's road band, but he plays with gorgeous West-Coast studio musicians (most players are ex-Kenton band, which suggests that Pete Rugolo probably arranged these performers).

Five arrangers - Johnny Mandel, Skip Martin, Morty Corb, Bill Holman, Frank DeVol shares both sides. They simply prepared scores in Ralph Marterie's way. Not a thrilling album at all, but still a nice good-old danceable big-band album.

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)

Ralph Marterie (tp), Pete Candoli (tp), Conrad Gozzo (tp), Don Fagerquist (tp),
Frank Rosolino (tb), Vern Friley (tb), Al Hendricks (tb),
Buddy DeFranco (cl, as), Bud Shank (cl, as),
Gus Bivona (ts), Bob Cooper (ts), Babe Russin (bs),
Jimmy Rowles (p), Red Mitchell (b), Jack Sperling (ds).

Johnny Mandel (arr on A-1),
Morty Corb (arr on A-2, A-5),
Skippy Martin (arr on A-3, B-1, B-3, B-5),
Frank DeVol (arr on A-4, B-2),
Bill Holman (arr on B-4).
Recording Director (and probably also a producer), Pete Rugolo.

Recorded at United Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA in August 1959.

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)