The Wildest! is an album by Louis Prima, first released in 1957. It features singer Keely Smith with saxophonist Sam Butera and the Witnesses.[1] It is considered an innovative mixture of early rock and roll, jump blues and jazz as well as eccentric humor.[2]
History
Louis Prima was a well-known 1930s and 1940s trumpeter and singer who had a moderate series of hit singles at that time. He initially gained popularity in his homecity of New Orleans and later in New York. By 1954, Prima had joined a Louisiana band led by Sam Butera. With Prima's stage partner and wife Keely Smith, he, Butera and the Witnesses secured a gig at the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. They soon became the most popular act in that city.[1]
On April 19, 1956 the band gathered at the casino lounge to record tracks for the album. Capitol Records attempted to retain Prima's "in person" performance and spirit to capture what he referred to as "three o'clock in the morning at the Sahara" with the group. One of the songs recorded, "Jump, Jive, an' Wail" would become a hit through Brian Setzer's cover version in 1994.[1]
The Wildest! was reissued on August 13, 2002 by producer Michael Cuscuna. The album contains four additional tracks recorded on September 13, 1956 as well as new liner notes by the producer.[1]
Reception
Allmusic expressed that "The Wildest! is the gem of Louis Prima's catalogue. None of his other efforts transcend its raunchy mix of demented gibberish, blaring sax, and explosive swing, which rocked as hard as anything released at the time." The album is considered a collection of Prima's signature recordings.[2]
The Wildest! is noted in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In it, critic Will Fulford-Jones states, "this is simply irrepressible music that more than matches its cover shot. Prima is joyous, rumbustious, and irresistible."[3]
Track listing
- "Just a Gigolo" (Leonello Casucci, Julius Brammer, Irving Caesar)
"I Ain't Got Nobody" (Spencer Williams, Roger Graham) – 4:42
- "(Nothing's Too Good) For My Baby" (B. Budston, J. Falcon) – 2:36
- "The Lip" (T. Klages, Vic Knight) – 2:15
- "Body and Soul" (Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour) – 3:22
- "Oh Marie" (Edwardo Di Capua, arr. Louis Prima) – 2:25
- "Basin Street Blues" (Williams)
"When It's Sleepy Time Down South" (Leon Rene, Otis Rene) – 4:12
- "Jump, Jive, an' Wail" (Prima) – 3:28
- "Buona Sera" (Peter DeRose, Carl Sigman) – 2:58
- "Night Train" (Jimmy Forrest) – 2:46
- "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You" (Sam Theard) – 3:13
- Reissue bonus tracks
- "Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days" (Debbie Morris, Don Donaldson) – 2:08
- "Banana Split for My Baby" (Prima, Stan Irwin) – 2:29
- "Whistle Stop" (Jimmy Breadlove) – 2:15
- "Be Mine (Little Baby)" (Sam Butera, Prima) – 2:35
Personnel
- Louis Prima - vocals, trumpet
- Keely Smith - vocals
- Jack Marshall - guitar
- Sam Butera - tenor saxophone
- James Blount, Jr. - trombone
- Willie McCumber - piano
- Amato Rodrigues - bass guitar
- Bobby Morris - drums
References
External links
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