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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
1958
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!I always saw this album as swing’s last hurrah before rock and roll fully took over, and what a hurrah it was. All the players are top notch here. And what a ballsy move to put an atomic explosion on the cover barely a decade after WWII; ballsy, and fitting for the music here. It just edges into a 5 for me.
“The Atomic Mr. Basie” by the Count Basie Orchestra (1958). Exquisite big band jazz and swing, this music places the serious listener smack in the middle of a Woody Allen movie, and then escorts him/her/them straight to heaven. These are beautiful and intricate arrangements, with disciplined and precise performances, featuring sublime solo work. Each soloist knows exactly what a soloist should and should not do. Rock, folk, synth, and hip hop artists should appreciate the value of the planning and execution of the big band style, perfectly exemplified by the CBO. Basie's piano playing is deft and sensitive, articulating the passion behind Neal Hefti’s visionary arrangements. Strictly professional. All music lovers should cultivate an appreciation of this contribution to American music—it helps to define the entire era of recording, from the 1930s to the present. That album cover, however, didn’t age well. The promo guys got a little carried away. 5/5
A great jazz music album. This is going on top of my list for great jazz albums. Double-O is an amazing song, with an running bass line which contrasts very nicely with overlying horns and piano. My only critique might be the overused horns, however, this kind of sound is typical in 1950s music
Big band music isn't generally my favorite - it's generally background noise to me - but this was surprisingly listenable. There are significant shades of harlem-esque jazz in here. I enjoyed it far more than I expected to.
Very enjoyable jazz, mostly falling on the "hot" side. (My mom categorizes all jazz as either "hot", "cool", or "what time does the tune start", heh.) Fave track - "Kid From Red Bank" for hot, "Lil' Darlin'" for cool!
Really felt this one. Hard to think of a better sounding big band recording and the feel is spot-on. Somehow arrives in that perfect moment when this style of music felt essential and yet recording technology had caught up enough to make it really sing. Favourite song: Midnite Blue
I never knew Count Basie was making music like this well into the 1950s. There's a lot of creativity, energy and vitality to these songs, and I can even hear a bit of rock mixed in with the jazz. Count Basie's horn section really feels like an atomic bomb here. Works really well together, no favourite track, rather listen to the album as a whole!
Love this album!! Still seems fresh even though it goes back to 58. Every song is great. I particularly like the fact that the first half of the album is super upbeat and then about half way through slows down and changes the mood completely. Favorite track: Lil' Darlin. 4 stars
A rock'n'roll guy at heart, which is why he's blowing shit up on the cover and in the music.
This was great to hear. I love the variety of adding jazz/swing into this list, and I really enjoyed a lot of the stylings on this album.
This big band record catches me in the right mood. Dude this album was great to sit and fill out a really angry company survey to.
jazzão pesadeira, no começo parecia mais do mesmo, mas a pegada é outra, tem uma energia, e pelo ano do disco, ditou o tom para os discos da decada de 60
Very nice album. Even though i dont listen much to jazz this album is light and fun to listen to.
A pleasant surprise. It was jarring when I pressed play before bed but as I listened it became a great background for all sorts of activities throughout the day..
Awesome big band jazz. Splanty, Whirly-Bird, and The Kid from the Red Bank were incredible. Ella & Basie’s version of “Dream a Little Dream of Me” is also a great listen
You can note the evolution of the big band sound in this recording, but then again let Basie be Basie and you get solid gold every time.
Favoriete nummers: - Duet - Whirly-Bird - Lil' Darlin' IK ZIT IN EEN FILM UIT DE JAREN '60
On first listen, I was a little dismissive - yeah, yeah, Big Band, whatever, stuff my 80-something dad likes. On Listen 2 I realized: this album is pretty amazing! It only got better as I listened to it over and over. The word "frenetic" kept coming to mind. I liked learning that the arranger Neal Hefti wrote the Batman TV series theme (Bat Maaaaaan! Bat Maaaaaan! nah-nah, nah-nah, nah-nah, nah-nah Bat MAAAANN!!). To show how these things are generational, I had never heard of Hefti, but when I mentioned his name to my 80-something Dad his response was "of course I know Hefti!" His Wikipedia entry is pretty interesting. They quote Miles Davis saying, "If it weren't for Neal Hefti, the Basie band wouldn't sound as good as it does." Respect. Back to the album, I loved pretty much all the tracks. Flight of the Foo Birds, Double-O (what a sax solo!), and Fantail (drums!!!) really caught my attention. I also really liked the mellow tracks. After Supper had a nice opening piano part, a great tune throughout and I loved the walking bass line. Midnite Blue is clearly a song about a dame, y'know, the broad who came into your life and left it in shambles. The final "Lil' Darling" wraps it up nicely at the end of a wild evening at the club. Maybe you're even finally slow dancing cheek to cheek with the dame from Midnite Blue and all is right in the world. In an earlier review I said I'm simply not a jazz fan. This album (along with Keith Jarrett's The Koln Concert) shows me that I can definitely be a fan of some jazz. I want to dig in a lot deeper now. 5 star wham-bam-POW!
Great stuff. The band was locked in, and everyone really had it together. Hard to believe that it was years ago. Definitely on my list to get.
I enjoyed this! A bit alarmed at first as the initial track is a bit shouty, but loved the rest of it. Going to listen to again right away.
An exceptional jazz big band album. From the opening track, you know what to expect for the rest of the album: A large sound, vibrant solos, and upbeat compositions. The dynamics between Count Basie's orchestra make the album a classic. The feeling of the album is in the name, and you can't help but move when listening to it. Favorite tracks: The Kid From Red Bank, Duet, Double-O, Midnite Blue, Splanky
Can really see how it influenced bands like the Replacements. Or specifically the Replacements. A little more moody esoteric than my preference but still good to listen to and culturally relevant.
Even for fans of big band jazz, or anyone old enough to have this sound firmly in their cultural DNA, this album is truly a nuclear level American classic, worthy of the album cover (if you're willing to dismiss the real world associations with the US putting the globe on a permanent killswitch state). What's amazing to me is how in 40 minutes and 11 songs, Basie and band managed to hit such peaks and lightning strikes of individual performances while also effortlessly soaring through a wide horizon of dynamics and moods and emotions in the selections. Motherfucking off the charts 5+++++
Now this is the sort of jazz that I like to hear. Tremendous, a tour de force of syncopation and effortless style. Amazing!
I really like the swingy mood. It gives such a cool vibe and the whole album has this very cozy, almost a home feeling.
Remember when atomic shit was sexy and cool? Well, no, you probably don't, but in 1957 it was, especially in the US (probably less so in Japan). As somebody who bought Mingus Ah Um and Miles Davis's Blue Christmas at the age of 19, largely in an attempt to appear cool and mysterious to the girls at university, and as someone who has been to Ronnie Scott's several times, I feel supremely qualified to pronounce upon this album. It's great! Good humoured, light-hearted, glad to be alive (and not vaporised into nothingness by an apocalyptic nuclear blast), joyously played big band jazz. These cats can play! Boom. We hope you enjoyed your time on this planet.
I haven't listened to much of his stuff before, but the optimism and positivity conveyed through this music was contagious. Planning to check out more of his stuff!
That's album cover is Punk Rock for sure. This whole album is pretty heavy. Dear metal, you've invented nothing.
YES! Unfiltered, authentic, unquestionably brilliant JAZZ from the one and only Count Basie. These arrangements own, Basie’s playing is perfect, it’s all great.
Brilliant stuff. Listened in bed and it was perfect. Mellow, nostalgic. Reminded me of old school radio shows, very atmospheric.
Disfruté muchísimo este disco; este tipo de jazz para fiesta y bailar me gusta mucho más que el jazz de solistas. Buena compañía para trabajar a buen ritmo y oír algo distinto. Se me hace curioso que sea de 1958, pues bien podría imaginarme esto sonando unos 15 años antes.
Decían que iba a sufrir con este disco pero la realidad es que el Swing y Big Band me gustan mucho, aunque es Jazz no veo por ningún lado solos kilométricos sin sentido de músicos pedantes. El disco se va entero a mi lista de reproducción por que es muy digerible y levanta el ánimo en cada una de sus canciones, se nota una estructura madura, un orden, dirección y ejecución tan estudiado con el tiempo.
Un disco muy agradable, con jazz limpio y sin pretensiones. Todo el disco es muy fácil de escuchar, y tiene un sonido “clásico” como de película de los 50’s. Quizá el problema es que todo el disco es así: no hay ninguna canción que destaque.
Mums riktigt härlig legacy jazz! Vissa låtar man känner igen till och med, Flight of the Foo Birds, Lil’ Darlin. Perfekt laga-mat-musik!
Sé que el swing y el big band y el jazz son primos, medios hermanos, clones o algo muy similar, pero para mi hay un abismo de diferencia. A ratos festivo, a ratos melancólico, este disco es un deleite de inicio a fin. No sabía de la existencia del Atómico Señor Basie y ahora me lo reprocho. Gran, gran, gran descubrimiento para acompañarlo con un buen whisky. Songs:
Este disco ha estado en mis listas desde hace una muy buena cantidad de años. Es una chulada. Siempre ha estado el punto de si Count Basie o Duke Ellington fue el verdadero creador del jazz en big band. No importa, creo que los dos fueron los iniciadores y los mejores exponentes que tuvo el género, solo que Ellington terminó siendo un poco más famoso no se por qué. Es un disco que se siente empapado de los 50s, la portada no podría estar mejor elegida trayendo todo el imaginario de sueño americano de posguerra y era nuclear con un disco que la primera mitad todavía recordando la velocidad improvisación y swing de sus canciones de finales de los 30s pasa a una segunda mitad suave, melódica y termendamente a gusto en la que casi puede uno imaginarse al Abraham Simpson bailando con la Sra. Bouvier y terminando en Lil Darlin, un cierre que no podría dejar más satisfecho después de las otras canciones. Si es de sorprenderse que tras una carrera de más de 30 años sacara lo que muchos consideran el mejor disco de su carrera cuando el mundo parecía ya lo estaba olvidando. No va a ser un disco que la mayor parte de la gente recuerde todo el tiempo pero en una lista de álbumes que uno TIENE que escuchar me parece más que necesario.
I actually listened to this twice! I enjoyed it quite a lot. I felt it was very lyrical music, but didn't require a singer
No hay forma en la que no se pueda disfrutar esta música. A pesar de las complicaciones que implican la edición de álbumes pre 70s el entendimiento de los instrumentos es tremendo. Rolas destacadas : the kid fron red Bank (gran inicio) y Double O, que es representativa de como suenan estos ensambles
thoroughly enjoyed this - I give it two Glen Miller's a Tommy Dorsey and a gaggle of Benny Goodman's for good measure.
Based on the artist and band name I was definitely expecting something very different. It was a good surprise though with some really nice jazz. Fantastic background listening during work.
So perfect that this selection hit on a weekend. Strong album. He has better and this one is solid.
Jazz is such a vibe. This wasn't my favourite but still a huge improvement on everything that came out in the 70s that we usually listen to lmao
La big band mi piace, questo disco è divertente e gli arrangiamenti sono belli. Lo risentirò.
Jazz with a capital J. Evokes images of old movies and cartoons, ocean liners and flappers. Music from a golden age, no longer the 20’s but rather the 1920’s.
The album cover is punk rock as fuck. The music is great jazzy big band stuff with a lot of energy.
Parto dal dire che pur conoscendo qualcosa ho poca familiarità con questo genere e che ho paura di sminuire il duro lavoro e studio che c'è dietro quest'album di altri tempi. La performance è impeccabile. Sarà tutto registrato live da professionisti. Non lo so, vado con un 4, perché in questo caso mi sembra giusto.
An impressive piece of swing jazz that extended into the 50s. The overuse of horns is so distinctively 40s, but the heavy sound is likely an inspiration from rock n roll. With over a dozen members, I was afraid I'd hear a complete mess of instruments, but Basie understands when each instrument should stand out. The volume is tightly controlled between the different instruments, hindering any clashing that would be more prominent in a recording (vs live). I don't think it's one of his best works, and several others like Ellington surpass him in swing, but this album is strong as a collective piece and makes for a swingting time any day.
First time listener. It's good, planning on digging into more Count Basie. My favorite jazz album so far.
Great big band and swing stuff, but I did feel a real pull for vocals on these tracks that dragged down the album a little for me.
Soft 4 stars. Such an inspiration to big band jazz music. Really brings me back to my high school and college days, although Basie's group is of course much tighter and put together. I personally prefer smaller jazz groups (rather than big band) but it's obvious to me why this recording made it on this list.
Great example of late 50s jazz resurgence. Probably Count's best album ever, and with a jazz supergroup of the time. Really great sound, really dig it. 4.5/5.
Man, this is some killing swing! His Orchestra was on fire for this recording. I also like how he brings you back to calm with the closing track Lil' Darlin' I need to check out more of his stuff.
You know, the whole time I was thinking "this sounds like every time Batman and Robin got into a fight" in the Adam West series of the 60's. Then I saw another post - same guy produced both. I thought the first few used a few too many "whams" via horns (or whatever, I don't know jazz well). But the back half slowed it down or changed the tempo nicely. Midnite Blue made me think of Grandpa Simpson after he lost out on Marge's mom to Burns. Splanky made me think about the intro to the Naked Gun. Jazz is not my thing but it can still be a good thing. Cool album from a group and bandleader I knew nothing about.
Solid. I like the atmosphere and the brass sound. (8/10) Favourite Tracks: The Kid from Red Bank, Splanky
I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did, but it really swings. Atomic! 4 stars.
A cracking blend of big band swing and jazz. Not a genre I'm normally familiar with but loved this. In modern parlance - "an absolute banger"
It's of great disservice to Mr. Basie that upon receiving the 1001 album link to 'The Atomic...', I immediately Googled it rather than diving straight in and listening. What followed was a rabbit hole of monumental proportions. According to Wikipedia, 'The Atomic...' won 2 Grammys at the inaugural Grammy ceremony. Well, that piqued my interest. I looked at the illustrious list of winners at those 1959 awards - Ella Fitzgerald, Henry Mancini, and....Alvin and the Chipmunks. What!? Two Grammys for the Chipmunks? How was that possible? For what?! Before I knew it I was trapped in a YouTube spiral that started with the Chipmunks singing on the Ed Sullivan show in the 1950s and ended with a compilation of Skeletor's finest insults in Masters of the Universe. That's YouTube, sadly. Nincompoops. I feel like there's something symbolic in that chain of events, though. As someone of relative music history ignorance, it was easy for me to dismiss 'The Atomic...' and the fact that I didn't know who Count Basie was, and find something else to distract me. It starts with the cover artwork - a grainy orange picture of a bomb exploding with some very basic typeface on top. To me, it screamed homemade wannabe post-punk band's first album; or a lame DIY attempt by some obscure unknowns at imitating Captain Beefheart or something. And neither of those options were really what I wanted to listen to at that moment in time, if truth be told. Then when you do delve into it, you realise it's a big band album by a man who, by this point in his career, was considered washed up. Tough sell at first. But when I finally sat down and listened I was quick to ascertain this was a jazz record of a notoriety I should've respected. Basie was 53 when 'The Atomic...' album was released. He had success in decades previous, but 'The Atomic...' is his swansong. It's a renaissance album, and you can feel it. Jazz piano is at its core but it's a celebration of everything good that big band has to offer. There's a dynamic and, as becomes clear by the artwork, an explosive quality to it, throughout. A swing that just keeps building and building until you're dancing off the beat and clicking your fingers whilst jiggling in your seat. Then there's Lil' Darlin' as the final track. Slow and maudlin and almost the antithesis to the rest of the album, yet the perfect way for Basie to sign-off from an unexpected delight and an album that definitely trumps Alvin and the Chipmunks in its quality.
I had quite some trepidation in reviewing this. I'm not averse to jazz at all, yet I worry that I may lack the musicianship to appreciate this album fully. Or rather, I perhaps don't have the philosophy to appreciate it fully, if one excuses ihe pretension. Now, there are tracks on this I loved (Li'l Darlin' in particular), but I found myself overwhelmed a little by the big band aesthetic (to get pretentious again). I wished one track were a little different to leaven it slightly. Is that my fault? Am I being too harsh on myself?
the venerable Basie band is in full swing. coy piano solos show that less is more. some tunes from the middle school jazz big band canon. because of this, this album is nostalgic in more ways than one.
Some big band jazz! I don't have a lot of experience with this genre, but I enjoyed listening to this album. The first thing I noticed was how clean the recording sounds. I guess I halfway expect music from 1958 sound like an old recording, but this sounded crisp and clean to me in my headphones, in the car, and on my home equipment. Some observations and highlights for me: The piano work in "The Kid from Red Bank" The muted trumpets in "Duet" and "Splanky" That warm, cocktail vibe of "After Supper" The saxophone in "Flight of the Foo Birds", "Double-O", "Whirly-Bird", "Splanky", "Fantail" I like the musical arrangements - they showcased various parts of the band well without become tiresome. The album flowed along well. The album cover and title seem a little insensitive especially 13 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That disturbed me a bit. I guess it fit into the 50s fetishization of nuclear power. Still... Aside from that quibble this was a welcome change of pace and a fun album to listen to.
This was a fun big band jazz album! I appreciated the variation in tempos, allowing me moments of dancing and prancing around the house to kicking back and feeling the cool groove. This won’t be in my regular rotation, but it has a spot in my “to work to” catalog.
This was very much fun to listen to. I love the big band sound of it. The opener, "The Kid from Red Bank" is lots of piano fun, and "Duet" has great muted trumpets. Some very fun songs are "Flight of the Foo Birds" and "Teddy the Toad." "Splanky" has my favorite name and is just swingin'. I really love the slow, sultry numbers "After Supper" and "Midnite Blue." A great, fun, classic album.
Wasn’t really in the mood for this when I started listening, but by the end of it I was in full swing! Fantastic Jazz album, impossible not to get the foot tapping along 4/5 - Enjoyable listen, probably going to add this to my list.
Enjoyable accessible jazz that became ubiquitous. A positive view into a jazz future that never happened.
The combination of the cover and year of release had me questioning what I was about to hear but the moment I heard that brass, I knew I was in for a treat.
It is 1958, the world has been on a bit of a pause dealing with the aftermath of World War II, and the Korean War's cease-fire. The world gets to focus on life again with a bit more intention. However, the jazzy elements of the 1930s, 1940s have considerable staying power even more with the emergence of swing, which brings us here to Count Basie in 1958. Subtle differences say this is not your wartime jazz that makes you miss home, but rather that the hard time is over and it is time to enjoy some good in one's life. Great album, excellent for hosting parties or just spending time with friends.
Big band-setit hyvä tapa lähteä joulunviettoon. Alkaa ihan itsestään jalka polkea. Harva bändi varmaan vois laittaa ydinpommia kanteen kuvaamaan miten tykkiä musa on, mut Kreivi voi.
huhhuh, heti alko aivan jäätävällä tykittelyllä. Muut biisit oli vähän rauhallisempia mutta kunnon hyvää koko levy. Jatkoon.
True story: I'm from Jersey and never bothered to look into who Count Basie was. A great record of uptempo swing and big band. Think more should be added to the list, but this is a good start. The album cover, by modern standards, looks very... my first MSPaint. Favorite tracks: "Duet", "Flight of the Foo Birds"
At last some Jazz which is enjoyable! It is swingy big band sound which makes me hop around on my office chair on a Friday afternoon. Not sure I could listen to this for hours but it causes a pretty nice motivation boost.
I am a swing dancer so I have listened to many, many, hours of Basie. I am very familiar with this album and it's a great one.
This album is a bit of an anacronism in 1958, especially with all of the landmark jazz albums that would come out the following year. It's a big band album made after the height of the big band era. However, it's a really fun album that somehow lives up to the boldness of its cover and title. I don't usually enjoy big band music, but I thought this one was well worth the listen 4/5
i'm a sucker for a walking bassline. this is the kind of smooth i like and i'm down with the album cover that has nothing to do with jazz but at the same time somehow relates to the stabby explosive nature of the horn section.
Yeah this kind of jazz I can get behind. Not too freeform, not too self indulgent. It’s upbeat, it’s jazzy, it’s Basie!
This music transported me to an earlier time. I think I do have a preconceived notion with this type of music genre (big band/jazz...even blues/swing/etc...not sure if it's an anti-brass sentiment in my brain lol). However, this was truly quite enjoyable.
4.0 - I'm not normally a fan of big band jazz but this album really swings. I especially love the arrangement on "Whirly Bird" that has some complex brass backing, coupled with amazing solos on the piano and saxophone.
Wow - That’s what I call groovy, swing big band jazz! Excellent tunes, impecable interpretation, energetic and charming. By the way, the amount of courage they had for using a nuclear explosion in the cover only 13 years after WWII ended is remarkable.
Genre: Big Band 4/5 Count Basie, a name that's so big in the jazz world my piano tutor neighbor named her dog after him, was a bandleader/pianist known for pushing the limits of the big band sound. This was the pop music of the times. In 1958, while rock was still trying to push its way to the forefront, the music being played on jukeboxes and in living rooms around the country was the big band music and stylings of artists like Count Basie. This is, in essence, a dance album. A 40-minute concert of sorts that'll make you want to get on the floor and swing your partner round 'n round. It moves from fast and frolicking to slow and sexy, just like a live set from the orchestra. Overall, this is a genuinely enjoyable piece of music history, and a great album to play for your older relatives to watch them go "Oh fuck yeah, Count Basie."
I know fuck about shit when it comes to jazz, but this uhhh… this rips. Pacing, diversity of style, memorable performances? Top notch. 4
I primarily know the Count from his work with Sinatra, and haven’t heard much of his instrumental stuff. But this is good! Parts of it are a little slow for my taste, as my preference towards jazz tends to be more intense, but a lot of it really swings, and every musician kills. Should really check more of his stuff out. B
This had a nice mixture of kind of classic big band type jazz, but also some really great bebop and dixieland style. Some really sweet guitar and clarinet lines in places, and the piano playing of course is super rad. I like this quite a bit, works well as some upbeat background music, but also interesting stuff happening for active listening too.
Found it intriguing that apple music labeled this as Pop, though i guess it may have been the popular music back in the late 50's. There are a few sections that are too slow/sparse, but it is mostly a solid enjoyable big band sound with a great rhythm and groove.
Ballsy of Basie to show a mushroom cloud on the cover in this age of nuclear paranoia and there’s definitely something powerful in these tracks which swing and jump and jive and wail, racing forward, hurtling over its 40 minutes length, perfect for a night on the town leaping from bar to bar. If there’s a distinctiveness lacking between the tracks at times not to worry - this is all part of a mood and sensation. Just keep swinging away and give in to Basie’s skill and talent.
Not one I would have thought I'd enjoy this much. "Big band" and swing are usually genres I avoid. But this was a great listen.
Big fun, a record that swings mightily, almost in defiance of the experiments in jazz going on around them. With musicians playing free and post bop just around the corner, it almost feels audacious that Basie would pick this particular moment to detonate a powerhouse big band record of this magnitude.
The word of the day is : energy. Atomic may be about right for the time. Wow. Respect.
Jazz! Swing om precies te zijn. Leuk album. Maar een nog leuker genre als je ik groep bent en kunt dansen
Very much the kind of thing you’ll like if you like this kind of thing. Excellently well executed with lots of high-level soloing and some huge, way-swinging hooks. Such well-integrated playing – orchestral and strong in the details, too. Highlights for me include “After Supper” and “Lil’ Darlin’.” Shouldn’t the Foo Fighters cover “Flight of the Foo Birds”?
Very nice and groovy album. The instruments, and especially the drums, are intense, fast, efficient and rowdy, in a way... I love it! A record that lives up to its name!
Swing big bands seem like a foreign country, but this was enjoyable. At some point in the near future, guitar-driven rock and roll will be as foreign.
big band jazz isn't really my thing but this was pretty cool in spots, really dynamic and didn't bore the shit out of me. 3/5.
after one listen - band/jazz is usually not my type of music, but somehow this is was what i needed right now. 3.5-4
This sounds like both cartoon music, and the music played at a hollywood awards ceremony when a winner walks to the stage. I like the slower calmer tracks, but the more up tempo ones really make me want to tap dance. I can't tap dance so I don't why that particular thing, I'd like to slide along a sparkly lit up floor in my tap shoes.
Definitely listened to it more in the background, but would love get all dressed up, make myself a quarantini and slow dance with myself to this on a rainy day
A solid bop that just makes me want to play Fallout 3, but nothing that blew my mind! I love the energy on the tracks, it was samey, but I can't look at it and say I didn't enjoy!
I liked it at first cause I grew up with it. Wore on me after a while. Legit part of it sounded like it came from the Flintstones’ theme song
very fast paced groovy 50s dance music. loud and robust. overall enjoyable :) cool album cover also
Feels like fallout music. Cover and title really has the fallout feel to it i.e. the 'atomic', the 'E=MC^2', and the mushroom cloud in the cover background. Album was released right around cold war escalation as well, theme seems to make sense. Jazzy.
based on the cover art and title I was hoping for some wild ass music. This album isn't bad, but nothing really jumped out at me.
Primera escolta d'aquest pianista i director de jazz. Un álbum agradable, d'aquells que et transporta a una altra època. No sóc prou entès de jazz com per a fer-ne una valoració musical, només puc dir que segurament escoltaré més àlbums de Count Basie.
A lot of jammers on this album. One of my favourites so far, def top three. Fav tracks is basically the entire album, def a honeymoon phase to it but I'm liking just the loud horns really.
From a quick glance at the album cover I was initially expecting some nihilistic punk quartet. Probably as far from that as it’s possible to get. Quite enjoyed it, although it’s more at the Tom and Jerry soundtrack end of the jazz spectrum than I’d normally go for.
I was waiting for the Family Guy theme tune, but it never came. Was a nice listen though. I can imagine sitting in a cocktail bar listening to this.
I’m not sure I liked this as much as Cadence but it was a nice change of pace, good energy. I’m glad I was exposed to it.
Only 4 up tempo 'explosive' songs the rest was kinda basic ngl. I have a love for jazz but some of these were too simple laid back saloon songs. Good to improvise with
Appreciated an intro to Count Basie - didn’t know about him - one of the greats in jazz and big band. The slow songs hit, esp ✨ After Supper 💘
Deve ser giro para apreciadores de jazz, para mim foi um álbum com músicas muito semelhantes e não muito interessantes. No geral deve ser um bom álbum para entendidos na matéria. Nota:5/10
Jazz, I like it but I also don’t know jazz that well so who knows could be amazing and I don’t realize it.
Pretty good, has a nice composition of instruments and got me hooked on a jazzy feeling the entire time
re: the rascals fun 60s!! and weird stereo effects which is quite fun in this day and age... and this is fun jazz i suppose
In Conclusione: diciamo che è difficile non divertirsi con lo swing e le big band hanno sempre il loro fascino. Non conoscevo Count Basie prima di questo album nonostante mi pare di capire fosse piuttosto famoso. Diciamo che è un tipo di musica fortemente legata ad un tipo di atmosfera quindi è difficile sentirsela quotidianamente però è stato sicuramente piacevole.
Big band jazz makes me think of Hanna Barbara cartoons. I’m listening to this expecting the Jetsons or something. I could take it or leave it. I can tell there’s something more to it than usual big-band jazz, but I don’t have the jazz knowledge to identify it; I don’t know what to listen for. Favourite track: “Fantail”
Outside my normal preferred genres, but pleasant to listen to. Nothing stuck out in particular.
Exactly as advertised. But one of those jazz albums that's more a collection of songs than a cohesive album.
I was dreading this, and it was a bit too jazz-like for my tastes, but it was ok. Would I listen again voluntarily? No. Would I turn it off if it came on? Depends how far away the phone is…
Det är jazz, baby. Vet inte tillräckligt om jazz för att veta någonting. Vet att jag gillar det, när det spelades i lägenheten samtidigt som jag gjorde annat. Hade älskat att sitta på en bar med det här spelandes i bakgrunden, men kommer nog inte återkomma till just det här albumet så ofta. Men, ändå, jag älskar jazzen. Varför? Vet inte. Jag bara flyter med. Det kanske är det som är JAZZ, BÄJBY. Bästa låt: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This album is a little earlier than my preferred period of Jazz but you can hear its role in being a bridge between the Jazz of the 30s/40s and what would come next. Interesting as a historical document but not one I would reach for on the shelf.
I don't care much for jazz, but Count Basie is on another level. This album was easy to get through.
Bin kein großer Freund des Big-Band-Sounds. Die Kompositionen und die Arrangements sind großartig.
Not a huge fan of the big band sound. I can appreciate it but don't necessarily enjoy it.
Very well done with lots of instruments to enjoy. Nice diversity of styles between songs too. Even with that, I was a little over it by the end despite being a short album. The high energy songs were engaging but the couple of slower ones really killed the vibe for me. No vocals, obviously.
Didn’t mind it. Big band and swing aren’t my wheelhouse at all, but I can appreciate the musicianship on display here.
Nice Big Band arrangements, though my interest wanes as it goes on, relegating Basie to background music (a fate worse than death). Not a bad listen, but there are better big band albums out there.
It's not often you can describe an album as foofy *and* splanky, but this is a rare example!
My co-judge commented that she could do without the punchy blasts from the brass section. I guess in the days before electrification that was the only way to blow everybody’s heads off. Listening to music on your home stereo could never compare to listening to it live. I like the solos throughout and especially the drumming. I guess in '58 the younger hip crowd was listening to bebop but I guess if you wanted to dance, big band was the way to go.
Big Band has never really been my thing, but there's some other jazz elements and fun things that kept my interest. Ultimately, I appreciate it more than I actually enjoy it
I genuinely do not like listening to this music but it’s not bad. I appreciate the artistry for sure though, and it reminds me of music from a Tom and Jerry cartoon lol. I read that one of the artists involved did the 60s Batman theme and that makes total sense
I was expecting swing cheese, but it thankfully never arrived. The music carries itself without cheap tricks, and the elements that are cliched now are there but in pleasant variety. The first track impressed me with sounds that I didn't expect to hear from acoustic instruments (the brass in particular). The rest of the record was more standard big-band fare.
The best of this album IMO: - Midnite Blue Aggressive and lively. Sweet jazz. Entertaining. Window to the past. 3.2/5
Nice to have on in the background. With no reference point for swing music, I'm struggling to say much more about it though.
It's nice to put a sound to an iconic name of the big band / jazz world. Not my usual genre but I quite enjoyed it, especially the tracks where the bass skips along at a good pace. It all sounds very neatly put together. I'm a fan of the album cover and the cute track names too.
a sense of grandiose and scale that elevates a record filled with bombastic instrumentation.
The type of music that makes me nostalgic for a time I wasn’t even alive. Easy listening and good background music
I think this was good and technically really strong, but big band simply isn't my thing!
Ta bueno. Hace tiempo no escucho algo parecido, me falta escuchar más cosas de esa época
Classic Jazz/Swing orchestra who played with prime Sinatra. Great to listen to whilst WFH. Not sure I'd go back to it many times like i do with Miles but enjoyed it enough to give it 3/5.
I quite like Count Basie's big band music, but I noticed that I like contemporary renditions much more than the "real thing". I put that to recording quality: my favourite takes on Basie are audiophile recordings. A well made recording turns the visceral impact of the big band is something else. The originals are, of course, still very good, even if their recording quality cannot compare.
Enjoyable, not as good as some of the other jazz albums I've had on here. But still a pleasant listen throughout.
N'ayant pas regardé l'année de publication de ce CD et au vu de sa couverture, je m'attendais à un album punk. Les premières notes de jazz m'ont de ce fait agréablement surpris. Mon seul petit regret reste le moment où la bombe atomique explose et nous cause un acouphène de plusieurs minutes. Dommage.
Not really that much into this kinda jazz but it was enjoyable enough for what it was.
Jakas odmiana na liscie, tym razem powialo z hameryki dosc oldskulowo, bo big bandowy swingowy krazek the atomic mr basie Counta Basie i jego orkiestry, ktora przewodzil pan Neal Hefti, 39 minutowy krazek sklada sie z 11 utworow, ktore brzmia tak jak czlowiek sobie wyobraza brzmienie gdy slyszy, ze bedzie grany jakis big band jazzowy, jak dla mnie brzmiaca mocno kinowo, bo ile razy takie potezne kompozycje mozna uslyszec w filmach czy bajeczkach, kolejna dziwna sprawa, ze hinskie bajki tak czesto siegaja, a raczej siegaly, bo kojarzy mi sie to bardziej ze starociami gangsterskimi i hardo boilowanymi mscicielami lat 90, pomimo tego, ze plyta pana Counta Basiego to nie dominuje muzycznie tu jego fortepian, a raczej slychac bardziej trebaczy ktorych w takim big bandzie musialo byc kilku, gdy do tego dodac saksy, drumy, gitary, tamburino, to pianino schodzi na drugi plan, ale jednak znajda sie kawalki ktore hajlajtuja wlasnie skillsy pana Basiego, jak na midnite blue, ale tak czy inaczej jest to album calego zespolu a nie jednego czlowieka, czy to gwiazdy tej orkiestry czy pana konduktora, krazek plusuje takze tym ze posiada wylacznie autorskie kompozycje, a nie jak czesto bywa na nagraniach z lat 50, chociaz 58 to juz mocna koncowka, klasykow danego gatunku, bo przeciez standardy najlepiej sie sprzedaja, bo wszyscy je znaja i kochaja, a tutaj same nowosci, z ciekawostej plyta wygrala najlepszego jazzowego performenca na pierwszych grammy, na plejke dodam wspomniany juz kawalek hajlajtujacy klawisze midnite blue i dodatkowo flight of the foo birds za najpozytywniejsze wajby z calego krazka
Disc icònic del director i pianista, envoltat de primers noms del jazz, amb una secció de vents molt potent i uns temes que brillen amb uns arranjaments i una producció de primer nivell
Three stars, maybe? The swan song of Big Band Jazz and an all-time classic for many (plus, what an album cover!). Obviously, this is a landmark record for many but I'm not sure I'm sold on this one. Besides, there are so many *huge* gaps when it comes to jazz in Dimery's list that I think you'd first need to fill those gaps with all the wonderful albums in the genre that are still missing in the list, and then see if there's room left for "The Atomic Mr Basie". And I don't even think I'm an expert in jazz (it's just that all the important masterpieces from the post-bop period of the sixties *need* to be included, period). So, to put it in a nutshell, I can understand listening to *The Atomic Mr. Basie* once because of its cultural importance, and overall it's been an interesting or fun listen, if not a pleasant one. But I'm not sure I ever want to play that album again now I've listened to it once. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: more than 900, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: approximately a half so far Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter
Shannah unexpectedly liked. 3/5 Jane expectedly liked. 3/5 Bill liked but felt it was a bit generic. 2.5/5 Conor agrees with Bill. 2.5/5 2.75/5
5/1/2022 Today's Album: "The Atomic Mr Basie" by Count Basie - Basie, his big bands, and his orchestra ruled jazz for decades. Just going back through this man's discography, you can see albums from all the way back in 1936 up to as recent as the mid 90s! His jazz stylings are always iconic and even from my little experience with playing jazz, I know that his tracks are some of the most fun to play as a brass player. The fact he stayed relevant throughout essentially the entire 20th century is truly astonishing, but it isn't for no reason. These jazz tracks are ones that created the blueprint of what popular jazz music is and it is obvious that Basie never stopped innovating through the changing of what was popular in jazz throughout the decades. As for this album, the production quality, although perhaps lacking by today's standards, is pretty outstanding for being released in the late 50s. The performances are very lively and the improv from whoever is soloing at a given moment are always spot on and full of creative passion. I like that there are a variety of different jazz moods on this album, and although there is sort of this dated fuzz to a lot of the sounds recorded here, the performances really do shine through. The horns really take the spotlight on this album and it is to be expected from a Basie record. Not to say the other instruments aren't also fantastic, but horn quality, tone, range, and consistency like I'm hearing on this record it so so hard to achieve from a horn section and it is just pulled off so well in every track. Aside from that though, the saxophones are all in time with each other and whenever one of them solo's it sounds fantastic. The rhythm section feels pretty standard for a jazz outfit, but given the spotlight shined on the band, it really isn't too big of a deal. I like the tracks where the tempo picks up because Basie just has this touch with these fast and chaotic tracks that just pulls me in every time. Overall, I find myself enjoying this album as a listening experience, but it doesn't do a ton to really "impress" me in terms of jazz music. However, it is still a ton of really solid jazz tracks with some admirable solos. Jazz to me is something that is always great as background music and this album is great for exactly that. Give this one if you like ragtime jazz music. Highlights: The Kid from Red Bank, Duet, Flight of the Foo Birds, Whirly-Bird, Splanky, Score: 6.5/10 50's Jazz
I don't know if I loved any one song, here, but this could play all day every day in the background of where ever I am and I'd be okay with it.
I haven't heard a ton of big band stuff but among the stuff I've heard this is one of the cooler ones. Makes me want to explore more for sure. The cover is striking too and very different than what I'd expect from a big band album, or any 50s album really.
old time jazz orchestra does well in a new vegas style game dont like it for lsitening though
Alkuun tuli kivat Fallout-pelin tunnelmat, mutta ei kantanut loppun asti. Varmasti tyylikästä musaa omaan aikaan, mutta kasarinlapselle levyllinen on liikaa kerralla.
Pleasant enough, pretty forgettable for me though. Big band is alright for background music in films but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen
Orchestral music really isn't my cup of tea. Some nice tunes in here, but this goes to the background music playlist for me.
Production: 9/20 Songwriting: 9/20 Innovation: 8/20 Bangers: 0/20 Emotional response: 12/20 =38 Pretty underwhelming background music but not unpleasant
Enjoyed to an extent, not my thing though, probably wouldn’t listen again. Theatre/soundtrack/lift music
Highlights - Duet and Flight of the Foo Birds, I guess? Flight... certainly paints a picture, I can envision a gaggle of sea birds dancing about on the beach with this in the background. Having said that, I've never been a big swing music fan, it still sounds all the same to me... loud, surprising horns, slow-walking jazz bass, piano plinks here and there, relaxed woodwinds, brushes on percussion. It's winding-down music...and not necessarily for me.
Great for what it is, but of its time. Would still be brilliant in a jazz club, but on Spotify in a home office situation it doesn't really connect.
There’s only so much big band music I can take. First 2 or 3 tunes were fine but after that it just got tiresome.
Pleasant background music, like the soundtrack to every '50s crime B film. Listenable but nothing to write home about.
1. Lovely instrumental on The Kid from Red Bank, piano is especially nice to listen to. Brass is lively and fun. Final chord is satisfying. 2. Duet is very jazzy. Realizing this is an instrumental album, I tend to prefer lyrics, but nevertheless still nice. Piano vamping and brass is all a joy to the ear. The dynamics are lovely, saxophone is brilliant. The bass is gorgeous and adds to the song subtly. 3. After Supper's intro is gorgeous. Slow, steady beat. Very easy to listen to. Again a very jazzy feel, more soulful than Duet. Piano is lovely. Personal preference here but definitely missing lyrics. Outro is nice but too long. Final part is underwhelming 4. Intro to Flight of the Foo Birds is very different to AS, definitely a jazzy album. Story is being told, I don't know what it is but there is definitely a story here. Saxophone player is brilliant. Certain parts get me excited for a key change but I can't tell if it's happened or not. I don't think it has. 5. Double-O's saxophone is enjoyable. A lot of the song sounds similar to previous tracks. The descending parts were good, building of anticipation was also enjoyable. 6. Teddy the Toad's intro on a different album would have been enjoyable but at this point everything sounds repetitive. Drums and bass are the highlight 1:00 minute in. Piano is repetitive also, too similar to previous tracks. Even the crescendo's are doing nothing. Outros all sound the same, same build up with one instrument, ending on forte. Fairly boring track. 7. Whirly-Bird sounds the exact same as TtT but faster. Piano details and drums are nice. Even with the Count Basie Orchestra, it sounds the same. The arrangements are too similar. Even the saxophone manages to sound boring. Again with the outro, long drawn out note, boring. 8. Midnite Blue's intro is nothing new here. Piano, joined by brass and drums. Seen on pretty much all previous tracks. Chords are enjoyable, slight clash in a good way. Piano is good but does not make up for the repetitiveness seen in the entire album. This build up was much better than previous tracks, lots of soul, jazziness, enjoyable. The decrescendo is also good. Still does not forgive the blatant sameness of the rest of the album. Outro had potential with plain piano but ruined by the other instruments. 9. Splanky's intro is childlike and boring. Piano followed by drums, where have I seen this before? I wonder. Same build up, drums sounded better but what the fuck. Why is this in the 1001 albums you should listen to? Listen to first 4 songs and you're done. All the crescendos sound the same, it is predictable and not in a way that is enjoyable. AGAIN WITH THE OUTRO. I cannot wait to finish this album. 10. Fantail had the same intro as every other album. I can't do this anymore. Saxophone is boring how the FUCK do you make the sax boring? Drums were enjoyable in this track, clearly a skilled drummer. I feel bad that they are caught up in this same song over and over album. 11. Lil' Darlin'. Again with the piano joined by other instruments intro. I'm going insane. Not sure what the string instrument is but it's the highlight of the entire album. I was looking forward to this album but it is BORING. Piano details were pretty at first but now just sound samey and I am sick of them. Way too long too especially since it's just the same thing over and over please move on. Thank god it's over. Final Thoughts: Anna do not listen again, it just made you cross. 2 out of 5.
Sounds very much of its era, like film music almost, lots of brass. It's alright, can appreciate it, feels kinda classy, defo not my bag though. 2/5
Volgens mij is dit heel goede jazz. Helaas ben ik niet zo'n liefhebber van deze muziekstroming. Het nummer \"duet\" vond ik echt te heftig. In het algemeen voor mij dus een sterretje minder. Zang is wel geweldig, oftewel lekker instrumentaal XD.
I’m not a fan of Big Band Jazz but I appreciate these well arranged songs and expert musicianship. This band is toight! Halfway thru it all sort of blends together and when the tempo slows down I got to catch my breath and enjoy Lil Darling. But those loud brassy horns don’t do it for me.
There is nothing bad to say about the musicians but the sound just isn’t as good as the jazz that going on around the same time. I guess I never really got into this genre. The tunes that Spotify auto played after this were quite good. Something about the Count doesn’t work for me.
More big band than expected, so ergo better. Still some noodly jazz, but hey ho. Clearly very good.
The juxtaposition of the music to the album cover is confusing. A bit like an owl doing the splits, I'm afraid. Must do better. Declan Rice's girlfriend.
As far as classical/orchestra music goes, this was fine. If you've got an elevator around, this would be right at home there.
Свинг/джаз в чистейшей его форме. Ничего плохого сказать я не могу, но и восторга, пожалуй, не возникло совсем.
It makes me want to sip whiskey from a highball in a dark club, smoking cigarettes and being chill, None of which I would do in real life.
Some of the jazzy bits were ok but then the horns and everything came back in. I hate all the big band stuff
Chock full of swing music! Every track seems to meld together and none of them stuck out to me. Very nice background music.
No acostumbro a escuchar este tipo de música pero me ha gustado mucho la canción "the kid from red bank". Eso sí no volvería a escuchar el disco de seguido.
I know this is a critically acclaimed big band jazz album but man this music just doesn’t land with me. I couldn’t listen to it straight through without hitting next before a song was done. Maybe it’s great live and in its era. The song Double-O was kinda fun I guess?
hvaða fucking rugl er þetta ég er ekki 95 ára gamall, hvers vegna í andskotanum er þetta á þessum lista, djöfull er þetta boring shit, 1 stjarna fuckit
Og animated cartoon kinda vibes