Reviews (page 4 of 13)
A bit too long to listen to which a real focus
I've listened to this before so I went in fully expecting this to be a 5. While it was still a great listen, I didn't enjoy it quite as much this time around.
Not my cup of tea. But calm and good for chill/sleep imo
A good album from start to finish, though I the more energetic numbers (particularly the opener) most.
Lovely. A standard
This is obviously great - just to get that out of the way. Big band is not my favorite jazz genre but Basie is widely considered one of the best to ever do it. I really enjoyed Whirly-Bird. That one will go into the rotation.
I have only good things to say about the Count -- huge figure in jazz history, very successful bandleader, highly likable, very accomplished musician. Big band sessions are tough ... it's hard to hear anything beyond the spectacle of A Lot of musicians playing together. I tend to prefer his small combo albums, of which he did many late in his career (in part, I think, because of changes in the market; big bands are expensive). His album And the Kansas City 7 (Impulse, 1962) is one I know well and have great fondness for. In the more intimate settings, you can hear more clearly that he is not just a bandleader, but a legit excellent pianist. This album is quite good, though ... one of the things that's tough with the Count is that his catalog is bewildering. So many albums, so many repackages of sessions, often drawn from various decades. Hard to sort it all out. I don't know that this stands out so far from a bunch of his other albums. Maybe it does. I'm no expert. It's not amazing, but it's good. Fantail is really nice. To me, that's how the big band format works best: a very punchy, lively theme, with everyone knocking it out in tight coordination, then clearing out to let a strong soloist shine. Always nice to spend a bit of time with Mr. Basie!
Count Basie is playful--in fact he's hilarious. Whatever he does, he turns it up to eleven--even when it's a slowpoke, sad-sack walking blues, as in "After Supper." He wielded his Orchestra like a incandescent giant, and was gracious enough to take his audiences along for the ride. As a youth I was only momentarily attracted to big-band music. Maybe it was the hangover of playing trumpet in mid-school band class; more likely it was my magpie-gnat's attention span for life in general. I'm thoroughly enjoying his big bold brass much more today.
Splanky was my favorite. Very mellow in parts. I enjoyed the album but I don't think I'll add it to my playlist.... Maybe too frantic feeling for me a times.
Reading bad reviews of this record makes me a little angry. I get that this is all subjective blah blah but I mean even if you don't like this type of music how do you not like this record? I don't understand. Anyway aside from getting upset while reading the general reviews of this album, listening to this made me very happy to be doing this project. I don't think I would ever have listened to this on my own and I really enjoyed it. I'm always more of a lyrics person which has usually made instrumental jazz harder for me to connect with, but this album made me happy. I could definitely see putting it on as a mood-lifting background album.
Erg mooi
Fantastic swing album. Definitely hit the spot! It was upbeat, and had a lot of "idc" energy. I especially like Flight of the Foo Birds.
It's kinda hard for me to rate big band swing because I don't have too much of a basepoint, but I liked most of this! For an early album, I think this is sequenced quite well. The album tends to alternate between slower laid back tracks and the more upbeat swing portions. At the same time I don't really have as much to say here as usual. It was pleasant and has some great hooks and I really liked "whirlybird". This would be a great album to listen to in a hot tub at a casino or something.
Really enjoyed this. Very pleasant and exciting. No notes.
8/10 Solid swing. I especially appreciate how each song sounds quite different from the others - it gives the album more interest, making it feel less like background music and more like something attention-grabbing and interesting.
4/8
Not my type of thing, but surprisingly good to listen on the background. It creates a relaxed ambiance, while being complex to listen to.
Excellent. Love those horns.
I fuckin' love jazz, man. I don't know what else to say this was just a good jazz album. Favorite Track: The Kid from Red Bank
I loveee jazz so this album is great
My dad was a big jazz fan. Me not much. Cool cover. I give it 4 stars. It sounds good. If you are a jazz fan get it.
I don’t know why exactly but I love this album
Really surprised by how much I liked this album. I didn’t realize it was going to be swing/jazz based on the album art. I would listen to this again
Oh this was soothing
Fast riff, brass blast! Count Basie drops a atom bomb on the jazz map. Heal the groove, let it snap! Thad Jones blows hot, high, fast. No slow blues, no past. Hear that rhythm section cooking up a storm? Lockjaw Davis keeping it warm. Freddie Green chords tight, bright, neat. Sonny Payne driving the beat. Splanky jumps, Lil' Darlin' sighs. Nuclear energy under evening skies. Neal Hefti wrote these charts so mean, Cleanest swing machine ever seen! Not quite perfect, but it shines so bright, Four out of five stars tonight. Boom! Snap! Basie bops the room!
she whirl on my bird til i splanky
Nicht was ich üblicherweise höre.. Aber Topp Arrangement und Solisten, so dass es Spaß macht
An unexpected piece of gold in a Britpop-dominated list! Didn't know what to expect, as this predates my parents' music, but from the opening The Kid from Red Bank, this was the bomb (pun intended)! Bridges big band, swing and jazz with a timeless sound. The hero, for me, is the bass player—he got quite the workout, laying the foundation for some hot tunes and peppy piano and horns. If I were 35-40 years older, I imagine this would have been my jam (of course, I also likely wouldn't still be around, but I'm glad this album is)!
Monday May 25th, 2026. I really liked this album because I am a fan of big band jazz. While this, to me, doesn't compare to Duke Ellington or Glenn Miller, it certainly is pretty good. A lot of the licks are very nice and I like the theming of the album. The variety of songs is also nice. 8/10. Also the trombone low notes in "Duet" and "Flight of the Foo Birds" were very peak.
Big band that doesn’t overstay its welcome and knows how to be quiet. I do prefer Neal Hefti’s louder arrangements to his quieter ones, but the mix of the two is really nice on this album, and no song choice feels too jarring. Fun, easy, and well aged.
Это оч прикольная и атмосферная музыка! Жаль, что я не особо люблю такое слушать на постоянной основе
I can't explain why, but this is exactly the sound I was looking for lately. Almost 70 years later, it still sounds great. Rich. Expensive. A quality time with a recording, with all it's meanings. The compositions are great but the thing here is the arrangements and playing. The rhythm section is super solid, the brass arrangements are stunning, and Basie's piano notes are so tasty. What a pleasure. A high high 4.
Familiar with the man, but not so much the music. The juxtaposition of this compared to contemporary recordings like Kind of Blue or Mingus Ah Um is really interesting, incredibly different but with streams of common ground. Overall very enjoyable. 4/5
Pretty cool album. I’m more in love with the album artwork than the music itself though.
Slightly repetitive but amazing
I really enjoyed this one. Not something I would normally listen to but it was a lot of fun. There was a nice variation between upbeat and slower songs. The album made for good listening while I was working, I really liked the energy. Something I would come back to for background music. Fav song: Flight of the Foo Birds Least fav: Double-O
This album won two awards at the first ever Grammys, so I'm glad to hear it for music history reasons alone. I was bit apprehensive seeing it was a jazz album but ended up actually really liking it- I think it's the use of shorter structured songs rather than the long improvisational pieces I've come to dread. Felt a bit like I should be in West Side Story at points, that or a 60s dinner party having a cigarette and a prawn cocktail in a conversation pit. Favourite song: After Supper Least: Double-O
A veritable explosion of sound that shimmers and shakes in all the best ways. Would never have chosen to listen to a record like this if it were not selected for me, and now I feel like I will go back to this one often.
Not someone I'd heard of before but a lot of fun. I'll definitely listen to this one again,
Really liked this - "Tom and Jerry jazz" is where my brain immediately went.
Cool and classy listen. Count Basie always makes me think of a theatre named after him I've gone to a few times now
Choons
Man knows his way around a trumpet
Strong 8 to light 9 good big band
não tem como errar com um jazzinho de malandro, aiiiii sim neneeem
No tengo ni idea del género, pero me lo he pasado muy bien escuchándolo. Vivan las big bands!
Virtuosity!
Caveat - not a fan of Jazz; however, I recognize this as quite good. I enjoy the brassy, swingy sound.
I enjoyed this record. Very sweet swinging and even some moodier sounds too. Favourite Track(s): The Kid from Red Bank, Flight Of The Foo Birds, Whirly-Bird Least Favourite Track(s): Double-O, Lil' Darlin'
same effect as amphetamines
Fly like Tom, get high like Jerry
Solid
un album para dejar de fondo y musicalizar tu rutina me da mucha paz su sonido
Great session with some standout performances.
Fun! Great music to work to.
Harry Connick, Jr. loves this album. As far as jazz albums go, it's a good one. Teddy the Toad feels like a really appropriate title and now I want to make an animated Teddy the Toad limited web series based on this theme song featuring a hip, conked out toad and his various misadventures with Freddie the Frog and his best gal Nora the Newt. This could be the alternate soundtrack to Spike Lee's Malcolm X prior to his jailhouse conversion.
That Count Basie is a real hep cat! He sure can swing! He’s got a band that’ll pop your juice to the moon! I have no idea what I’m talking about! Great album, just not in my ballpark. One question though, Count: what the fuck with the album cover?
Very nice. Really liked the big band setting but still with that relaxed atmosphere.
Such easy listening. Love a big band vibe. Could have this type of stuff on in the back all day. I don’t know the Count, but I know the Count is known to be the man. Couple times through, no disagreements. Will listen much more.
Fallout vibes
This isn't the earliest of jazzes, but it's far more big-band than the experimentalism we normally imagine for the genre. Back when jazz was dance music as much as anything. It's part of why I hate “dance music”. You can dance fine to pretty much any music that's got the proper beat. And this does. You can picture a dancehall full of people. Because this is so associated stylistically with a thousand mediocre Sinatra wannabes, Big Band sometimes just feels perfunctory. Trite even. Just Big horn blasts, Vegas veneer, a vague feeling of mob toadies hanging around. But the best stuff is still about expression. Basie has always been able to walk that line, where the music feels well composed and flexible instead of just being a boring backdrop… it seems Basie is part of the reason music like this started having the ability to improvise and experiment, so right there, his influence cannot be ignored. But Basie was so many things: here, he is largely conductor and pianist, but he's also an arranger, a writer, someone who brought any number of names into the spotlight. It's not an everyday listen sort of album, but I'm glad it's out there and it's fun to spin such a solid example of what this COULD be freed from the rigidity of the standards set. 4*
jazzzz
Rating:★★★★ very nice jazz, I enjoyed listening to this album. great big band sound. also Count Basie has some early career roots in KC, which is known for very nice jazz music.
I listened to this album on my drive to work on a slow and lethargic morning, trying to find the motivation to start writing again. The allusions to atomic energy in the title and cover of this album had led me to expect a bit more of an experimental or violent sound, so the standard jazz performances threw me off for a second. However, once I got into the vibe of this album, I started to click. The performances from Basie's orchestra are incredibly funky, with plenty of solos and flourishes to keep things fresh. This is probably the first time I've ever listened to strictly instrumental swing jazz, and it also delivered its solos at a more subdued pace than I was used to, but it was a welcome change of pace for me. This might just be a symptom of me listening to this album in 2026, in a culture which has assigned new meanings to this particular sound, but I can't help but feel like this album maintains a bit of a somber vibe, almost like I should be hearing this record in a Fallout game. This is the exact kind of record I wish I had on vinyl. Highlights: Duet, After Supper, Flight of the Foo Birds, Teddy the Toad, Whirly-Bird, Midnite Blue, Splanky, Fantail, Lil' Darlin'
cool
NJ again baby! Redbank mentioned. I feel like I’m in a Tim and Jerry episode from the 40s (that’s a positive). Slightly over stimulating at times. The song names are great. Jazz isn’t my favorite genre but I like it. Rating this as a jazz album I give it 4/5 but that’s because I don’t have much knowledge about jazz.
Beyond a couple greatest hits collections, a collaboration with Frank Sinatra, and a trio record, I haven't heard a lot of music by Count Basie. This collection from 1958 consists of a set of tunes written by and arranged by Neal Hefti. I really can't argue with its inclusion in this collection. It's a really enjoyable record. It is still firmly within the swing tradition, but there are a few Ellingtonian moments on the record. The melodies are fantastic, the arrangements are good, and the playing is excellent. I would definitely pick up this record if I come across it as a record shop.
>First Jazz album I listen to 9/10 >This is how music should feel
Very jazzy, must say. And Big Band-y. Not entirely my thing, but sounded cool!
There's plenty of reasons I like this, but my favourite one is because I can imagine my granny singing 'doo doo doo' to the rhythm of the bass in my head. Great combination of the bass pacing out the music while the trumpets bring the energy.
Iba a poner lo de siempre respecto al jazz en casa, pero ha habido temas que me han sorprendido
Veldig gøy å plutselig få opp en særdeles velkjent åpningsvignett som førstelåt, og generelt gøyal jazz æ likte. Har hørt overraskanes lite på Count Basie så langt i livet?
I really fw with big band music. 3.5/5
*THIS REVIEW IS FOR “TIME OUT” BY THE DAVE BRUBEK QUARTET* Pretty good Jazz album.
I really enjoyed this album. It felt fantastically cheeky & full of energy, epitomised by Splanky which was by far my favourite track. Whilst I'll never progress to be a jazz or swing expert, this record felt fun, well put together & interesting throughout.
Very good album!
very nice, groovy jazzy saxxy but i feel like im in the Stanley Hotel for a ghost ball tho
I actually really liked this, cool to listen to a much older album
gutes album
really enjoyed this one. good morning music.
I really enjoyed the listen. I found the alblum artwork interesting when comparing to the music. If I just saw the alblum cover without the words, I would have expected something totally different. How times change. I might be biased but I love this type of music
I really enjoyed listening to this. Puts you in a good mood!
Solid
25/04/2026 This was actually okay. Spotify listeners: 3.2 million
Good big band. Low 4. 3.7/5 (Low 4 = 3.5-3.7) (Mid 4 = 3.8-4.1) (High 4 = 4.2-4.4)
Smittsomt energisk jazz. Gøy og lett å høre på
Dette er en plate og artist jeg vil høre mer på.
My favourite album from the 50s
foda
SLAPS. Also: boom.
It may be old, but it is very good. It also reminds me of Sheriff Bart riding into Rock Ridge which always makes me happy (though that song is not on this album). A truly classic album.
Tellement bien les big bang, et la pochette de l'album ne te prépare pas du tout à du jazz qui balance
3.5 rounded up
Tough as fuck!!!
3.5/5
🐝
Not really my thing, but this was solid. A 3 for my listening pleasure, probably a 5 for the genre.
I liked it a lot
Musik meiner Kindheit und ziemlich perfekte Mischung aus strengem Big Band Arrangement und Jazz Solos. Ich habe das Count Basie Orchestra sogar mal live gesehen, lange nach Basies Tod. Irgendwie alles ein bisschen zu groß für mich, aber schön, es laut zu hören.
I had to listen and relisten to this for days. It's good, really good, but I find it pretty safe. Jazz coloring inside the lines. Still though, I enjoy it. 3.8/5 -> 4/5
I enjoyed this
Good Jazz
not what i usually listen to but its nice 6/10
Ken Oath. One of the great sleeves.
Swingin'
i've enjoyed it 8/10
I had low expectations for this one, but what a fun listen. This is super tight, well-arranged, all the musicians are in top form, and it’s just enjoyable to listen to.
10/10 no notes. Fabulous album to listen to while working. Minus 1 star for making me crave Olive Garden breadsticks and an evening at Jazz TX because I can’t do those things all the time.
dance-y and fun to listen to! it wasn't exactly the right mood for my working day, but now I want to go to a party where this is playing!
Patrolling the Mojave makes you wish for a nuclear winter
Swing baby swing into my ears.
So fun need to listen to more jazz
it was very insightful, the lack of voclas on a track provided a new persective on music creation in terms of how all the instruments come together in harmony which makes it very very pleasing to the ears....i listen to all of the album in one afternoon just paying attention to everything fom yhe simplicity of the drums to the trumpets to everything about it
Amazing opening, feels like the cover work Whirly-Bird and Fantail were both fun The ending feels like a soft and sad goodbye Best: Midnite Blue
This one actually really slapped, you get the impression this went haaaaard in the 50s and they are going so hard. I wasn’t really expecting this going into it but it was a very rousing album. Yeah I said rousing!
ngl this slapped! maybe it's cos i was wearing a new trench coat but I got really into the 50s big band vibe in a big ol' way. surprisingly fun!
Very high energy big band album, that swings well enough to make me tap my feet or sometimes even dance a little.
No complaints
Para escuchar mientras estudias está buena
Really enjoyable! Will be listening to this one again
Neal Hefti wrote some great arrangements and the opening Kid From Redbank nearly achieves lift off! Hard swinging album from the Count. Great stuff! 4
23 Skidoo!
Chill jazz, can't fault it really
*Incredible big band sound in Basie's late stages *I still prefer quartet, quintet, etc. jazz from the 50s on over this
This is a good one. 4 stars
I don't have the musical vocabulary necessary to say anything intelligent about this album. This is good jazz. Count Basie is good at jazz. I enjoyed it, and added it to my library. When I saw the album cover, I thought it was a Ministry album.
I wish the music were as striking as the album cover. I liked it, but it kind of came and went without much notice for me. Maybe I was distracted. I saved a few tracks to my instrumental playlist, so I'll revisit. Rounding up to 4 because I'll be coming back.
I don’t love big band jazz, but this is really strong.
Not usually a fan of jazz but this record is surprisingly enjoyable
Not gonna write per track here but I love Basie and his band in large part because of Neal Hefti. Ofc the compositions are great, but I gotta give real props to the restraint in arranging on this album. The Count Basie Orchestra included some of the best musicians to pick up their instruments. Surely they could absolutely murder any chart put in front of them with virtuosic playing. But Hefti's charts all feature such subdued arranging tactics and had already done that before this album. When you expect the band to explode in a beefy wave of horns, they suddenly pull way back and instead require the listener to lean in. And that subdued style that lends to thoughtful playing is a known hallmark of Basie's piano, too. I think Hefti's arrangement and Basie's playing lead the whole band to play their solos with a little more thought. Some of the baddest motherfuckers in music that could definitely rip the fastest most complex shit ever, but everything is played with such a careful touch and THAT makes it funky. Plus that's not to say the band doesn't know when to shout and get up in your face about it, they sure do know when to do that. Anyway I only ramble all that cuz this one's well known to me and yeah I love this album and it makes me smile. Lil Darlin was described to me a while ago as being played at "grown ass man tempo".
Great big band work. I love that the album gave a variety of high tempo, crazy energy charts, while slow, emotional, and beautiful ballads were chronologically paced along the record wonderfully.
I have the feeling that if we include jazz, we may end up with 1001 jazz records. This is obviously very good, even if I'm not a jazz expert.
Nice
Really enjoyed this slice of big band jazz - they just don’t make music like this any more.
Fun. Frenetic. Top notch musicians. I'm glad I was introduced to this album.
Enjoyable listen...not my regular vibe. I liked listening to it at work... perhaps it will work its way on to my playlist.
4/5, a wonderful listen if you enjoy big band jazz. The selection, arrangement, and execution of these songs are absolutely excellent the whole way through. Not something for everyone, but if you like the genre, it'll be a joy.
Not bad. Good for backgound music when doing something else.
I don't really have much to say on this, because my exposure to both swing and big band is so lacking that it may as well be non-existent. Yet, it was fun. I orchestral swing, even if I don't listen to it much. It's very much a "vibe" that's easy to sink into and just simply enjoy, and "The Atomic Mr. Basie" is no different. Favorite Track: Honestly, my issue is that they all sound more or less the same to my untrained ears, with some being slower-tempo while others are more rapid, bombastic swing. "The Kid from Red Bank" is a great opener, with a really playful piano solo.
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Great - I like this album a lot. Swings like hell, the only track I'm not keen on is the closer but overall a fantastic album.
Fantastic
my brain-rotted ass had me thinking i was listening to a family guy episode with flight of the foo birds this album definitely got me in the mood to watch a chicago or moulin rouge to scratch that musical in a the big bustling city vibe
Immediately jumps into it, blasting you with rhythm! I thought this one was a really fun mix of songs, from upbeat bops to smooth slow sounds, it's a good 40mins of sweet sounds!
Fun well paced big band, really quite liked this
My Dad was keen on big bands and the swing era, so today's album taps into some childhood nostalgia. The arrangements are brilliant and I love how minimalist the count's playing is.
Some nice jazz piano and orchestra. More upbeat that I would have thought given the album cover. I could see this as an nice record to have on for an energetic, upbeat sunday.
Nice, big band
No siendo un fan del jazz, he de confesar que, entre todos sus subgéneros, las big bands en particular, me chiflan. No lo busco a la hora de escuchar música pero hoy me he deleitado con este álbum mientras hacía las tareas de la casa, y es que planchar, hacer las camas o pasar la fregona a ritmo de swing es hasta vigorizante. Minipunto para Count Basie por poner un granito de groove a tan tediosa existencia.
This is not my typical go-to music, but this was great. It took me back in time to place that was more innocent and simple - years before I was born and a different world than today. I can see myself playing this again for the right occasion.
Swingin'!
energetic elevator music in the best way
Incredible album art. I hope the music lives up to it. The jazz was good. I have not listened to enough jazz to really know good from great to be honest, but I enjoyed the whole album front to back. I would listen again if I was looking for some jazz I suppose.
Felt like I was on the titanic
The (literally) explosive cover art must have had an impact in the late 50s, a time when album covers were meant to show the artists and nuclear tensions were high. Count Basie was a powerhouse of his era and this album shows him at his peak. It's also probably the peak of big band music, as the genre was about to give way to rock n roll. Basie showcases what was great about the style before it faded away to obscurity. And it feels very much alive as he does it. One wonders how we lost this music but it's probably simply a matter of practicality. You needed a "big band" to get that effect before Sister Rosetta Tharpe showed the world that the electric guitar could do it much more easily. Still, it's a great document of a bygone era and it feels easy to imagine the excitement of being there.
good old jazz, swing
Very enjoyable. I have listened to a little Count Basie in the past but will have to check out some more.
Crazy album cover for what played. It was good a bluezzy.
Das überrascht mich! Tolle Kombination aus Albumcover und Musik. 4.5/5
It took a couple of rounds but I think I’m convinced this is both interesting and entertaining, not overly cerebral jazz but something with an intention.
the king of swing!! not sure why this album in particular, but Count Basie rocks
That was great
You gotta be giving your love to the Countm
Man, this is some grade-A Fallout-Core. Helps that I'm playing through Fallout 4 right now, hits the spot haha. Was wondering why I never heard his music in the games, but apparently a song of his is in Fallout 76. I need to check that one out.
This music (that we get here every day) sure is all over the place, huh? This one makes me think of the recent Ray Charles (which I only gave 3 stars), but I'm inclined to give this one 4 stars, and not sure why the difference, exactly. I think because it doesn't feel quite so slick and formulaic? It's plenty *tight*, but it also really swings. This one and the Ray Charles came out around the same time (one 1958, one 1959), so both before my time, and at a time (though already fading a lot by then, I think) when people *danced* to music (often at live performances) more than they do today. I bet it was fun to dance to this music. Also, right now "Fantail" is playing (track 10 of 11), and that bass is really jamming :) - and then the sax, too. And now track 11, I realize, is familiar (it's a theme song for some program I hear on WDCB, I think), and it's killer, too. So, yeah, this is a solid 4 for me (and, if this is your jam, and you gave it a 5, I wouldn't argue with you). But, I guess, if it's not, and you gave it 3 stars, no argument there, either.
it's tasteful, it's classy this might be the pinnacle of big band jazz. these great arrangements provide plenty of contrast that make the whole album enjoyable - from frantic swingin to relaxed groovin
I really enjoyed this fun, jazzy album. Made me want to dance, but I was driving…
A few years ago I took this class on American pop music & jazz, where the professor would take us through the history of American music each week. I remember when we got to this stuff, swing and big band, I loved it in class because it was such an exciting departure from the lame, stuffy, boring music hall stuff we had heard before. When I got home and listened to it again, it wasn't as good, because I was listening to it in between listening to more modern music. All of this is to say, context is important here - records that were mind-blowing then aren't always mind-blowing now. Or something like that.
Cet album m’a clairement réconcilié avec le jazz car les sonorités sont vraiment smooth et reposantes, ce qu’il faut se punch et en meme temps bien musical et recherché. Count basie est un pianiste surnomme la machine a swing, middle jazz ochestral. Le count basie orchestra aura ete un tremplin pour beaucoup de musiciens majeurs.
Fun classic jazz swing. Don’t probably know enough to get only the finer distinctions of what might set this apart from others but this will definitely be on my jazz list to listen to around the house. From Musicboard (OG 1/13/26, [#19] Imported 2/26/26)
GREAT for study music! Maybe not Road trip vibes though
Enjoyable
Enjoyable. 4 stars
The album cover did not match this at all. What a pleasant surprise!
basie nailed it, this shit IS splanky!
Loved this album. As I get older, I long for nostalgia, and this reminds me of listening to music at my grandparents house on their giant console HiFi set.
Lively, quirky and with a few songs being perfect for dancing.
I loved this. Approachable, snap-inducing, and timeless.
This evokes all the best jazz & big band scenes that movies have placed rent-free in my head. The upbeat vibes are always front and center in big band music. Even the slower songs have an air of happiness. This is music that is fun to listen to and will never get old for me.
Soft jazz album with no lyrics
Jazz, pfft they just make it up as they go along, anyone can do that. In all seriousness though, this album was a great listen from the first note. I usually prefer blues jazz over the big band sound, however the skill level of the musicians and the overall composition was awesome. The horns and piano trade the main melody/spotlight really well, while the walking bass and restrained drums provide a solid foundation. The best thing about this list is stepping out of my comfort zone, and while there’s been a few duds, albums like this one are definitely rewarding.
Didn't know this was the dude who played the piano for fly me to the moon Gotta see if my dad has it on vinyl
classic
Just general feel good music. The harmonies are absolutely crazy Highlights: Midnite Blue, Lil Darlin
Pretty good jazz album
Goddamn, these cats are cooking. Ughhh they’re swinging!!
BIG BAND JAZZ! Great way to start the day Favorite Songs: Lil' Darlin', The Kid from Red Bank
Goes hard
Fun album showcasing a lot of talented musicians. Despite the age of this music it holds up with a style and sweep that has so far held up over time and been reused/quoted and reworked even now.
Loved this album! Felt like a huge, exciting end to the big band era. There's this cool "fun with doom" vibe to it. The music is super tight but also feels fresh. It's got everything from super energetic tracks to more mellow ones, total balance. And even though I'm not always into jazz, the musicians are amazing. It's a really cool, polished record that totally captures the 50s.
timeless and great, but i don't think i'm just gonna put it on for casual listening highlights: Flight of the Foo Birds
Not what I expected at all but thoroughly enjoyed it
Not what I thought this was gonna be jazz. Meaning of don't judge a book by it's cover.
Not usually a fan of swing based jazz but this kept a good amount of energy throughout and had a number of interesting solos thrown in. Some technically proficient musicians should be par for the course but they come together here to be something greater than the sum of their parts. Probably worth a listen in more detail again to get the most from it.
not what I expected by album cover, nice album tho would recommend
There's a reason Count Basie's name is still known all these years later
When I got this album generated I saw this very punk album cover with an atomic bomb explosion, so I was amazed when I read a second later that the record was actually released in 1958. The jazz guys were truly ahead of their time with making original album covers! A Big Band album where brass is the predominant sound, The Atomic Mr Basie is a very fun listen and a joyous album all around. My young ears hadn't even realised until I read other reviews that this is the kind of music people used to dance to 70 years ago, but this must be some amazing album for that. 4/5
great classic big band!
Great stuff from The Count.
214/1001 Count Basie - The Atomic Count Basie Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ This was absolutely wonderful. It's quite in your face and a lot going on. Definitely need more listens to catch the subtleties.
One of the best Big Band leaders, the big uptempo tunes are where he shines, but the slow tunes drag if you're not dancing
The Atomic Mr Basie is quite enjoyable. It comes from right at the end of the big band jazz era and feels like one last hurrah for the genre. I really liked "Splanky", although "The Kid from Red Bank" and "Flight of the Foo Birds" were good as well. This album leaves me wanting to try out more albums of the genre. Favorite Song: "Splanky"
Classic big band jazz
najdžez album ikada. klasika. veoma dobro.
Great vibes
2/2/26 - listened on drive to dentist. Banger of a big band jazz album. Top Song - Duet
Count Basie was always my favorite of the big band leaders, although despite listening to compilations and learning to play some of his standards, I never listened to one of his LPs. In a way, I’m surprised be reviewing his work this list since so much of his output is from before the standardization of the long-playing format. But, of course, this release shows him moving with the times and responding to the changing habits of music consumers. Maybe I’m reading into the title too much, but for me, this music evokes the aspirational energy of a world entering the Space Age, wrestling with the tensions of a society that has just engineered its own destruction. But the brightest spots are tracks like “Lil’ Darlin’,” which feel like a bittersweet appreciation for the present moment, in its ephemeral and unfixed beauty.
Given the history of the Count and his place in music history, this is a great album by a great artist. It does not confine to a single subgenre, but rather spans and exemplifies all of Basie’s talents whether that be Big Band, swing, bop or ballad. Powerful artist, powerful album cover and explosive sound.
Really Good Big Band. I haven’t heard much Basie, and it’s not a genre I listen to that often, but this is a really solid record
I've never listened to so much jazz in one go before. Jazz and baking are a great combination. I don't really understand this kind of music. Today I finally realised that it doesn't matter for my enjoyment and appreciation. To my surprise, I had a great time.
This was great!
Straight bops
Menevää swingiä ja big band menoa. Joskus kuunnellut ihan LP:ltä ja iski sillon jo hyvin. Ehdottomasti talletan arkistoihin ja jos tulee vastaan fyysinen kappale niin ostan hyllyyn.
Damn the cat really swings
Więc to jest swing? Nie wiem, ale mi się podobało. Myśle, że jest potencjał, żeby wrócić do niego
Für eine Swing-Platte schon ziemlich geil, auch wenn ich sonst eher wenige Berührungspunkte mit dem Genre habe.
Ich weiß nicht was es ist, aber das hier hat was. Allein das Album Cover hat ne 5 verdient
A lovely little album, I am excited to play it on a cozy day.
My type of timing here
Lovely jazz album that was classic and warm but also had feelings of some complex emotions
Before: Well this should be interesting. I really don't know what to expect. Of course I know of Count Basie but can't name a single one of his songs. A quick check of Discogs shows the genre as Big Band. OK, I admit, I never listen to this kind of music on purpose, only if it happens to be part of a movie score. During: And it is interesting. Definately not bad as background music. I'll probably listen to this twice. It's going to be hard to rate though as I do agree that it's really good, but it's not something I'll continue listening to after this exercise is done. Maybe this will be one of the few exceptions I make. I mean, if I can make an exception for The Residents, I can make one for Count Basie. After: I listened to the whole thing 3 maybe 4 times over the course of the day. I decided to not make any exceptions and stick with my current rating system and while I do agree the album is very good and I would consider it "essential" , it's not I can see listening to a lot and not getting bored with it after a while.
I liked it
It's so incredibly metal to put the mushroom cloud on this cover - for the time this was akin to releasing something like a dubstep album with 9/11 on the cover in 2013. This was the dance music of the time and the band is dialed in. This is a lot more fun than small quartet/quintet jazz - just a big raucous sound and a huge variety in instruments. It rocks!
Na
Superb big band
⚛️🤯🕴️
Listened whilst washing up Enjoyable even if it’s it what I’d normally to
Not my style but pretty good.
Amazing jazz album
Completely out of my normal range, but I had a LOT of fun with this. It somehow made me nostalgic for an era I never experienced. Like, I wanna have a cookout in my 1960’s backyard and invite the new neighbors over. Maybe throw our keys in a hat and see what happens.
some good jazz
feels like it belongs in fallout or something
This kind of jazz has been memed to death, but it's still fun. Do I like it? Yes. Would I like to listen to more albums, that sound like this? Hell no.
Dude I was feeling this album. I’ve never hard something more straight out of fallout and I’ve been watch the show so this is just so much fun! I actually loved this and that album cover is killer!
probably my favorite jazz record so far. i dont know if its because the songs are more individualized or because it leans more orchestral/big-band but i really really enjoyed it. favorite song is Double-O
Not really my style, but fun album regardless with fun song titles. I appreciate the bombastic nature of it all.
Love jazz, but I little less upbeat
really cool and really hip and super loved this. I don't often feel the need for some swingy big-band stuff but if I ever do this will be my first pick.
I loved this album. I have been loving jazz music and this was fast upbeat and put me immediately in a good and happy mood.
it's teletransports me to 50s
#1/1001🇺🇸 My first album on this project and so good to start with something out of ny normal listening habits. A wonderful slice of Big Band, Swing, Jazz - not really sure on the correct way to label the genre. So evocative of sitting in a smokey bar drinking bourbon in the 1950s.
It's decently old school big band goodness that still makes room for some lovely solos. If you're a nerd like me and enjoy the snippets of jazz and swing you hear in Fallout, this will do you well.
Fuck I just love jazz
I loved this one! I had this album in my music files but just hadn't listened to it. Love the push to listen and enjoy.
Not being familiar with this album caused some whiplash from seeing that album cover to then starting the first track. I didn’t know they could be punk in the 50s
splanky 1958 united states swing, big band
Very good album. Very relaxing Melodies. Not a big fan of orchestra but I enjoyed this album. Made me feel like I was in a jazz club in the 1950’s. Fav Tracks: The Kid from Red Bank and Flight of the Foo Birds. Worst tracks: Double-O and Splanky. My rating: 8/10
Truly engaging and kept me locked-in at work
jazzy! fun! i like it
Punchy and swinging big band music on this album of songs written by and arranged by Neal Hefti who would become well known for some as the man that wrote the Batman Theme. It kicks off immediately with some punchy Brass on “The Kid From Red Bank” before quickly going into a fairly minimalist Piano Solo and it is clear as you go through the album that there is plenty of room for soloing from Basie on the Piano and the Sax and Trumpet players as the tracks progress. Trumpets on Duet (sounding quite wah wah and sleazy in places). Tempo changes from track to track and the album does not outstay its welcome at less than 40 minutes in which a lot is packed in. This is a great album and I can imagine in the pre rock n roll days how exciting it would have been to see a bigger jazz band like this in a hall belting out these tunes at volume. I listened to the original mix and the 1994 remaster and suggest that at least once you pop up the volume (maybe on headphones) and feel the atomic force of this band.
it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing
This just reminds me of high school concert band. One of my favourite songs we ever played was Splanky, such an explosive song to do, and whilst I didn’t play the lead trumpet part (I prefer 2nd cause I got to solo over everything), it’s something I always go back to. The rest of the album is just gorgeous, sweet trumpet melodies with lovely woodwinds and just sweet keys. I could listen to this music for my whole life and be just fine.
I've always been fascinated by the existence of Nuclear Weapons and their development in the context of the Cold War. Having the world always in a state of fear, knowing that at any second, the world would be turned into a long nuclear winter, as most remnants of life would be destroyed in such a brief time. Especially with the number of close calls that have happened, most significantly in the Cuban Missile Crisis and in 1983, with only Stanislav Petrov correctly calling that the incoming nuclear missiles were false alarms. How is this relevant to this album? No clue. But what Count Basie has made in this album is just so beautiful. His big band delivered such a fun and dynamic swing jazz album that would have made you forget that the world could end at any second.
hørt mens jeg spilte stardew valley. noen av de mer intense sporene var jeg ikke særlig fan av, men avslutningsporet var helt fantastisk. veldig glad jeg hørte gjennom.
good swing
Better than your typical swing jazz. I liked the bop influences. Basie shows why he’s a legend and a pioneer. Not my preferred flavor of jazz but it’s very well executed.
Excellent big band type music. Lots of great horn riffs with great beats. Very nice to listen to when in an upbeat mood. Lots of runs with dramatic finishes. It's great and I will be listening again.
Some great big band!
Good
Solid jazz, I liked it
I know that it said this album was from 1958, but I don’t know what I was expecting. I read the “Pop” identifier when I looked it up and, as a gay man, my conception of a what a pop album is has been shaped by pop divas. It was extremely jazzy, which makes sense given the time period, and right off the bat it was very playful. It’s refreshing to hear the instruments knowing that they were all being played live and it makes you stop and think about how it’s been preserved, taking into consideration the less advanced recording methods in 1958. I also enjoyed the impact the album cover has at first glance and that its imagery is in direct opposition to the feelings the music evokes. I just finished the album and I honestly loved it. There was never a point during the album where I found myself needing more or feeling uninterested. After the last song of the album ended, the rest of my queued songs began playing, and it was like listening with new ears.
- extremely enjoyed the swing element to this album and genre. - each song on the album are placed in such a great order from beginning to end making it feel like an experience rather than just an album.
I had, so much fun listening to this album , I had never listen to swing so it was a door to a whole new world.
no es un mal album por eso le doy 4 estrellas pero no añadi nada a mi playlist porq no me gustan instrumentales/sin letras (aun asi sea una frase reperida 1000 veces necesito que dija algo lmao)
Un clásico, es la primera vez que lo escucho y fue una experiencia muy buena. Me encanta este tipo de juego auditivo, entiendo que para muchas personas puede ser empujar los límites de lo que puede ser considerado música, pero en mi caso estoy acostumbrado a sonidos incluso más distorsionados así que este álbum me pareció una gran base para de-construir más en esas ideas. Como pequeña nota extra, Neil Cicierega le dio un gran uso a las rolas para crear algo muy único en su Mouth Series.
I loved this album. A time and sound I know very little about.
Flight of the Foo Birds
4 4 the sax. Love sax jazz
Very fun to listen while wrapping presents
One of the hardest album covers I've seen and it belongs to classical big band jazz
Very bluesy jazz. Full orchestra (?) -- certainly more than a standard jazz trio + horn player(s). Double-O has a great intro. Also liked the intro and piano on Fantail. Fantail also has some short but good drum solos. Lil darlin has an unusual stringed instrument for jazz. Sounds like it might be a harp.
Muy bueno, una gran forma de comenzar este viaje. Qué maravilla de orquesta.
jazzzzzzz very awesome
Despite jazz being difficult to get into, I respect the vibes and skill. An intrepid album that makes for easy listening.
Solid. Honestly not much to say. Enjoyed it tho
masterpiece
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. Every track blended so well into the next, it just felt so smooth while each individual track still had it's own identity. My personal favorite was " Teddy The Toad". Story telling with no words. It just oozes class!
felt like i was in the soundtrack of princess and the frog
Good album
ok - removing the voice instrument forces you to focus on arrangement, tempo, harmony - wonderful practice in music appreciation, but Basie is /was Basie, who didn't love him or want to work w him - after all he and Frank, Ella .. who doesn't appreciate that big band sound, just fabulous and the soundtrack of a simpler time where songs weren't littered w f bombs and nothing could mask your non talent - you either had it or you didn't, no BS autotune and all that - no Britneys in the 30s and 40s. Basie's band didn't need a vocalist bc the instruments 'spoke' instead
From a far gone era, but man that band is phenomenonal.
Fun!!!
Solid. Really liked a few tracks
screaming hot fire. album cover fucking rocks and does not lie. well, at least relative to the time period. not much was rocking this hard in the late 50s and i always have to respect a banger. big band music was definitely a bit outdated for the time, but this was bold and managed to stick, and that is something i'm thankful for. deserves to be one of the 1001? yes
A great big band recording from the late 50's. An all-time jazz legendary recording. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs The Kid From Red Bank Duet Whirly-Bird Splanky Fantail Lil' Darlin'
A great thing about this challenge is being given things I never would have listened to before. I was skeptical about this but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great musicianship on display and something I'll definitely listen to again.
Liking this more than I thought I would. My mom liked big band, and I assume she would have liked this. Fun stuff. This also feels jazzy, which would make it the first jazz album I score highly. I keep thinking I would like jazz, but have not liked what the list has given me so far. But hey, this gets a solid 4.
Kid from red bank är en fyra bara den
It felt like I was listening to an old movie but only told through music. Very cool. *insert image of cats cooking*
Relaxing background music
Count Basie is, to my shame, one of the few famous jazz musicians I have never listened to despite being recommended him by my guitar teacher over ten years ago. I went into this album with wide-eyed optimism as a lover both of jazz piano and big band and wasn’t disappointed. The Atomic Mr Basie contains a combination of upbeat danceable swing tunes as well as some slower more pensive compositions which give more space for the rest of the band to shine. I found myself comparing much of the faster portion of the album to Thelonious Monk who often put his piano playing front and centre of his work to great effect. I will say though on one listen I do think Monk’s playing just clinches it (see “Monk’s Music”). All in all a fun and accessible big band jazz album that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone looking to get into jazz for the first time.
Very pleasant album to listen to, with a little dull middle part unfortunately, it was well on its way to full marks. Now it unfortunately falls just short. 4/5
Fun big-band jazz from one of the greats. Very listenable.
Smooth rhythms chime
Impossible to not move to this. Foot tapping, body-saying excellence.
Great jazz, great album cover. Throw this on in the background and just vibe.
Big band? Excellent players--so tight and so swinging. Loved the Basie-centered Kid From Red Bank, and some excellent solos from sax and trumpet. Sounded great.
Perfect music for Thanksgiving prep. Love the Cold War vibe that is both spacey and swingy.
Pleasantly surprised. not what i expected from the cover
Big sound!
Like it!