Reviews (page 5 of 14)
A see this album as a turning point. A transition if you will from the big band jazz sound of the 40s and 50s, to the more cool/bop jazz sound of the 60s. I can hear elements of both. It’s good, it didn’t blow me away but I can certainly understand and appreciate the significance.
Love swing jazz
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
Bon album très intéressant pour l'époque. J'ai trouvé les parties au piano très simples mais délicates. J'ai beaucoup aimé "Duet" même si à la base, les sons très longs ne sont pas ce que je préfère.
A must listen!!
Superb big band
Não é tanto do meu gosto, mas é bom
I'm discovering that I really like instrumental jazz, especially while I work.
I know this is classic big band jazz, but at the point it just all sounds very generic to me. Not bad, just nothing that I would choose to listen to.
⚛️🤯🕴️
Listened whilst washing up Enjoyable even if it’s it what I’d normally to
Insanely insensitive album cover and album name but beautifully executed swing music. Also, Red Bank, NJ mentioned ❤️!
A very solid and representative big band record from the late 1950s. The highlights are the arrangements: sharp, elegant, and driven by a steady groove that keeps everything tightly locked in. The orchestra sounds compact and precise, with strong riffs and an excellent sense of balance throughout. That said, the album feels quite uniform from start to finish. There are no major surprises or dramatic shifts in mood or style, which makes it consistently enjoyable but ultimately limits its impact, leaving it a bit dull. Well suited for a light study session. Listened to the 1994 Roulette Jazz CD catalog number "7243 8 28635 2 6". Solid master overall. 6/10 While I enjoyed it, it’s not an album I’d actively choose to revisit in full.
qué les parece la música de fondoop
Not my style but pretty good.
Good but a little dull after a while
Bombastic and bold. I can appreciate it, but it’s not my style of jazz. I definitely dig the album cover.
Surprisingly enjoyable for being doodly doodly clarinets and saxes over the most taking-it-for-a-walk basslines.
perfect album to go about your life pretending you have a soundtrack, works for literally every activity
putting this on the list of "Jazz Albums for Dinner Parties I'll Never Throw"
Every once in a while we walked up to big band sound territory and I got a little excited. Overall fine.
Fucking love big band
Kjenningsmelodier
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.
Big band musicianship is impressive but the blasting horns puncuating throughout each song gets old. I don't doubt this is a good album for the genre. It's just not for me.
Mitä
some good jazz
feels like it belongs in fallout or something
I really liked it, it feels energetic and fun 12/1/26
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!
THIS RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need another 50 swing albums STAT
I like the vibe. Mr Basie has some talent.
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
Rating: 7/10 All around enjoyable and pleasant listen, I like the arrangements and such
Take a trumpet mix in a drum set bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes you get a neat but mostly forgettable 39 minutes of jazz 6.0/10
Big beat manifesto
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
I couldn’t stop movint
nice jazz, no lyrics tho? no voice? yeah...no
amazing instrumentals, cover art is impactful
please 1001 albums. i want an album that was made since the vietnam war ended. Also I was a jazz kid from ages 12 to 18. and like its good jazz but it doesn't make me feel anything ya know? I lied. I played Flight of the Foo Birds for my last Jazz concert of middle school. It took me right back. I miss my saxophone. 3 stars
This album made me want to get more into jazz! Listened to some of his other stuff with frank Sinatra and loved it.
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.
day 1
Big band jazz that can be great if you're in the right frame of mind, not so great if you associate tea room orchestras with it. This album is about trimness, not excess, every note is counted for and every note matters. Best Tracks: Flight of the Foo Birds; Splanky; Lil' Darlin'
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
Yea this is quite good. Excellent piano too. But overall it got a little boring by the second half and didn’t really enjoy it all that much by the end. Didn’t dislike. But didn’t like all that much either. Album cover is sick though.
Probably the best jazz album so far for my tastes. But the ceiling for jazz is still a 3 for me.
Just pleasant smooth jazz/swing
Look, jazz is jazz. We’ve been through this. What I will say is this is the most I’ve liked a jazz album so far, and if I could give it 2.5*, I would.
I don't like jazz (so far), but I do like big band and swing so this was an interesting test of which position won out. I enjoyed a ton of this album because I love the sound of muted trumpets (Duet was great). Nothing was too long and outstayed it's welcome, though I tended to enjoy the more up tempo tracks that the slower ones (After Supper and Midnite Blue were a bit too plodding for me). I liked the drummer going a bit Animal from the Muppets during Flight of the Foo Birds. I think I knew Splanky from somewhere, and I can't work out where, but it was one of my favourites on the album. Very 1950s Las Vegas, it just sounded cool. I can't actually ever imagine I'll sit down and listen to this again (I'm learning through this project that I need lyrics and an interesting vocalist for repeat listens) but I did enjoy it. 3.5 stars would be my ideal, but I'm going for: 3/5
The Kid from Red Bank - 3.5/5 Duet - 3/5 After Supper - 2.5/5 Flight of the Foo Birds - 4/5 Double-O - 3.5/5 Teddy the Toad - 3/5 Whirly-Bird - 3.5/5 Midnite Blue - 3/5 Splanky - 3/5 Fantail - 3.5/5 Lil' Darlin' - 2.5/5
It’s fine I guess
So. I'm not a fan of jazz. Has this album done enough to win me over? Maybe not, but I didn't feel like I had to turn it off. Perhaps because it segued into almost James Bond & Police Squad theme music at times so there was familiarity there.
Incredible album! Basie in general always means great big-band jazz, but this later era Basie is just so tight and arrangement based. I love this so much. My only complaint is I wish it was longer than 40 minutes.
Not a genre I've listened to often or intently, so I don't have much for reference points. I enjoyed this well enough.
Was very vibey and great as background music
3/5 Real nice jazzy album. Mr Basie IS atomic.
Mostly the orchestra part
Classical music, very inclined to the jazzier side of music. Sounds like a good warm cup of coco on a winter day in new york during Christmas. Makes me feel old school and theatrical especially with other albums by him.
#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
Very upbeat and fun
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.
good to listen to in the background, not my cup of tea
Not personally wild about the "Big Band" swing but this has some good stuff
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
3/5 schöne musik, „liftmusik“ würde ich aber nichr mehr hören. Rein instrumental.
Nope
Truly engaging and kept me locked-in at work
jazzy! fun! i like it
This was alright
unfortunately just not really for me. great music, just not something i’d come back to.
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
2.5. Some solid grooves, but a little...boring. Didn't hate it, but couldn't quite get my blood pumping past the first track
Swing e gøy men ikkje førr mæ egentlig
It was okay
It is very nice to have in the background while doing any kind of activity. It makes me feel like a cartoon character that is being aired on a black and white tv show in an old television box.
Great! Wild big band
27. not my thing
Not what I’d expect based on the cover art. There should be a saying about not making those sorts of snap judgements.
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.
- Depois da segunda guerra mundial e a ascensão do bebop, as big bands quase desapareceram. Tiveram que ser reinventadas por nomes como Dizzy Gillespie, com novos ritmos, acompanhamentos e improvisação. - Count Basie captura as tendências novas de Miles, Gil, Dizzy, Ellington e Kenton, com arranjos modernos de Neal Hefti, mas fazendo alusão ao swing clássico.
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.
Maybe I’m just not fancy but it’s so boring
With some big band music you feel like if one person were to play a wrong note the leader would crush them like a bug. This however feels like they are all just having fun.
Jazz is not my personal favorite but there is no denying the talent and skill of Count Basie. I probably won't pick it up it again, but I am better off knowing that this exists.
I don't know much about jazz but this was easy to listen to and fun. Whirly Bird caught my attention. I'm not sure I will listen again.
good swing
Atmospheric music with interesting use of instruments. I liked the double bass in Duet and the brass instruments. Would be good background music.
0/11 bekannt 3/10 Beste Songs: the kid from red bank, flight of the foo birds, Splanky Zu viel Jazz
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.
Have I said I don't like jazz? Now at least big band jazz is fun. It's a bit much, but it's fun. Like Pere Ubu I was slightly disappointed again this was American and not something a bit more roots. But for jazz it was listenable.
listened to this with a glass of wine while cooking on a sunny bank holiday. not sure if this would have worked as well in any other context but brilliant for today.
Hmm. I enjoy the basslines, the drums are fun and upbeat, the piano is alright... But I have always disliked the sound of the brass section of me in these big band recordings, they feel so abrasive to me and at such odds to the rest of it. It's the bit I end up concentrating on and it ruins the whole thing for me. The slow songs didn't have it, but the drums weren't as fun either.. not for me.
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.
The Atomic Mr Basie. Jazz album, not my style but interesting layers of sound. I enjoyed after supper as it was calmer than the rest of the album and had less aggressive trumpets! Piano intro on whirly bird was good. You can tell it’s from 1958 it feels like it would be played on a record at a fancy dinner party.
To me, this is the platonic ideal of swing/big band music. Since this is a purely instrumental album, I don't have enough musical training to coherently write about the details, but I sure enjoyed it. The propulsive opening of "The Kid from Red Bank" flows right into the groovy "Duet"; this song sounds like the soundtrack for strolling down a trendy city street on your way to a jazz club. "After Supper" is a more staid affair but the energy picks up again and doesn't much let up after that. I LOVE the brash brassiness of "Double-O"; the horns and saxophone just sound so good here. It's very 'noisy' and goes just to the edge of playing with dissonance, but also sounds warm and pleasant, which seems like such a difficult balance to achieve. "Teddy the Toad" is kind of a rhyming callback to "Duet". Next is the charming swagger of "Whirly-Bird" which will definitely wake up you with its relentless energy if you're feeling tired by this point. Then "Midnite Blue", which starts out slow and moody but eventually erupts. I really like the satisfying horn motif on "Splanky". And "Lil Darlin" gently closes out the album. Overall, there's not a dull song in the bunch! Albums like this are the reason I want to do this project, and The Atomic Mr Basie is definitely going into my regular rotation.
Not generally what I gravitate to but loved the change up. 3.5
Some great big band!
Not my vibe but the instrumentals are all fenomenal
Good
It was good. I like jazz and enjoyed it very much. Nothing more to add.
nice stuff !
Solid jazz, I liked it
Made me remember to sign up for Lindy Hop sometime, so that's worth a lot. Not my thing to just listen to on its own though. Faves: Flight of the Foo Birds, Whirly-Bird, Splanky
101 Dalmatiner jazz med masser af messing instrumenter.
Basse Greven er sikkert en mega dygtig musiker. Men den her form for swing-jazz tiltaler mig overhovedet ikke.
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.
Oved it
More like a grenade than a bomb.
Ce n’est pas spécialement ce que j’aime écouter!
- 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 didn't listen to all of it. I wasn't feeling very jazzy yesterday but I loved the few I listened to
Not my cup of tea.
very lovely easy listen so refreshing after all that crap
Orchestra isn’t my favorite genre. But this was cool
I enjoyed how this album encapsulated the essence of the time it was written. Would pair well with a dinner.
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.
Do you like big band jazz? Here is some big band jazz for you to like. I admittedly don't have enough familiarity with the genre to really be able to hear what was allegedly revolutionary about this but it's consistently fun and that counts for something.
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)
GOT DAYUM this goes hard. I wish I could've experienced this live. All of the instruments make their presence felt. Nothing excess, nothing missing, and an album cover that would make a punk band jealous.
oh so that’s not the genre i expected. i never listen to jazz so this being the first recommendation is quite cool since i would’ve never listened to it on my own!! feels nice before christmas + i need upbeat music at the moment love the cover art music to listen to while doing stuff but liked it!!
Don't often listen to swing. Paired it with some 50s book. Flow was very pleasing, It was a nice experience.
not my vibe but it was good
My dad told me that this song genre is called big band jazz I like it!
complete
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.
very fallout, good background music
Big band Jazz isn’t really for me. I don’t hate it but would never put this on
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
amazing arrangements, wide variety of grooves
Very fun to listen while wrapping presents
Not super familiar with this genre so I don't really have a point of comparison but this was a nice one to listen to.
loved it. listened to the album like 6 times on repeat without noticing
Pleasant big band sound.
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.
Too jazzy
Muy bueno, una gran forma de comenzar este viaje. Qué maravilla de orquesta.
Perfect for late night crafting
jazzzzzzz very awesome
Not my style.
too old times i feel racist
Really enjoyed the big band sound, but the pacing of this album goes from high to low to high too quick for my liking. I’d rearrange the order for a re-listen, but I’m definitely adding this to my rotation of mood music when I’m working about the house. Basie and the band are so locked in together it feels like a single breathing organism. Not voted higher because it’s music that I vibe but not enough to feel compelled to have on repeat.
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
It’s sound tbf
masterpiece
Just not for me but I can respect the skill.
9/10
Nice background music. Wouldn’t listen again
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
Jazzy album. Reminds me of a sixies heist movie. Not something I’m likely to return to though
Good screchey sax
Big band sounds are always a hit with me.
Good music, fun rhythms and nice instrument tones. Definitely more background music for me than anything though.
Good swing jazz done right, Some of those sax solos are absolutely filthy, love it!
Basie continues his string of albums that glide him gracefully through his later years!
Bad sign when you forget about it the day after
Good album
I've always loved Basie's cool, tasteful, minimalist style. And what a stellar band! Hard to find fault with this one. 4.5/5
I enjoyed listening to this Album as this first time I have heard Count Basies music and it won’t be the last
I love this so much. I could strut around my house all day to it
Now THIS is music. A rollin' good jazzin' big band time. 5*
57/1001 First listen. This will get your toe tapping and your spirits up. Far removed from what I would normally listen to on a regular day. That was before the album a day challenge of course. This does makes me want to dig deeper into the Count Basie catalogue. 6/10
https://1001albumsgenerator.com/as
Couldn’t finish it. Not the type of music I can listen to for very long at all. Really don’t like Big Band/Swing type stuff. If it had lyrics I might have been able to sort of distract myself from the sounds and stay locked in and keep listening maybe?? I tried!
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.
This one reminds me of a workday in NYC. The rush of electricity as I hit the morning commute, then slip quickly into my desk with coffee in hand to create more adrenaline—a deep breath before the next rush. Then, meeting, meeting, meeting, lunch at desk, meeting, meeting...pause. The instant quiet of the space as the sun sets—finally, a quiet walk down the block towards home. An audible exhale.
There's an idea that a musical genre begins to fade when the people stop dancing. When the audience sits and watches as opposed to being part of the action. When it becomes intellectualized. I defy anyone to stop their feet from moving when The Kid from Red Bank comes on. It's impossible to maintain that level of energy - this album is radiant. Aptly titled. I always feel a little better after putting it on.
Fun!!!
Eh.
eh not my vibe
Solid. Really liked a few tracks
The last great moment of the big band era from its greatest band
Cool but boring old jazz
I was not excited to listen to this since it is not my favorite genre of music but I was glad I did. Album grew on me.
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
First listen Saved 5/11 Top track: After Supper
Count Basie's bit band sounds.. well, big. But there's enough variety in his orchestra's playing to sound small, medium-sized, and beyond. The point is, Basie and His Orchestra are still a powerful force on The Atomic Mr Basie.
Every song was either Barry Norman or The Naked Gun. Pleasant
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'
This was very pleasant, and easy to listen to while working. Not enough my cup of tea that I'd listen to it again, but I'm glad to have heard it once
99% percent of jazz hurts my brain and this is sadly not an exception :( so i can’t judge fairly
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.
Cool album but really the best thing about it is the cover. So badass! And I can name at least 3 album covers that are influenced by this.
Sensational! Ability to switch between beautiful ballads and full on swing is amazing and such an amazing level of one take musician ship.
2,1/5
Kid from red bank är en fyra bara den
Jazzy.
It felt like I was listening to an old movie but only told through music. Very cool. *insert image of cats cooking*
Sounded like the Peter Serafinowicz show
Big band music from the 1950's. Basie was the piano player and band leader. Worked with Sinatra a lot and had some of the most iconic swing band songs/albums. Very good for what it is, just not my favorite type of music.
Relaxing background music
I can recognize why this is groundbreaking, and I can hear the immense talent. I still don't think im a jazz person.
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.
Album review 016 The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra (1958) Rating 3/5 I can see why some think this is a great album, and I’m sure The Atomic Mr Basie a fine example of the best big band swing music of the time. It’s just not particularly interesting.
What a beautiful album. It sounds like it was recorded yesterday; the musicianship is wonderful and the entire album fizzes with energy.
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
Not much of a score listener but was great for my run
Love Basie and his big band albums. I hadn't listened to this one. The Hefti arrangements are more punchy and energetic than the Nestico arrangements I'm more familiar with and still have a lot of nice melodies. The Kid from Red Bank, Flight of the Foo Birds, and Splanky are all great.
Fun big-band jazz from one of the greats. Very listenable.
I fucking love it. Starting with the title and that atomic bomb cover. I just love atom bomb references in general. Lynch used them in Twin Peaks, Blondie used atom bomb in her music, Count Basie used atom bomb too. Give 1 atom bomb reference per person please and let's see what will happen with the world. I listened to this twice, fantastic. Yep, a couple of songs are too similar but it's okay because you have time to relax before the next super banger song! "- What about an atom bomb? — Carol - .... - Yes or No? — Carol - Ultimately, Yes. ..... — Hivemind - .... - Would you like an atom bomb? — Hivemind" Pluribus, 2025 Yes, I don't mind to buy a vinyl of this! 5/5 —————————————— Liked ALL: — The Kid from Red Bank — Duet — After Supper — Flight of the Foo Birds — Double-O — Teddy the Toad — Whirly-Bird — Midnite Blue — Splanky — Fantail — Lil' Darlin'
Smooth rhythms chime
Jazz, Niiiice
Nothing bad about this album
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.
excellent crossword puzzle music
Hazy jazz club in New York. Not really my style but picked up one song to my playlist: Splanky. It has naked gun vibes.
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.
wow. This sounds amazing. A Big band with pure direction.
Pleasantly surprised. not what i expected from the cover
Presumably his worst selling album in Japan
Big sound!
Bosh
Fine easy-listening music.
Not my thing, but altogether seems like a decent jazz album.
Like it!
Ei lähe
I loved it made me feel like a time traveler and was enjoying the upbeat tempo, it really makes you want to dance.
It pleases and sparkles
Fav song: Double-O FALLOUT
This is the kind of jazz I like! Upbeat, sassy saxophone that wakes you up in the morning.
Instrumental, not my style
Good set but not insanely good.
Solid album. Nothing too notable but there's that clear sign that Basie was master of his craft and brought together only the best musicians for His orchestra. It was kind of nice putting it on and just having good swing playing while I was doing stuff. I'd honestly enjoy buying this as a record and just throwing it on.
yes bigband bonanza
Interesting
Listens: 4 Standout Tracks: None I liked this. Reminded me of what my grand father used to listen to; this, and classical music. I appreciate how by 1958, with the Cold War kicking into gear, that the Atomic bomb had entered the zeitgeist and was something that people were talking about, using nuclear explosions on album covers and calling themselves "Atomic". I liked this upbeat, focused swing style of Jazz more than I enjoyed Weather Report and even Bill Evans Trio. This was a hoppin good time.
Beautiful. The band’s confidence is a match for their precision and cohesiveness. A 5.
This was fantastic! I love big band and Count Basie and his Orchestra sure delivered. The music was consistently smooth and was so emotive despite the lack of lyrics. Too often instrumental albums don't distinguish between songs enough, but not this album. Really, just a delightful, fun, and easy listen.
Judging by this album cover, if you had told me that this would be a 1950s big band jazz album, I would probably not have believed you. But here we are. All in all, this was a pretty good jazz album! I was not familiar with (Count) Basie, so this was a new experience for me. Most big bands don't need a singer, and this was no exception; the band itself was allowed to shine and do what they do best. It seems as if this album is well regarded in the world of big band jazz, and I can definitely understand why!
Wow!
just swag as hell
Some interesting music but not enough of it.
No notes.
Sounds great even for my untrained ear. I can’t tell trombone from sax or anything else. Bass lines were great!
Man, do I hate jazz. And big band is basically the hard rock of jazz.
This wasn’t offensive, it just was boring. This shit got old real quick.
The brass section of this big band orchestra was a bit too loud in this album.I just couldn't hear it loud,it really annoyed me.Overall i always enjoy Count Basie's albums.I think it's the second album that i rate from him and his orchestra. Favourites:Double O. 4/5.
Sure, fine. Boring. 2/5 stars.
This was not Atomic, and didn't blow me away as the title and album cover may suggest. A perfectly ok big band record. Best: Fantail Worst: Double-O
Not my cup of tea
Loved it! Count Basie is a favorite.
I could always listen to Count Basie... I vaguely remember learning he was "from" KC (where I spent much of my youth). He wasn't technically, but had a KC era and I didn't think anything cool came from there...
Threw this on several times while dining and looking for the right tunes. Very enjoyable.
1 Stern extra fürs cover
Dope
Ca, ça trompette bien.
Obviously great musicians, some of the music certainly sounded familiar, not my thing, but it was easy listening and not poison to the ears.
Big band perfection!
Beautiful and fun
Bold choice for an album cover, but Basie delivers with an explosive opening number. This was full of fun and entertaining music that certainly led into more great music for my work day.
some good ol big band jazz. takes me back to the good old days, saved it to ethan's post-mission playlist as well. favs were midnight blue and splanky, 4.5-5 (we'll see how i feel in the morning)
This was great - swinging, big band jazz. The nuclear bomb on the front is a bit weird, because the music itself is really joyous and uplifting. I can imagine dancing to this in the 50s against the backdrop of rock 'n' roll being the cooler style. A small nod to the rhythm section as I liked the bass playing, and in general the interplay between the band is really seamless, they sound like they have good chemistry together.
8/10
I have no idea what to expect. Ok. The musicianship here is 10/10. But I don’t enjoy this sort of big band jazz. I would probably love this in a live setting. Too tedious as the soundtrack for my afternoon walk. 2/5 to rate it in line with albums I’ve felt the same way about.
mid
An album you could dance with a friend to. Good fun, and great playing.
I know it’s my own personal taste, but I would rather have near 70 year old dance music than that of the last 10 years. It’s just more organic, has more feel and emotion for me. It just screams cool. 4 Star
I had heard of Count Basie and his orchestra from their guest appearance on The Intro And The Outro by The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, where they played the triangle. Let's hear what they can do with a full album. Quite a lot, as it turns out. Some very nice big band jazz here. Call me a philistine, but this kind of easy-to-listen-to jazz is much more enjoyable to me than the stuff which is more about pushing possibilities and boundaries.
7.5 / 10
So bad no reviews
5
Boowop zoobity bop
Basie is classic and never gets old
Groovy! Great work music.
Allez, on continue de cocher les cases de ce foutu bouquin. Et aujourd'hui, on plonge dans le formol. Pardon, je voulais dire : on plonge dans le jazz. Enfin… le jazz ? Disons "un" jazz, celui des grands orchestres, des costards-cravates impeccables, des sourires ultra-bright et des musiciens qui jouent assis. On commence directement par la note et ce sera un trois sur cinq, soit la note de l'élève appliqué mais sans génie. La note du "fait le boulot, mais ne nous emmerde pas avec une quelconque aspérité". La note de ce qui est compétent, mais désespérément… sage. Et c'est exactement le problème de cet Atomic Mr Basie. L'ironie de ce titre… "Atomic", il n'y a rien d'atomique là-dedans, rien qui explose, rien qui irradie. C'est un pétard mouillé, une bombe à eau. Je vais être honnête, ce genre de jazz, pour moi, c'est l'antichambre de la mort par ennui. C'est le "jazz à la papa" dans toute sa splendeur, le genre de disque que ton dentiste passe en boucle dans sa salle d'attente pour que tu oublies qu'il va te charcuter la gencive. Le genre de musique que tu entends dans un hall d'hôtel de luxe où le personnel te juge parce que tu ne portes pas de mocassins à glands. C'est propre, c'est lisse, c'est tellement bien élevé que ça en devient suspect. Et le premier truc qui frappe en 2025, c'est le son. Mais quelle purge ! L'album a incroyablement mal vieilli, techniquement parlant. La dynamique est aux abonnés absents, ici tout est tassé, compressé, ça manque d'air, ça manque de coffre. On parle d'un Big Band, merde ! Je veux que ça me saute à la gueule. Je veux sentir le souffle des cuivres, la vibration de la basse, la caisse claire qui claque. Là, j'ai l'impression d'écouter un MP3 encodé en 64kbps sur une enceinte Bluetooth à 10 balles. C'est plat, où est la puissance "atomique" promise ? Elle a dû rester coincée dans le magnéto de 1957. Un bon gros coup de polish, un remastering digne de ce nom, ce ne serait pas du luxe. Parce que oui, musicalement, derrière ce voile terne, ça joue. Évidemment que ça joue. C'est Count Basie, c'est le "New Testament" band et les arrangements de Neal Hefti sont millimétrés. Ça swingue poliment, chaque section est parfaitement en place. Les musiciens sont des tueurs, le Count, avec son piano minimaliste, place ses petites notes avec une économie légendaire. Tout ça, c'est "bien". Mais "bien", en 2025, ça ne suffit plus. Je cherche la faille, la sueur, le danger. Je cherche ce qui fait que le jazz de Mingus, de Miles (période électrique) ou de Coltrane te retourne les tripes. Ici, rien, c'est du jazz de smoking, c'est du jazz qui ne veut déranger personne. C'est le jazz parfait pour un film de Blake Edwards. C'est le jazz qui a donné envie à des générations entières de ne pas écouter de jazz. Les morceaux s'enchaînent avec une compétence somnifère. "Kid from Red Bank" ? Oui, ça balance. "Li'l Darlin'" ? OK, c'est suave, parfait pour rouler une pelle à ta promise au bal de fin d'année 1958. Mais l'ensemble manque cruellement de passion, de folie, de vie. C'est un exercice de style, brillant, peut-être, pour l'époque. Mais aujourd'hui, ça sonne comme une musique d'illustration pour une pub de bagnole. Je comprends que cet album ait sa place dans l'histoire. Il représente l'apogée d'un certain style de Big Band, juste avant que le rock'n'roll ne vienne tout balayer et que le jazz lui-même ne parte dans des directions bien plus excitantes. Mais le "1001 Albums" est censé être un guide des albums qu'il faut écouter avant de mourir. Celui-ci, franchement, vous pouvez le laisser de côté. Sauf si vous ouvrez un cabinet dentaire. Un gros pétard mouillé, je vous dis.
i love jazz and this was a nice addition to my knowledge but nothing i have not heard
Love this. Nice break from the routine. Interesting, varied, and not something I'd stumble upon on my own.
Movano, HDH/Umgebung, Deutschland. Etwas fad auf Albumlänge.
Ok
Old school cool big band swing. Lovely
Jazz I can get behind - genuinely beautiful! The start really punches your ear drums!
Classic!
ok as background noise as i continue my job search
The Atomic Mr. Basie - Count Basie & His Orchestra While I'm not a fan of big band orchestras there is plenty on this album that focuses on the genius of Count Basie as his unique piano playing abilities are more pronounced and not so overwhelmed by his orchestra. His arrangements are, as always, excellent.
An album that I was not aware of before but one that I can definitely call great.
Dirty swing
vibey