Reviews (page 8 of 14)
This was not an easy listen. The rock n’roll counter culture of the 60’s has never made so much sense when forced to sit through this. For me it just doesn’t resonate. I think the biggest obstacle is that I don’t understand what the music is trying to make me feel. Each number is indistinguishable from the other in terms of quality. This just ain’t it.
Fantastic jazz album. I can't believe I had never listened to Count Basie, but he's here to stay in my repertoire!
Great energy and super fun from start to finish. As a bonus, best album art I’ve seen from the 50s.
que experiência puta que pariu o album inteiro me impressionou 9/10
Pretty good album. I enjoyed it. From a time bygone. Not sure I'd listen to it again, but in certain circumstances it could hit the spot.
Jazz might not be my cup of tea but there are songs in this album that appeals to me.
classic jazz! whirly-bird
Not bad. Bit too old school jazzy for my tastes
Haven't heard a big band record before this was a good surprise, easy to listen to and varied. Great compositions and arrangements. A true recommendation for a short and new record to listen every once in a while.
Never thought Id vibe so much with an older album. First off, 10/10 album name and artist name, and also song names. Songs had no singing, but they were still super fun and somehow didnt feel repetitive. Felt like I was in Cuphead
Listened to this a bunch at work, would listen again, very boppy and got me in the mood to work!
This was a fun way to go around the house and do my chores this morning. I've never been the biggest fan of swing jazz, but this was a really diverse, fun example of the genre. I am incredibly impressed with how great the recordings sound nearly 70 years later. There is some fantastic talent on this album, and I'm very glad to now be familiar with Mr Basie. 8/10
Not for me - maybe it was the mood I was in. I can understand why so many love this album, as well as how important it is, it’s just not one I’d go looking for again in a hurry.
not my style of music. it's fine in the background, but I'd prefer a half dozen other types of jazz.
This was the bomb
Swing > Jazz
Tom and Jerry music fr
relaxing album, great instrumentation
Great swing album that doesn't rely on singing but portrays the actual music behind all of it. It's just that more songs could stick out.
Big band music is always just quality. Such phenomenal levels of playing. A full vibe all on its own.
very very nice background music, will be returning to it when i wanna feel like mickey mouse
crraaazzy banger ich liebe jazi aber kann mich an keinen song erinnern
Tom & Jerry type beat
Big band classic. Pretty much the essential swing big band album.
New Yawk City, baybee! Ayy I'm walkin' here!! Fuggaddaboudit!!!
With the album cover and a release year of 1958 I wasn't sure what to expect but boy it was a great surprise. Not something I'd normally listen to but it was great.
Not for me. At all.
Excellent! Very listenable.
nice swing but it got boring
Las grandes orquestas y sus metales y el jazz en este nuevo vehículo, una delicia con Count Basie.
I like jazz but I'm a super novice. I don't know much but some stuff is real nice. This is a real nice. Just fun and eclectic but not unapproachable. Honestly perfect kind for me. A million great little runs. The whole thing is great but u catch tiny peices every handful of seconds that are interesting and cool. Real nice. I'm not sure if it gets full points but it's so close if not.
Really enjoyed this one even though I don't usually listen to jazz, so I can't even really say why I liked it so much. It just sounded great. I've never heard of this band/group before, but I'll definitely be checking out more of their stuff if their other albums sound this good.
Fun on a bun.
I dunno, maybe this got folk's heart racing in the 50s, but it just leaves me cold. I can't fault it, but it just does nothing for me.
Ah stop it with those 50s Jazz stuff
Fun but need to be in the right mood
Within genre - 4.0 Listenability - 4.0 Likelihood I'll return - 3.5 Average - 3.83 Songs have variety and interest
Best swing album I’ve ever listened to. Favorite Track: After Supper
Awesome
Not what I expected from the front cover
I’d heard of Count Basie before, but had never really been introduced to his work before this. Typically it takes me a bit to really get into a jazz album, and this was no different, in that I couldn’t differentiate the songs in my mind super well at first, but by the third listen or so as I was trying to pick out my favorites I was seeing the vision and I began to love a good number of the songs. Not a single song on here I would say is “bad”, although a couple are still a little forgettable. In general, atomic is an excellent description. Favorite track: Li’l Darlin’, though it wasn’t easy to choose
Smooth jazz, setting a cozy mood
Absolute gem! Count Basie is a legend but I had not heard this previously. It's excellent & I can't wait to find a copy for my collection.
Fun album
Fun jazz. Enjoyed!
Fun, like being in a 60s spy film
Album 729 of 1001 Count Basie & His Orchestra - The Atomic Mr Basie (1958) Rating : 4 / 5 As I've said, I love my horns and this big-band jazz does not disappoint.
Pretty cool! Verrrry clean brass.
Big band jazz! This album is such a vibe. Ya almost feel like you're in a seedy jazz bar, surrounded by the smell of cigarette smoke and whiskey. It's awesome! Favorite songs: Fantail, Whirly-Bird, Flight of the Foo Birds, Double-O, Teddy the Toad, Duet Least favorite songs: Lil' Darlin' 5/5
Not bad actually, just get a little bit bored after a while. Also not particularly fond of fast-paced swing jazz, and prefer the slower styles. While this album had a good mix, I think it's just not for me. Still a 3/5 because the songs are quite cool.
3/5
I'm a fan of swing, but not of pure orchestral, so this is a bit of a toss-up for me.
Not a fan of saxophone. I can see why this might be a good album but it isn’t my kind of taste in music.
This album was great. Really made me imagine I was back in time. Simple yet beautiful. It sounded like the 50s which was fun. I think sometimes it starts to sound a little repetitive, but it wasn't boring at all. Truly a great listen and my favorite jazz album so far. Count Basie is a legend and deserves all the credit he gets. Actual rating...3.5 Liked Songs: "The Kid from Red Bank" , "Flight of the Foo Birds" , "Double-O" , "Whirly-Bird" , "Fantail"
liked songs: The Kid from Red Bank, Flight of the Foo Birds, Double-O, Whirly-Bird, Splanky Solid. 4
What lead paint does to an mf
Good swing music. Really gives the space to different instruments. Overall good but not so excellent that I would rate it 5 stars.
Refreshing.
5 stars just for the album cover alone
Sounds dangerous; No thanks.
Perfectly fine big band album … but won’t listen again.
p31. 1957. 2 stars. I don't like jazz or big bands, so wrong audience. Seems well done though.
Wasn't what I was expecting. But good high energy. A fun listen
All instrumental - all a bit same..
A wonderful album
The ultimate background music while cooking dinner.
Veryy lovey dovey and especially while you’re cooking sexy in the kitchen :) loved the dancey vibe
Makes me travel în some old TV movie from early 60', with a Hollywood dances and sweet human interactions. I would get a cigar with some quality whiskey with honey to enjoy the evening with some giggles and swing moves) Like it a lot
[7/10] They weren’t kidding this band is big
Not my stuff
Relaxing
Really good
Not my kind of music - but very impressive and interesting and pleasant to listen to
Listened to only a little bit but enjoyed it
Really good, enjoyed it a lot
Nice, chill, really excellent Big-Band Jazz music Best Song: After Supper Rating: 6/10 Stars: 3/5
incredible album cover to actual music disparity on display
Excellent. Roars with lively energy and simmers in cool.
Big band music not realty me
This was great! I’ve never listened to Basie before and I wish I’d found him earlier.
Cool!
Double-O
Nice! Hoppin’!
Not my style, but still pretty listenable.
Sometimes an album just fits your vibe, you know? I was so happy when I drew this today because after a few days of 90s alt rock on the trot this was exactly what I wanted. It’s really irresistible swing, perfect for my after-work Friday evening chill.
A masterclass in swing at any tempo. Fond memories of performing Splanky and L'il Darlin (and maybe Whirlybird?) with the BU Big Band.
I was digging this quite a bit, but a lot of it started blending together. Decent background music for cleaning the house or something. Maybe something to throw on to try to feel a bit classier than I am. Horn section was great, bass player was staying busy with walking basslines and the keys were shredding. I really don't know when the album ended, since spotify kept playing Count Basie songs, I only realized it wasn't the album when I heard the same song twice in a row. Right in the middle on this one.
It was perfectly fine background music. It would go well in a Vegas show. I would never put it on though.
It was pleasant enough to have on in the background. All tracks kind of sounded the same to me.
I liked it. A lot of these big band jazzy albums sound the same. I don’t really have the ear to distinguish them, but they all are pleasant enough to listen to. 3.5 ⭐️ rounding down because I was expecting something a bit more intense from that album cover.
A bit more pep than Ellington at Newport....if these are comparable, I'm not even sure. Just not really my style of music. Helluva an album cover though!
Lil darlin er høydepunkt. Har vært på konsert med count basie Orchestra med pappa. Det var også der pappa fant ut at count basie var død. Dette er ok. Ikke helt min jam
1. After supper 2. Midnite blue 3. Flight of the foo birds/splanky
All instrumental, essentially the definition of background Jazz, nothing against it just not a lot to it.
Hot damn! This is big band/swing proving - quite explosively - that it never faded into irrelevance. Phenomenal.
This was so fire jazz, this has been ny favorite of the 8 so far!!!! An absolute jam bop
Not my usual cup of tea, but pretty good background music for cleaning and even writing code.
just some fun tunes man
Intriguing, but not something I could listen for long.
As much as I've read, it's a fundamental jazz standard record. I'm not that knowledgable on jazz, but it was a pleasant listen, and I acknowledge its importance and historical value.
Solid big band record that didn't overstay it's welcome.
Love this one!! Reminds me of my father. He was a huge Count Basie, and all those jazz greats. I grew up listening to this great music.
I accept this is good big band/swing. However I do not like big band/swing. The first few songs I thought were funky and then it just… kept… going. And no vocals!! I can’t.
Saxofoon
Tight fucking cover and title. This is the fun, exuberant jazz I can always enjoy, even if it all kinda runs together.
Solid but unspectacular big band jazz record. Some cool songs, like "Whirly Bird," "Splanky" and "Fantail" that go to a very cool place and utilize the whole orchestra, and really enjoyed the trumpet solo in "Flight of the Foo Birds." An enjoyable listen but unlikely to return to this one.
Ok, fine, I'll play Cuphead again...
I think the level of enjoyment for this album is hugely based on where your exposure to jazz begins. If you’re a fan of “traditional”, big band jazz you’ll probably love this as an innovative release that came at the end of that era. But if you prefer the shift to more modern styles of jazz such as cool or modal jazz, this becomes a bit more meh. I’m in the latter category.
Decent jazz album 1001 album worthy: No - 49/88
Big band, nice, let's move on
The drum tone on Fantail is glorious. 5-Star album cover
a really great big band swing record. it's upbeat moments are sleek and grand and full of energy. the ballads are quiet and sweet. i was in my high school's jazz band, and so i have a real soft spot for this type of music. i know some basie here and there, but never listened to one of his albums in full before. this was really great! i will definitely come back to it.
Love a big band. Makes me want to swing dance.
Boom.
Increíble.
Really landed for me on second listen; brings to mind the atmosphere of a sleazy noir.
Just instrumentals
Big band in top form!
Undoubtedly great jazz arrangements but, this big band swung sound its very low on my registry of jazz preference. Nevertheless Count Basie was a God amongst men in his era and his contribution and stylings inspired all of pop music for nearly a 2 decade span. The Atomic arrangements were of an incredibly high quality and clarity with maximum ability to groove.
Lovely. (13 known/27 new)
1958’ bebop love it!
some may say the album cover is more fit for free jazz than this record, and idk maybe theyre right but more likely theyre underestimating The Power Of The Swing....it exists all around us....it changed the world!!! tasty and awsom album, its hard to imagine a bad time to listen to something like this....swing (the genre) is not at the forefront of my musical vocabulary but swing (the concept/sensation) absolutely is so its clearly only a matter of time! the less energetic tracks here are also clearly golden cuts, tho im worse currently at parsing a big band/swing band than later types of jazz ensembles. but its as seasoned and gratifying as i could want from a guy who just Never Stopped Doing Big Band for decades and decades, just continually honing his craft and collaborators, and hey sometimes u get lil tastes of bebop and onwards too it aint totally backwards looking...fine fine work
Great Jazz
So many great tuuunes!! Splanky - first played that in Rockshop Big band! And kid from red bank…uni big band..! Gonna join a big band now.
Oh yeah, inject about 20 ccs of this straight to my veins. Let's just make this the year we bring back big band clubs that allow smoking. Sound good?
The end of the world ain’t no thing when it’s soundtracked by big band swing.
This put me to sleep in a nice way
point1.
Again, don't remember much.
I wanted to love it, but couldn't quite.
Quintessential big band
Amazing record. I had never listened to this, even though I love jazz and Count Basie. This will move into my regular rotation for sure
Complex as fuck, leipe albumcover ook. Gewoon echt goede jazz
Inoffensive big band schtick.
YES! I could listen to this on a train, in the rain, in the air or on a dare. I could listen to Atomic Basie anywhere.
Totally fine jazz and swing music. Nothing so radical as splitting the atom. Nothing explosive. Nothing that blows you away.
Oh, Jazz you magnificent bastard. I knew 30 seconds into this album that it wasn’t for me. Great individual players. Anti synergy. I did like Flight Of The Foo Birds though.
Not familiar with Big Band and Swing, but this was great.
I don’t really like jazz music but this record is pretty awesome! I can easily understand why it was so influential. A perfect record!
Classic sound. Great jazz.
I'll admit I'm very biased against big bands, they tend to get on my nerves and it usually doesn't take long to switch them off. But I decided to behave and listen to this album in its entirety. Yes there's still a lot I don't like (got the vibrato trumpets within the first 5 seconds, urgh) and many songs are what I call "Tom & Jerry" or "Love Boat" songs. However there were some good jazzy (but less big-bandy) bits that were OK and generally this album is rhythmically good (that bass player is like a Swiss clock and his fast walking bass line are fab). I'd give it a 1 or 2 because I don't like the music - it does not move me at all (not in a good way at least). But it gets an extra point because I do see it's good "for the genre" and it's well made. And I like it more/ dislike it less than Duke Ellington which I gave a 2, so a 3 it is.
В этом альбоме — запах сигаретного дыма, густого, как ночной туман над Гарлемом. В этом альбоме свет тусклых ламп, подрагивающих в такт ритму большого города, который никогда не спит. В этом альбоме — шум разгульных джазовых клубов 40-х, ещё не отошедших от эха большой войны. В середине 1950-х стало понятно, что эпоха биг-бендов уходит навсегда, как последний поезд, ускользающий в предрассветной мгле. И именно в это время Каунт Бейси записывает свой альбом. Мягкий, изысканный, с точной, почти математически выверенной гармонией. Здесь всё на своих местах: каждая медная секция, каждый удар барабана. А главное — этот фирменный, слегка ленивый, но убийственно точный фортепианный почерк Бейси, который будто бы подмигивает тебе со сцены. Парадокс этого альбома в том, что он звучит как эхо 40-х, но в то же время явно предвосхищает будущее. Почти каждый трек здесь — как миниатюрный ядерный реактор, заряженный энергией, которую джаз в скором времени подарит фьюжну, фанку и рок-н-роллу.
Whoever did the cover got it right cause this album is the bomb. Thoroughly enjoyable listening. Every track.
This album was fun. It was good background music as I was trying to get stuff done at work. It is great to have an album from the Big Band Era represented on this list.
LOVE U MR BASIE!!!!!
8.7/10
I don't know much how to assess big band and jazz music. I was entertained the entire way through and I thought the flow from one song to the next felt well considered and kept each new song fresh. I will be coming back to this.
These cats were cookin'. They were SWINGIN'! FUCK!!!
Big band music rocks. Enjoyable all the way through.
So good.
This album is fantastic from start to finish. Every track swings with effortless charm, making it one of the easiest, most enjoyable listens you’ll find in jazz. Count Basie and his orchestra are absolutely on fire here.
Catchy. Just like you would think Jazz should be.
The first of the 1001 albums that I’m intimately familiar with already. Played most of these charts in high school and have had the honour of seeing the Basie orchestra live. I feel that many of the arrangements are more foundational than they are truly great, but every track still sounds so damn cool. A fundamental stepping stone for some of the greatest jazz recordings of all time. Radical album cover as well. If I want to listen to Basie, I much prefer Straight Ahead, but there’s really no going wrong here.
Wait…just a second…pardon me…let me just…okay - got my white socks on, rolled up the legs of my blue jeans, white t shirt sleeves once turned, hair just so, slipped in to my black loafers…but…I think this foo bird has flown, something feels splanky about this music in this time.
Found myself enjoying this more than I anticipated. Reminded me of swing revival of the 90s. Wouldn’t but down to listen to it but wouldn’t mind as background music.
2/5 not my style
O que dizer de jazz?? A música muito energética, a energia lá em cima. Começa com The Kid From Red Bank que é ótima, além disso tem, Flight Of The Foo Birds e Whirly-Bird que são muito boas também. A versão que eu ouvi também tem uma versão com vocal de The Late Late Show que é muito boa. Enfim, nota 9
So quintessential it has become omnipresent, musical shorthand for the period. Brilliant in writing and execution.
good for listening while you're doing some home stuff, but didn't add ant songs to my album
I normally don't gravitate towards big band....but not to say I'm not into it. But this was really awesome. The first track definitely din't pull me in...but the rest absolutely had me going. Great driving music, really thought provoking stuff. How is that possible without lyrics? Well music is just funny like that. It doesn't need to literally ask you a question in order to get the juices flowing. Respect to Count. An all-timer forever and always
7/10
Pleasure coming actoss this. 4.5/5
Good album
Awesome album cover! I enjoyed it. I prefer a smaller jazz band with brilliant leads a la Miles and Coltrane, and this faded to the background pretty quickly for me. The arrangements and performance is of course incredible though.
Solid, I guess jazz just isn't for me.
swing music
Frenetic big band. Good.
Pretty fun jazz record. It was good background music when I worked. Solid 3.
Wunderbar.
the cover on this album doesn't lie, this album BOOMS through your speakers like a nuclear bomb. this is a really solid big band album. it's a pure embodiment of what makes 50's brass bands great. the harmonies and the near-perfect collaboration between all the members make this album great both when it came out and listening more than 70 years later. i feel like this is music for a swanky casino.
This worked well enough as background music. Not the type of thing I could ever see myself in the mood to put on and listen to again, but the music is perfectly fine.
Classic big band jazz. Everything you'd expect to get. Just surprised this was released in the late 50s and not like 3 decades earlier.
don't listen to much jazz, so I don't have good commentary, but it was good from what i could tell
Jazz rules
Honestly I love jazz now. Big band a little less but I wanted to run it back once it was over! Vibes only. 4.13
Good for focusing on work
It’s jazz
Count Basie does big band sound like no one else - excellent in its genre
nem az én stílusom, tbh volt is szám amit skippeltem, alapvetően szeretem a csak instrumentális zenét is de ehhh. az tuti, hogy a műfajban jó de nekem meh.
Kedvenc/Favourite: Splanky Nem volt rossz, de annyira nem mozgatott meg. Olyan háttérzenés, de lehet csak én nem tudom értékelni eléggé. It wasn't bad, but it didn't really do anything to engage me. It sounded kind of like background music, but maybe I just couldn't appreciate it enough.
Big band/swing dance music is extremely listenable compared to EDM, which is created using synthesizers and drum machines. The musicians here are top-notch and the music has a soul. This is a fun album.
First 5-star album for me in this project. Growing up in jazz band, Mr. Caswell put me on this one. Count Basie is one of the greats, an iconic bandleader and composer. This album is playful and inquisitive, balancing an excitement and pensiveness. I can see myself lounging in my living room with this record on, a sizzling crackle of vinyl imperfection, getting lost in the world of jazz before returning back to reality.
Bored.
One of the classic albums of jazz. Always a joy to listen to.
This album really makes a statement with its cover, equating big-band music with such modern innovations as the theory of relativity and the atomic bomb. I would have to say Count Basie is right in his comparison. Modern music has had a socially transformative effect similar to either of those two scientific developments. This album itself is a great exploration of just what is possible in music, and is still enjoyable almost 70 years later (unlike the atomic bomb). Favorite track: "Splanky"
It's ok but I'm just not able to judge it since it's so different from what I normally listen to.
Not what I'd generally listen to on Spotify, but then that's what this is for isn't it - to broaden your horizons. Great BIg Band music. Fantastcally talented musicians. It will stay on my list.
I’m sure it’s great if you like that sort of thing
Not really my jam, but glad to have listened to it yesterday.
At this moment in time, I struggle to wrap much of a frame of reference around this record; I’m afraid to say too much because I just don’t feel qualified. It’s maybe something (a lack of imagination?) that the first thing that springs to mind for me is the New York of Home Alone 2. The big blasts from the big band rushing through my speakers feel as exciting and overawing as the imposingly tall, impossibly alive city must have felt to Kevin McAllister – a figure central to my own childhood who is also, in the there and then of Home Alone’s NY, a lonely witness to so many of the icons of America’s great imperial phase. And that’s really what this record sounds like to me: a glorious echo from the American century. It’s one that remains vital not because America does – far from it, really – but because the brilliant people who contributed to that cultural hegemony are made no less brilliant by America having been brought low. Back to Home Alone, and in the hotel lobby Kevin sprints past a tall man in an expensive coat. The man might be on his way to the roof, spoiling to find a vantage from which to survey the world’s most significant skyline. It’s a skyline men of his appetite typically want to make their own, of course, shoving their overcompensations evermore inelegantly into the clustering mass. In short, synecdoche of a nation. It’s a shame that America hasn’t had someone of Basie’s erudition and skill to lead its own metaphorical band. Getting the best from each other starts with getting the best for each other; America’s century, so spiritedly captured on albums like this, was built on principles like that. Principles now under threat of total dismantling by tall men in expensive coats.
Vibes !!! standouts were Whirly-Bird and Splanky a lot of fun instrumentation.. they don't make music like this anymore hehehe
fuck yeah forever thankful for that jazz class i took in college 💙💙lil' darling is a stunnnnner. Make live music like this more accessible!! we'd all be better off for it
Count Basie it a pianist, but there isn't a lot of piano on this album. His true talent is as a band leader - and he was one of the best. Him and his orchestra were some of the most talented musicians in the genre. This is probably the shiniest shining example of Big Band.
Not impressed. Two out of five.
Shit is rad
Really cool to listen!
Красиво наверное
enjoyed it, not my usual but a nice album
Idk if I can appreciate jazz when it’s not live
Excellent for some work day tunes!
Loved it
Sultry music for the end of the world…?
not bad, but not my kind of thing
Sinatra/big band/bluesy Jazz is just lost on me. I can hardly distinguish one song from another let alone an album or artist. I fuck with New Orleans style Mardi Gras-parade jazz, or someone going absolutely nuts on a horn but all that is to say I can’t even fairly rate this because my brain just doesn’t decipher it the way I do with other musical genres. It’s a 2 for me because it was fine I guess but it could have been amateur as hell and I wouldn’t know the difference. It’s a me problem.
i dig big band jazz, what can I say. this album was super dope to have on in the background and I really enjoyed it.
Fine to have on in the background, but not particularly exciting.
I felt like I was teleported into fallout. I did enjoy this, but can’t give it more than a 3 because of the precedent from the rest of the list.
Back to not knowing enough about jazz to fully appreciate this like I should, but I made for great in-flight background music while I read. I’ll take that all day long. I do know enough to know that Count Basie is a legend, so I’m not going to discredit him with a low rating.
I love a good big band. It's such a classic sound that you can't really get nowadays. I can't tell you how this band differs from others, but I still enjoyed it regardless.
I thought I couldn’t REALLY get into early jazz and swing bc it made me feel like I was living in a charlie chaplin film, but I was proven wrong! Count Basie is an icon, the grandiosity and sheer movie like quality of the songs put me in a good mood, and “lil darling”, the last track, was a sweet and slow song like a warm hug. my favorite second to “double-o” !
this can only have been the hardest album cover of its time
Big band stuff. Meh.
When I first saw the album and band name I really had no idea what I was in for. After starting I was excited and enjoyed it. I know a lot of things are comparing it to jazz, but it felt a little more big band music to me :) It reminded me of watching the Lawrence Welk show with my grandparents.
This sounds and looks like jazz but doesn't feel like jazz. This feels like ballroom jazz or something. When I close my eyes I'm walking through an overpriced antique mall. Needs more soul. I did like the sax solos though.
I love the calm that this brand of jazz brings to my mind. Even when it’s souped up and wild, it all still feels just right. I couldn’t listen to this all day, every day, but when I need a brain cleanse from other songs and albums that get stuck too deeply in my regular rotation, this is absolutely the best antidote.
More instrumental jazz music. yay. They are obviously talented musicians, and it's so old-timey that it really takes you back to a totally different era. So that's neat. I want to FEEL jazz more though, I want it to move me and shake me and bop me. And for some reason, most of it just doesn't. I appreciate the vibes here, but it continues to feel like music I might put on in the background of a hipster happy hour, and not something that works its way into my soul.
While I can very much appreciate this actual effort, I am in no way justified in evaluating it.
On another day I’m not sure I would have been into this but the past few days my brain has been so scattered I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything. And yet when I put this on I became focused and able to work without being torn and distracted. The tunes were so reminiscent of 1950s or 1960s comedy movies I actually felt like I was listening to a Pink Panther soundtrack. So, as much as some of it was just my attitude to the day, I actually felt quite buoyed along by this. I always loved watching old black and white movies where there was a club with a Big Band playing or some kind of tribute to a bandleader so this was right up my street. It maybe should be a 3.5 but for the fact it helped streamline my thoughts it gets a boost.
While I'd be pretty hopeless trying to distinguish one big swing band from another, this album makes me feel good and exudes optimism and good vibes – and pure fun. I admire anyone who can command an ensemble and turn a room of nine musicians into a force like this. There was an excellent dynamism to the proceedings, gale forces and slow breezes, high tides and calm waters. So I guess I don't exactly know my swing, but I like it.
Big band has never been my favorite kind of jazz. Having said that, these cats are cookin'! What's not to like? I wish the Benny Goodman 1935 Carnegie Hall concert was on this list.
Loved this! Found my new vibe for listening while working
Man, this is about as good as it gets for big band.
Meh too old timey
Pleasant enough listen. A couple of standout tracks. Probably would never choose to relisten to the album, but there are certain songs I’d revisit. 3/5
This was a very chill listen. I enjoyed it. Probably an 8
A little bit of big band on a cold winters evening in the UK is just what the doctor ordered. This was great!
Very nice jazz album. Easy to listen to and enjoy.
Perfect for a snowy chore day.
Enjoyed this. Album cover is almost comical compared to the music. Nice listen. Nothing spectacular, but good. 3/5 Might listen again
An interesting inclusion. Nice and short, obviously, and full of swing and swagger. If I'm going to listen to "jazz" then this sort of thing tends to be what I seek out. I'd certainly consider listening again, although it lacks the hook to bring me back regularly.
Holy shit, this is a powerful album! I feel like that part in "The Jerk" when Steve Martin hears white music for the first time ever and suddenly understands rhythm. 5/5
WOW ça explose dans mes oreilles! Tu m’aurais juste montré le cover, j’aurais gagé 1000$ que c’était un album alt rock des 90s, mais ça pète tout autant! Ça fait très très très Whiplash, c’est peut-être pour ça que sa m’affecte autant, donc un gros 5 pour la surprise!
swingin record
Pleasant, but not at all memorable
Some pretty snazzy jazz that is perfect to hear in an old-style club or New Orleans themed restaurant. Nothing I'd seek out, but it's pretty nice while it's on
nice vibes, elevator music type sh
eh
Unending energy and atmosphere! For a release from 1958 this felt very original and authentic, trailblazing even. Taking into account also the fact that this was probably one of the first Big Band/Swing albums to release, I was very impressed. It almost got a bit generic and uninteresting towards the end but saved itself with some melodies and a calm finale.
Solid classic sound
Wouldn't be bad as background music in some cafe, otherwise pretty boring
Big band isn't my preferred style of jazz, but this feels pretty far removed from 30's and 40's big band. Very cool, progressive compositions. 4/5
Cupheadcore. Snappy, bra men mye av det samme. God jazz og storband.
Good
Typ Flintstone-jazz, rätt go att ha i bakgrunden, kan tänka mig jobba, städa, laga mat till detta, men det var nog ingen låt som stack ut som ett guldkorn för mig
Not my preferred cup of tea but listenable. Has some nice very interesting songs. One of those albums that I will have to be in the mood for to play it again.
Had no idea what I was getting into going into it, it's got the energy of a jazz record with a fast tempo, keeps you energetic and high throughout it.
Swing fun, especially the first song
I'm not sure I'd ever like, sit back and absorb it the way I do latter jazz greats, but this is the kind of thing you can put on and absolutely no one will be mad at you, and that is increasingly valuable in these trying times.
what a treat to listen to the music my grandparents definitely fucked to.
No denying the musical excellence of this album. Very pleasant to have on in the background. Not something I would actively seek to listen to, but a nice record.
5 * Perfection
Jazzy big band sound. Disturbing cover.
Not really a big band/ orchestra person. But it's not bad for that. Also has a killer name/ album cover for a record released in the 50s 4/10
Album cover is hard AF. Even the E = MC^2 bit at the bottom is clever. Jumping out of the gate on The Kid from Red Bank. Sure is a swell bopper -- sounds like the bassist is working up a sweat climbing up and down the ladder. Splanky is a familiar one though I couldn't say where from. This was solid front to back, but not something I'm going to come back for again and again. I'd say for what it is it is really good. But for me in that category I top out at a high 3.
Fun jazzy swing album. Great listen while working. 4 stars
Looking at this album cover I was expecting some noise rock or some avantgarde punk bs (think Captain Beefheart and The Magic Trout or whatever). One could argue that this is nearly the opposite. Nice set morning diddies while getting some work done. Short and sweet. Somewhere in the high 3 realm. Could feasibly see this as a 4, but I don't think I'll grab this one again.
Incredible album cover on this one. Learned of Count Basie in a jazz class I took my Sophmore year of college which was really fun. This sounds like most swing music I remember listening to in that class. Definitely cool to listen to this old jazz but doesn't really get things going for me
This is not what I was expecting to hear from the album cover. Seems pretty hardcore for an album in the 50's. Some pretty relaxing big band. Nothing crazy but solid background work music.
3 a bit of big band Jazz rarely comes amiss
++*: Double-O ++: The Kid from Red Bank, After Supper, Flight of the Foo Birds, Teddy the Toad, Whirlybird, Midnite Blue, Splanky, Fantail, Lil' Darlin +: Duet 9,7/10
Mr. Basie and friends with the most intimate sounding big band you’re likely to hear. Splendid on every level.
Didn't know what to expect, but this exceeded expectations. Cover art is hard af too. 4/5.
The faster paced songs like the opening track were great The rest of the songs dropped off, becoming the sort of café shop background music a lot of jazz and swing is
Alright as background music
Classic swing jazz, whats not to like?
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Fun. I liked it.
Pretty cool music! Horns and keyboards.
This is killing. And Basie plays with so much space, and spacing, so sparse ('Midnite Blue') I’m full to the brim with pleasure. Who’s that trumpeter on ‘Duet’? Man, this is good - not quite the last of the big bands (Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Joe Henderson), but a great selection here - especially for a list so wanting of jazz.
Good God no. I hate Jazz.
Alright yeah
Felt nice and powerful for big band music. Enjoyed as background.
Tää on taustamusaa sillonku on hyväs nousuhumalas ja yäppää menemään. Niinku joo tosi hyvää ja kivaa ja pehmeetä mut en vaa kuuntele tällästä nii harvoin pistäisin soimaan. En usko et tulee mielihaluja et omg nyt pitäs päästä vähän heiluu count basien tahtiin mut asiat voi aina muuttua.
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.
Big band jazz is not my favourite kind of jazz but the Count is the master I really thought this was a good listen.
Swing!
I can't say I've heard of Count Basie before. From what I gather, he was a renowned jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer who led his own innovative orchestra for fifty years. The Atomic Mr. Basie is one of several albums he recorded with them, and it was a delight to hear. They let out the bombast from the get-go with "The Kid from Red Bank" with its big band swing style. Throughout the album, the blaring horns, piano arrangements, and accompanying reeds and percussion coalesce into an active lounge sound. Sure this style was declining in post-World War II America but the orchestra wanted to go out on a high note. Aside from a few lulls in the compositions, I was thoroughly engaged. I'm glad this list included a good album to represent swing music because The Atomic Mr. Basie delivered that experience.
Goddamn!!! Everything about this album is ahead of its time.
Enjoyed this from start to finish. There is something timeless about these very good big band/orchestra ensembles that were creating music before Rock and Roll became king. I am a sucker for horns so that might contribute to my affinity for this album.
Not my style
reminds me of the best parts of being in the high school jazz band. music: appreciated. (⌐⚛_⚛)
Big band music will probably never really speak to me, but this one got me boppin my head a bit in the car. Gotta give it credit for that.
Its fab. Takes me back to listening to vinyl with my mom as a kid.
foot tapping good not my usual type of music
I don't get Jazz on an emotional level so I'm not gonna rate this at all. Technically perfect but not for me…
I can see how this guy got to make music for Frank Sinatra. I've always been a firm believer all my life that jazz sucks, but this album might be convincing me that I'm wrong. Shit. I hate it when I'm wrong.
10/10 instrumental.
Swinging tunes from a Jersey guy & his band. Loved them in “Blazing Saddles”. Music that takes me to a time I was never a part of…& that’s music!
Don't know much about jazz but thought this was really fun to listen to! Pleasantly surprised.
Well this was something different… Listening to this is like being transported to a different era. Surprisingly listenable. Is that a phrase? It is now. I prefer the up tempo ones giving full energy. 4/5 would big band again.
I just couldn’t really get into this one.
That's a great Count Basie album. It's hard to go wrong with him.
Totally new to me and I didn’t hate it
Great music if it's your thing - very swing, motion picturesc. not my thing.
Excellent. Really enjoyed this.
A funky backtrack to my working day. Not too much more to say about it than that.
count basie is a legend, just a powerhouse of big band/swing/jazz/anything else from this era. this album really delivers some punch, and if i hadn't listened to 3+ hours of ella fitzgerald singing gershwin tunes the day before, this would've been a welcome breath of fresh air. the best tracks on this album are the fast and punchy ones; the slow ones are a bit dull to my taste but either way, this is a solid album. favorites: the kid from red bank, flight of the foo birds, whirly-bird, splanky
I like some of these tracks and know them well, and you can see some effort has been made to sell it as cohesive album, but for me this is still stuck with the 50s problem of no flow or rhythm to the tracks assembled.
Love me some big band, and Lil’ Darlin’ sealed the deal on this
Big band music was another thing my dad introduced me to, although I don't remember him having this album. It's brilliant.