Reviews (page 2 of 13)
Loved this high energy record, live must have been something else. Not a phone present just folk getting down and dirty jitter bugging the house to it's rafters
A revelation for me. Jumping swing!
Dude dates chicks who top their ice creams with pizza. That’s primo, Prima!
I did not know that not only did Prima put the definitive stamp on David Lee Roth's defining artistic statement as a solo artist (just a gigolo) 30 years before DLR, but also inspired Roth's entire career shtick with his performance as King Louie in the jungle book.
Excellent album! Great energy!
More swing jazz! Let’s go! Any album that starts “I’m just a Gigolo…” is gonna hit. Add an OG dis-track and you have a killer album.
That was so much fun
Poco que decir. Me encantó de principio a fin. Dan ganas de bailar con él, dan ganas de ponerlo en una cena, de oírlo echado en el sillón. En fin…
Herlig plate! Jeg vil leve i denne plata!
Banger after banger jazz, blues, swing and even a crooner. Musica muy divertida for any occasion, cool to hear a track featured in Back to the Future. Giving this a 5/5 just for the hell of it
I thought I was going to hate it at first but was pleasantly surprised later on as the album played. Felt like a camp fire story.
me encanto
IT WAS AWESOME
Louis Prima and Keely Smith are criminally underrated.
Fun!
10/10
This album made me want to make pasta and drink wine. I could not come up with a favorite song because they are all so good. My only issue is that it feels repetitive at times. I feel like that is just what this era of music is like though. This was a masterpiece of its time and I cannot find enough wrong with it for 4 stars. This will be my first 5 star review.
Just sounds like a warm night in NOLA
Amazing album,loved it!
fucking awesome
Loved this
Pure joy. Perfection.
Great album. Really catchy take on a lot of classics. Very replayable.
Jump Jive and Wail, Just a Gigolo, Basin Street Blues. There are records you put on for background noise and then there are THE records that walk into the room, pour themselves a drink and then they dare you to keep up. The Wildest! is the latter. The man swings like he’s got a personal grudge against silence. Quiet, not on my watch. From the first brass hit you know you’re not in for polite company. This spot is a joint with the lights low, the air thick and everybody a little too alive for their own good. You can't frame Roger Rabbit in this place. You don’t listen to The Wildest! you experience it like you do a dame with really sleek getaway sticks. The one whose lips scream try harder baby.
I feel like this should be played on a train. 5/5
Excellent, energetic album!
It started off sounding like the start of a movie with John Candy and it remained an entertaining listen all the way through. Will listen again and pick up a copy when I find one.
Das Album hat mir richtig viel Spaß gemacht!
Had never heard of Louis Prima Had never heard of the Wildest Wow, this was a blast! So much fun,
1st recommended album by this web, loved it! I do enjoy soul music, I was in my element. Thank you ☺️
If I could travel back in time to 1956, a must-stop concert would absolutely have been Louis Prima, Keely Smith and company. "Jump, Jive & Wail" is one of the greatest big band dance numbers of all time, "Oh, Marie" rocks out severely, the band turns "Body and Soul" into a Looney Tunes romp, and of course there's "Just A Gigolo." Louis is hear to make you dance, make you laugh, make you bop to a crackerjack band, and he was one of the best musical artists of the '50s.
Terrific fun. Really captures a live feel in the performance throughout the album. Prima’s voice is unmistakably unique. Several songs went on to have second lives as popular covers showing the quality of the songwriting.
Unbridled joy in this album. Louis Prima brings energy, sometimes in a manic manner, that permeates throughout every song. While every song sounds more or less the same, the songs are still fun to listen to. Pristine music for dancing in the kitchen and falling in love. Very happy that this one came up in this journey!
I can dig it. Absolutely wild, reminds me of New Orleans in the best way, has so much soul in it. Not overedited and polished, feels like a live performance you could wander into in real life instead of a studio recording. No more ravioli will you crave. All my meatballs, you try to steal. Playlist track: I’ll be glad when you’re dead, you rascal you
Esse álbum é um bolinho de chuva com um copo de toddy. Vc já não come mais, mas é um agrado do passado que tem mais valor do que é dado.
beautiful tracks n classical jazz
yeahhhhh!!! fuuuuck it's so good
Ha maybe not everyone's cup of tea but I love this shit
fire
Never in my life i heard Louis Prima and my god im mad at myself for that
Loved this
Amazing jazz album
Beautiful!
An album of pure toe-tapping delight from start to finish. The talent on show here is unmatched and I could listen to it over and over again in a range of scenarios.
This remaster sounded wonderful. Good ol 50s
Well this is just good. Sounded sooo familiar but I couldn't place it. Until I read the reviews saying he voiced the orangutan in Jungle Book. Makes a lot of sense all of a sudden. I loved the playfulness and whimsy of this album.
So fun! sent me when a seeing rabbit hole.
fantastic swing music from start to finish, and hearing that Frank D'angelo getting his musical identity from Louis was just delightful and made everything click. You cant have a bad time with this at all.
Pure fun. If you want to know where Frank D’Angelo got his whole musical identity look no further than this album. There isn’t a dud on this whole thing. Just a blast
The combination of swing, jazz and jump blues makes for some enjoyable songs. The instrumental tracks are real highlights here, digging into jazz and blues but the guest singers, scatting and great backing band make for enjoyable songs.
Magnificent!
This is a lot of fun. Sonically it’s terrific, too.
Joyous virtuosity
Great time!
Couldn't fault it. Not normally my taste but really great energy and performances, I can imagine this being the shit when it came out
love this!
one of my all-time favorites
Hard not to want to tap your foot to it.
King Louis! Just a Gigolo was great. I also really liked the Lip! Jump, Jive, an' Wail is awesome too. I can't believe how many of these songs I know without being familiar with Louis Prima. The jazz was swingin' and the instruments were expertly played. 10/10 but it only goes to a 5!?! Music from the '50s was awesome. This is they kind of album that makes me happy I am on this album adventure.
Jumpy and Jungly. Liked his raspy voice, jump style and the unrestrained feel. Interesting contrast to the controlled and careful swing from other jazz or band performers of the era like Sinatra. I’ve listened to Louis Prima every once in a while but I need to add him to my normal rotation. Made me want to watch The Jungle Book. From Musicboard (OG 1/13/26, [#16] Imported 2/26/26)
Loved this.
I love a bit of swing. This was a lot of fun. Also, I just learned this guy wrote Sing Sing Sing.
5/5
lo escuché camino a la chamba, una joya, sube y baja pero siempre se mantiene arriba, me encantó.
fun, knew many of the songs. some guest stars. great album
I love Louis Prima! I was lucky enough to see his saxophonist Sam Butera play before he passed, he was opening for a band I was seeing and put on a hell of a show. This is classic Prima and I have no qualms with it, every song on this album jams! I normally am not super into jazz but can't help but love this.
Absolutely did not expect this album to be so fun
if you know anything about me, this should be no surprise
This album was just a ton of fun to listen to. So many classics on here. I think Banana Split for my Baby may be my new favorite silly song.
Absolutely bloody brilliant … Some of the lyrics and themes of the album would perhaps get them cancelled in oasis culture, but I loved this. Great LP. Solid.
While instantly recognizing several of these songs, I've never known this album or artist. This is pure magic. Big band swing at its finest.
Love this a lot
I actually loved
Absolute classic. Prima is one of a kind.
Great album, it does sounds wild. The 50s left the bar very high in art. Musically it’s incredible, the saxophone and the trumpet are used in very creative and virtuous ways, they are always giving you surprises, and the lyrics let you see a political context of the time but with a great sense of humor, the fact that it begins with the story of a lonely gigolo that no one cares about it’s exiting because it makes you know that the album will be about, real stories.
Gigolo gigolo gigolo gigolo… This is 70 years old and you could play this at any kind of party and people will get dancing. Yes, there’s a whole lot of scat / gibberish, but who gives a fuck when the groove is this good. I was gonna list highlights but honestly it’s almost all great. I’m going to find this for my record collection. Fair warning - it’s from the 50’s, so a few of the lyrics reflect the times. Not in a gross way so much, more of a “bud, stop giving the girl grief for ordering a banana split and get in on the act yourself” kinda way.
Prend tout les genres musicaux en effervescence des années 50, passe-les dans le blender et laisse mariner avec les Looney Tunes pendant la nuit. Le lendemain matin, fourre le tout dans un des 32 minutes le plus tight de ta vie
I’m 5 starring this for the first song but it’s a great album overall.
I like this album. recognize a few songs from it that are still popular today.
King Louie. Tell you man cub, irresistible and infectious swing. Learned about social significance, because showed up on my list. 3 songs added to playlist.
Buen rollo
Fantastic loved every song
Love the variety of songs and real soul in the music!
Brassy and beautiful…deep purplish red serotonin in a crystal glass that you can dip the good bread in
Fantastic album! Had me bopping along the whole way!
Absolutely blown away, you can tell they had a great time performing it and I certainly had a fantastic time listening.
Buy on vinyl
Even haven't heared his name before. But it was fun and engaging. Even so much fun at the begining, I couldn't take an idea what it is and what's happening. This is good.
Excellent, all of it
Loved this album! So fun, and the trombomist is amazing. 5 stars!!
He really embodies that NOLA vibe … could imagine hearing him live when he was in his prime would’ve been amazing. He was the first big name to have a residency in Vegas in the 50’s. He’s one of the greats for sure 👍🏼
# In-Depth Review: *The Wildest!* – Louis Prima (1956) > “It’s hard to be depressed while listening to this stuff!” > — pretty much every listener since 1956 --- ## 1. Lyrics – Vaudeville Meets the Atomic Age Prima’s pen is equal parts nightclub comic, street-corner storyteller and Italian-American wise-guy. - **Self-deprecating swagger**: “Just a Gigolo” paints the singer as a discarded play-thing (“…and when I die don’t cry for me, for I’m the guy that’s got to be free”) yet the punch-line is delivered with a grin, not a sob. - **Macabre slap-stick**: “Glad When You’re Dead” turns a jealousy trope into a cartoon funeral (“When you’re six feet underground—no more ravioli will you crave!”). - **Call-and-response nonsense**: “The Lip” invents its own scat language (“yip-yip-yip-yip”) that doubles as horn-section cue; the joke is the song itself. - **Gender politics**: 1950s misogyny peeks through (“You Rascal You”, “Buona Sera”); modern ears hear it, 1956 ears heard flirtation. **Verdict**: Lyrics are disposable on paper, indispensable in performance—every syllable is timing, not text. --- ## 2. Music – The First Ska-Punk Big-Band? Arranger/bandleader Sam Butera treats the Witnesses like a hot-rod engine: - **Tempo**: Most cuts sit at 180-220 BPM; even the blues (“Basin Street”) is a double-time shuffle. - **Form**: 12-bar blues, 32-bar AABA and New Orleans second-line grooves slammed together—verse becomes chorus becomes trumpet break without warning. - **Texture**: Five-man horn section, baritone sax doubling sousaphone lines, Prima’s trumpet squealing above like a taxi horn. - **Vocal interplay**: Keely Smith’s dead-pan, on-the-beat delivery is the straight man to Prima’s rubber-faced ad-libs; the tension creates the swing feel. **Result**: Jump-blues, Dixieland, early rock-’n’-roll and Vegas lounge are soldered into one continuous 27-minute party. --- ## 3. Production – Captured Chaos Recorded 10–11 April 1956 at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, on the then-new 3-track tape: - **Mic placement**: One overhead ribbon on the horn section, one dynamic on Prima, one on the rhythm trio—minimal overdubs. - **Live feel**: You can hear Prima shout “Let it rip, boys!” as Butera’s tenor solo starts; audience screams were later added to simulate the Sahara Lounge. - **Stereo debut**: 1958 Capitol re-issue is among the earliest fake-stereo “duophonic” records; the 1987 CD remaster restores the original mono punch. **Sound signature**: Close, almost claustrophobic, giving the record its “barrel-house in a phone-booth” energy. --- ## 4. Themes – Death, Pasta & the Eternal Bachelor Beneath the gags runs a coherent post-war fantasy: - **Permanence of fun**: Even death is just another punch-line. - **Italian-American identity**: Food, Catholic guilt and family are turned into comic ammunition. - **Urban nightlife**: The album is a 3 a.m. cartoon of neon, cigars and taxi horns. In short, *The Wildest!* soundtracks the moment when WWII vets traded uniforms for shark-skin suits and decided the party should never end. --- ## 5. Influence – From Van Halen to Pixar - **David Lee Roth** copied Prima’s scat cadences note-for-note in his 1985 hit remake of “Just a Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody”. - **Brian Setzer** cites the record as the template for the Stray Cats’ horn-driven rockabilly. - **Disney** licensed “I Wanna Be Like You” (Jungle Book, 1967) after Walt heard Prima’s manic persona here. - **Neo-swing revival** of the late-’90s (Royal Crown Revue, Squirrel Nut Zippers) lifts both tempo and stage shtick. **Academic footnote**: Musicologists often mark *The Wildest!* as the hinge between big-band swing and small-combo rock-’n’-roll showmanship. --- ## Pros & Cons | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Infectious, high-octane performances—“a nebula of exuberant raucousness” | Dated gender attitudes on several tracks | | Tight, telepathic band interplay; Sam Butera’s sax deserves its own billing | Running time under 30 min—over before you’ve refilled your drink | | Prima/Smith vocal dynamic is comedy gold | Horn-heavy mix can feel relentless; no ballad breathing room | | Historically pivotal: bridges swing, R&B and early rock | Lyrics are mostly novelty; little emotional depth beyond “let’s party” | | Still works as a modern mood-lifter—“you’d have to hate fun not to enjoy this” | Some listeners find the shtick repetitive or even “bloody awful” | --- ## Bottom Line *The Wildest!* is not profound, but it is **necessary**—the moment when American pop learned that speed, humor and ethnic swagger could coexist in one adrenalized package. Drop the needle on any track and you’re instantly teleported to a smoky lounge where the meatballs are bottomless and tomorrow never comes.
Listens: 3 or 4 Standout Tracks: The Lip, (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You, Banana Split For My Baby Yea, this was awesome. Plain and simple. The music, the lyrics, the presentation. The album doesn't take itself too seriously; No, actually, it doesn't take itself seriously at all. It's just clean fun. I mean, how do you even reckon with the glorious "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You"? Is Louis singing about a friend? A coworker? A frenemy? A literal dog that tries to steal all his meatballs!? How about the way Banana Split For My Baby slowly unfolds where you come to realize he's not treating his girl to a nice ice cream sundae, but rather he's poor as fuck and asks the waiter to bring two separate checks - she can pay for her own damn ice cream, he just got his glass of water. LOL. This album is GOLD.
This is super fun!
He is sublime - a sound from an earlier and better world before music became processed cheese. So absolutely on top of his voice and his instrument, so inventive, so funny. ‘Just a Gigolo’ should be as famous as the ‘Ode to Joy’ and is better to dance to.
Joyous!
Delightful
Oh, fuck yeah. You just know you’re in for fun from the first notes. It’s another artist and record that is such a perfect example of what it is that it can only be a 5. Swing and jump blues, who can deny it? I guess the 50s aren’t going to be knocked from their Generator throne for me as my “favorite” decade any time soon.
let's go all the way back to the '50s with some big band swing music with a real sense of humor. i love music that puts a smile on your face when you turn it on. the way louis goes feral with his weird trademark zoobly-doobly-bop-bop-bop scatting style is amazing. this album does a good job at keeping a lot of listeners engaged with its playful instrumentation and occasional banter... it would be a great swingin' party album i feel like.
So much fun! One of those albums where you wish you were in the room when they recorded it
Louis was great. You need to hear a greatest hits to be properly introduced. 5 but only because he was a master of the form.
Just wild. I loved it as a kid, and my kids loved too. Louis is the king, Voyle Gilmore does a fantastic job capturing the essence of Louis and Keely and the band live. You'd be dead not to get this, so cool. I'm going to indulge myself for a sec: when the boys were watching the Jungle Book, my youngest turned to me during the I Want to be Like You and said King Louie is Louis Prima! Said it all. What a record!
As a young man, my musical diet was largely characterised by anxiety, anger and depression. I eventually decided that I needed some more positive vibes in my life and that should include my listening habits. Two of the best examples of my new choices were bought on the same day; a Rhino compilation of uptempo doo wop and a best of Louis Prima. I spun those CDs a lot, and truth be told, the _were_ a lot more fun than my usual musical taste and contributed to a general uplift in mood. Tracks from The Wildest! were well represented on that best compilation, so I am pretty familiar with this record. It is a funny, energetic recording of Prima's legendary live show. It's loose and irreverent, uptempo and hilarious. Prima takes liberties with his own material and jazz standards to create a raucous big band experience that foreshadows the coming RnB. This album is heaps of fun. Five stars
Wow! Vilket sväng, vilket uttryck och vilka jäkla trumpetsolon! 5 poäng från mig. Kan knappt tänka mig ett bättre album att måla tak till. Pappa tycker att det är härlig glad dansmusik. ”Man önskar att man kunde bebopa eller vaheterde bugga eller vaheterde”
POW! wow i feel good listening to this
Love the music
Just a fun album to listen to. Perfectly encapsulates the ebbs and flows of a live show. Allows the band to show off their skills during the instrumental numbers, while the upbeat songs have this wonderful, manic energy about them
A 5.
What a wonderful use of the saxophone.
Bangers, sampled by Bad Copy
Reminds me of christmases growing up in an Italian household. Classic and joyous.
This was such a fun listen. Jump, Jive, An’ Wail, Just a Gigilo, Be Mine, The Lip, I could go on. They were clearly having a great time making this record and it comes through in the music. Some really great playing on this too. Great, great stuff.
So fun. Feels like you’re at a great jazz show. Prima has a voice to boot!
An album that makes me smile and want to dance the jitterbug on the darkest day of the year automatically gets a 5/5.
I really enjoy this era of music. There's something so honest about how Louis scats along with the brass and brings the tempo to a pulse that makes your hips and feet want to dance.
Note to self: never try to steal Louis Prima's meatballs. Anyway, this album is perfection. On side one, Keely Smith is the star of the show. I love the back and forth she has with Prima, especially on The Lip. On side two, Sam Butera and the Witnesses shine with some mostly instrumental tracks. Louis Prima throughout the whole thing is joining in when he's needed and elevates everything. I already knew Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody from Just Dance. All the other songs I heard for the first time. I had high hopes. This was an album I have been looking forward to for a long time. It did not disappoint!
Very chill and relaxing, similar to music I have listened to.
LOVE Louis Prima
14th album with group. I really do just love music from the 50’s. Everything about 50’s music is just so enjoyable, but I would say that how jazzy it is is probably the main factor. Good Songs - Medley: Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares for Me), (Nothing's Too Good) For My Baby, The Lip, Body and Soul, Oh Marie, Medley: Basin Street Blues/When It's Sleepy Time Down South, Jump, Jive, an' Wail, Buona Sera, Night Train, and (I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead) You Rascal You. Bad Songs - Nothing.
Fire! 4.8
This might be the best New Orleans style jazz album I've ever heard. I'd give it like a 9.5
love it. I want more
This album is a ton of fun. Jump Jive and Wail, Basin Street Blues, Buona Sera are all excellent. Loaded with good jazz/big band tunes.
This was a fun one!
Witzig, beste Unterhaltung.
LOVED THIS! What a fun album to have on, made me feel like I was walking through the French Quarter!
giving over the garden wall Americana
I listen to music to feel good. This is that. Fun fact: last year I thrifted a framed B&W photograph of some musicians in a recording studio that had a “license from RIAA” sticker on the back. After some research, discovered it was Louis Prima. I went down a musical rabbit hole after that and found out I’m a big fan. Was thrilled to get this album and give it a full listen.
This album brings back listening to swing and big band memories with my grandparents. I had only heard David Lee Roth’s cover of Just a Gigolo and it’s hard to explain just how much better Prima’s version. The album is solid and is now in my current rotation.
If this doesn't move me check for rigor mortis. People like Louis Prima and Louis Jordan don't get as much credit as Little Richard and Ike Turner for being part of the creation of rock'n'roll but without them things just wouldn't be the same today. This music really lights me up and sets me off. A double espresso for my ears! Even though most of these tunes are already in my library from various compilations I'm adding this album for sure. Even the 2002 bonus tracks.
Love it always
Album #968 Ah! This is what pure joy sounds like, especially Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody and Jump, Jive, An' Wail. And I do like David Lee Roth and Brian Setzer's versions of these songs. I even listened to the bonus tracks and I will revisit this album in the future. One slight negative: I don't think you should wish death on someone, even a dog, just for your ravioli and meatballs.
Great swinging album to get you in the right mood with many classics
Absolutely loved it & its now on my playlist! ❤️
There is a high chance that if you bring this album into the workplace you can have your entire office singing I'm Just a Gigolo by the end of the day
Perfect sunny day cleaning background music. Totally fit the vibe!
Great album
This was amazing. Really great find.
Peak music, I can't get enough of this genre, and I don't think I'll ever get sick of it. Working, cooking, chilling, dancing, swingin' jazz does it all! 9/10
This album is a GOAT it smokes fellings, rock, old vibes and great musicians. You wont regret
Great fun
Incredible! Just fantastic from start to finish along with the bonus tracks!
Very very fun, you can really tell the band is enjoying itself.
This is fantastic. I am now in love with Keely Smith.
Gud lindy/bliuz dance stuff
Woot zoot, what a hoot!
This album is special. I 'Aint Got Nobody is an inspired song and has been stuck in my head all weekend. The trumpet is great, the harmonizing chorus is great, the scat is great, and Keely Smith is great. The whole album is a ton of fun, with some of my favorites being The Lip and (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You. As I'm typing this, I'm bopping along to (Nothing's Too Good) For My Baby and it's also awesome. I love Louis's foice and the way he can hit a sour note or linger on a note to really pull you in. It's really compelling and I loved this.
Very enjoyable album overall. The kind of upbeat 1950's jazz-swing music that puts you in an inescapably good mood. Makes me want to sip a good whiskey in a mid-century Vegas lounge. The kind of music that would shine on vinyl played through big, warm speakers. Would listen to this album again on any lazy evening but especially on a late summer eve with just a hint of chill in the air. Would 100% play Buona Sera at my wedding, great song.
Great album to start the day
Feels like everyone is having a good time on this album, and the whole thing is infectious. Never would have listened to this without doing this, so all the better.
Can you believe this and animal I have become by three days grace we’re both released during my grandmothers lifetime? This rips. Trumpet playing is good, the drummer is insane!!!, vocals on point. I love the feel of recordings from this era too. Thanks fallout I guess. He’s super funny throughout this too. The I can’t wait til you’re dead because if I invited you over for dinner you’d probably eat all my meatballs line rules. The banana split song in full is hilarious.
This is one of the most fun albums of all time. I love this, it's as close as I'll ever get to seeing/hearing Louis Prima live. These songs have so much character and Prima does a great job of bringing these to life. He's over the top and I love it. Absolutely a 5/5 and a treat to listen to
Это очень зажигательный альбом, тело сразу начинает двигаться в такт, супер заряженная штука для поднятия настроения
Louis Prima’s The Wildest. Vegas before Vegas. It’s not just jazz. More like a party that never sobered up. I've got my earbuds in and do not care what I probably look like to anyone else. God, I love this album.
Swinging!! So fun
This album was fun as hell. Wish I could have seen this act in Vegas in three 50’s.
voglio limonarmi louis prima
Classic album !
A joyous piece of music.
This album truly lives up to its title, bursting with unbridled, joyful energy. The band sounds fantastic, tight yet spontaneous, and the chemistry between Louis Prima and Keely Smith adds plenty of charm and cheekiness. My favorite track might be "Banana Split For My Baby"--it’s pure fun, and the whole album radiates that same playful, larger-than-life personality. Also, I thought that David Lee Roth was kinda just doing his own thing on "Just a Gigalo" and only now realized what a faithful recreation of the original he was actually doing. Bullzeebop.
3 songs in and I was already at a 5. This is another, 'musicians just aren't what they used to be' type of album. I hadn't listened to a lot of Louis Prima, but now I'm hooked. Every musician playing on this album sounds like a bad ass. I'll absolutely have to check more of this stuff out. Prima himself sounds effortless when he sings. His scatting parts sound so natural. This is one of the better albums I've listened to on this whole project.
On one hand, this is really outside of even the vast range of music I typically enjoy, on the other hand Bapdibosdibadd, this slapidibaps. Keely Smith pushes this into Five.
Holy King Loiue Batman
Excellent album full of life
Dobry italo klasiky
This is really cool out of the gate. Somewhere between Louis Armstrong and Harry Belafonte. Basin Street Blues is a New Orleans classic. Buona Sera is a classic. This album rules. It’s a Coleman-ass album. 5 stars.
In fairness I'm a big Louie Prima guy already, but this listen reminded me why. The music makes me feel nostalgic for a time that predated me by 50 years. Every track sounds like a party, and yet the vocals, the musicianship, the difficult-to-find line between planned vs ad hoc tempo changes and call/response banter makes it understandable why Louie and Keely's versions of songs done a thousand times are seen as the standard in so many cases.
When you see King Louie on the cover, eyes closed in ecstasy and mouth open wide, you can already guess what the music is going to sound like. There is profound music, music as a tool for change, music made for radio or nightclubs and music made as a pure expression of joy. ¨The Wildest!¨ is this last one, a simple blast of good times that only an ogre or puritan could hate. There’s a theory that people are never more attractive than we’re they’re talking about something they’re passionate about, and I think it’s also true about watching people do something they love and that they’re good at. I imagine when they were making this album everyone involved was at peak attractiveness. There are records you listen to and pity the artist, and there are records you listen to and wish you had been there. This is one. Best songs: ¨Just a Gigolo,¨ ¨The Lip,¨ ¨Buona Sera¨
Joy
Ahh!! First track, I thought I know this voice, and I know this trumpet. King Louis!!
Feels like the peak of the big band era and the introduction of crooner acts, more modern jazz, and rock all at once.
This is fun! And funny! Sure, it's not my favorite genre of music and yes, it definitely sounds like the 1950s, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a good time.
This is so much fun. Louis Prima really is the wildest! He's going all out and just oozing charisma and having so much fun playing. What a great time
people who hate jazz must simply be miserable people
Good times. papas in the icebox looking for a can of ale
Wasn’t too familiar with Louis Prima’s music. I enjoyed this whole album though. I’m sure if I played this for my grandma she would be loving it too.
Amazing, great swing/jazz vibes and the trumpets slay the house down.
Amazing
So entertaining
I mean this is classic. Many songs are very recognizable so I get the inclusion. Also, won’t be back. He was great for his time.
Excellent swing album, one of my favorites of the era!
che toro
How can you not like Louis Prima? Not only is he a fun singer, but the orchestration on this album is just incredible. The brass. The percussion and the wonderful Keely Smith backing him up. He’s just so much fun!
Where did this come from? This is excellent. Good weird skat, solid groove, thoughtful solos.
Plötzensee, Berlin, Deutschland. Perfektes Album für einen heißen Tag in Berlin.
First off, I’ve never liked David Lee Roth and now I dislike him even more. He “stole” everything from “Just a Gigolo”, scatting exactly as Prima did. What a loser. I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed this record. Yesterday was a Joy Division album (which I rated at 5) and today is the polar opposite of that, but will also get a 5. Just pure fun to listen to. You can hear the smiles on the performers faces. This would’ve been a blast to experience live. Not a dud in the batch. It’s albums like this that make me come back every day for another.
Louis Prima is certainly wild but the best way to enjoy him is live. He’s front and center doing his thing while Keely Smith, dressed in dark beatnik clothes stands immobile, humorless providing a dour counterpoint to Prima’s insanity. This is music of its time with a Caribbean sound popular then. If you don’t enjoy his music, check him out ion YouTube. He’s a gas.
Wow. I was familiar with some of the songs, of course. But the whole short album was a bit of a surprise. What a fun, loose and playful recording! Sometimes more jazzy, sometimes nearly rock and roll. Great fun and quintessentially 1950s.
Un álbum de jazz / swing clásico, lleno de energía y grandes colaboraciones. Solo alguna canción me decepcionó por ser muy parecida a otra. 4.5/5
A bit of bias in my rating admittedly having been raised on Louis Prima. It evokes strong sentimental feelings of cooking at home with family and the warmth of being loved. Removing that as much as one can, it’s just good fun.
Premiere chanson connue mais redécouverte dans l’écoute de l’album complet! Parfait! Très bonne ambiance et la trompette ☺️
Extremely likeable, fun album. You'd have to have a heart of stone not the enjoy this.
So much fun!
Absolutely had a blast with this one. Most fun I've had listening to an album since I began this project.
I enjoyed the hell out of this one. It might be the playfulness, or maybe Louis Prima can captivate an audience like few others; he's talking right to you. Regardless, it's a good time.
Good vibes
Haven't heard of this before 1001, reason why I do this. Favorite track: Nothing's too good for my baby other picks: just a gigolo, jump, buona sera
Italian crooner meets rock and roll.
das album hält, was es verspricht (the wildest;)) unglaublich tanzbare gute laune musik. tolle stimmen, tolle instrumente, tolles zusammenspiel, toller groove, toller jazz!
an absolute classic
This Album is fun. A lot of well known songs perfectly arranged.
Fantástic
Love the energy. Love the instruments. Love Louis Prima.
Great fun to listen to
I mean, no notes. Great songs. Fantastic instrumentals. Could listen to this every day and not get tired of it.
Loved it. Fun all the way through and his wife Keely's voice complements his well. I would listen to this again in a heartbeat.
No krass wie dass ech öberhaupt ke song us dem Albom könnt ha, obwohls so vel banger beenhaltet. So fendi zom biispel grad de erscht drettel hed ke song wo ned guet esch. Jedes of sini art, aber halt doch guet. Was secher alli guet möched ond halt au chli es Deng vo Musig us de 50er Johr esch, esch dass alli songs huere happy send ond ech das halt scho rächt fühle. Sogar songs wie "I Ain't Got Nobody" wo eigentlech truurig send töned wie es riise fäscht wo au s Zämespel us Trompete ond Gsang huere geil esch, au de frömdländisch Gsang passt ergendwie ine. A "Nothing's Too Good For My Baby" fühli halt au no wie s Klavier so ibaut esch ond sech ergendwie alles e chli wederholt, s aber nie wörk langwiilig werd. A "The Lip" fendi ned nome t Gschecht vom song loschtig wo e huere guete Trompetespeller Lip heisst, sondern au au wies ufbaut esch wie e blues, das aber mängisch de au weder brecht, ond natürlech au die krasse ilage vo de Trompete. Nochär gods met emne fascht rein Instrumentale Song "Body and Soul" wiiter wo am afang no chli langsam schiint, de aber plötzlech ufgod onds rechtig abgod. do mues mer sech fascht dezue bewege. Mer chönnt jetzt öber fascht jede song so es faszinierts Textli schriibe ond die scho gmachte no met meh Details ariichere, aber de Ponkt esch glaub klar: Alli songs send zwar verschede aber huere guet.
Such a fun album! Had me dancing and smiling the whole time. Will 100% play again
Classic
I love this sound of the 50's so happy and upbeat and a little bit silly. Definitely makes you want to dance. I'm giving this 5 stars
Love!
Likely an under researched claim, but for me, Just a Gigolo is one of the finest recordings pre 1960, its very impressive on a technical level and a great song to top it off. It also helps that some of my favourite standards are on here, and performed with the flair that stays consistent accross the album.
This guy bops. Upbeat and fun. I would not mind finding this one on Vinyl. Think I'll put the classic, "Jump, Jive, an' Wail" on the 1001 playlist. ~ 5 Stars
love it
I LOVE LOUIS PRIMA AND KEELY SMITH!!! This album is like being at a gangstered up Las Vegas casino in 1958. I’m smoking cigarettes, drinking martinis and dancing the night away.
Lost my notes :( but I think I said this gets 5 stars for the novelty. I like the genre and it kept my attention throughout. Hoping for more oldies like this.
Feeling great after this!
good
I read that the album cover matches the vibe of the music and I couldn't agree more! The Wildest! offers a very fun set of songs, and the charismatic personality and voice of Prima help make this collection of swing very memorable and enjoyable.
Very fun. Great for cooking and date night any time of year. As with older genres sometimes in danger of just being theme music but some secure distinctive tracks
04/06/2025 I actually found this surprisingly enjoyable.
This was a really good album that I probably wouldn’t have found on my own. Of course, I’ve heard “Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody” before, but I never really looked into it further. It turns out, the whole album is just as good. It’s a blend of swing, jump blues, and jazz. Swing isn’t something I know much about, and I didn’t even know jump blues existed until now. This album feels like a great starting point to explore more of Louis Prima’s catalog.
Exciting 1950's music.
I have never heard of this. Let's go Oh okay I'm gonna like this haha. Yeah this is great, just plain fun. The end of I Ain't Got Nobody is so good. The second song keeps the quality going. The Lip was good too. But I have to say, that first track left way too high a standard. Body and Soul is the jazziest song so far (not a complaint). The instrumentals are still fun and have a sort of personality. Lovely. Oh Marie goes offfff, I loved this, second best so far. Next track, another medley, is probably my least favourite so far. I still liked it, but found myself not paying as much attention. Next track, while still fun, didn't captivate me that much. The lyrics do remind me that it's the 50's haha. Buona Sera is another highlight. Night Train, another instrumental, is good and actually manages to carry itself like Body and Soul did. The closer brings back the vocals and with them comes the same feeling the first few tracks had. Even if he's singing about a rascal and his eventual death, this is so much fun. This album was, to repeat myself, a lot of fun! But then again, I don't think I can trust you if you don't like swing. I was dancing along to all these songs, and I can see myself continuing to do so in the future. Great stuff. Bye
Louis prima and New Orleans are on top
If you wanted to make a movie about Vegas in the 50's, this album could easily provide the music. 5 stars or A-.
Oh this is a beautiful sound. I forgot how much I love swing, and this man is The King of it, after all. The energy and soul coming through every song is invigorating. Fantastic album.
Never would've listened to this but I love it. So much fun.
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH! The sax! The piano! The vocal style and personality! The lyrics! The little jokes! What a great time! I love this!
Music from a time long past. This is a fun album with songs played with emotion, heart, soul, and love. This is a great album.
Awesome. Tons of fun. Great production and vocals. No skips. Makes me want some spaghetti or maybe a john Hughes movie
Such joy
Hell of a way to start a Monday! I already knew some of the songs from other sources, such as "Just a Gigolo/ I Ain't Got Nobody" which I listened for the first time sung by David Lee Roth, and also a small excerpt from "Body And Soul" at 2:19 of the song, which was used on the Brazilian program "Pião da Casa Própria" by the legendary Silvio Santos. This album is a true masterpiece of Doo-wop Sh-boom music!
I imagine listening to this in a 1940's nightclub. Everyone dressed to the 9's.
Really fun album. I've always liked some jazz/blues/swing(?) like a lot of this and it's good at it
Love the vibe of this one.
Louis Prima somehow has a different style for each song, from a call-and-response big band track in The Lip, to some slower but still fully jazzy tracks like Body and Soul. This came out of left field as a type of music I rarely explore, but it absolutely delivered. This album is so much fun, and on top of that the musicians behind it are GOOD. Giving this 5 ⭐ because of the listening experience
Absolute fire. Usually not a fan of this type of jazz and a little bit of a slow start but I just loved the energy and I do appreciate what they were trying to do (make a live album in the studio). Iconic release.
Even though he totally ripped off David Lee Roth, this album is a real hoot.
I'm Italian-American, it's physically impossible for me to rate this anything less. The second I turned it on a plate of just appeared in my hand.
Classic and timeless. Horns, standup bass, soulful vocals.
I'm not sure how you'd characterize the tone of the album - raucous? Gleeful? There's a perfect synergy between the off-kilter at times even anarchic humor in the lyrics and the wild, fun energy of the music. I especially liked the menacing but also oddly innocent call and response part in the second song where the man threatens to punch the woman in the eye and she says i'd like to see you try and then they both laugh and (presumably) continue dancing the night away. It's a tone that almost wouldn't make any sense in the current day and age, but its still so specific you can still imagine how it would have played in the 50s. That plus whoever is on the keys here is absolutely TICKLING those ivories. I guess I'm saying I kind of loved this.
A Friday album one has wet dreams about Ignorantly, I only knew Pennies From Heaven and When you're smiling from Louis Prima beforehand. Those songs have been essential cuts on my Brunch/WakeUp playlist for the last 10 years that have helped me through (by no exageration) 100s of hangovers (brought me back to college football pregame breakfasts -- kegs and eggs -- shit, im old now). This album has some GIANTS on it that cruise along with those two (im thinking Just A Gigolo and Jump Jive). The way LP builds up the energy, the scatting, the progressive tweaking, sax solos, its all so 1956 to me... 5/5 stars You might think its silly to put this at a 5 versus a 4 (and ill admit, it is a bit of stretch). A lot of the songs have a familiar feel, but I honestly can't get enough of it in the right context. I spun Just a Gigolo over 10 times in the last 3 days For posterity, It was sunny & 70 degrees in SF. Louis Prima was like dumping gasoline on a fire of ecstasy pills. I cant imagine what life is like in the alternate universe that we got Korn instead.
This was a swinging fun album. Had a great time.
Totally thought this would be a waste of time, but super fun. You can hear the man sweating. The music is raucous and fun.
>> the Beatles
Love Louie, my classic Buick was owned by a lady named Marie. I named the car Oh Marie from this song. Many times when I get in the car I have to readjust the mirrors they are set back for a very short person which Marie was.
Is toch lachen
I like jazz in general. Louis Prima is one ob the best in this music style. His originality is undisputable. His legacy in jazz music took the world in its entirety.
Fun!
King Louie!
I love Louis Prima!
Loved this! Could sit and listen to it for hours. Has a relaxing, calming feel to me on a lot of the songs even though some are upbeat.
Conjures memories of 90's era romantic comedies and my emotionally-abusive father. Fantastic!
This is just some absolutely hot stuff. What a vibe. Love it. Favourite tracks: The Lip, Jump, Jive, An' Wail.
LOVE THIS ALBUM
Great album. Swing ain’t something I normally listen to but enjoyed that one very much. I knew 2 songs of his, only 1 on this album, before I heard it.
My god this album slaps. Timeless, good time party music.
Not really my kind of music - but very cheerful and pleasant - many classics
Fantastic!
итальянский поп-джаз. имба. энергично, кайфово, создает вайб эпохи
🔥!!! Something I maybe heard of but never thought of listening to, first couple of tracks dope
W sumie to zarąbiste. 5/5 takie żywe wesołe dobrej jakości muzyka
Fun
I rate just the gigolo a 4 star because it sounds like a song from the fallout and the saxophone sounds really good ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate body and soul a 5 star because I like jazz and I like jazz and the instruments sound good ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate jump dive and whale 4 star because it sounds like a song from the fallout and the saxophone sounds really good ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
I like this album because it sound really good. I love the sound of his voice and the background music goes really well with his voice. I think the lyrics are funny and nice. I would recommend this album to friends and family.
Domó luis, tipazo
50s
Just great
That’s the stuff of big band/swing magic right there. I’ll say that some of the bass lines on the swing tracks sounded very similar, but it’s not like I didn’t enjoy them. A special shout out for the fun gibberish that obviously influenced early rock and roll albums. I want to give it a 4.5 but I can’t so it’s gonna get the full 5.
I just love this. It's so irreverent and fun in the stupidest way. I'm definitely playing this at the next party at my house.
Joyous - I could (and did) listen to this all day.
Great energy and harmonizing. Loved it.
So epic
I freaking love this. It's so jazzy, cool and full of good vibes!
Love! Great lyrics, great sound, so fun!
Consistently great album with some classics and the best scatting you'll ever hear.
I love this genre and Louis! Makes me want to dance!
Exploding with energy and talent!
“I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You.” - The most uptempo song about wishing death on someone…that I know of. “A Banana Split for My Baby” - A song possibly about a feeding fetish. Could be more sinister if said baby is lactose intolerant. That said, I now want a banana split. “Five Months,Two Weeks, Two Days” A whole lotta weird mouth noises. A Misophoniac’s version of hell. Why?!?!
Pure joy.
classic
Louis Prima and Keely Smith are criminally underrated.
Absolutely fantastic album, what a fun listen.
Is Louis Prima a big band artist? Is he pop or maybe some form of proto-rockabilly? Maybe, he's just a genre unto himself. He's also the king orangutan in the movie Jungle Book. Is he a movie star? It doesn't matter, he's Louis Prima and there is no one else like him. This album is chocked full of some of his greatest music. It jumps, jives, and wails. It's funny, much of the time, and just damn enjoyable. Needless to say, this is an album everyone should listen to. Go! Do that now.
He helped bridge the gap between jazz and rock & roll and had more fun doing it than anyone. Louis (and Keeley) were awesome.
This one will instantly put a smile on your face. Keely Smith deserves some praise here too for her vocals.
Even meatball theives bop to this.
A wonderfully upbeat mix of jazz music, beautifully recorded, classics you recognize that you don’t remember from where. Vocals are outstanding. This is one you could put on anytime and have a smile brought to your face immediately.
Max loves this guy. The first time I heard Louis Prima was when Max was playing him somewhere. Maybe in the car. or maybe in cupcake
Loved it....I'm gonna go watch Big Night now.
One of the funnest albums I've listened to ever. Fantastic singing and catchy songs. 9/10
That was a ton of fun to listen to. Raucous, good time. Big energy. Would love to grab a drink with Louis Prima
Feel good music
Didn’t realize so many songs I knew were from this album!
So ubiquitous in american culture it's stupid
I think I've heard every song here before. I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed going through this collection. Every song a classic.
Just seconds into the first song, I knew immediately I would love this album. Loved the vibe and vocals. Very well done.
Heard a lot of this in movies, commercials, and on some radio channels. I thought he was an opera guy, but he performs with swinging energy and a fun, upbeat rhythm
Best of its kind. VEGAS BABY!