The Wildest!

I love this type of music, makes me think of romantic golden era hollywood movies and better times.. It was however a mixed bag on an album, at it's best it made my heart swell, at it's worth I had to skip beacuse it was an irritant..

good old style tunes, but not something I'd stick on

beautiful tracks n classical jazz

Kinda buns twin but it was fun.

Wild

The name of Louis Prima wasn't immediately familiar to me but his voice was instantly recognisable from 'I Wanna Be Like You' in the Jungle Book. Once that had clicked, it was hard to shake the image, but I really enjoyed this record. I've a soft spot for that big band jazz sound so this was a good, fun, listen.

I quite like a range of jazz and some big band, though my knowledge of these is pretty limted, this kind of fits in there with these probably swing or somesuch in there too. It seems to be trying so hard to be fun that it left me feeling more grumpy. Sure it's just me...

yeahhhhh!!! fuuuuck it's so good

Idk it sounds old but good

Ha maybe not everyone's cup of tea but I love this shit

David Lee Roth even copied his scatting. Interesting character and I think the showmanship probably translated better to live than recording.

At first I wasn’t messing with it because it felt like just basic old timey music but then body and soul went crazy on the trumpet. Then I started noticing some of the little things Prima and crew did and the album really grew on me. Also prima voiced king Louise in the Jungle Book so he’s an absolute king.

Bastante bien. Para mí que no me gusta tanto este tipo de música se me hizo un toque largo de terminar, pero bastante bueno.

Hell yeah! This was absolutely awesome! What fun!! Catchy as hell, will be keeping my eyes peeled for Louis Prima in the record stores.

104. jazz

Not really my thing but I can still appreciate a fun swing album when I hear one. I would never go out of my way to listen to anything like this but it's still good enough at what it does to keep me entertained. I do like the revolving door of vocalists, making it pretty dynamic on top of the already super fun and lively instrumental.

Pretty wild. I don’t know about the wildest…..

I almost coyote ugly'd my desk listening to this

Nice stuff

Classic!

Bouncy, happy swinging jazz. Made me smile.

fire

I'm not big on too much of the jazz/swing sound of this era, but this is a fun enough album that transcends some of my preconceived notions. Plus, it helps that there's a few recognizable tracks on here that I'm familiar with through covers. Enjoyable.

Louis Prima's 'The Wildest' is a loud, bombastic swing record complete with sudden changes in tempo, a mix of male and female vocals (Keely Smith shares vocal duties with Prima) and some seriously tight saxophone courtesy of Sam Butera on tenor saxophone, James Blount Jr. on trombone and Prima himself on trumpet. 'The Wildest!' bounces around like an untamed beast taking twists and turns at break-neck speed. You can't really fault Prima and Co. for keeping you on your toes as a listener, as the album never dips in excitement. The superb musicianship on this record truly drives it, and as far as 50s swing is concerned, 'The Wildest!' certainly lives up to its name. Best songs: The Lip, Body and Soul, Jump Jive An' Wail, Buona Sera, (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You)

old school jazz not bad but not something that blows me away

Never in my life i heard Louis Prima and my god im mad at myself for that

sometimes sounded good but too many unpleasant sounds for a higher rating

cute but not fan of that old music.

Loved this

It's fine, it's just not my bag

Blues jazz album med swing som bliver anset for at være en overgang til rock n Roll i historien. De indspillede det også som de gerne ville fastholde deres in person show energi fra Sahara Hotel/Casino miljøet. Jeg har lyttet til det hele dagen og kan godt lide viben af det. Det er meget opløftende og håbefuldt, så det er godt på selv dårlige dage, synes jeg. Ved ikke så meget om jazz og blues til at vide noget som helst om det instrumentale og om de er dygtige lydmæssigt. Men jeg kan godt lide de har valgt at bevare live-energien.

Amazing jazz album

Beautiful!

Decent swing, just not my jam

Cool:))

It's alright. More background music.

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.

Nice

So fun! sent me when a seeing rabbit hole.

Hauskaa fallout musiikia

Previously known. A lot of fun.

Me recordó mucho a mi tía P

i like how italian it is

4.5 - this is absolutely delightful

This was SO fun, I was bopping my head the whole way through. I'm such a sucker for swing music.

A bunch of swinging tunes! What a time! One listen is ok for me.

Some fun and silly songs! Likely won't revisit

pretty good and likeable thats for sure. love the instrumentals

play that band music white boy

Really enjoyed this, sounds like the songs were more about just having fun with the music, instead of taking it too seriously.

im just a gigolo too brother

Me venía gustando pero me di cuenta que tenia la reproducción en aleatorio después de un rato. Entonces volví a empezar yyy medio que me harté del sonido. Pero bueno, no es la culpa del Señor Louis que yo sea media boluda. Entonces le pongo un 4 por el espíritu y el supuesto contrafáctico de que si lo hubiera escuchado correctamente lo hubiera disfrutado más.

I liked it. I like Louis Prima. I'm not super into this album but it does have a lot of good tunes.

I’m giving this up for because this reminds me that people born 100 years ago can be just as funny and just as human and just as adventurous as people born today. I feel like a lot of the time is older music, it holds a place of influence, but stops being exciting when you consider what is happening in music today. I like how am I supposed to get hype to Duke Ellington when Spoiled little brat by underscores exists? That being said that this album is a hoot and the solos are really frickin good too

10000% nascido pra estar numa radio de qualquer fallout eu correria de deathclaws com muita alegria com esse album de fundo

pior que eh bacaninha, hein. ótima soundtrack pra um filme que se passa nos anos 50, só tem uma que me irritou mto não sei pq. de resto bão demais fantástico que do nada soltam um pião do baú rapidão como quem nao quer nada.

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

A lot of classic hits on this one, and it's kind of nice to listen to them all at once. A totally pleasant listening experience, timeless and charming.

Old school good

Finally ! One of my favorite jazz albums

Fun album, jazzy but upbeat

4/5

Really fun album. What a wonderful voice. The album a bit “one note” as far as variety but it was a great listen while driving into work. The power in his voice and the swinging jazz were a great album from the list. I feel 3 is too low but I can’t quite get to 4. 3.75/5

Not terrible. Liked almost every song, but none of the songs were outstanding. 5.25/14. 61.24%

Bangers.

Super nostalgic for me. Used to listen to this album with my grandpa all the time as a little kid. Solid.

Album was a lot of fun! I was familiar with a lot of the songs but didnt realize they were all performed by Louis Prima. Lots of energy and life. Overall, great album

Gas

Great old jazz album, was definitely a fun listen

Listening to buona sera felt like date night in Italy, a glass of wine, some cheesy pizza & cheeesy lines. Didn’t like the other songs, the random sounds were not my vibe. Really liked the naming of songs though!!

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.

This is a fun album nothing more nothing less. Why does this remind me of Lou Vega

A lot of fun! Some real good blues/swing with a semi-manic energy.

I really enjoyed this. I love most music out of New Orleans though so yea. Might be a 5 ….if the start were as strong as the end it probably would be.

Hello, Back to the Future soundtrack. This is really good though - great energy, catchy songs.

He really IS the wildest of the era. Good pace, good grooves, cool dude

favorites: just a gigolo; for my baby; the lip

Aged like fine wine, for the most part.

it's good but the long trumpet solos slightly gave me a migrane. also how can this make some people happy? i do like music from the 50s but i had to take breaks to finish this. seriously the trumpets, it gets to a point. good background music when there is chatter around, wouldn't blast this on full volume.

lovely sax, liked the playful and surprising ones. medley and the repetitions remind me of nohavica - they are not similar at all so not sure why

No soy fan del jazz en general (aunque la primera canción es divertida), no puedo decir mucho más

Sounds like it should be from the 1930's. Liked it but was anachronistic.

thought this was just music played in movies

Every single song was ridiculous and every single song sounded like the intro to Pennies from Heaven. Kinda fun though to be honest.

lovely jazz. The vocalist's tone sounds so good together, I really like when they add 4+ part harmony. those trombone solos ripped

Not my style of music! However, the album is incredibly cheeky in its lyrics and energy which makes for an entertaining listen. I don't know if this album is an accurate encapsulation of what the 60's felt like, but it certainly transports you to a different time.

Just For You I'd Learn To Bake A Pie 1001 Albums Generator 241 (3/6/2026) I mean, in 1956, this really might have as wild as it got. I can imagine this totally floored Silent Generation parents when young Boomers put this on the turntable. I mean, those huge vocal harmonies and nonsensical wordless vocals on I Ain't Got Nobody are a hell of a way to start an album. While I love the pure playfulness of The Wildest (I mean seriously, these guys are really enjoying themselves), there are moments like The Lip that are a bit corny. However, check out the quick interpolation of In The Hall of the Mountain King in Body And Soul. What a clever idea. Buona Sera has an undeniably latin flare (perhaps a tango?) in its first half. The Wildest is probably the best of these traditional pop/crooner albums that I've heard so far, but it's still just not my style of music. Louis Prima is a really convincing frontman though. 3/5. Favs: Just A Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody (Nothing's Too Good) For My Baby Buona Sera Least Fav: The Lip

Best Track - "Jump, Jive An' Wail"

Good tunes, but as an overall album I don't find it very impressive.

Quite good for what it is, but I don’t imagine myself revisiting it. It has some unhinged lyrics, though, that I rather dug, like “A glass of water for me, a banana split for her.” What does that mean??!?

Okay, this is probably the oldest album I've had yet, and it sure sounds it. It might have been the Wildest album of its time, but music has evolved so much in the intervening decades that it's not even close to the title in modern times. It's enjoyable enough, but 50s music in general tends to sound extremely dated, and this falls victim to that. Lyrics are okay, though often uninteresting. Jazz can be a phenomenal genre, but this is more a curio for people interested in the popular sounds of the 1950s and less an essential album for everyone.

This was actually a really enjoyable, chill, jazz album.

Magnificent!

Music from this age has a charm to it that can't be recreated anymore, and the early rock and roll sound mixed with jazzy trumpets and saxophones make this album great even after 70 years. 3.8/5

I lowkey listened to the expanded edition. Fun album though and I really enjoyed it.

This is a lot of fun. Sonically it’s terrific, too.

Swingy! And this guy is a gigolo!

it didn't really keep me engaged, i felt all the songs were fading into one and i just didn't really enjoy it. to be fair, its hard to keep me engaged in a genre which i don't typically listen to or enjoy, but i can appreciate that the instrumentals and vocals were great. the saxophones were fucking it upppp

Jazz it’s ok

Not the sort of thing I'd normally listen to. I'd like it if I was at a themed restaurant, but I wouldn't listen again.

Jazz never been my type of music, but this one was surprisingly an easy listening. I mean at no point did I want to turn it off thinking “what the f is this”. So I guess it’s ok, for background listening or something.

This is a really fun album. I couldn't listen to it too often, but great to listen to every few years.

Wild

Joyous virtuosity

Very enjoyable.

It's kind of impossible not to like this. Great energy. 7.2 Fav track: (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You Least fav: Body and Soul

Great time!

I liked this album more than I expected

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

Ihan leppoisaa 3,5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vanhaa kunnon kunnonvanhaa. Kyllä ennen osattiin! Melko paljon sampleja oon kuullu tän levyn biiseistä.

Old standards. Not a big fan.

I smile, wery nice!!!!!

love this!

one of my all-time favorites

3/5 nice

This is a fun little album! Didn't drag, fun songs. Much better than I assumed. 3/5

This lively, tongue-in-cheek swing/lounge/Vegas jazz had fun and upbeat performances, both musical and vocal. I really enjoyed this!

This brought back early memories of a slew of Italian/American singers. Although Louis was one of the earliest with deep roots founded in New Orleans jazz. An interesting listen.

What a voice! Fabulous horn.

Hard not to want to tap your foot to it.

De bon aloi.

Maybe I just don't know swing well enough but this is pretty engaging and energetic in a way that seems predictive of/aligned with the development of rock. Kinda nuts for 1956.

Fun.

C’était très cool ! Musicalement, ça bouge bien, Louis Prima est à fond du début à la fin, le titre de l’album est bien à l’image de ce qu’on entend. Ça fait plaisir, ça faisant un moment que j’avais pas eu un album que je trouve vraiment bon.

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.

Fun album. 4.0/5.0: Great

great instrumentals, okay vocals. i dont really enjoy his voice so its no surprise my favorite song on here was the instrumental track. still the vibe was infectious, this is something that wouldve been immensely better in person

My immediate reaction upon pressing play on this album was to start bopping. Perhaps a bit weird that Mr. Prima starts with "I'm just a gigolo" but who can deny the bop. And the album as a unit is very bright, I think that's the best word for it.

ну вот совсем не мое

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)

Not my usual vibe but it's fun

Reminded me of visiting my grandmother as a child

Fun background album. Started strong and fizzled over its run time. 2-3 stars

Loved this.

Louis Prima made on of my fav Disney songs ever, and I knew ‘Pennies From Heaven’, so I was excited to check this out !! This album has such good vibes !! So jazzy, amazing basslines and groovy trumpets. Prima’s singing and the backing vocals are great too. Fav song is ‘Just A Gigolo’.

4.3 stars

I love a bit of swing. This was a lot of fun. Also, I just learned this guy wrote Sing Sing Sing.

Classic

5/5

a street car named desire core, a lot of dialogue which I lowkirk love, I love whatever 'body and souls' is on, this album is so whimsical. Lyrics are so silly but like he's having so much fun and its making me have fun too. Would love to see live one day or just playing in a very jazzy street or bar

Well gee whiz, mister! These "soitenly" are some grand tunes! Favorite song: Whistle Stop.

lo escuché camino a la chamba, una joya, sube y baja pero siempre se mantiene arriba, me encantó.

This is the type of music that makes me wonder what it would be like to introduce an early 50s jazz singer to modern experimental music, like imagine showing this guy Death Grips or Lingua Ignota. Anyways, the music's pretty fun. He's clearly having fun with it at the very least. I knew exactly one song from this guy before this list (Pennies from Heaven) and now I know that the majority of this guy's songs sound like it. Pennies aren't even a thing anymore, so somehow that song has become outdated. At least his stuff is the fun kind of dated where you can act like you're dancing around at a just-below-standard bar after your fifth manhattan. I'm very bad at staying on topic. The music's great, lots of saxophone bonus points.

it's super fun and so different to what I'm used to listen to

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.

Well... this was a case of maybe it would have been best not to go down a rabbit hole about the artist. The music fell into the category of something I wouldn't normally listen to but was pretty good! A bunch of classic songs that have been covered numerous times. But once I delved into the history of Louis Prima it just seemed... weird. He was married so many times and each time it seemed like the person he married was 20... no matter how old he was. And that person was also someone that he tried to (successfully sometimes, unsuccessfully others) launch their singing career. Which is just... creepy.

Absolutely did not expect this album to be so fun

I was not expecting to enjoy this. Big band rock and roll with jazz trumpet. Some great duets. Cheesy lyrics about high note grease. Will be listening again.

Ei tässä kauheasti mitään vikaa ollut, mutta en jaksanut tästä innostua.

if you know anything about me, this should be no surprise

this was a nice vibe. it's so funny bc david said this would be the weirdest album i'd listen to. not true! hellooo, sigur ros?

This is what your mom plays while she makes a Sunday bolognese, and I plan to do just that on Monday.

Okay! Great first Songa and then it vegane a little repetetive imo. But he has an amazing voice and great banter and pace in the songs.

1950s comedy album. So... kinda misogynistic, kinda lame. Some tracks are Tom and Jerry coded to hell.

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.

3,5/5

Enjoyed! Recognized a couple of songs.

не люблю джаз

While my listening environment might also be a contributing factor, the volume balance between vocals and instruments was slightly uncomfortable. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful album showcasing masterful skill.

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.

Just a buzz that you get from these albums. Fun, raucous and you’re never sure where the next bar goes. Good stuff.

Love this a lot

I actually loved

Fun and frantic cooking music

If this was a soup it would be chicken & veg. Its ok but not what you wanna eat

Just a fun album!

Of the time. Nice vibe though, comedic, enjoyable feel Think this guys mental instability is being misjudged as personality You're enjoying scrambled eggs, then someone slaps a fistful of jam in the middle of it. I'll try it. But not again.

Enjoyed it. Won’t listen again though probably Parts gave me fallout song vibes which is always a bonus

Bit of fun, but there’s a time and place.

Surprisingly good. It really swings on the good songs, and I can feel how Louis Prima enjoys performing. But there’s a downside to it: There"s so much enjoyment and playfulness that I want to turn it down a little after a while. I don’t think I can match the level of happiness in this kind of music through a full album. Favourite songs: Bueno Sera and Just a Gigolo/Ain’t Got Nobody

Never heard this before, fun to listen to.

Some bops, some annoying tracks, but all around not bad. 3/5

Gear: INAWAKEN Twilight-DS Artwork: ️🤣⚠️🟨 Production: 🕰️🙂‍↕️👍 Music: 🦧👑🥳 Rating: 🍌🍌🍌🍌/5

Great album... Lots of fun!

no lo completé pero estaba bueno.

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.

- this is PEAK - i like this New Orleans Jazz style a lot -i enjoy the duets and multiple artist ensembles - i like how most songs tell a story with them - fav song prolly 'body and soul'

As old school jazz goes this is an absolute treat. The energy and vibrance of the album puts a smile on your face, and feels like a fantastic journey from the opening track to the end of the record. The biggest complement you can pay is that it makes you want to be dancing in a jazz bar.

Love it. Have listened to this since I was a child and it never fails to lighten my mood. Louis Prima, Keely Smith and Sam Butera put on a great show

3/6

Vocal jazz is not the best jazz. Overall OK

I'm quite fond on this genre in a more limited quantity, a whole album is a little too much. The lyrics aren't great, but I don't think I mind all that much. And why isn't he paying for that banana split? Three stars. (Favorite track: Just a Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody.)

Really not made to be listened to as an album.

It was good-sounding, nostalgic album that gives the same feeling as you have when listening to Fallout soundtracks. Actually, should get back to playing the game again...

It’s fun and uplifting. The sax parts are awesome! Fallout soundtrack to my ears.

это, интересно, я даже сохранила одну песню, но, честно говоря, абсолютно не моё. вайб послушать один раз, но на репите на стала бы ибо не люблю джаз и блюз.

Funky

Big band sound - lot’s used in movies

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

Yeah it's some pretty alright swingy jazz numbers. Nothing amazing but it's pretty alright.

Easy to enjoy. No complaints whatsoever

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.

Dope

Sa ovakvim naslovom za album zapravo nije izneverio. Ne možeš da budeš smoren kad slušaš ove pesme, stvarno ti podiže duh. Mislim naravno da me neće izneveriti bilo koji izvodjač posle ovog prethodnog albuma. Ocena za ovaj album je jedna solidna, sasvim fina 4/5

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.

Actually banger and gives you such a happy vibe, listened to it like 3 times. The lip gets annoying.

Lowkey unrestrained.

Recognised the voice straight away as King Louie from Jungle Book. Good album to listen to whilst working, but it's not really my style. 3/5 clearly talented, but not something I'd choose to listen to again.

Never trust the musical opinion of anyone who has the 1950s listed on here as their favourite decade.

Great background music. Liked this a lot.

Pretty wild indeed

Too crooney

The tunes are good enough, in that jazzy swingy sense. But the lyrics are borderline nonsensical (intentionally, I suppose) and Prima's no Sinatra. Might simply be an unfortunate consequence of the passage of time but the comedy half of this comedy record does not hold up at all. As of now the only person I can picture really crowing about this album is Italian-American octogenarian homebodies and Tim Heidecker's hipster character from I Think You Should Leave. It's a shame because instrumentally, it's rock-solid toe-tapping jazz beats all the way through. Though I did keep thinking it was going to crack into When The Saints Go Marching In half the time. fav tracks: I Ain't Got Nobody, Body and Soul

A really pleasant change of pace. This will find it's way back when I need something happy in the background

A fun swing album, even if not an essential listen

Childhood sunday mornings on a plate.

This album was definitely fun. Danceable.

It’s always interesting to listen to music from the 50s. I’m sure this was a certified banger back in the day. It flowed well, I thought it was okay. But I think it’ll take more than just some simple swings to get me to vote more than a 3 on stuff like this.

Only really liked the first song, everything else was underwhelming tbh. Not my cup of tea for sure

3.5/5

i swear like 10 of these songs were the same songs in a different font and name. not alot of variety here. i enjoy it to a certain degree but after a while i get a little tired of it.

It reminds me of the Fallout video games in all the best ways. Allmusic apparently said this album is a raunchy mix of demented gibberish, blaring sax, and explosive swing. And what a great string of words put together. 3.5 stars, rounded down

I like the first song but not really into the rest.

Buen rollo

Fantastic loved every song

Takéto ma celkom baví.

absolute classics in here

I loved it, just what I needed to hear on a gloomy frigid day.

Uma viagem para os anos 50, em muitos sentidos. Prima é um frontman muito carismático para os padrões da época mas até para as sensibilidades atuais. Muitos solos de uma nota, o que é hype d+.

2.4/5 Really surprised with this one. Thought I was going to hate it but I was bopping along to most of the album.

Love the variety of songs and real soul in the music!

A lot of these songs feel like great choices for 80s/90s movie montages.

Brought me joy

Brassy and beautiful…deep purplish red serotonin in a crystal glass that you can dip the good bread in

Joyful

it is exactly what reviews claim it to be: joyous, makes one want to dance.

Liked it

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.

Loved Keely Smith’s voice! I miss that full bodied sound! Liked the harmonies but the beginning of like every song sounded like Pennies from Heaven. Favorite lyric was by far, “When you’re dead and in your grave, no more ravioli will you crave.”

a very classy album, i did enjoy it. to me it is a quite good background (but quality) music. i like the swing/jazz in the album, i didn't look into the lyricism but i believe the lines are often witty. plus, prima's voice suited me just well.

1956...

Well, not bad but not my cup of tea. Nice background music though.

Wasn't into it at the start, about halfway through I was convinced I was listening to a Paolo Nutini album and started enjoying it for some reason. Would like to give a 2.5 but rounded up to a 3 as the back end of the album perked me up!

A mix of styles but surprisingly I really enjoyed it!

Liked his energy and storytelling

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.

nice, fun sound

Interessante companhia

His backstory was very fun to read about. They sought to recreate what it was like listening to them in the club at 3AM in Las Vegas and they completely succeeded. It takes very little imagination to suddenly be in 1950s sin city. It’s impossible to miss his New Orleans influence as well. This should be the hallmark example of how to bring the energy of a live performance to recording studio. I enjoyed it a decent bit more than the James Brown selection. Being born in 1910, is he the oldest artist in the project? This one definitely works best as an album than a collection of songs which I feel is rare for the 50s records I’ve heard but I’m not well-versed in the subject. I think I love this as well because it represents a fun era of music in the 30s and 40s that is probably tough to find quality recordings of. Rating: 4.3

Very fun energy here and amazing playing. Sometimes feels like the band is doing more work than Louis, and the parts where they take over are my favorite. Nothing of substance but the pure positive energy makes up for that in spades.

Classic 50s big band with some bangers. Sounds like the Fallout soundtrack.

Excellent, all of it

Easy listening some might say

What a delight

Весело и подвижно. Настоящий жиголо

Oh wow, this is amazing! Such a fun album. So glad this came up and I was able to listen to it and to fall in love with it.

Loved this album! So fun, and the trombomist is amazing. 5 stars!!

very fun beats!!! i’ve heard some of these songs before!! this would cheer me up on an off day. might need to revisit for a confidence boost! i love this style of music, i just don’t often choose to listen to it, which is odd!

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 👍🏼

zabadaba doo dee doo ZATARAINS... this is so new orleans I feel like eating a poboy and dancing in the street with a horn. WILDIN

I have a soft spot for music like this. It’s charming. There are a few songs on here that I have heard thanks to cinema and tv shows. It was a quick, effortless listening. Would throw on again for some background music as you don’t really need to actively enjoy this.

This album wasn’t necessarily bad, but this genre’s never been my favorite. Also didn’t like how aggressive the horns were in some songs. Probably won’t go out of my way to listen again.

Oldy Jazz mood

I really enjoyed this.

I liked it! So much familiar stuff on here. Not the kind of thing I'd listen to every day, but fun background for a dinner party or something.

This was enjoyable enough to listen to, and I’m pleased I solved the mystery of why I recognized his voice, but I don’t think I will be listening to it again.

Raucous.

A pleasant surprise. Made me want to scat with King Louie.

it’s like i’ve shitted myself but the vibe at the function doesn’t make me anxious about it and everyone else’s pants are also shitted, so we all keep on dancing and having fun

# 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.

i dont really like it to be honest

the kind of thing that makes me want to throw a party

The Wildest is a great title for this album cause it couldn't be more fitting. It's also the album's greatest strength because the energy loosely contained in this album is great. It honestly feels like it was a total blast to record this album. Now thats obviously not based on anything other than the atmosphere cause for all I know Louis could have been a real monster to be around, but the impression I get from this album is that it was a ton of fun. There's a couple huge massive hits on this album that I don't know enough about to say whether or not he wrote these songs or which ones were covers, but I enjoyed almost every track on this album and the stand outs were "You Rascal You", "The Lip", " and "Banana Split for My Baby" (which I know isn't technically on the original album, but I liked it so I'm including it). But for all the songs I enjoyed there were a few songs that didn't really do anything for me or were kinda boring cause they were more of the same. But as a whole a super solid album for the time with a respectable amount of variety for 1956.

That first song title, hoboy

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.

"Just a Gigolo" - this is very recognisable, there is something so familiar in its tune as well as the vocal style. it reminds me that i actually DO quite like jazz, when there are in fact lyrics. "Nothing's too Good for my Baby" - the speed of the sax/trumpets whatever is very pleasing to the soul. the voices bled so well together its GORGEOUS. spent the whole album waitinf for pennies from heaven. it turns out that IS in fact a louis prima song which makes me feel a bit smug...

Rapping over rock music

Awesome. Did not expect a swing album, from the 50s, especially with songs that I knew. Loved it.

This was just really fun, there was maybe two that I didn't like at all but most would be added to my likes!

Not the kind of music I like

Not my vibe. But see how others could enjoy. Plus the guy from Jungle Book!?

Great for a Mad Men-themed cocktail party, too corny for the morning commute

This is super fun!

Louis Prima I love you and your nonstop skippity doop bop beep bap so badly. Not your best but what a pleasure to listen to ... 4 stars!

I enjoyed this! It’s funny to think of this as music to sit down and listen to. I don’t mean that meanly. Louis Primas music is now known probably mostly for commercials and soundtracks, but this was fun and a good listen.

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!

I enjoy the sound of music from this era, and the range of tone of songs was nice, but it felt like listening to the radio rather than an album.

Delightful

Pure, unstoppable swing chaos that sounds like your fun uncle hijacked a big band and never gave it back. Impossible to hate, impossible to take seriously.

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.

good kitchen music

3/6

This is actually pretty fun, I had never heard it before and sometimes I almost feel like I can hear inspiration for people like Tom Waits. It's at least not a mediocre british act from the mid 90s

Enjoyed 👍

Boring at first, but there ends up being some pretty interesting stuff here. One of those albums that comes to an " oh THIS song" moment.

I mostly just wanted it to be over outside of a couple songs. Favorite track: Jump, Jive N Wail

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵! is lively, brassy and full of personality, but vocal jazz just isn’t the style that grabs me. The album’s mix of jump-blues energy, big-band flair and comedy routines has its charm, yet the constant showmanship can feel a bit excessive if you’re not fully into this kind of performance. It’s easy to appreciate the momentum and musicianship, but the record lands more as entertaining background fun than something I’m deeply drawn to.