Sings [180 Gram Vinyl]

by Chet Baker

Overview

As Gerald Heard's liner notes point out, it's difficult to decide whether Chet Baker was a trumpet player who sang or a singer who played trumpet. When the 24-year-old California-based trumpeter started his vocal career in 1954, his singing was revolutionary; as delicate and clear as his trumpet playing, with a similarly bright and vibrato-free tone, Baker simply didn't sound like any previous jazz singer. His first vocal session, recorded in February 1954 and covering tracks seven through 14 of this disc, is so innocent-sounding it's like cub reporter Jimmy Olsen had started a new career as a jazz singer. The album's first six tracks, recorded in July 1956, are even more milk and cookies, thanks in no small part to syrupy material like Frank Loesser's "I've Never Been in Love Before" and Donaldson/Kahn's drippy "My Buddy." Choices from the earlier session like "My Funny Valentine" -- arguably the definitive version of this oft-recorded song -- and "There Will Never Be Another You" work much, much better. The spacious musical setting, a simple trumpet and piano-bass-drums rhythm section, is perfect for Baker's low-key style. Despite the few faults of song selection, Chet Baker Sings is a classic of West Coast cool jazz. ~ Stewart Mason

Product Details

Release Date:	12/13/2011
Label:	Pan Am Records / What Records?
UPC:	8436539310518
Rank:	4250

Tracks

1. That Old Feeling
2. It's Always You
3. Like Someone in Love
4. My Ideal
5. I've Never Bee in Love Before
6. My Buddy
7. But Not for Me
8. Time After Time
9. I Get Along Without You Very Well
10. My Funny Valentine
11. There Will Never Be Another You
12. The Thrill Is Gone
13. I Fall in Love Too Easily
14. Look for the Silver Lining

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chet Baker   Primary Artist,Vocals,Trumpet,Choir/Chorus
Russ Freeman   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Piano,Celeste
Dannie Richmond   Guest Artist,Drums
Philly Joe Jones   Guest Artist,Drums
Sam Jones   Guest Artist,Bass
Kenny Drew   Guest Artist,Piano
Shelly Manne   Drums
Larance Marable   Drums
Corky Hale   Harp,Strings
Ray Kramer   Cello
Carson Smith   Bass,Double Bass
Peter Littman   Drums
Bob Neel   Drums
Joe Mondragon   Bass
Kurt Reher   Cello
Bud Shank   Flute
George Morrow   Bass
Eleanor Slatkin   Cello
Jimmy Bond   Bass,Double Bass
Red Mitchell   Bass
Ezio Leoni   Orchestra
Bob Neal   Drums
Len Mercer   Orchestra
James E. Bond   Bass
Lawrence Marable   Drums
James Bond   Double Bass
Ed Lustgarten   Cello

Technical Credits

Richard Bock   Producer
Frank Loesser   Composer
Burton Lane   Composer
Jerome Kern   Composer
Harold Arlen   Composer
Gene DePaul   Composer
Vernon Duke   Composer
Chase   Composer
Joe Henderson   Composer
Victor Schertzinger   Composer
Walter Donaldson   Composer
Don Raye   Composer
George Gershwin   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Johnny Mandel   Arranger
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Lew Brown   Composer
John Klenner   Composer
Sam M. Lewis   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Jule Styne   Composer
Axel Stordahl   Composer
James Van Heusen   Composer
Frank Campo   Arranger,Composer
Richard A. Whiting   Composer
Matt Dennis   Composer
Newell Chase   Composer
Ray Henderson   Composer
George Handy   Composer
Bronislaw Kaper   Composer
Buddy DeSylva   Composer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Harold Adamson   Composer
Hoagy Carmichael   Composer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Jack Segal   Composer
Edward Heyman   Composer
Mack Gordon   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg   Composer
De Paul   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Leo Robin   Composer
Marty Paich   Arranger
Tom Adair   Composer
Sammy Fain   Composer
Gordon Jenkins   Composer
Harry Revel   Composer
Victor Young   Composer
Harry Warren   Composer
Sammy Cahn   Composer
Burke   Composer
Johnny Burke   Composer
Fain   Composer
Robert Watson   Composer
William Claxton   Photography
Ezio Leoni   Arranger
Len Mercer   Arranger
Giulio Libano   Arranger
Gerald Heard   Liner Notes
Earl Brent   Composer
Ferde Grofe   Composer
De l'Ange   Composer