America's #1 Band: The Columbia Years [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Count Basie

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 30, 2003
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000C9JDU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,387 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Basie's Columbia recordings have never sounded so good!, October 23, 2003

By	M.R. (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

I've just got this and played the first two discs, so I can't comment on it all, but what I've heard so far is AMAZING! The sound--so shoddy on the '80s "Essential Count Basie" series--is superb, and the music is just beyone belief. The playing is light and forceful at the same time--just great, great stuff. A perfect complement to the 3-CD Decca set. And I can't wait to hear the previously unreleased live stuff on disc 4. The packaging is very attractive and the booklet--make that book--is very detailed and informative. Another classic Orrin Keepnews reissue.

This is the perfect gift for any jazz fan--and you should get one for yourself while you're at it!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection of classic jazz and swing, September 13, 2004

By	Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This is a swell 4-CD box set that covers all of Basie's studio work for the Columbia label, from 1936-51, working in a variety of configurations, from small combos to the full-on Basie Orchestra, including several songs with Basie backing up Billie Holiday, and plenty of other vocal tunes featuring Basie regulars Helen Humes and Jimmy Rushing. This collection also marks the first time Columbia has officially delved into the wealth of live transcription performances and radio broadcasts featuring the Basie band... This material was previously the sole province of various European collector labels; Sony shows it's able to do this material up right, with meticulous scholarship and great sound quality. Doubtless, many of the sniffier jazz scholars will find some reason or another to pooh-pooh this collection, but for us regular folks, it's mighty tasty. Recommended!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A+ for the Basie Cats! and AMAZINGLY, the Columbia guys got it right., May 19, 2006

By	Michael A. Ventresco (NYC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I don't have to tell anyone how great these tracks are. How does one guy get all 16 of the greatest swing musicians in the world into one band? This set has some Great surprises: Live sides, and rare alternates, like "It's The Same Old South", (a different take than the version on the vinyl "Superchief")

I have several of these on the ARC/Columbia family of labels (Vocallion, Brunswick, Okey, etc.) both 78s and Lps. and have been trying and failing to replace them with decent CD copies. COLUMBIA FINNALLY GOT IT RIGHT!. This set is a pleasure, and for once, it sounds great! You will NEVER be dissapointed with this purchace.

Now if Columbia would refund everybody's money for the unlistenable versions of these tunes they issued on the "Essential" series, and the "This Is Jazz" series etc., we could use it to replace our copies of the Armstrong Hot Fives that they had previous butchered, or the Bix, ...it goes on .....