Customer Reviews

Louis Prima - His Greatest Hits

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the second Dot Record Louis and Keely recorded in 1960, and released to CD by Jasmine Records. It contains some of his New York hits from the days of "His New Orleans Gang" to some time with his Orchestra. It is also the first album in which music master Morgan Thomas joined the band. The music on it varies so much, it is hard to pin-point what type of sounds Prima was making, but there are some very jaunty versions of his own composition "Brooklyn Boogie" and the trumpet solo on "The Music Goes Round and Round" is outstanding. The only down side to the whole thing is: the horrible background vocalists!! Sam and the boys could have outdone them. Louis caringly sings about his love Keely on "My Cucuzza," a bouncy romp, but perhaps the best recording which shows the band in its entirety is "Josephina, Please no Lean On The Bell." What a blast!!

Louis Prima and Keely Smith are great singers, and they are great together, and this CD contains some real classic material. But if you are looking for "Jump, Jive, and Wail" or anything else in a "high energy swing" style, you will have to look elsewhere. I think of this as pop music. Pleasant, and very well done, but nothing that will knock your socks off.

Last nite I was fortunate to view a documentary on Louis on the American Movie Channel. This man can only be described as a energetic and 100% dedicated artist. Listening to his music serves to make you more aware of his desire to bring to his listeners and fans the very best in music. His success can only be measures by the love and admiration that both fans and musicians alike had for him. He was a true artist in every since of the word. His music makes you feel alive and wanna dance! I would strongly urge you to buy this CD..sit back..tape your toes..and enjoy! And, yes, if you have a mind to..get up and dance! Thank you Louis for all the gifts of talent and music you gave us!

I got this CD for two things Hey ba ba re bop and My Cucuzza. My mom had these songs on a 45. We played it so much the 45 broke! We know all the words and sang them all the time. When my parents had their 50th wedding anniversary and we had a big family party, we got this CD to play. What a sing-along that was. Louie Prima is so electric. You can't be sad or sit still. Just buy this CD. You won't be sorry.

Louis is SWING. If you don't sing along or want to do aerials with your partner then you should just listen to Hanson or something. Swingers, the movie did a grave injustice by not putting him on the soundtrack. But Gap recently featured "Jump Jive" in a Kahkis commercial. Louis and his sidekick Keely Smith are more rat pack than Frankie, Dean and Sammy ever could be. There's a good reason why they call him the lip!

I picked this up today in a record store for $2!!! of course It's the vinyl version but I love it so!!! if your a fan of music from this era I highly recommend it!!!

from start to finish all you get is humor and a great relationship between Keely Smith and louis himself on the songs they do together. It took a little while to warm up to it , but once I did , I make everybody that I come in contact with and the majority really does love it.

If you buy any swing music in your life.... If you are exposed to any swing music in your life...

It must be this artist. From the hard New York streets comes the sweetest, most innovative singer ever, with power and charge unparalleled.