Customer Reviews

Ultra-Lounge Wild Cool & Swingin' - Artist Series, Vol. 1: Louis Prima & Keely Smith

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Louis Prima and Keely Smith with Sam Butera and the Witnesses constitute probably the single greatest influence on today's swing scene. I am not exaggerating. And this double-CD is a great place to start: Over two hours of remastered music, a great production design (neo-retro), and long liner notes. My only problem with the presentation is that the individual musician credits are left out. A must for all swing dancers and jazz musicians! ///// KOBY.

Who knew that the husband-wife duo of Louis Prima and Keely Smith would have such an impact on pop culture? It's very easy to overlook this pair, although frequently featured in motion pictures, commercials, and covers of other artists. Prima and Smith's music will live on forever....especially in this set. All tracks have been excellently digitally remastered....it's doubtful that the original tapes sounded this good. Altogether, this collection has the most popular (and easily overlooked) hits of the duo, plus a few obscure and less common tracks. From Angelina (one of my favorites) to Jump, Jive and Wail (much better than Brian Setzer's overplayed remake) to Closer to the Bone. All are hits, all are classics.....all you will enjoy.

What a blast!

This was my first introduction to Mr. Prima & Co. What a swingin' treat!

You can tell from each and every cut on this twin CD set that these guys were having fun. Many of the songs have little ad-libs between Louis, Keely Smith, Sam Butera, and the other band members. Louis jumps in between solos to throw out comments, he'll scat, even proto-rap, and is having such a good time he'll try to keep from laughing while he and Sam duel with brass. Only true professional musicians can get away with that sort of thing and make it sound good. Louis & Co. are top-notch pros.

Keely solos on a few cuts to round things out, and basically, you get the feeling of what it must have been like to be kickin' it in Vegas back in the swank era while taking in Louis Prima's act. Maybe tomorrow night, you'll catch Dino at the Sands, and take in Torme on Tuesday. Or, maybe you'll just keep coming back here to see Louis, Keely, Sam, and the Witnesses again and again.

Many of the songs are just plain fun ("Robin Hood/Oh Babe", "Banana Split For My Baby", "Felicia No Capicia", "Greenback Dollar Bill", "There'll Be No Next Time"), and even the old standards take on a wink and a smile when Louis gets ahold of them ("The Music Goes 'Round And Around", "That Old Black Magic", "Just One of Those Things", "Embraceable You")!

Get yourself a martini, sit back and relax, and get ready to be swung back to swanksville. This set is one swingin' good time, whether you're six or sixty!

I was skeptical about buying a compilation CD set for fear it wouldn't be good... but I was wrong! I can't get enough of these CD's. I do Swing dance and Lindy Hop, and I think some of the tempos to these songs are a bit fast for dancing, but excellent for listening to when you just want to be in a good mood! Keely has a great voice, and Louis is just plane hysterical :D

Songs from Louis Prima and Keely Smith with Sam Butera and the Witnesses. Songs are great. Compilation includes songs from "The Wildest", "The Call of the Wildest" and "The Wildest Show at Tahoe".

i just started to appreciate louis prima's band-this remastered double cd offers an excellent listening experience.

This two CDs' half of his integrale Capitol recordings (8-Cds Box set including Keely Smith and Sam butera's integrale Capitol too; Bear Family Records). Great ! I like them ! And you ?

the reason i HAD to buy this CD, was to get mine back! i brought this to a house-warming dinner party & everyone LOVED it - including the host.

Now they can enjoy Louie Prima & Keely Smith anytime they want - and I got my CD back. :)

you'll find yourself singin' & swingin' along too.

This is get up and go type music