Bennett and Basie

[Mark Stryker]

Gang -- In 1958-59 Tony Bennett recorded two LPs by Basie's band -- "In Person" on Columbia and a second for Roulette that was issued variously as "Strike Up the Band" and "Basie Swings/Bennett Sings." My question is about the Roulette side: Which title/cover came first, "Strike Up the Band" or "Basie Swings/Bennett Sings"? Sources seem to differ.

[Fer Urbina]

According to Bennett himself in his autobiography with Will Friedwald, it was originally released as Count Basie/Tony Bennett: Strike Up the Band and later "the album appeared under an endless number of titles, including Basie Swings Bennett Sings."

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Edited August 13, 2014 by Fer Urbina

[Ted O'Reilly]

The Columbia (Bennett's label) sessions were Dec.22 & 30, 1958. The Roulette (Basie's label) session followed, on Jan.3 & 5, 1959. As to when they were released, I dunno...

[GA Russell]

Tony Bennett made a comment on TV twenty years ago that led me to believe that he recorded an album with Basie, and later Frank Sinatra recorded with Basie an album of the same songs.

Is that about right?

[Mark Stryker]

According to Bennett himself in his autobiography with Will Friedwald, it was originally released as Count Basie/Tony Bennett: Strike Up the Band and later "the album appeared under an endless number of titles, including Basie Swings Bennett Sings."

Yeah, I saw that in my own copy. Trouble is Bennett/Friedwald appear to have it backward according to other sources, among them this Roulette discography: http://www.bsnpubs.com/roulette/roulettea.html That's why I'm wondering if anyone can confirm.

Re: Bennett, Sinatra and Basie.

Bennett was the first to work & record with Basie. When Frank did team with Basie starting in '62 or so, he did several songs that Bennett had already done with or without Basie -- Fly Me To the Moon, Too Close For Comfort, I Wanna Be Around, and one or two others. But he didn't re-record all the same songs with Basie ..

[JSngry]

If the Both Sides Now catalog numbers are accurate (and I think they are), I'd go with them until proven wrong.

[GA Russell]

Thanks Mark!

Bennett made the comment when he was promoting his new album Perfectly Frank. I think it was Jay Leno who wondered if Sinatra would make a tribute to Bennett album, and Tony said, "He already did." He then went on to mention Sinatra recording with Basie, as I mentioned above,

[Fer Urbina]

According to Bennett himself in his autobiography with Will Friedwald, it was originally released as Count Basie/Tony Bennett: Strike Up the Band and later "the album appeared under an endless number of titles, including Basie Swings Bennett Sings."

Yeah, I saw that in my own copy. Trouble is Bennett/Friedwald appear to have it backward according to other sources, among them this Roulette discography: http://www.bsnpubs.com/roulette/roulettea.html That's why I'm wondering if anyone can confirm.

If the Both Sides Now catalog numbers are accurate (and I think they are), I'd go with them until proven wrong.

I'm not so sure, catalogue numbers don't necessarily imply order of release.

I was going to look on Billboard online, but it looks like they've removed most of the issues.

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[Fer Urbina]

That said, High Fidelity magazine reviewed "Basie/Bennett Roulette 25072", together with In Person, in their July 1959 issue. I can't find a review of Strike Up the Band.

You're both probably right.

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[Mark Stryker]

All -- thanks. Very helpful. Case closed pending unexpected new evidence.