Louis Prima - The Capitol Recordings [1994] (8 x CDs)

LOUIS PRIMA

Louis Prima - The Capitol Recordings [1994] (8 x CDs)

Louis Prima has become a cult figure. He had been a jazz trumpeter in the '30s and '40s, and by the time he signed with Capitol in 1956 he led a hot combo with Sam Butera and ultra-cool Keely Smith. His music took its key from Louis Prima's own exuberance. It wasn't quite R&B, pop, or jazz, but it was, as Louis himself promised, 'The Wildest!' This set includes all his 1956-1962 Capitol recordings, as well as Keely's solo records. Songs include That Old Black Magic, Buona Sera, Just A Gigolo, Jump Jive & Wail, Oh Marie, I Ain't Got Nobody, Banana Split For My Baby, Felicia No Capicia....and many, many more, including those great hard-to-find live albums. For unabashed good time drinking, whoring, and gambling music, Louis Prima can't be beat. (BearFamily)

This excellent eight-disc Bear Family box celebrates Louis Prima's Capitol Recordings of the '50s and '60s. Since his wife and comedic foil Keely Smith and Sam Butera and the Witnesses (Prima's ace backing unit) both recorded as solo acts during this period, they're exhaustively represented by this box as well. The first three discs cover all of Prima's studio sides and starts up the live recordings with the 1962 Harrah's Club in Tahoe sides, while disc four covers all of the seminal live tracks from 1957 and 1958. Discs five and six are the complete Keely Smith solo recordings, while the last two round up all the sides by Sam Butera and the Witnesses. The truly amazing thing about the 199 (!!!) tracks collected here is how little of it is unissued material. Even if Prima cut some duds now and then, it's pretty wild that Capitol used up damn near every last thing the man ever committed to magnetic tape, such was the high quality of rockin' mayhem he was laying down. And rock it does, all of it infested with much good humor along with Prima's and Butera's other contribution to big-beat mania, the invention of the Vegas shuffle, a loping beat that could be sped up to almost double tempo on any given number. This effect -- the solid core of Prima's rockin' groove -- is best heard on tracks like "When You're Smiling/The Sheik of Araby," and the later version from the Hey Boy! Hey Girl! movie soundtrack of "Oh Marie" (stupendous in the scattin' and honkin' exchange between Prima and Butera), "Basin Street Blues/When It's Sleepy Time Down South," and, of course, "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody," the track that David Lee Roth brought to the charts in the '80s. The duets with Keely Smith ("I've Got You Under My Skin," "That Old Black Magic") and Sam Butera (Richard Berry's "Next Time") are here to savor as well and it's all very fine, indeed. After four discs of Prima's wild-ass genius, the next two of Smith with big-band backings from Nelson Riddle and Billy May will seem sedate by comparison, but they're '50s-style Capitol tracks with their own charm. Great tunes and arrangements, plus the inclusion of her duets with Frank Sinatra makes a nice bonus highlight. The final two discs of Sam Butera come much closer to Prima's rockin' slant on things, with rocked-up jazz classics and R&B tunes galore keeping the party goin' all night long. Needless to say, if you're a Louis Prima fan bordering on fanatic, this is the one to have. (AMG review by Cub Koda)

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Track lists

CD1 Louis Prima

01 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Buona Sera 2:59

02 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Oh Marie! 2:28

03 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody 4:44

04 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Body And Soul 3:25

05 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Jump, Jive, An' Wail 3:29

06 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - (Nothing's Too Good) For My Baby 2:38

07 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You 3:15

08 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Basin Street Blues/When It's Sleepy Time Down South 4:14

09 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Night Train 2:48

10 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - The Lip 2:19

11 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Whistle Stop 2:28

12 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days 2:12

13 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Banana Split For My Baby 2:32

14 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Be Mine (Little Baby) 2:38

15 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - When You're Smiling/Sheik Of Araby 4:00

16 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - The Birth Of The Blues 2:50

17 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Blow, Red Blow 2:18

18 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - When The Saints Go Marching In 4:19

19 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Sentimental Journey 2:27

20 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - There'll Be No Next Time 3:16

21 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - The Closer To The Bone 4:13

22 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - I've Got The World On A String 2:28

23 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Much Too Young To Loose My Mind 1:57

24 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Don't Let A Memory 1:48

25 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Pennies From Heaven 2:21

26 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Baby Won't You Please Come Home 2:08

27 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Autumn Leaves 2:51

CD2 Louis Prima

01 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - The Pump Song 1:51

02 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams 2:59

03 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Natural Buy 2:13

04 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Beep! Beep! 2:14

05 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - If You Were The Only Girl 3:06

06 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Bourbon Street Blues 2:15

07 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Sing, Sing, Sing 4:10

08 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - That Old Black Magic 2:57

09 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Judy 2:51

10 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Felicia No Capicia 3:00

11 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - That's My Home 3:16

12 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Moonglow 2:54

13 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Gotta See Baby Tonight 2:33

14 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Fee Fie Foo 6:18

15 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - The Music Goes 'round And 'round 2:38

16 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Fever 3:06

17 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Oh Marie 2:27

18 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Don't Take Your Love From Me 3:07

19 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Hey Boy, Hey Girl 2:54

20 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Lazy River 3:29

21 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Hey Boy, Hey Girl (Reprise) 1:28

22 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Nothing's Too Good For My Baby 2:16

23 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Oh Marie (Alt) 2:23

CD3 Louis Prima

01 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - I've Got You Under My Skin 2:40

02 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Don't Take Your Love From Me 2:08

03 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - You're Just In Love 2:30

04 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Harlem Nocturne 2:42

05 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Glow-Worm 1:59

06 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Just One Of Those Things 2:38

07 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - All Night Long 2:54

08 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Lover Come Back To Me 2:35

09 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Everybody Knows 2:47

10 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Ain't Misbehavin'/'way Down Yonder In New Orleans 5:57

11 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Three Handed Woman 2:43

12 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - St. Louis Blues 2:55

13 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Big Daddy 1:54

14 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - John Ping Pong 2:37

15 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Ooh, Look What You've Done To Me 2:32

16 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Big Daddy 2:46

17 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Sonday Lover 2:08

18 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Little Girl Blues 3:20

CD3 Live at Harrah's Club (& Gia Maione)

19 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Scuba Diver 2:59

20 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - I Want You To Be My  Baby 2:11

21 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Shadrack 2:45

22 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - The Next Time 7:56

23 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Lady Of Spain 2:09

24 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Hello Lover, Goodbye Tears 2:21

25 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Undecided 2:17

26 Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera - Come Rain Or Shine/Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night 6:25

CD4 Live at The Sahara

01 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - On The Sunny Side Of The Street/Exactly Like You 6:11

02 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - A Foggy Day 2:38

03 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - How High The Moon 2:25

04 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Angelina/Zooma Zooma Zooma (Medley) 4:16

05 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Don't Worry 'bout Me/I'm In The Mood For Love 4:24

06 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Come Back To Sorrento 3:07

07 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 3:39

08 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Robin Hood/Oh Babe! 5:32

09 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Judy 3:19

10 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Them There Eyes/Honeysuckle Rose 4:42

11 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Tiger Rag/Just Because 2:50

12 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Embraceable You/I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good 2:51

13 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Should I/I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me 5:53

14 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - The White Cliffs Of Dover 4:39

15 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Holiday For Strings 2:57

16 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Greenback Dollar Bill 3:20

17 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Love Of My Life (O Sole Mio) 3:44

18 Louis Prima, Sam Butera, Keely Smith - Too Marvelous For Words 2:03

CD5 Keely Smith & Nelson Riddle.

01 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - I Wish You Love 2:37

02 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - I Would Do Most Anything For You 2:29

03 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Shy 2:31

04 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Rock-A-Doodle-Doo 2:17

05 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Young And In Love 2:22

06 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - You'll Never Know 2:14

07 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Good Behavior 2:21

08 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - You Better Go Now 2:09

09 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - As You Desire Me 2:58

10 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Fools Rush In 2:58

11 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Imagination 3:31

12 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - You Go To Me Head 2:37

13 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Don't Take Your Love From Me 3:05

14 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - When Your Lover Has Gone 3:09

15 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - All The Things You Are 3:27

16 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - When Day Is Done 3:51

17 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - I Wish You Love 3:49

18 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Mr. Wonderful 3:35

19 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - If We Never Meet Again 3:17

20 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - I Understand 2:23

21 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - The Whipporwill 2:51

22 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - You Are My Love 2:23

23 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Sometimes 2:27

24 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Just As Much 2:04

25 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Indian Love Call 3:03

26 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - The Nearness Of You 3:37

27 Keely Smith. Louis Prima, Sam Butera - Some One To Watch Over Me 2:59

CD6 Keely Smith & Nelson Riddle.

01 Louis Prima - The Man I Love 3:19

02 Louis Prima - It's Magic 3:47

03 Louis Prima - What Is This Thing Called Love? 1:54

04 Louis Prima - Stormy Weather 3:12

05 Louis Prima - There'll Never Be Another You 2:26

06 Louis Prima - It's Been A Long, Long Time 2:06

07 Louis Prima - You're Driving Me Crazy 1:28

08 Louis Prima - Stardust 2:55

09 Louis Prima - What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry 2:10

10 Louis Prima - Nitey Nite 2:49

CD6 Keely Smith &Van Alexander

11 Louis Prima - Hurt Me 2:08

12 Louis Prima - I Keep Forgetting 2:36

13 Louis Prima - High School Affair 2:27

CD6 Keely Smith & Bill May

14 Louis Prima - Nothing In Common 2:32

15 Louis Prima - How Are Ya' Fixed For Love? 2:28

16 Louis Prima - S'posin' 2:41

17 Louis Prima - The Song Is You 3:12

18 Louis Prima - On The Sunny Side Of The Street 3:01

19 Louis Prima - I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) 2:13

20 Louis Prima - I Never Knew I Could Love Anybody (Like I'm Loving You) 1:52

21 Louis Prima - I'll Never Smile Again 3:08

22 Louis Prima - Sweet And Lovely 3:46

23 Louis Prima - All The Way 3:06

24 Louis Prima - Lullaby Of The Leaves 2:20

25 Louis Prima - East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) 3:27

26 Louis Prima - I Can't Get Started 3:28

27 Louis Prima - Cocktails For Two 2:53

CD7 Sam Butera

01 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Bim Bam 2:05

02 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Twinkle In Your Eye 2:27

03 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Ten Little Wonman 2:07

04 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Equator 2:14

05 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Seven Out 2:35

06 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - I Kiss Your Hand Madame 1:54

07 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Love Charm 2:26

08 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - The Love Nest 2:24

09 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Put Your Mind At Ease 2:01

10 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - It's Better Than Nothing At All 2:47

11 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Hold Out For Love 2:01

12 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Good Gracious Baby 2:27

13 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Handle With Care 2:26

14 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Dig That Crazy Chick 2:27

15 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Hey There 2:52

16 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - I Love Paris 2:22

17 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - On The Street Where You Live 2:08

18 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Song From Moulin Rouge 2:17

19 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Three Coins In The Fountain 2:06

20 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Too Young 2:03

21 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Rock-A-Bye You Baby With A Dixie Melody 2:03

22 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Love Is A Many Splendored Thing 2:30

23 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Around The World 1:54

24 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - La Vie En Rose 2:20

25 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - All The Way 2:29

CD8 Sam Butera

01 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Bugs 2:31

02 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Tennessee Waltz 2:08

03 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - French Poodle 2:27

04 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Chantilly Late 2:03

05 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Up Jumped A Rabbit 2:21

06 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Just Say I Love Her 2:48

07 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Easy Rockin' 2:17

08 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Night Train 2:09

09 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Honey Love 2:18

10 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Street Scene 3:10

11 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Perdido 2:31

12 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Kansas City 2:44

13 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Love Of My Life (O Sole Mio) 2:40

14 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Ol' Man River 2:31

15 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Smilin' Billy 1:58

16 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Skinny Minnie 2:50

17 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Better Twist Now Baby 2:29

18 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Twistin'the Blues 2:27

19 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - The Continental Twist 2:28

20 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Tag That Twistin' Dolly 2:04

21 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Come And Do The Twist 2:23

22 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - O Ma-Ma Twist 1:58

23 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - I Feel Good All Over 2:21

24 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Later, Baby, Later 2:23

25 Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Louis Prima - Ol' Man River 2:21

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