Joe Williams Live! A Swingin' Night at Birdland explained

Joe Williams Live! A Swingin' Night at Birdland
Type:	live
Artist:	Joe Williams
Cover:	Joe Williams Live! A Swingin' Night at Birdland.jpg
Released:	1962
Recorded:	June 1962 at Birdland, New York City
Genre:	Jazz, traditional pop
Length:	32:56
Label:	Roulette R-52085^[1]
Producer:	Teddy Reig
Chronology:	Joe Williams
Prev Title:	Have a Good Time with Joe Williams
Prev Year:	1957
Next Title:	Jump for Joy
Next Year:	1963

Joe Williams Live! A Swingin' Night at Birdland is a 1962 live album by the American jazz singer Joe Williams recorded at the Birdland jazz club in New York City.

Scott Yanow, reviewing the album for Allmusic, praises the "strong quintet" accompanying Williams and his "well-rounded and thoroughly enjoyable set".

The initial Billboard review from October 27, 1962, listed the album as having 'Strong Sales Potential' and described it as a "swinging album that shows off [Williams] vibrant vocal style" and that he "comes through with exciting performances of blues and ballads".^[2]

Track listing

1. "September in the Rain" (Al Dubin, Harry Warren) – 2:50
2. "Come Back Baby" (Walter Davis) – 5:57
3. "5 o'clock in the Morning" (Joe Williams) – 2:49
4. "By the River St. Marie" (Edgar Leslie, Harry Warren) – 3:24
5. "This Can't Be Love" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) – 1:50
6. "Teach Me Tonight" (Sammy Cahn, Gene DePaul) – 4:03
7. "Alright, Okay, You Win" (Sidney Wyche) – 2:41
8. "I Was Telling Her About You" (Moose Charlap, Don George) – 3:51
9. "Have You Met Miss Jones?" (Rodgers, Hart) – 1:40
10. "Roll 'Em Pete" (Pete Johnson, Big Joe Turner) – 4:12
11. "You're Everything But Mine" – 1:47
12. "Falling in Love with Love" (Rodgers, Hart) – 2:57
13. "Goin' to Chicago Blues" (Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing) – 4:54
14. "The Very Thought of You" (Ray Noble) – 5:31

Personnel

• Joe Williams – vocals
• Jimmy Forrest – tenor saxophone
• Harry "Sweets" Edison – trumpet
• Hugh Lawson – piano
• Ike Isaacs – double bass
• Clarence Johnson – drums

Production

• Tristan Powell – engineer, remixing
• Chris Sheridan – liner notes
• Teddy Reig – production
• Michael Cuscuna – reissue producer

Notes and References

1. Web site: Joe Williams – Joe Williams Live! A Swingin' Night at Birdland at Discogs . discogs.com. April 14, 2021.
2. Billboard . Album Reviews: Strong Sales Potential . October 27, 1962 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . 12–15.