Chet Baker - Do It the Hard Way

Title: Do It the Hard Way Artist: Chet Baker Release Date: 7/29/2003 Re-Released On: 8/19/2003 Label: Boplicity (UK), Import Album Type(s): Greatest Hits, Instrumental UPCs: 029667012225, 766482602346 Genre: Jazz Styles: Cool, West Coast Jazz Moods: Atmospheric, Intimate, Melancholy, Relaxed, Dreamy, Elegant, Gentle, Reserved, Restrained, Somber, Sophisticated, Stylish, Autumnal, Laid-Back/Mellow, Refined/Mannered, Reflective, Romantic, Sweet, Sensual Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Do It the Hard Way
2. The Song Is You
3. Old Devil Moon
4. Solar
5. How High the Moon
6. When I Fall in Love
7. Autumn in New York
8. My Heart Stood Still
9. You Make Me Feel So Young (Take 5)
10. Fair Weather
11. September Song
12. Deep in a Dream
13. It Never Entered My Mind
14. I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
15. I'm Old Fashioned
16. You and the Night and the Music
17. Soft Winds

Year Type Label Catalog # 2003 CD Boplicity (UK) 022 2003 CD Import 70122

No other editions were found for this album.

Baker's late-'50s recordings for Riverside aren't usually esteemed as particularly significant work, either in general or in comparing it against the rest of his discography. Yet those recordings did yield good music, as demonstrated by this 17-song compilation that draws from a half-dozen Baker LPs, though it was all recorded in a concentrated burst of a little more than a year in 1958 and 1959. It's divided fairly evenly between vocal numbers and instrumentals, and while the vocal tracks might have too much romantic pop for some straight-ahead jazzers, it really does rate among the best vocal jazz of the era. Those vocal workouts aren't all ballads, either, as shown in Baker's phrasing with up-tempo effervescence on "My Heart Stood Still" and "Do It the Hard Way." On the instrumentals, Baker bops respectably on items like "Solar" and "Fair Weather"; the presence of ace sidemen like Philly Joe Jones, Kenny Drew, Al Haig, Paul Chambers, Bill Evans, Kenny Burrell, Connie Kay, Pepper Adams, Johnny Griffin, and Herbie Mann on much of the material certainly helps. None of them, admittedly, are present on the three songs taken from With Fifty Italian Strings, but even that album marked an interesting and successful direction for Baker. With 71 minutes of music, this CD compilation also offers good value for the money. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Haig Piano Becky Stewart Package Design Bill Evans Piano Bob Willoughby Photography Chet Baker Vocals, Trumpet Clifford Jarvis Drums Connie Kay Drums Dean Rudland Archive Research, Compilation, Liner Notes Earl May Bass Fausto Papetti Sax (Baritone) Franco Cerri Bass Gene Voctory Drums George Morrow Drums, Bass Gianni Basso Sax (Tenor) Giulio Libano Piano Glauco Massetti Sax (Alto) Herbie Mann Flute Kenny Burrell Guitar Kenny Drew Piano Mario Pezzotta Trombone Nick Robbins Mastering Paul Chambers Bass Pepper Adams Sax (Baritone) Philly Joe Jones Drums Robert Corwin Piano Sam Jones Bass Zoot Sims Sax (Tenor), Sax (Alto)