Search - Billy May :: Proper Introduction to Billy May: Billy's Best

Billy May
Proper Introduction to Billy May: Billy's Best
Genres: Country, Jazz, Pop

Track Listings (26) - Disc #1
1. All of Me - Billy May, Marks, Gerald
2. If I Had You - Billy May, Campbell
3. Lulu's Back in Town - Billy May, Dubin, Al
4. When My Sugar Walks Down the Street - Billy May, Austin
5. Fat Man Boogie - Billy May, May
6. Lean, Baby - Billy May, May
7. I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans - Billy May, Dietz
8. Charmaine - Billy May, Polleck
9. There Is No Greater Love - Billy May, Jones, Isham
10. My Last Affair - Billy May, Johnson, Haven
11. When Your Lover Has Gone - Billy May, Swan
12. Mayhem - Billy May, May
13. You're Driving Me Crazy - Billy May, Donaldson
14. Perfidia - Billy May, Dominquez
15. Tenderly - Billy May, Gross, Walter [1]
16. Memphis in June - Billy May, Carmichael
17. Love Is Just Around the Corner - Billy May, Gensler
18. Easy Street - Billy May, Jones
19. Honest and Truly - Billy May, Rose
20. High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) - Billy May, Tiomkin
21. Cocktails for Two - Billy May, Coslow
22. Little Brown Jug - Billy May, Traditional
23. Makin' Whoopee - Billy May, Donaldson
24. You and the Night and the Music - Billy May, Dietz
25. Street Dreams - Billy May, Lewis, Sam M. [1]
26. Dixieland Band - Billy May, Hanighen

CD Details

All Artists: Billy May
Title: Proper Introduction to Billy May: Billy's Best
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Proper Introduction
Release Date: 4/5/2004
Album Type: Import
Genres: Country, Jazz, Pop
Styles: Swing Jazz, Easy Listening
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 805520060134, 766487388740

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CD Reviews

Enjoy some early gems from Maestro May !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 04/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Billy May possessed a keen talent for playing almost all musical instruments; but when he conducted his orchestra he could really whip out a number! This CD is indeed a proper introduction to Billy May's work; and when you listen to these tracks you'll wonder why you might not have heard too much about Billy before.

The CD begins with a swinging rendition of the classic "All Of Me." The horns carry a lot of the melody, as was often the case with May's orchestrations. The percussion, drums and piano enhance the beauty of this number.

Other great numbers on this CD include the hot "Lulu's Back In Town" with an awesome saxophone helping out the horns section; and the romantic and slower paced ballad "When My Sugar Walks Down The Street." "Charmaine" gets a sophisticated arrangement that left me breathless! In addition, we also get a 1950s Latin beat for "Perfidia;" and "Tenderly" shows us just how romantic trombones, trumpets and saxophones can really be. How elegant!

Listeners will recognize some very famous ballads, too: We get "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" with a big band flavor which will positively charm you; the playful older number entitled "Little Brown Jug" and the swinging-ist rendition of "Makin' Whoopee" you ever heard! The horns, drums, percussion, guitar are in perfect synch as May conducts his orchestra to perfection.

The CD ends strong with "Dixieland Band." This number gets the big band treatment May was so famous for; and "Dixieland Band" will leave you wanting more! Love that Latin beat that May inserts into "Dixieland Band" midway through the number! I doubt you'll put this one away and just forget about it--you'll be playing this CD again and again for quite some while to come!

The liner notes provide an extensive essay about Billy May's career written by Joop Visser; and the art work reflects good judgment, too. You also get the song credits and there is a clear listing of who played which instrument in the liner notes as well.

Billy May's talent cannot be forgotten; and it is a blessing we have great CDs like this one to prove his was a most impressive talent. If you like this CD, I recommend other CDs by Billy May & His Orchestra including the import CD entitled Plays The Standards by Billy May and two-fer CDs that offer the content of two Billy May record albums on one CD including A Band Is Born/Big Band Bash. In addition, fans of that terrific big band sound from the 1940s and early 1950s will cherish this CD.

Sit back and enjoy the ride!

"