Harry's Choice! is a studio album by American trumpeter Harry James with The Harry James Orchestra. The album was recorded in Hollywood, California in June, 1958 and released by Capitol Records on stereo LP (ST-1093), mono LP (T-1093), and a series of three EPs (EAP 1-1093, EAP 2-1093 and EAP 3-1093).[1][2]

Harry's Choice!
Studio album by
Released1958
RecordedHollywood, June 1958
GenreJazz, big band
LabelCapitol

After coasting through the mid-1950s, James made a complete reevaluation of where he was heading in his musical career. Count Basie provided the impetus by making a significant comeback with his newly formed "16 Men Swinging" band, and James wanted a band with a decided Basie flavor. This album is the third of several released on Capitol Records representative of the Basie style that James adopted during this period, with some of the arrangements provided by former Basie saxophonist and arranger Ernie Wilkins, whom James hired for his own band.[3]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Arranger(s)Length
1."You're My Thrill"Jay Gorney, Sidney ClareJ. Hill4:03
2."Willow Weep for Me"Ann RonellErnie Wilkins3:05
3."Blues for Sale"Ernie Wilkins, Harry JamesErnie Wilkins4:57
4."I Want a Little Girl"Billy Moll, Murray MencherErnie Wilkins3:41
5."Moten Swing"Benny Moten, Buster MotenErnie Wilkins4:28
6."(Do You Know What It Means To Miss) New Orleans"Eddie DeLange, Louis AlterJ. Hill2:49
7."Just for Fun"Ernie WilkinsErnie Wilkins5:10
8."The New Two O'Clock Jump"Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Harry JamesNeal Hefti6:15

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "Harry James And His Orchestra – Harry's Choice". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  2. ^ "Harry's Choice". Allmusic. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  3. ^ Levinson, Peter (1999). Trumpet Blues - The Life of Harry James.