In 1958, Dick Bock of World Pacific Records decided to put out a 12-inch compilation by Chet Baker of material released on earlier albums for the label as well as tracks previously unissued. What all of the tracks had in common was beauty and a groove. On some tracks, Bock dropped Baker's vocal and had Bill Perkins and Jimmy Giuffre overdub on different songs. This album, little-known today, was called Pretty/Groovy.
The songs on the album are...
- Look for the Silver Lining
- Time After Time
- Travelin' Light
- My Funny Valentine
- There Will Never Be Another You
- The Thrill Is Gone
- But Not for Me
- Band Aid
- The Lamp Is Low
- Carson City Stage
- Long Ago (and Far Away)
- Easy to Love
- Winter Wonderland
- Batter Up
The tracks were recorded between 1952 and 1957.
The personnel:
- Chet Baker – trumpet, vocals
- Jimmy Giuffre – clarinet (track 5)
- Bill Perkins – tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 4 and 7)
- Russ Freeman – piano (tracks 1, 2 and 4–14)
- Dave Wheat – guitar (track 3)
- Joe Mondragon - bass (track 13)
- Russ Saunders - bass (track 3)
- Carson Smith - bass (tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 10–12 and 14)
- Bob Whitlock - bass (track 9)
- Larry Bunker - drums (tracks 6, 8, 10–12 and 14)
- Shelly Manne - drums (track 13)
- Bob Neal - drums (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7)
- Bobby White - drums (track 9)
Here's Chet Baker's Pretty/Groovy without the interruption of ads...
Other ad-free Backgrounders in my series:
- Zoot Sims Plays Bossa Nova, go here.
- Lee Morgan: Lee-Way, go here.
- Bossa Nova for Swinging Lovers, go here.
- Leon Spencer: Louisiana Slim, go here.
- Bossa Nova Modern Quartet: Bossa Nova Jazz Samba, go here.
- Bill Evans & Luiz Eça: Piano Four Hands, go here.
- Ray Brown Trio: Don't Get Sassy, go here.
- Os Tatuis: Os Tatuis, go here.
- Waltel Branco: Mancini Tambem É Samba, go here.
- Jack Wilson Plays Brazilian Mancini, go here.
- Conjunto Copacabana Bossa: Bossa, go here.
- Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Swings Lightly, go here.
- Charles Earland: Charles Earland, go here.
- Kenny Burrell: Crash! w/ Jack McDuff, go here.
- Jack McDuff: The Heatin' System, go here.
- Horace Silver: Horace-Scope, go here.
- Antonio Carlos Jobim: Wave, go here.
- Sonny Stitt: Sonny Stitt Plays, go here.
- Sonny Stitt with Bennie Green: My Main Man, go here.
- Johnny Hodges and Earl Hines: Stride Right, go here.
- Lionel Hampton: Bossa Nova Jazz, go here.
- Johnny Hodges & Ben Webster: Cellar Session, go here.
- Bill Evans: Solo Sessions Vol. 1, go here.
- Frank Wess: Trombones & Flute, go here.
- Presenting the Buddy DeFranco & Tommy Gumina Quartet, go here.
- Ernest Ranglin: Wranglin', go here.
- Dave Pell Octet: Plays Rodgers & Hart, go here.
- Milt Buckner: Block Chords Parade, go here.
- Roberto Menescal: A Nova Bossa, go here.
- Count Basie: Have a Nice Day, go here.
- Freddie Green: Mr. Rhythm, go here.
- Leny Andrade: Leny Andrade, go here.
- Johnny Alf: Ele é Johnny Alf, go here.
- Dodo Marmarosa: Dodo's Back, go here.
- Freddie Redd: The Music From the Connection, go here.
- Nicola Stilo & Toninho Horta: Duets, go here.
- Urbie Green: Persuasive Trombone, go here.
- Johnny Richards: Something Else, go here.
- Wayne Shorter: JuJu, go here.
- Hampton Hawes: All Night Session!, go here.
- Shorty Rogers Plays Richard Rodgers, go here.
