“On June 25, 1976, the man many believe to be the greatest lyricist of them all died. Johnny Mercer was more than that; he was the voice of his time, light years ahead in hipness of just about anybody one could name at the time. The Southern warmth of that voice put a smile in your heart and his mastery of rhythm put the beat in your feet." - Billy Vera, Original liner notes.The wit, charm and swinging side of lyricist Johnny Mercer - the man who begat Capitol Records. In this Mosaic Select, we present 79 Capitol tracks from the label's birth in 1942 to 1947, which showcase the more jazz tinged efforts as well as some non-jazz items that are impeccably delivered by Mr. Mercer.
Singing close to a dozen of his own tunes like “One For My Baby" and “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive", Mercer delivers his own interpretations on classics by Jerome Kern, Hoagy Carmichael, The Gershwins, Harold Arlen and Willard Robison. Backing Mercer are bands led by Paul Whiteman with Jack Teagarden, Wingy Manone, Cootie Williams, Billy Butterfield, Bobby Sherwood, Benny Goodman and the King Cole Trio.
But for the most part he is accompanied by Paul Weston's studio orchestras that boasted the cream of L.A.'s jazz musicians including the remarkable tenor saxists Herbie Haymer and Eddie Miller, clarinetist Matty Matlock and an incomperable rhythm section of either pianists Stan Wrightsman or Milt Raskin, guitarist George Van Eps, bassist Jack Ryan and drummer Nick Fatool. Joining Mercer vocally on many of the performances are The Pied Pipers with either Jo Stafford or June Hutton.
There are also nine previously unissued sides plus two Capitol transcription sessions that were made for radio use only. The set includes liner notes from both Billy Vera and rare photos from the Michael Ochs collection.
Mosaic Select: Johnny Mercer (MS-028)
Limited Edition: 5000 copies
3 CDs - $44.00
For more information contact All About Jazz.
