Breaking It Up!

Breaking It Up! is an album by Louis Prima, first released in 1958. It features an accompaniment by Keely Smith.[2]

Breaking It Up!
Studio album by
Louis Prima
Released1958
RecordedOctober 18, 1951
March 18, 1952
July 7, 1952
February 18, 1953
New York City
GenreBig band, swing
Length36:23
LabelColumbia
ProducerMitch Miller
Louis Prima chronology
Breaking It Up!
(1958)		 The Wildest!
(1956)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Background

The end of the big-band era saw Louis Prima switch record labels several times. He eventually formed his own label, Robin Hood Records, to release his own material. His hit Oh Babe! on his own label rekindled interest in him from major labels, and he signed in 1951 to Columbia Records.[1] Placed under the auspices of Mitch Miller, the head of artists and repertoire at Columbia, Prima's loose style clashed with Miller's production-conscious manner.[1] The resulting recordings were Prima's combination of Italian shuffle, R&B, and comic novelties, and Miller's staid arrangements.[1] A few of the tracks featured Keely Smith on vocals.[1] Prima left Columbia over a dispute over who would record "Come On-a My House", and returned to recording for his own Robin Hood Records until such time as Capitol revived his recording popularity.[3]

Critical response

Cub Koda's AllMusic review calls this release as inferior to much of Prima's other material, but indicates the material is "interesting" with merely "one dud".[1] Ed Kaz of the Asbury Park Press opined that the package "swings from end to end" and specifically notes Smith's frenetic vocals, which contrasts with her sedate image cultivated later. Kaz also highlights the cover art, considering the art alone to be worthy.[4]

Releases

During his tenure at Columbia Prima released 7 singles, or 14 sides, issued soon after recording. Columbia packaged eleven of these together in LP format (CL 1206), along with the previously unissued recording "Chop Suey, Chow Mein", in 1958 after Prima's Capitol albums became big sellers.[1] The album was first released in digital compact disc format in 1998, with an additional track added.[5]

LP track listing

A1 "Barnacle Bill the Sailor" (Luther, Robinson, Robison) - 2:25
A2 "Luigi" (Antonio, Araco, DiLeo) - 2:44
A3 "Chop Suey, Chow Mein" (White) - 2:39
A4 "Paul Revere" (Darnell, Shanon, Stillman) - 2:32
A5 "Eleanor" (Gigi Gryce, Paone) - 2:04
A6 "The Bigger the Figure" (Barer, Wilder) - 2:40
B1 "Shepherd Boy" (Bagdasarian, Carlyle) - 2:33
B2 "One Mint Julep" (Rudy Toombs) - 2:45
B3 "Basta" (Barer, Gomez, Wilder) - 2:28
B4 "Chili Sauce" (Kinberg) - 1:54
B5 "It's Good as New (I Painted It Blue)" (Bernier, Charlap) - 2:14
B6 "Oh, Marie" (DeCapua, DiCapua, Louis Prima) - 2:19

CD track listing
  1. "Eleanor" (Gigi Gryce, Paone) - 2:04
  2. "Shake Hands with Santa Claus" (DeLugg, Hilliard) - 2:27
  3. "Oooh-Dahdily-Dah" (Louis Prima, Keely Smith) - 2:21
  4. "Basta" (Barer, Gomez, Wilder) - 2:28
  5. "The Bigger the Figure" (Barer, Wilder) - 2:40
  6. "Boney Bones" (DeMare, Eddy, Louis Prima) - 2:44
  7. "One Mint Julep" (Rudy Toombs) - 2:45
  8. "Chili Sauce" (Kinberg) - 1:54
  9. "Oh, Marie" (DeCapua, DiCapua, Louis Prima) - 2:19
  10. "Luigi" (Antonio, Araco, DiLeo) - 2:44
  11. "Paul Revere" (Darnell, Shanon, Stillman) - 2:32
  12. "It's Good as New (I Painted It Blue)" (Bernier, Charlap) - 2:14
  13. "Barnacle Bill the Sailor" (Luther, Robinson, Robison) - 2:25
  14. "Shepherd Boy" (Bagdasarian, Carlyle) - 2:33
  15. "Chop Suey, Chow Mein" (White) - 2:39

CD reissue personnel
  • Billy Vera - Liner Notes, Reissue Producer
  • Lawrence Cohn - Reissue Producer
  • David Mitson - Mastering, Restoration, Archival Restoration
  • Tim Morse - Design
  • Patti Matheny - A&R
  • Tom Burleigh - Product Manager
  • Darren Salmieri - A&R
  • Will Friedwald - Photography, Sessionography

References
  1. Koda, Cub, ed. (2003). All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues. US: Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 453. ISBN 9780879307363.
  2. "Breaking It Up by Louis Prima @ ARTISTdirect.com - Shop, Listen, Download". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  3. Friedwald, Will (2010). A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. pp. 372–373. ISBN 9780307379894.
  4. Kaz, Ed (April 16, 1999). "Louis-Louis!". Asbury Park Press. Neptune, New Jersey. p. 2 – via newspapers.com.
  5. Jacks, Kelso (November 2, 1998). "Recordnews". CMJ New Music Report. p. 12.
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