Blues Cross Country is a 1962 studio album by Peggy Lee, principally arranged by Quincy Jones, with some arrangements by Benny Carter. The album can be described as a concept album, consisting of a musical journey across the United States through swinging blues songs, many of which were written by Lee with other contributors.[1]
| Blues Cross Country | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1962 | |||
| Recorded | 1962 | |||
| Genre | Vocal jazz | |||
| Length | 36:24 | |||
| Label | Capitol ST 1671 | |||
| Producer | Dave Cavanaugh | |||
| Peggy Lee chronology | ||||
| ||||
Blues Cross Country was the second of Lee's two albums featuring arrangements by Jones. He had also arranged her previous studio album, If You Go (1961).
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
Blues Cross Country received good reviews at the time of its release from both Billboard magazine in March 1962, and Time magazine in May 1962.[citation needed] Billboard wrote that "Peggy's back, and this time in a blues mood - with sad blues, happy blues and swinging blues. She sings them in her own delightful style aided muchly by the fine arrangements of ork [sic] leader Quincy Jones. .. The album's a gas".[3]
The Allmusic review by William Ruhlmann awarded the album four stars and commented that "Though Jones' arrangements are often a touch brassier than the blues standards can handle, Lee contributes just the right blend of vigor and feeling to the songs"[1]
Track listing
edit- "Kansas City" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 2:29
- "Basin Street Blues" (Spencer Williams) - 3:04
- "Los Angeles Blues" (Peggy Lee, Quincy Jones) - 2:38
- "I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City" (Johnny Lange, Leon Rene) - 2:53
- "The Grain Belt Blues" (Lee, Milt Raskin, Bill Schugler) - 1:52
- "New York City Blues" (Jones, Lee) - 3:21
- "Goin' to Chicago Blues" (Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing) - 2:37
- "San Francisco Blues" (Lee, Raskin) - 2:37
- "Fisherman's Wharf" (Lee, Raskin) - 3:11
- "Boston Beans" (Lee, Raskin, Schugler) - 2:05
- "The Train Blues" (Jones, Lee) - 2:42
- "Saint Louis Blues" (W. C. Handy) - 2:15
- Bonus tracks issued on the 1999 CD release
- "Hey, Look Me Over!" (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) - 1:55
- "The Shining Sea" (Lee, Johnny Mandel) - 2:45
Personnel
edit- Peggy Lee - vocals
- Quincy Jones - arranger, conductor
- Benny Carter - arranger ("San Francisco Blues"),[4] alto saxophone, tuba
- Johnny Mandel - arranger ("The Shining Sea")[5]
- Stan Levey, Earl Palmer - drums
- Max Bennett - bass guitar
- Chico Guerrero - congas, percussion
- Aubrey Bouck, Bill Henshaw, Sinclair Lott, Henry Sigismonti - French horn
- Frank Strazzeri - piano
- Toots Thielemans - guitar
- Jimmy Rowles - piano
- Bob Cooper, Harry Klee, Bud Shank - woodwind
- Bill Green, Plas Johnson, Bill Perkins - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Jack Sheldon - trumpet
- Dennis Budimir - guitar
- Bob Bain, John Pisano, Howard Roberts - guitar
- Artie Kane - electronic organ
- Larry Bunker, Emil Richards - percussion
- Lou Levy - piano
- Jack Nimitz - baritone saxophone
- Buddy Collette - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Justin Gordon - tenor saxophone
- Hoyt Bohannon, Vern Friley, Bobby Knight, Lew McCreary, Dick Nash, George Roberts, Frank Rosolino, Tommy Shepard - trombone
- Pete Candoli, Bob Fowler, Conrad Gozzo, Joe Graves, Al Porcino, Ray Triscari - trumpet
References
edit- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Blues Cross Country". Allmusic. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ "Blues Cross Country". Billboard Music Week. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 17, 1962. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/15858483-Peggy-Lee-Blues-Cross-Country/image/SW1hZ2U6NjA4OTM5NzQ= [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/15858483-Peggy-Lee-Blues-Cross-Country/image/SW1hZ2U6NjA4OTM5NzQ= [bare URL]