The Count Basie Orchestra - Frankly Basie / Count Basie Plays The Hits Of Frank Sinatra (1963)

Originally titled More Hits of the 50's and 60's, Frankly Basie: Count Basie Plays the Hits of Frank Sinatra, a salute to Frank Sinatra by Count Basie's Orchestra, is mostly closer to dance music than jazz. Billy Byers's arrangements are pleasing enough but in general the music is rather easy-listening with few exciting moments and most solos being quite brief. The original 12-song program is augmented by a "new" alternate take of "Hey, Jealous Lover" and two selections ("My Kind of Town" and "Come Rain or Come Shine") taken from the LP Basie Picks the Winners. Considering the personnel and the material, the results are disappointingly sleepy; only "All of Me" is at all memorable.