With the exception of one selection ("Pennies from Heaven") left over from his 1956 record The Boss of the Blue, the music on this album was all recorded in September 1959. Veteran blues singer
Big Joe Turner returns to his roots, belting out blues and early standards while accompanied by an octet arranged by
Ernie Wilkins. Among the key sidemen are the great tenor
Coleman Hawkins, trombonist
Vic Dickenson, trumpeter
Paul Ricard and altoist
Jerome Richardson; and the highlights include "Nobody in Mind," "Rebecca" and "Don't You Make Me High." An excellent outing for
Turner, whose boisterous style would be largely unchanged over his half-century career. ~ Scott Yanow