This 1957 collection from arranger and bandleader
Nelson Riddle captures the master's style at its most frothy and effervescent.
Hey...Let Yourself Go! features a dozen upbeat numbers that swing, but with an easygoing grace and a willingness to let different parts of the orchestra step to the forefront on different tunes, as muted brass and xylophone dominate "You're an Old Smoothie," flutes and oboe color "Then I'll Be Happy," and understated brass and strings add a romantic touch to "Younger Than Springtime." Most of the melodies
Riddle chose for this session are familiar, but he manages to give them a fresh and enthusiastic feeling, and his cast of studio musicians brings a wealth of skill and élan to the recordings.
Hey...Let Yourself Go! is one of the better examples of
Riddle's prolific output as a studio bandleader in the '50s, and documents him at a point when his sound and approach were still fresh and winning; listeners with a taste for retro "bachelor pad music" and fans of the fine art of pop arrangement will both find plenty to enjoy on this LP.