Swing N Jive comprises '40s recordings of
Louis Prima leading his orchestra. Yes, he sings on virtually every cut, but not with
Keely Smith. He fronts the band, solos, and vocalizes, but with the exception of three of these 14 tracks, he does so alone. There's a version of "Nosy Body," with
Lily Ann Carol, a reading of
Slim Gaillard's classic "Vout Cowboy," with
Foy Willing and the cowboy group
Riders of the Purple Sage, and "Mahzel" with Cathy Allan. There is an excellent version of "Hi-Ho Trailus Bootwhip," that kicks the set off as well. The music here is terrific. The sound, however, is another matter entirely. While it's not terrible, the masters were either in poor shape, or these are radio transcriptions and live tracks, and it's difficult to tell because no source information is given in the liner booklet. If you are a hardcore
Prima fan, though, you need these just the same.