Louis Prima: Call Of The Wildest Record
Label- Capitol T-836 Mono, 1st edition Teal Label.

LP = Very Good  (Tested)

Cover = Some Wear as shown in pictures

Side One

[3:58] When You're Smiling and The Sheik of Araby
[2:51] Autumn Leaves
[2:25] I've Got the World on a String
[2:16] Blow, Red, Blow
[1:48] The Pump Song
[3:14] There'll Be No Next Time

SIDE TWO
[2:19] Pennies From Heaven
[2:49] The Birth of the Blues
[4:11] Closest to the Bone
[2:25] Sentimental Journey
[4:15] When the Saints Go Marching In

TOTAL TIME: 32:31

 New Orleans-born Louis Prima first recorded with a Dixieland group in 1934. He soon tried his hand at a more mainstream big band style, but failed at that. In '37, Prima fronted a small combo in NYC and did well. During WWII he again had a larger orchestra, this time a successful one. Post-war, he gradually reduced the size of this band. Louis hired 17-year-old girl singer Keely Smith in 1948. The two were married in '53 following Prima's third divorce. At the time, Keely was less than half her husband's age.

In '54 Louis landed a Sahara Hotel Las Vegas gig. He asked old Nawlins pal, sax man Sam Butera, to assemble a small backing group. Sam named them the Witnesses. Prima's new act proved a hit. In '55 he signed a deal with CAPITOL Records. In September '56,  THE WILDEST  was released. This album, CALL OF THE WILDEST (T 836) came the following year. It accurately reflects the stageshow Louis and company were performing at the time.

Butera's rock & roll sax work is featured on "When You're Smiling." Louis plays a trumpet solo, too. Sam's amazing on "Shiek of Araby." Keely's "Autumn Leaves" spotlight includes some impressive scatting. The small Vegas-scope of the Witnesses is evident here. Standout is bassist Amato Rodriguez. On "World on a String," Louis addressses Butera by name and the two engage in some musical conversation. The tune is double-timed on its second go-round. "Blow, Red, Blow" is specifically for slide trombonist Jimmy "Little Red" Blount. Again, they double quick the tempo during Red's second half improvs. Sam vocalizes on "No Next Time" as Prima makes background comments. This has a '50s R&B groove.

Louis changes some of the lyrics on "Pennies" (for example, "...sunshine and raviolis..."). His playfulness here is reminscent of "I Wanna Be Like You" from Disney's  THE JUNGLE BOOK  (1967), a number Sam and Witnesses also played on. Scoring for Keely's "Birth of the Blues" features brief segments of band chaos. Prima's trumpet solo on "Closest to the Bone" includes a William Tell Overture (Lone Ranger) reference. "Sentimental Journey" has a Louis and Keely duet. Butera plays a bluesy break solo. Naturally, they start "Saints" as Dixieland but it soon becomes a typical Prima quick-paced jazz shuffle. He sings non-word lyrics that the guys try to chorus.