The Four Freshmen - Four Freshmen and 5 Trombones (1955) [2015 Japan Universal 100 Series]

A masterpiece – and possibly the greatest record ever by the Four Freshmen! The album is arranged by Kentonite Pete Rugolo, who gives it a very dark feel – similar to his amazing work on June Christy's Something Cool album (which is a perfect complement to this one) – and he's selected a core group of west coast jazzers to back the Freshmen up, including Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Frank Rosolino, and Claude Williamson. Don't worry about the "trombone" part, because the horns are used to provide dark deep washes of emotion to the songs – with the boys' vocals way out over the top, in mindblowing harmonies that could also exist perfectly without any backing.


Tracks:

01 - Angel Eyes
02 - Love Is Just Around the Corner
03 - Mam'selle
04 - Speak Low
05 - The Last Time I Saw Paris
06 - Somebody Loves Me
07 - You Stepped Out of a Dream
08 - I Remember You
09 - Love
10 - Love Is Here to Stay
11 - You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)
12 - Guilty

Personnel:

Don Barbour – vocals
Ross Barbour – vocals
Bob Flanigan – vocals
Ken Errair – vocals
Frank Rosolino – trombone
Harry Betts – trombone
Milt Bernhart – trombone
Tommy Pederson – trombone
George Roberts – trombone
Claude Williamson – piano
Barney Kessel – guitar
Joe Mondragon – bass
Shelly Manne – drums
– arrangements