Personnel:
Leith Stevens (arr, dir), Shorty Rogers, Maynard Ferguson, Pete Candoli, Conrad Gozzo, Tom Reeves, Ray Linn, Buddy Childers, Charles Grifford, Carlton McBeath (tp), John Graas (Frh), Paul Sarmento (tuba), Jimmy Knepper, Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart (tb), Bob Enevoldsen (v-tb), George Robertas (b-tb), Bud Shank, Herb Geller, Lennie Niehaus (as), Sal Franzella (cl, as), Bill Holman, Bill Perkins (ts), Jimmy Giuffre (ts, bs), Bob Cooper (bs), Bob Gordon (b-cl, bs), Russ Freeman, Lou Levy, Claude Williamson (p), Joe Mondragon, Carson Smith, Ralph Pena (b), Shelly Manne, Larry Bunker (d), Ida Lupino (p, vcl)
Reference: FSRCD 2201
Bar code: 8427328622011
The music on this CD contains the celebrated jazz scores Leith Stevens wrote for "The Wild One" in 1953 and "Private Hell 36" in 1954. The idea behind putting both scores together on one disc is to offer all this exciting music originally issued on three different records.
Stevens' use of progressive jazz created an innovation in film-music history and Stevens was very particular about choosing the right jazz musicians to work on his scores. For these movies he used the interpretative skill of the outstanding young trumpeter and conductor Shorty Rogers. Shorty's collaboration with Steven in scoring films produced some of the most exciting background music of the time. Four of the jukebox tunes from "The Wild One" were first recorded by Shorty's own 19-piece band and issued on a 7-inch single by RCA Victor, still with the original title "Hot Blood". These large orchestra tracks were the first recordings of its genre appearing in a movie, and the beginning of a jazz tendency in dramatic films.
—Jordi Pujol
"This CD collects together a pair of jazz-influenced movie scores by Leith Stevens. In the famous Marlon Brando movie The Wild One, Stevens utilized trumpeter Shorty Rogers and an all-star group of West Coast jazz musicians for atmospheric music that added a great deal to the drama of the film. Rogers also recorded four numbers with a big band for his own project (those lead off this disc), which are reissued along with Stevens' score for similar groups. In addition, this CD has Stevens' writing for the Ida Lupino film Private Hell 36, which also uses Rogers and the West Coast all-stars. Lupino herself takes the vocal on "Don't You Know." While soundtracks are generally not complete when heard apart from the film, this pair of historic projects works pretty well and will be enjoyed by fans of 1950s West Coast jazz."
—Scott Yanow (All Music Guide)
