0004 - Louis Prima - The Wildest! [1956]

Who: Bandleader, singer, and trumpeter Louis Prima (1910-1978, born in New Orleans to Italian immigrants), singer Keely Smith (his then-wife), saxophonist Sam Butera and the Witnesses.

What: A studio recreation of Prima's raucous late-night show at the Sahara which was, at the time, the most popular show in Vegas, this album is a high-spirited big band romp. This is quintessential swing music, drawing on jazz, rock, traditional pop, and New Orleans brass, with comedic vocal performances by Prima and Smith.

Where: Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, but based on Prima's show at the Sahara in Las Vegas.

Prima on the marquee at the Sahara in Las Vegas, June 1955.

When: To get the cocktail party started—or when the late-night party needs a boost of energy.

Why: While it borders on kitsch, this spirit of this album is simply infectious. It perfectly captures a swingin' Vegas party in the 1950s (or so we imagine)—rather than going for complex jazz arrangements, it simply tries to have fun. Even the most cynical listener couldn't listen to this without smiling.

Prima, Smith, and the band at the Sahara.

 

Mircodose: The most famous track on this album is "Jump, Jive, an' Wail" (mostly due to Brian Setzer's cover of it during the "swing revival" in the late 90s) and the closer "(I'll Be Glad When You Are Dead) You Rascal You" is great, but the bawdy "The Lip" best showcases the attitude of the album.

Additional Dose: Prima famously voiced the character of King Louie in Disney's The Jungle Book (1961)—here's his central song "I Wanna Be Like You."