"The sound of that horn, skillfully played, seems to be the ideal purveyor of warmth and thoughtfulness and mood.
"And the list of men whose fame was gained chiefly because of their ability to croon a song on the tenor sax is long and impressive, including such names as Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Don Byas, Stan Getz, Lester Young, Georgie Auld and many more.
"But none ever reached the peak of recorded popularity that Gene Ammons did at the turn of the '50s. Radios and jukeboxes continually poured out his music and his records sold in huge amounts.
"The device he used, if it could be called that, was simple. The already huge and thick sound of his horn was surrounded by echo, a technique now common in recording, but at that time little-used. Ammons, a young and respected jazzman, capable of imaginative and stirring improvisation, was content to state the melody simply and movingly, embelishing it only enough to give it his personality but allowing the remarkable -sound- he achieved be the chief factor to attract listeners.
"Those recordings have long since become collectors items, available only as 78rpm shellac pressings, when they could be found. But evidently there has been a continuing demand for them, for seldom did a week go by at Chess Records offices that dealers or distributors or letter writers did not ask for the Ammons ballads to be issued in album form.
"Here are such well-remembered performances as 'My Foolish Heart', 'Goodbye', 'Once in a While' and the haunting 'Prelude to a Kiss', plus a large bonus in the form of two sides never before released in 'It's You or No One' and 'You Go to My Head'.
"To those who recall with fondness the excitement created by these recordings when they first were issued, this album will be a welcome treat. To those who might be listening to Gene Ammons' skill and soulfulness for the first time we can only say, 'Look what you've been missing.'" (From the liner notes.)
Performers: Gene Ammons (t-sx), Bill Massey/Jesse Miller (tp), Matthew Gee (tb), Sonny Stitt (br-sx), Leo Blevins (gt), Charles Bateman/Junior Mance (pi), Christine Chatman (pi/vo), Eugene Wright/Leroy Jackson/Lowell Pointer (bs), Ike Day/Teddy Stewart/Wes Landers (dr), Mary Graham (vo)
A1. My Foolish Heart
A2. Prelude To A Kiss
A3. It's You Or No One
A4. Can You Explain
A5. Goodbye
B1. Pennies From Heaven
B2. Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe
B3. You Go To My Head
B4. Once In A While
B5. It's The Talk Of The Town
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