Count Basie, The Legendary Count Basie (1982)

When we first got a CD player (c.1990) mum and dad were suddenly so excited about buying music again – they stormed into stores and snapped up things they’d had on vinyl and given away or worn out (or both). The also bought loads of things – in that first great wave of CDs – that they had never owned on vinyl but (obviously) wanted to. This is when mum introduced me to Count Basie. And though I can only remember the cover of that CD she bought (and not its title) it was similar to this – it featured many of the same tracks. And good lord what a revelation it was listening to this guy, his band, the way it all swung – the way he owned it. I fell in love with this music instantly. And I hold it to this day. That’s why I bought this LP. That’s why I love this LP.

Sample Track: One O’Clock Jump

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown