This CD combines two albums featuring the fine vocal group founded in Philadelphia in 1959 and first recorded that year for what would be And Now…The Metronomes. Three years later, with one change of personnel, a new arranger and a different label, they made a second album, Something Big.
As an all-black quartet, they were initially measured against the Ink Spots, who peaked in the previous decade, but on my first exposure I thought immediately of The Four Freshmen, who were firmly established by 1959 and are, indeed, still active albeit with new personnel. On reflection I would describe them as The Four Freshmen-lite, given that none of the four plays an instrument.
Both the albums are jazz-inflected but whilst the first offers 12 standards the second features 10 numbers strongly associated with jazz, including I Remember Clifford, A Night In Tunisia and Monk’s Mood. Surprisingly, they don’t really exploit the longer track-time available with the advent of vinyl, averaging less than three minutes per track.
On the other hand, if quality rather than quantity is the yardstick then this is definitely a winner, given that the group seldom put a foot wrong, with the two sets of musicians, sextet and quartet respectively, contributing heavily to the overall jazz feel.
If I had to single out one track from each album, they would be You’re Mine You, a neglected ballad that isn’t done nearly enough, and Melba Liston’s arrangement of Monk’s Mood, sans vocal. A fine album that should appeal to both the jazz and popular-song buff.
Discography
CD1: [And Now…The Metronomes] (1) Pennies From Heaven; You’re Mine You; Whiffenpoof Song; Fools Rush In; I Can’t Laugh; Don’t Blame Me; April In Paris; A Foggy Day; Embraceable You; Age Of Miracles; Lady Be Good; Count Every Star (32.13)
CD2: [Something Big] (2) On Green Dolphin Street; Back Door Blues; I Remember Clifford; Til I Met You; Monk’s Mood; This Could Be The Start Of Something Big; ’Round Midnight; Love Is The Thing; A Night In Tunisia; Blue (31.57)
(1) Paul Benson, Julius Robinson, Johnny Oglesby, Charles “Woody” Woodford (v); Sam Reed (as); Leroy “Lee” Lovett (p); Billy Davies (g); Jay Rowland (vib); Winston Williams (b); William “Bubbles” Ross (d). Mastertone Studios, NY, 1959.
(2) Benson, Robinson, Conrad Moore, Woodford (v); Junior Mance (p); Les Spann (g); Henry Grimes or Arthur Harper (b); Grady Tate or Roy McCurdy (d). Plaza Sound Studios, NY, 1962.
Fresh Sounds FSR CD 1125
