egroj world: Gerry Mulligan • If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em!

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Gerry Mulligan • If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em!

Review
by Ken Dryden
The album title gives a strong hint to the contents of this early-'60s Limelight LP by Gerry Mulligan. Many jazz musicians were frustrated with the public's focus on rock & roll and pop music in general at the time this recording was made. So Mulligan, like many other jazzmen, decided to take a few of the hits and recast them in a jazz setting. Roger Miller's "King of the Road" and "Engine, Engine No. 9" retain their country flavor due to the presence of guitarist Johnny Gray, yet both tracks work because they are strong melodies on which Mulligan builds strong improvisations. His arrangements of a trio of Beatles' hits include a boogie treatment of "Can't Buy Me Love," a bluesy, loping "A Hard Day's Night," and a downright corny "If I Fell." Less successful is a pair of pieces written for British pop singer Petula Clark, including her huge hit "Downtown" and "I Know a Place." Strangest of all is the setting of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man," with a long introduction by pianist Pete Jolly in a drastically revised chart. This long unavailable LP will be of borderline interest to serious fans of Gerry Mulligan, due to the uneven material and a supporting cast that is not up to the level one expects on the baritone saxophonist's records.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/if-you-cant-beat-em-join-em-mw0000711025

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Reseña
por Ken Dryden
El título del álbum da una fuerte pista al contenido de este LP de principios de los años 60 de Gerry Mulligan. Muchos músicos de jazz estaban frustrados con el enfoque del público en el rock & roll y la música pop en general en el momento en que se realizó esta grabación. Así que Mulligan, como muchos otros jazzistas, decidió tomar algunos de los éxitos y refundirlos en un entorno de jazz. "King of the Road" y "Engine, Engine No. 9" de Roger Miller conservan su sabor country debido a la presencia del guitarrista Johnny Gray, sin embargo, ambas pistas funcionan porque son melodías fuertes en las que Mulligan construye improvisaciones fuertes. Sus arreglos de un trío de éxitos de los Beatles incluyen un tratamiento boogie de "Can't Buy Me Love", un blues, loping "A Hard Day's Night" y un francamente cursi "If I Fell". Menos exitoso es un par de piezas escritas para la cantante pop británica Petula Clark, incluido su gran éxito "Downtown" y " I Know a Place."Lo más extraño de todo es el escenario de "Mr. Tambourine Man" de Bob Dylan, con una larga introducción del pianista Pete Jolly en una lista drásticamente revisada. Este largo LP no disponible será de interés límite para los fanáticos serios de Gerry Mulligan, debido al material desigual y un elenco de apoyo que no está a la altura del nivel que uno espera en los discos del saxofonista barítono.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/if-you-cant-beat-em-join-em-mw0000711025

Tracks:
1 - King Of The Road
Written-By – R. Miller* 2:32
2 - Engine, Engine No. 9
Written-By – R. Miller* 3:52
3 - Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte
Written-By – F. DeVol*, M. David* 4:02
4 - I Know A Place
Written-By – T. Hatch* 3:25
5 - Can't Buy Me Love
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 3:34
6 - A Hard Day's Night
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 3:51
7 - If I Fell
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 3:12
8 - Downtown
Written-By – T. Hatch* 2:30
9 - Mr. Tambourine Man
Written-By – B. Dylan* 3:17
10 - If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em!
Written-By – G. Mulligan* 3:30

Credits:
    Artwork – Daniel Czubak
    Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan
    Bass – Jimmy Bond
    Design – Daniel Czubak
    Drums – Hal Blaine
    Engineer – Rafael Valentin*
    Guitar – Johnny Gray*
    Photography By – Fred Seligo
    Piano – Pete Jolly
    Producer – Jack Tracy

Recorded July 22, 26, 27, & 28, 1965 in Hollywood, California.

Label:    Limelight – LS 86021
Country:    US
Released:    Oct 1965
Genre:    Jazz, Pop
Style:    Cool Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/9161870-Gerry-Mulligan-If-You-Cant-Beat-Em-Join-Em