Count Basie is one jazz musician who was amply recorded throughout his career and has been the subject of numerous domestic and foreign reissue lines; yet, Mosaic has managed to release Count Basie material in a valuable fashion. This eight-disc set contains Basie recordings for the Roulette label from 1959 to 1962, the first of a two-part series covering his full Roulette output. These are live recordings; the studio sessions are coming on their own set. There are plenty of blues, relaxed swingers, and superb vocals. There is nothing revolutionary about this music, but its consistency and celebratory fiber remain impressive through every disc. While eight discs is a lot of time for one band, no matter how great (and they do frequently repeat some songs), the set provides a chance to replicate the experience of life on the road for a touring band.
CD1 (72:16)
01. The Deacon (5:53)
02. Cute (4:10)
03. In a Mellotone (6:54)
04. No Moon at All (2:58)
05. Cherry Red (2:45)
06. Can't Leave That Woman Alone (2:37)
07. Roll 'Em Pete (2:38)
08. Cherry Point (4:08)
09. Whirly-Bird (3:09)
10. One O'Clock Jump (0:59)
11. Splanky (4:16)
12. Counter Block (4:34)
13. L'il Darlin' (4:08)
14. Who, Me? (4:00)
15. Five O'Clock in the Morning (2:55)
16. In the Night (3:25)
17. Smack Dab in the Middle (3:09)
18. Everyday I Have the Blues (4:03)
19. Back to the Apple (5:35)
CD2 (75:35)
01. Let's Have a Taste (4:18)
02. Moten Swing (5:22)
03. You're a Memory (2:54)
04. The Comeback (3:56)
05. Hallelujah I Love Her So (2:36)
06. One O'Clock Jump (3:48)
07. A Little Tempo, Please (3:07)
08. To You (3:58)
09. Blues Backstage (4:41)
10. Segue in C (8:19)
11. So Young, So Beautiful (3:30)
12. Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You (2:25)
13. Don't Push, Don't Pull (2:51)
14. Basie (3:15)
15. One O'Clock Jump (1:18)
16. Corner Pocket (4:55)
17. I Needs to Be Bee'd With (4:26)
18. Pretty Eyes (2:13)
19. Smack Dab in the Middle (2:59)
20. Whirly-Bird (3:44)
21. One O'Clock Jump (1:00)
CD3 (61:56)
01. The Song Is You (2:51)
02. Easin' It (5:44)
03. Moten Swing (5:05)
04. Discommotion (3:57)
05. Jumpin' at the Woodside (3:49)
06. One O'Clock Jump (1:14)
07. Red Hot Mama (4:40)
08. Discommotion (4:14)
09. Everyday I Have the Blues (4:42)
10. Person to Person (3:10)
11. Teach Me Tonight (3:32)
12. One O'Clock Jump (4:44)
13. Lullaby of Birdland (4:38)
14. Little Pony (2:25)
15. Li'l Darlin' (3:53)
16. Jingle Bells (3:18)
CD4 (70:18)
01. The Midnite Sun Never Sets (3:09)
02. The Moon Is Not Green (3:37)
03. There Will Never Be Another You (2:06)
04. Make Me a Present of You (4:00)
05. Allright, OK, You Win (2:53)
06. Basie (3:27)
07. Good Time Blues (6:41)
08. Segue in C (9:21)
09. Whirly-Bird (3:59)
10. One O'Clock Jump (0:57)
11. Blues Backstage (4:59)
12. Blee Blop Blues (2:20)
13. Corner Pocket (5:07)
14. Moten Swing (5:35)
15. It Won't Be Long (3:09)
16. Don't Worry 'Bout Me (3:44)
17. Don't Push, Don't Pull (3:00)
18. One O'Clock Jump (2:14)
CD5 (63:49)
01. Corner Pocket (5:03)
02. Little Pony (2:39)
03. The Elder (6:30)
04. The Diplomat Speaks (7:38)
05. Li'l Darlin' (4:34)
06. In a Mellotone (6:04)
07. Jumpin' at the Woodside (3:38)
08. Back to the Apple (4:49)
09. One O'Clock Jump (1:01)
10. Easy Money (5:38)
11. Four, Five, Six (6:26)
12. Ours Alone (5:26)
13. Mama Dev Blues (4:23)
CD6 (56:37)
01. Li'l Darlin' (4:13)
02. April in Paris (3:41)
03. Little Pony (2:38)
04. Summer Frost (3:21)
05. For Lena and Lennie (4:25)
06. Blues in Hoss' Flat (4:45)
07. Bluish Grey (5:13)
08. One O'Clock Jump (1:05)
09. Ours Alone (4:44)
10. Bread (3:41)
11. Plymouth Rock (7:12)
12. Be My Guest (3:44)
13. To You (3:30)
14. Cherry Point (4:25)
CD7 (66:01)
01. The Touch of Your Lips (2:56)
02. Good Time Blues (5:10)
03. Blues Backstage (5:18)
04. Splanky (3:44)
05. Little Pony (2:35)
06. Who, Me (3:32)
07. Sweet and Purty (4:11)
08. Blues in Hoss' Flat (4:28)
09. Moten Swing (4:49)
10. Whirly-Bird (4:00)
11. One O'Clock Jump (2:05)
12. Ours Alone (4:33)
13. Splanky (3:56)
14. I Got It Bad (3:26)
15. Peace Pipe (4:40)
16. Prelude (3:19)
17. Sixteen Men Swinging (3:19)
CD8 (64:08)
01. Li'l Darlin' (4:26)
02. The Deacon (6:04)
03. A Little Tempo, Please (3:14)
04. Person to Person (3:15)
05. 'Deed I Do (2:38)
06. The Third Stage (4:10)
07. Backwater Blues (5:05)
08. Almost Like Being in Love (2:22)
09. Four, Five, Six (5:16)
10. Royal Blue (3:42)
11. Counter Block (4:16)
12. Peppermint Pipes (3:46)
13. One Note Samba (4:21)
14. Slides 'n Hides (6:25)
15. Bluish Grey (5:08)
