| If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em! | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1965 | |||
| Recorded | July 22, 26, 27 & 28, 1965 | |||
| Studio | Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 33:46 | |||
| Label | Limelight LS 86021 | |||
| Producer | Jack Tracy | |||
| Gerry Mulligan chronology | ||||
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If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em! is an album by American jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1965 and first released on the Limelight label. [1] [2]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
AllMusic awarded the album 3 stars and its review by Ken Dryen states, "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. ...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". [3]
Gerald Joseph Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists – playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz – he was also a significant arranger, working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others. Mulligan's pianoless quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the best cool jazz groups. Mulligan was also a skilled pianist and played several other reed instruments. Several of his compositions, such as "Walkin' Shoes" and "Five Brothers", have become jazz standards.
Prresenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet is an album led by American jazz baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan featuring tracks recorded in 1955 and released on the EmArcy label.
Mainstream of Jazz is an album led by American jazz baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan with tracks recorded in 1956 which were released by EmArcy.
Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonists Gerry Mulligan and Johnny Hodges featuring performances recorded in 1959 released on the Verve label.
Butterfly with Hiccups is an album by American jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1963 and 1964 and first released on the Limelight label.
Spring Is Sprung is an album by American jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan's Quartet featuring performances recorded in late 1962 and first released on the Philips label.
Feelin' Good is an album by American jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1965 and first released on the Limelight label.
Something Borrowed - Something Blue is an album by American jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1966 and first released on the Limelight label.
Gerry Mulligan Meets Stan Getz is an album by American jazz saxophonists Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz featuring performances recorded in 1957 released on the Verve label.
Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band on Tour is a live album recorded by American jazz saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in California, Berlin and Milan 1960 which were released on the Verve label. In the CD era it has been superseded by The Complete Santa Monica Concert
Gerry Mulligan Presents a Concert in Jazz is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1961 which were released on the Verve label.
The Gerry Mulligan Quartet is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1962 which were released on the Verve label.
Holliday with Mulligan is an album by American actress and singer Judy Holliday with jazz saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1961 which were first released on the DRG label in 1980.
Gerry Mulligan '63 is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in late 1962 which were released on the Verve label.
California Concerts is a live album by saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded at the Stockton High School and Hoover High School in California in late 1954 and released on the Pacific Jazz label. The original LP was the first 12 inch LP to be released on the Pacific Jazz label in 1955. The Gerry Mulligan feature track "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" with Bob Brookmeyer on piano was first released on the compilation LP The Genius of Gerry Mulligan in 1960. Although the tracks were recorded at a high school, recording took place on weekends and in the evening. Chet Baker was originally chosen to be the trumpet player of the session, but was jailed for his ongoing heroin addiction, so trumpeter Jon Eardley took Baker’s place sounding very similar to Baker.
Paris Concert is a live album by saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded at the Salle Pleyel in Paris in 1954 and released on the Pacific Jazz label. In 1966 Pacific Jazz released an album with the same title but with a slightly different track listing and edited versions of previously released tracks.
Gerry Mulligan Quartet Volume 1 is an album by saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1952 and originally released as the first 10-inch LP on the Pacific Jazz label. In 2001 Pacific Jazz released an album on CD with additional tracks from Mulligan's first five recording sessions.
Gerry Mulligan Quartet Volume 2 is an album by saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1953 and originally released as a 10-inch LP on the Pacific Jazz label. In 2001 Pacific Jazz re-released the album on CD with additional alternate takes and 12" masters along with five live tracks.
Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet is a compilation album by saxophonist and bandleader Gerry Mulligan's Quartet with Lee Konitz featuring performances recorded in early 1953 which were originally released on 10 inch LPs Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet and Lee Konitz and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet on the Pacific Jazz label along with previously unreleased tracks and alternate takes.
Walk on the Water is an album by American jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and His Orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1980 and first released on the DRG label. In 1982, the album received the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.