The Best of Maynard Ferguson

Last updated
The Best of Maynard Ferguson
The Best of Maynard Ferguson.jpg
Compilation album by
Released1980
Genre Jazz, big band, bop
Length54:10
Label Columbia
Maynard Ferguson chronology
Hot
(1979)
The Best of Maynard Ferguson
(1980)
It's My Time
(1980)

The Best of Maynard Ferguson is the first compilation album and 13th overall by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson on Columbia Records. [1] The 1980 release opens with Maynard's biggest hit "Gonna Fly Now", before going on a tour of some of his best work for Columbia, featuring no less than 4 major theme songs along the way.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

The Best of Maynard Ferguson was not only an attempt to profit from Maynard's Columbia catalog while he was still in the public eye, it was an opportunity entice listeners to look beyond "Gonna Fly Now", and discover what came both before and after it. As AllMusic's Thom Jurek put it, "For the sake of argument, we'll look at this compilation as a decent if imperfect collection of the period of his greatest popularity..." [2]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky")" Bill Conti, Carol Connors, Ayn Robbins Conquistador 4:22
2."MacArthur Park" Jimmy Webb M.F. Horn 4&5: Live At Jimmy's 8:27
3."Theme from Star Trek" Alexander Courage, Gene Roddenberry Hot5:04
4."Birdland" Joe Zawinul Carnival 5:35
5."Give It One"Alan Downey, Maynard Ferguson M.F. Horn Two 3:30
Total length:26:58
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Stella by Starlight" Victor Young, Ned Washington Carnival7:16
2."Theme from "Battlestar Galactica"" Stu Phillips, Glen A. Larson Carnival5:53
3."Pagliacci" (Adapted by Jay Chattaway from the aria Vesti la giubba) Ruggiero Leoncavallo Primal Scream 5:53
4."Main Title (From the 20th Century-Fox Film "Star Wars")" John Williams New Vintage 4:10
5."Airegin" Sonny Rollins New Vintage4:00
Total length:27:12

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maynard Ferguson</span> Canadian jazz musician and bandleader (1928–2006)

Walter Maynard Ferguson CM was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served as stepping stones for up-and-coming talent, his versatility on several instruments, and his ability to play in a high register.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwight Yoakam</span> American country singer

Dwight David Yoakam is an American country singer-songwriter, actor, and film director. He first achieved mainstream attention in 1986 with the release of his debut album Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.. Yoakam had considerable success throughout the late 1980s onward, with a total of ten studio albums for Reprise Records. Later projects have been released on Audium, New West, Warner, and Sugar Hill Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty Stuart</span> American musician

John Marty Stuart is an American country and bluegrass music singer, songwriter, and musician. Active since 1968, Stuart initially toured with Lester Flatt, and then in Johnny Cash's road band before beginning work as a solo artist in the early 1980s. His greatest commercial success came in the first half of the 1990s on MCA Records Nashville. Stuart has recorded over 20 studio albums, and has charted over 30 times on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His highest chart entry is "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'", a duet with Travis Tritt. Stuart has also won five Grammy Awards out of 16 nominations. He is known for his combination of rockabilly, country rock, and bluegrass music influences, his frequent collaborations and cover songs, and his distinctive stage dress. Stuart is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connie Smith</span> American country music artist (born 1941)

Connie Smith is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity has been noted between her vocal style and the stylings of country vocalist Patsy Cline. Other performers have cited Smith as influence on their own singing styles, which has been reflected in quotes and interviews over the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gonna Fly Now</span> 1977 single by Bill Conti

"Gonna Fly Now", also known as "Theme from Rocky", is the theme song from the movie Rocky, composed by Bill Conti with lyrics by Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins, and performed by DeEtta West and Nelson Pigford. Released in 1976 with Rocky, the song became part of 1970s American popular culture after the film's main character and namesake Rocky Balboa as part of his daily training regimen runs up the 72 stone steps leading to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia and raises his arms in a victory pose, while the song plays. The song was written in Philadelphia. The song is often played at sporting events, especially in Philadelphia. Most notably, the Philadelphia Eagles play the song before the opening kickoff of every home game at Lincoln Financial Field.

<i>The Best of Bonnie Raitt</i> 2003 greatest hits album by Bonnie Raitt

The Best of Bonnie Raitt is a 2003 compilation album by Bonnie Raitt, released by Capitol Records.

<i>Heaven & Hell</i> (Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler album) 1989 compilation album by Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler

Heaven & Hell is a compilation album by American singer Meat Loaf and Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. It was released in 1989 by Telstar Records. The majority of songs included on Heaven & Hell were written by Jim Steinman, who wrote some of Meat Loaf and Tyler's biggest hits.

<i>Compass Point</i> (album) 1979 studio album by David Allan Coe

Compass Point is an album released by country musician David Allan Coe. It was released in 1979 on Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbie Hancock discography</span>

The discography of the American jazz artist Herbie Hancock consists of forty-one studio albums, twelve live albums, sixty-two compilation albums, five soundtrack albums, thirty-eight physical singles, nine promo singles and four songs not released as singles, but that charted due to downloads. This article does not include re-issues, unless they are counted separately from the original works in the charts, furthermore because of the enormous amount of material published, this discography omits less notable appearances in compilations and live albums. The discography shows the peak weekly main chart positions of eight selected countries: United States, France,[a] Germany, Japan,[b] Netherlands, Sweden,[c] Switzerland and United Kingdom. Positions also listed on United States are R&B / hip hop, dance / club, jazz[d] and bubbling under charts.[e] The peaks do not refer necessarily to the position that a record reached when it was first released. Also included are certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)[f] and the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI).[g]

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Song for the Life</span> 1995 single by Alan Jackson

"Song for the Life" is a song written by American singer Rodney Crowell and originally recorded by The Seldom Scene. Crowell recorded the song in 1978 on his debut album Ain't Living Long Like This, and since then, the song has been covered by several other artists. One version, recorded by Alan Jackson, was released as a single in 1995, and was a Top Ten country hit for him that year. However, it has yet to be featured on any of his compilation albums.

<i>The Essential Connie Smith</i> 1996 compilation album by Connie Smith

The Essential Connie Smith is a compilation album by the American country artist Connie Smith. It was released in April 1996 by RCA Records and was produced by Bob Ferguson and Ethel Gabriel. The album is a collection of Smith's major hits between 1964 and 1972.

American country artist Crystal Gayle has released 25 studio albums, 17 compilation albums, two video albums, one live album, one soundtrack album, and has appeared on 16 additional albums. Gayle signed with United Artists Records in 1974 and began recording albums. Her self-titled debut album was issued in 1975, peaking at number 25 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. After releasing two similar studio albums, Gayle issued We Must Believe in Magic in 1977. Reaching number two on the country albums chart and number 12 on the Billboard 200, it became the first album by a female country artist to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. When I Dream (1978) also peaked in the second position of the Top Country Albums survey and was certified platinum in the US. Her seventh studio album, Miss the Mississippi (1979), was issued on Columbia Records and certified gold in the United States. These Days achieved similar status in 1980. Her ninth studio album entitled Hollywood, Tennessee (1981) contained several cover versions of pop music songs. In 1983, Gayle issued her first greatest hits compilation, Crystal Gayle's Greatest Hits before leaving Columbia. The album was certified gold from the RIAA a decade later.

<i>M.F. Horn</i> 1970 studio album by Maynard Ferguson

M.F. Horn is Maynard Ferguson's second album on Columbia Records, and the first of his highly successful "M.F. Horn" series of albums. It was also released in Europe as The World of Maynard Ferguson — not to be confused with the Roulette compilation with the same title. His first record for CBS was filled with easy listening/pop recordings, but this would be Maynard's first foray into the world of rock music. His recording of "MacArthur Park" would prove very popular with his fans, and would be a concert staple for many years.

<i>Conquistador</i> (Maynard Ferguson album) 1977 studio album by Maynard Ferguson

Conquistador is the ninth album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson on Columbia Records. The album is notable for its inclusion of the hit single "Gonna Fly Now ".

<i>New Vintage</i> (Maynard Ferguson album) 1977 studio album by Maynard Ferguson

New Vintage is the tenth studio album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson released in 1977 on Columbia Records. The title is likely an allusion to new recordings of two 'vintage' titles included in the track list. "Maria" was first recorded on Maynard '62, and "Airegin" was first recorded in 1964 for the album Color Him Wild. The front cover plays on this theme, presenting a trumpet in an ice bucket in place of a bottle of champagne, while on the back cover, the cork is seen popping out of the trumpet's bell.

<i>The Essence of Maynard Ferguson</i> 1993 compilation album by Maynard Ferguson

The Essence of Maynard Ferguson is the third compilation album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson on Columbia Records. It was released in 1993 as part of Columbia/Legacy's budget line I Like Jazz series. At the time of its release, this was the only Compact disc available containing many of Maynard's recordings for Columbia.

<i>Rocky: Original Motion Picture Score</i> 1976 soundtrack album by Bill Conti

Rocky: Original Motion Picture Score is a soundtrack album for the 1976 American film Rocky, composed by Bill Conti. It was released on vinyl in the United States on November 12, 1976, by United Artists Records, followed by a CD release by EMI Records on November 7, 1988. The soundtrack is notable for its inclusion of "Gonna Fly Now", the theme song from Rocky.

<i>Hello in There</i> 1983 studio album by David Allan Coe

Hello in There is an album released by country musician David Allan Coe, released in 1983 on Columbia Records.

"I'm Gonna Love You Anyway" is a song written by Layng Martine Jr. It was first recorded in 1976 by American country music performer Tanya Tucker. In 1978, it was released as a single by American Christian and country music singer Cristy Lane. Her version was the first to become commercially-successful, becoming her second top ten hit single on the Billboard country chart. The song was released on her 1978 studio release titled Cristy Lane Is the Name.

"I Believe the South Is Gonna Rise Again" is a song written by Bobby Braddock, and recorded by American country music artist, Tanya Tucker. It was released in December 1974 and reached the top 20 of the American country songs chart. It was the third and final single from Tucker's third studio album Would You Lay with Me .

References

  1. Ferguson, Maynard (1980). The Best of Maynard Ferguson (album). Columbia. JC 36361.
  2. 1 2 Jurek, Thom. The Best of Maynard Ferguson at AllMusic. Retrieved July 12, 2015.