I recommend an excellent French bootleg called 'Swing for a
Crime'. Its from about ten years ago but was recently
'rereleased' on cd. Very cool lounge and jazz songs with some
brief sound bites from noir movies thrown in for color.
D. Ross
AMG EXPERT REVIEW: Similar to sprawling, bootlegged
collections in the Stompin', Las Vegas Grind, and Desperate
Rock 'n' Roll series, this French compilation revels in the
fringes of lounge and roots music. The producers focus on
jazz and R&B wrapped in a beatnik a go-go sheen and
splice in appropriate dialog and music from various crime
films to add to the set's programmatic feel. Along with jazz
guitarist Barney Kessel's novel bit of ockin' blues "Honey
Rock," other high-profile moments come by way of arranger Sy
Oliver's (Jimmie Lunceford, Tommy Dorsey) exotic noir
theme
"Stu's Blues" and Les Baxter's "Peter Gunn"-like "Boomada."
Even more intriguing, though, are obscure tracks like the
Hollywood Persuader's surf beat number "Drums a-go-go," Patsy
Raye & the Beatnicks' goatee monologue
"Beatnick's Wish," and Ric Gray's "Tequila"-esque teenage
montage "Pimples and Braces" ("tacos and t-shirts/bongos and
burgers"). Plenty of Latin percussion, rock & roll
swagger, Farfisa Organ, and dark-alley ambience add to the
kaleidoscopic mix. And for all the flippancy, there are still
enough incredibly arranged pieces, like Art Van Dam's big
band stunner "Voodoo Doll," to satisfy to the more studious
record hounds. While certainly not for jazz purists, the
Swing for a Crime collection will no doubt please fans
broadminded enough not take the kitsch manifestations of
R&B, rock & roll, Latin music, and jazz too
seriously. - Stephen Cook
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