Thad Jones Compositions and Arrangements for The Count Basie Orchestra
Compiled by David Demsey
“Bluish Grey,” comp/arr Thad Jones – rec. 7/25/62, appeared on Back With Basie, also recorded live on 8/10/62 and again on 8/12/62 appears on Mosaic Complete Live Count Basie Roulette Recordings [was recorded in Sweden but did not appear on Basie in Sweden LP] Note: first appeared as small-group arrangement on Al Grey Last of the Big Plungers
“Brushes and Brass,” see listing for “Speaking of Sounds”
“Can’t We Be Friends?” arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/30/59, appeared on Dance Along With Basie [called “Why Can’t We Be Friends” on title of pencil manuscript] [PENCIL SCORE IN ARCHIVE]
“Counter Block” [appears on score as “Counter Blocking”], comp/arr Thad Jones, never recorded in studio version, appeared on 5/31/59 Miami live recording, Breakfast Dance and Barbeque, also recorded live on 8/12/62, appears on Mosaic Complete Live Count Basie Roulette Recordings [was recorded in Sweden but did not appear on Basie in Sweden LP] [BASIE PARTS IN ARCHIVE]
“Deacon, The,” comp/arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/10/58, appeared on Chairman of the Board, also appeared live on 5/31/59, Breakfast Dance and Barbeque, also recorded live on 8/12/62, appears on Mosaic Complete Live Count Basie Roulette Recordings [was recorded in Sweden but did not appear on Basie in Sweden LP], also on Live in Stockholm 2/23/59 [PENCIL SCORE IN ARCHIVE]
“Easy Living” arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/30/59, appeared on Dance Along With Basie
“Elder, The” comp/arr Thad Jones – rec. 7/1/62, appeared on Back With Basie, also recorded live on 8/9/62, appears on Mosaic Complete Live Count Basie Roulette Recordings [was recorded in Sweden but did not appear on Basie in Sweden LP] Note: first appeared as small-group arrangement on Al Grey Last of the Big Plungers [PHOTOCOPY OF BASIE PARTS IN ARCHIVE]
“Fools Rush In” arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/28/59, appeared on Dance Along With Basie [PENCIL SCORE IN ARCHIVE]
“Give Me the Simple Life” arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/18/59, appeared on Dance Along With Basie
“H.R.H (Her Royal Highness),” comp/arr. Thad Jones – rec. 3/4/58, appeared on Chairman of the Board, Fresno, California, 4/24/59 [PHOTOCOPY OF PARTS IN ARCHIVE]
“How Am I To Know?” arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/31/59, appeared on Dance Along With Basie [PHOTOCOPY OF PARTS IN ARCHIVE]
“It Had To Be You,” arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/16/59, appeared on Dance Along With Basie
“It’s a Pity to Say Goodnight” arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/18/59, appeared on Dance Along With Basie
“Makin’ Whoopee” arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/28/59, appeared on Dance Along With Basie, also appears after Thad’s departure from the band, on 2/1/66 Basie Live at the Sands…Before Frank [BASIE PARTS IN ARCHIVE]
“Mama’s Talkin’ Soft,” comp/arr. Thad Jones – rec. 6/9/60, appeared on Not Now, I’ll Tell You When [rejected version of same tune recorded a day earlier] [PHOTOCOPY OF PARTS IN ARCHIVE – likely a record lift]
“Move,” Thad co-credited as arranger, rec. 6/56, appeared on Hall of Fame [Thad’s first Basie arrangement as per Bill Kirchner]
“Mutt and Jeff,” comp/arr. Thad Jones – rec. 4/29/58, appeared on Chairman of the Board
“Not Now, I’ll Tell You When,” comp/arr Thad Jones – rec. 6/16/60, appeared on Not Now, I’ll Tell You When (rejected version of same tune recorded a day earlier) [PENCIL SCORE IN ARCHIVE; ARCHIVE SCORE IS TITLED “SUPER CHIEF”]
“Speaking of Sounds,” comp/arr. Thad Jones – rec. 12/58, appeared on Chairman of the Board [also titled “Brushes and Brass,” appeared under that title on The Count in England, and on Live in Stockholm bootleg LPs]
“Super Chief” –see listing for “Not Now, I’ll Tell You When” [PENCIL SCORE IN ARCHIVE]
“Sweet ‘N’ Purty,” comp/arr Thad Jones – rec. 6/24/60, appeared on Not Now, I’ll Tell You When, Fresno, California, 4/24/59; also recorded live on 8/11/62, appears on Mosaic Complete Live Count Basie Roulette Recordings [was recorded in Sweden but did not appear on Basie in Sweden LP] [PENCIL SCORE IN ARCHIVE]
“To You,” comp/arr Thad Jones, rec. 7/6-7/61, appeared on First Time: Count Meets the Duke [performed by Basie’s orchestra and Duke Ellington Orchestra together], also appears on Mosaic Complete Live Count Basie Roulette Recordings [was recorded at 6/27/61 Birdland and at 8/11/62 Sweden but did not appear on either Basie in Sweden or Basie at Birdland LPs] [later published Kendor version in WPJO library; Basie parts photocopy IN ARCHIVE]
“Toot Sweet,” comp/arr Thad Jones – rec. 7/1/62, appeared on Big Band Scene ’65 [combined LP with material from Maynard Ferguson]
“Transmission,” [mentioned in Frank Foster autobiography; could be unrecorded arrangement, could be alternate title of an arrangement listed here]
“Touch of Your Lips, The,” arr. Thad Jones, rec. live 8/11/62, appears on Mosaic Complete Live Count Basie Roulette Recordings [was recorded in Sweden but is not on Basie in Sweden LP]
Basie LPs featuring Thad Jones arrangements:
- First Time: Count Meets the Duke (Columbia CL 1715), rec. 7/6-7/61 [features Basie Orchestra and Ellington Orchestra]
- Chairman of the Board (Roulette 52032), rec. 4/58
- Breakfast Dance and Barbeque (Roulette 52028), rec. 5/31/59
- Dance Along With Basie (Roulette 52036), 12/59
- Now Now, I’ll Tell You When (Roulette 52044), rec. 6/60
- Back With Basie (Roulette 52113), rec. 7/62
- Big Band Scene ’65 [w/Maynard Ferguson] (Roulette 52117), rec. 7/62
- The Complete Roulette Studio Recordings of Count Basie and His Orchestra (Mosaic 149)
- The Complete Roulette Live Recordings of Count Basie and His Orchestra, 1959-1962 (Mosaic 135)
NOTES ABOUT ADDITIONAL BASIE ARRANGEMENTS:
- Thad Jones also wrote all arrangements and conducted Songs of Bessie Smith recording with Teresa Brewer and the Basie Orchestra (1973), including Basie on piano, and the return of drummer Sonny Payne – Flying Dutchman FD 10161
- Thad also wrote all arrangements for Caterina Valente ’86 featuring the Count Basie Orchestra, during the time he was conducting the band – Ariola 207-646 / Global 207 725.
- Thad wrote at least one arrangement (more?) for No Count Sarah, No Count Blues – Mercury 60116
- Thad wrote [all?] arrangements for Count Basie/Sarah Vaughn – Roulette R52061
