Lullaby of Birdland
In 1956, RCA Victor issued a concept album titled Lullaby of Birdland (LPM-1146), featuring only the hit tune composed by George Shearing but interpreted by a dozen different arrangers and bands, in celebration of the popular New York jazz club. The LP’s cover announced the record producer's idea: 12 DIFFERENT Interpretations by 12 Modern Arrangers Played by 12 Exciting Jazz Groups The twelve groups, in LP playing order, were Dick Collins and His Orchestra, Tony Scott Septet, Pete Jolly Trio, Milt Bernhart and His Orchestra, Billy Byers and His Orchestra, Joe Newman Octet, Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra, Shorty Rogers–André Previn Orchestra, Barbara Carroll Trio, Ernie Wilkins and His Orchestra, Al Cohn and His Orchestra, and Quincy Jones and His Orchestra. The recording dates ranged from September 14, 1954 (Rogers–Previn), to August 17, 1955 (Byers, Wilkins, and Jones, with all three of those bandleaders using the identical personnel for the recordings of their individual arrangements). The Charlie Barnet recording of Lullaby of Birdland, made on November 29, 1954, carries a credit of Billy May as the arranger, according to the LP’s back cover. Subsequently, some Barnet discographers have listed May as the arranger, whereas other sources credit the chart to Paul Villepigue. The tune was recorded at the same session as two pieces planned for another concept album, Barnet’s Redskin Romp. Even though Lullaby of Birdland was not intended for inclusion on that album, most (but not all) of the writing was indeed the work of Billy May. Yet in Jack Mirtle’s discography The Music of Billy May, Mirtle writes that in 1997, after May listened again to the music:
George Shearing
{"Manufacturer": "RCA Victor LPM-1146", "Date First Available": "May 20, 2012", "Label": "RCA Victor LPM-1146"}