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Easy Does It by Count Basie - the 5 minute version

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:04 pm
by Haydn
I'm trying to find details of the popular version of Basie's 'Easy Does It' that I've often heard played in Herrang, London and elsewhere. Teachers (including Frankie Manning, I think) often use it in their classes. The tempo is fairly relaxed, and the sound quality good (suggesting a later recording). It also lasts just over 5 minutes. I've bought a few teacher's Swing CDs with it on. It's listed as "Easy Does It" or "Easy Does It by Count Basie".

I've searched extensively on emusic, amazon, allmusic and iTunes, and can't find it.

The version that seems to be available online is the one that's track 12 on this CD, and lasts about 3 and a half minutes -

The Essential Count Basie, Vol. 2
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 42-1825437

Although I like this version too, it's faster, shorter and poorer sound quality than the recording I'm looking for.

Can anyone help?

Re: Easy Does It by Count Basie - the 5 minute version

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 3:29 pm
by CafeSavoy
huey wrote:I'm trying to find details of the popular version of Basie's 'Easy Does It' that I've often heard played in Herrang, London and elsewhere. Teachers (including Frankie Manning, I think) often use it in their classes. The tempo is fairly relaxed, and the sound quality good (suggesting a later recording). It also lasts just over 5 minutes. I've bought a few teacher's Swing CDs with it on. It's listed as "Easy Does It" or "Easy Does It by Count Basie".

I've searched extensively on emusic, amazon, allmusic and iTunes, and can't find it.

The version that seems to be available online is the one that's track 12 on this CD, and lasts about 3 and a half minutes -

The Essential Count Basie, Vol. 2
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 42-1825437

Although I like this version too, it's faster, shorter and poorer sound quality than the recording I'm looking for.

Can anyone help?
The version you are looking for is probably by The Big 18 and not Count Basie. I know Frankie Manning uses that version in classes. It's from Live Echoes of the Swinging Bands A slower Basie version that is sometimes used is from Basie and Friends, but it is only 3:35.

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 3:54 pm
by Haydn
Thanks!

This one then ...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... B000006SW3

It seems it's hard to find samples online, and hard to buy the CD as well.

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 4:25 pm
by Haydn
Found it listed on the German Amazon site, which lets you hear samples using Real Audio Player -
http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B ... 84-0744828

And, yes, that's the version of 'Easy Does It' I was looking for. Thanks again. :D

So 'Easy Does It' was written by Sy Oliver and Trummy Young
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... 881vgnzzva

and was recorded by 'The Big 18' in 1958
http://www.swingmusic.net/Big_Band_Musi ... hteen.html

Now I just need to get hold of a copy of it ...

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 5:14 pm
by CafeSavoy
Good luck getting a copy. And you might as well order both of their releases. They are hard cds to find but great personnel.

I didn't know Trummy Young was involved in writing the song. I know it was Sy Oliver's which was why it's on Tommy Dorsey's _Yes Indeed_ that was arranged by Sy Oliver.