Liner Notes by Ira Gitler

James Moody‘s moods are mostly blue ones. The essence de funk reaches even into It Might As Well Be Spring. Moody is a bluesy, humorous, scolding preacher on both horns. His tenor is present on The Strut, Blue Walk, I Got The Blues, Faster James, and Jammin’ With James. On the latter he also brings his alto into play but the Eb horn is only heard exclusively on the ballads It Might As Well Be Spring and A Sinner Kissed An Angel.

Dave Burns has a crackling solo on Faster James and shares the limelight with Moody in their conversational Jammin’ With James.

The band itself is the same one that can also be heard on Hi Fi Party (PRLP 7011) and Wail Moody, Wail (PRLP 7036). In fact, the recording session that produced Wail Moody, Wail was also responsible for The Strut and A Sinner Kissed An Angel. Jammin’ With James is from yet another. These are issued here for the first time. The remaining sides in the LP were formerly part of Prestige LP 198 (10 inch) and are reissued here.

Blue Walk, the easy stepping promenade was written by Benny Golson.

Eddie Jefferson tells one of his stories of unrequited love in I Got The Blues.

The band shines on Faster James where they sound like a much larger group and back Dave Burns’ solo admirably. Jimmy Boyd has a nice opening bit preceding Dave and Moody follows the trumpeter with a solo that takes the advice of the title.