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Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen is an album by American vibraphonist Cal Tjader, five of its 11 tracks arranged by Tjader’s longtime colleague Clare Fischer. Recorded in June 1960  and released in February 1962 on the Fantasy label, it would be reissued on CD – together with Tjader’s similarly semi-orchestral 1961 LP, West Side Story  – on July 30, 2002, as Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen and West Side Story.

Reception

Allmusic’s Richie Unterberger gives the album three stars, noting in it a certain monotony of mood and tempo, to which the Fischer tracks offer a welcome contrast: Clare Fischer’s tense orchestral arrangements actually add a bit of wakeup spice to the latter part of the program, even as they heighten the sentimentality factor in some respects.

Track listing
“Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” (Arlen-Ted Koehler) – 3:03
“Ill Wind (You’re Blowing Me No Good)” (Arlen – Koehler) – 4:22
“When the Sun Comes Out” (Arlen – Koehler) – 2:39
“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” (Arlen – Yip Harburg) – 3:22
“I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues” (Arlen-Koehler) – 3:40
“Come Rain or Come Shine” (Arlen-Johnny Mercer) – 3:49
“Over the Rainbow” (Arlen-Harburg) – 3:48
“Out of This World” (Arlen-Mercer) – 2:50
“Last Night When We Were Young” (Arlen-Harburg) – 3:06
“The Man That Got Away” (Arlen-Ira Gershwin) – 3:58
“Blues in the Night” (Arlen-Mercer) – 3:25

Personnel
Cal Tjader – vibraphone
Buddy Motsinger – piano
Al McKibbon – bass (tracks 1–6)
Red Mitchell – bass (tracks 7–11)
Willie Bobo – drums (tracks 1–6)
Johnny Rae – drums (tracks 7–11)
Unidentified harp (tracks 7–11)
8 unidentified violins (tracks 7–11)
3 unidentified viole (tracks 7–11)
2 unidentified celli (tracks 7–11)[7]
Clare Fischer – arranger, conductor (tracks 7–11)

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Released: February 1962
Recorded: June 1 and 2, 1960
Label: Fantasy