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In 1999, Fantasy combined the Prestige LPs James Moody’s Greatest Hits and More of James Moody’s Greatest Hits onto the 71-minute CD James Moody and the Swedish All-Stars’ Greatest Hits. This superb collection boasts 24 selections that were recorded in Stockholm between 1949 and 1951, when the American saxman was living in Sweden and was earning a reputation for being one of bebop’s more accessible players. The CD’s best-known track is Moody’s 1949 interpretation of “I’m in the Mood for Love,” which was the basis for King Pleasure’s 1952 vocalese hit “Moody’s Mood for Love.” Equally essential are Moody’s lyrical interpretations of “Body and Soul,” “Embraceable You,” “These Foolish Things,” and “Out of Nowhere,” all of which find him joined by Swedish beboppers of the day. Though some of the musicians are obscure, listeners with a serious knowledge of Sweden’s contributions to jazz will recognize such names as Lars Gullin (baritone sax), Arne Domnerus (alto sax), Rolf Ericson (trumpet), and Jack Noren (drums). The sound is mildly scratchy, but Moody’s performances on both tenor and alto are first-rate. For those who are exploring Moody’s music for the first time, this CD is among the places to start.

Track listing:

1 The Flight (aka The Flight Of The Bopple Bee) 2:40
2 I’m In The Mood For Love 2:43
3 Lester Leaps In 3:04
4 Body And Soul 3:00
5 I’m In The Mood For Groovin’ 2:35
6 Out Of Nowhere 2:47
7 Indiana 2:49
8 These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) 3:05
9 Good Bait 2:51
10 Over The Rainbow 2:50
11 Dexterious 2:39
12 Blue And Moody 3:00
13 Hey! Jim (Moody’s Blues) 3:14
14 I’ll Get By (As Long As I Have You) 2:45
15 Cherokee 3:04
16 Pennies From Heaven 3:12
17 Am I Blue 2:43
18 Embraceable You 2:25
19 Two Feathers (Two Fathers) 2:56
20 Again 3:18
21 Love Walked In 2:49
22 How Deep Is The Ocean 2:49
23 Moody’s Got Rhythm 2:55
24 The Man I Love 3:10

Personnel:

Alto Saxophone – Anre Domnerus (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 8, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24), James Moody (tracks: 4, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22 to 24)
Baritone Saxophone – Lars Gullin (tracks: 13, 14, 17 to 24), Per-Arne Croona (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 8, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24)
Bass – Gunnar Almstedt (tracks: 13 to 24), Yngve Akerberg (tracks: 1 to 12)
Drums – Anders Burman (tracks: 3, 4, 6 to 9, 11, 13 to 20, 22, 24), Jack Noren (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 21, 23), Sven Bollhem (tracks: 10, 12)
Guitar – Rolf Berg (tracks: 7, 9, 11)
Piano – Gösta Theselius (tracks: 1, 6, 8), Rolf Larsson (tracks: 13 to 24), Thore Swanerud (tracks: 3, 4, 7, 9 to 12)
Remastered By – Joe Tarantino
Tenor Saxophone – Carl-Henrik Nori (tracks: 14, 17, 18, 20, 22 to 24), Gösta Theselius (tracks: 4), James Moody (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 13, 15, 16, 19, 21)
Trumpet – Lennart “Leppe” Sundewall (tracks: 2 to 6, 8), Sixten Eriksson (tracks: 21, 23)
Trumpet [Bass] – Lennart “Leppe” Sundewall (tracks: 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24)
Vibraphone – Ulf Linde (tracks: 7, 9, 11)

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Label: Prestige – PRCD 24228-2
Format: CD, Compilation, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 1999