ProJazz.net

Songs for Hip Lovers is a 1957 vocal album by the jazz bandleader Woody Herman, arranged by Marty Paich.

Ken Dryden reviewed the album for AllMusic and wrote that “Herman is a swinging, friendly singer heard doing such time-tested standards as the humorous “Makin’ Whoopee,” a more upbeat than typical “Willow Weep For Me,” and “I Won’t Dance.” The musicians from each of the two sessions provide strong accompaniment: “Sweets” Edison, Charlie Shavers, and Ben Webster are outstanding and Marty Paich’s arrangements fit Herman’s style rather well”. The Penguin Guide to Jazz described it as “a delightful set. Herman’s singing was enduring and unpretentious, and he made a lyric line swing without manhandling it.” Scott Yanow, in his book Bebop, writes that the album has its “charming moments” but the “horns are missing in its concise performances” –  Wikipedia.

Track listing:
“Makin’ Whoopee” (Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn) – 3:26
“I Won’t Dance” (Dorothy Fields, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern, Jimmy McHugh) – 2:39
“I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan” (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) – 2:51
“Willow Weep for Me” (Ann Ronell) – 3:37
“Moon Song” (Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston) – 2:32
“Can’t We Be Friends?” (Paul James, Kay Swift) – 3:24
“Comes Love” (Lew Brown, Sam H. Stept, Charles Tobias) – 3:27
“Ev’rything I’ve Got” (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) – 3:02
“Alone Together” (Dietz, Schwartz) – 3:07
“Bidin’ My Time” (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 3:27
“Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” (Irving Berlin) – 3:21
“Louise” (Leo Robin, Richard A. Whiting) – 3:22

Personnel:
Woody Herman – clarinet, vocals
Ben Webster – tenor saxophone
Bill Harris – trombone
Charlie Shavers, Harry Edison – trumpet
Barney Kessel, Billy Bauer – guitar
Jimmy Rowles, Lou Stein – piano
Joe Mondragon, Milt Hinton – double bass
Jo Jones, Larry Bunker – drums
Marty Paich – arranger

______________________

Released: 1957
Recorded: January–March 1957
Length: 38:15
Label: Verve MGV 2069
Producer: Norman Granz