Track Listing

1. Happy-Go-Lucky Local (aka Night Train)
2. C-Jam Blues
3. Georgia on My Mind
4. Bags' Groove
5. Moten Swing
6. Easy Does It
7. Honeydripper
8. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
9. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
10. Band Call
11. Hymn to Freedom
12. Happy-Go-Lucky Local (aka Night Train) [Alternate Take][#]
13. Volare [#]
14. My Heart Belongs to Daddy [#]
15. Moten Swing [Rehearsal Take][#]
16. Now's the Time [#]
17. This Could Be the Start of Something [#]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5321 in Music
• Released on: 1997-05-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .19 pounds

Amazon.com essential recording
This 1962 recording represents Oscar Peterson at his most commercially accommodating, yet his trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen never fails to swing. The program includes such familiar melodies as the title track (which began life as Duke Ellington's "Happy Go Lucky Local"), "Georgia on My Mind," and "The Honeydripper." With the notable exception of the gospel-like original "Hymn to Freedom," most of the tracks clock in at around three minutes. This reissue contains several alternate takes that were wisely left off the original LP, including such unlikely jazz vehicles as "Volare" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." --Rick Mitchell

Customer Reviews

Outstanding and essential jazz piano
Night Train is one of the best jazz piano albums I have yet to hear. Oscar Peterson is spellbinding -- both at breakneck and leisurely speeds -- and the ensemble is tight. Favorites here include Ellington's C-Jam Blues (only two notes!), The Honeydripper, Moten Swing, a definitive Band Call and of course a memorable rendition of the title track. I am a huge fan of Dave Brubeck, but one ride on the Night Train and it's obvious Peterson was something special. If you like exciting jazz piano -- this isn't background music -- Night Train is essential.

The bonus tracks? I don't like to complain about getting something for nothing, but it would not be hard to argue that the original album is a classic that needed no embellishment. Even with lesser songs, Peterson turns in a convincing performance and these pass muster. 'Now's the Time' is an amazing bit of keyboard athleticism -- a performance more worthy than the tune. 'This Could Be the Start of Something' is similarly a superior performance of a not-so-superior number.

The jury is still out on Verve's cardboard CD jackets. It looks nice but is destined to fall apart long before the CD fails. Perhaps Verve thought they were doing us a favor. Still a five-star album, but packaging is (a small) part of the equation.

Best of the best
Unlike many jazz piano lovers, I have never thought Oscar Peterson was showing off or playing too many notes, though I also love Count Basie, whose sparse playing goes in the opposite direction.

This album is wonderfully appealing and, could be a great place to start with Oscar if you aren't yet acquainted with his music.

I love every track [but only have the original CD], and appreciate the variety on the recording, from C Jam Blueswith its distinctive percussion and piano and double bass solos, to slow ballads like Hymn To Freedom and Things Ain't What They Used To Be through rollicking songs like Night Train and Moten Swing.
Another terrific album is Tracks, which is one of few solo recordings.

A true genius creating mood swings!
Peterson is considered one of the finest jazz pianists of all time, and this is his finest recording! With only three men in his group, he creates different emotions within a song. He is a true genius creating mood swings. And swing it does! Take the opening cut Night Train, near the end the mood is overcast and blue yet by the end of the song Peterson, Thigpen and Brown raise the mood to one of cool optimism. There is not one bad cut in this album. My other favorites are C Note Blues, Moten Swing and Call to Freedom. I first bought this album in 1963 and it has never grown old. Just buy it! You'll love it!