Track Listing

1. Big and Bad
2. I Wanna Be Like You
3. Who's That Creepin'
4. When It Comes to Love
5. I'm Not Sleepin'
6. Some Things
7. What's Next
8. Big Time Operator
9. Still in Love With You
10. 2000 Volts
11. Sleep Tight
12. Ol' MacDonald (Tribute to Frank Sinatra)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #85309 in Music
• Released on: 1999-10-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Scotty Morris is a sincere, talented, knowledgeable music lover who unfortunately can't translate his passion into truly effective sounds. Wide-ranging hipster credentials in hand--BBVD got its name from late blues guitarist Albert Collins--the seven-piece outfit's sound is totally competent and no more. Pushing forward deliberately, but with little sense of the swing that's their supposed trademark, the bland-voiced Morris and band remain lukewarm through This Beautiful Life's dozen cuts. Paying tribute to Sinatra with a closing "Ol' MacDonald" is a nice touch, but not as nice as the real thing is. (Hint: It's on Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!!) --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Different but good
For fans of the fast-paced swing of BBVD's first album, it may take a few listens to really get into This Beautiful Life. Scotty seems to want to croon and play the guitar a bit more, and I think the lack of brass (the trombonist left the band) also makes quite a difference. All in all, the songs are a bit slower, the lyrics more simplistic (perhaps because there are fewer covers), and the whole record feels less jazzed.

However, enough of the negatives: this is a good album. BBVD is branching out from covering swing classics to finding their own sound. Fans of music that harks back to the swing era won't be dissapointed as long as they're willing to hear some new sounds. Scotty's voice even grows on you after a while. Plus, BBVD was smart to hold their Jungle Book cover to this album. It's worth the price by itslef.

What do you get when you cross...
...Frank Sanatra with Benny Goodman? You get 'This Beautiful Life'. It's almost as if Scotty Morris and Harry Connic Jr got too cozy with each other in a hotel room somewhere on tour. If you need solid swing tunes to dance to, or if you're looking for a copycat of their first album, you might be disappointed with BBVD's latest offering. This album departs from its self-titled jump-swing predecessor, and puts some southern jazz emphasis in its music. 'Ol' MacDonald' in particular sound so much like Harry Connic Jr. that it fooled my wife. I like it though, the jazz influence is good, and BBVD makes it work. The music is upbeat, there is good tension in the chords, and the technical performance is outstanding. I'm glad I bought it.

INCREDIBLE!
These guys are ABSOLUTELY incredible if you're into the new age swing scene. I was fortunate enough to see them live in San Diego, and they performed half the tracks on this CD there, which was PHENOMENAL. If you like jazz/swing and Jump Blues/Jump swing, these guys are a DEFINITE must for your collection. They DO tend to play a lot of cover tracks of old Louis Prima, Cab Calloway, etc...But they revive the old tunes and throw new hits of their own in to bring swing into the new millennium!