All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X.




















All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X.




















Pop starlet Ari Hicks is back with her fiery new single “TBH,” amplifying her attitude and unapologetic spirit. Listen HERE.
Ari describes “TBH” saying “ It’s about being unapologetically who you are, and honest about what you want and need, especially when someone will not quit trying to get under your skin and worse won’t even take the hint.” She further elaborates on the song’s empowering message: “I think that being confrontational and upfront can be categorized as such a bad thing sometimes, but I think having the courage to be honest is something to be celebrated. So to be honest this song is for you, get a little sassy be a little honest, don’t be afraid to say what you need to say.”
In the past year, Ari has been playing live and touring alongside artists like Shawn Desman, Jamie Fine, and Geordie Kieffer. Most recently, her captivating cover of Patsy Cline’s “Walkin After Midnight” was also prominently featured as the outro song of the season finale in the hit TV show Hunting Wives.
Stay tuned for more new music to come from the singer in the coming months.
Rising alt-pop powerhouse Ari Hicks is here and ready to dominate, and she has already started to make waves on a Global scale. Ari made waves with her viral hit “Kiss Me, Kill Me” which amassed millions of streams. Since, she’s put out her singles “Good Boy,” “Innocent.” and “TILT.” She’s been wowing audiences with her live show, having toured alongside the likes of Shawn Desman, Jamie Fine and Geordie Kieffer. Ari has that special ability to captivate the attention of an audience as she fearlessly embraces her true self, refusing to conform to anyone’s standards. Her music, filled with bold synths and infectious tones, is brought to life by her melodic and playful vocals, leaving fans wanting more. Through her lyrics, Ari explores themes of vulnerability in her life and provides listeners with an escape through her anthemic tracks. Get ready to witness the unstoppable force that is Ari Hicks as she sets her sights on conquering the charts with her alluring vocals and lyrical prowess.
The wait is finally over! Great American Media unveils the media company’s highly anticipated Original premiere schedule for Great American Christmas 2025 on Great American Pure Flix, Great American Family, and GFam+. Great American Christmas officially begins streaming exclusively on Great American Pure Flix, beginning Thursday, Oct. 9 and begins on Great American Family and GFam+ Friday, Oct 10. Great American Christmas, one of the most popular Christmas program events, celebrates its 5th anniversary in 2025.
“As we celebrate the fifth year of Great American Christmas, it is a reminder of just how special this tradition has become. Our storytelling is rooted in faith, family, and the true spirit of the season – Christmas as it is meant to be,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Great American Media. “Each year, we strive to create films that not only warm hearts but also bring people together in joy and reflection. Reaching this milestone reinforces our commitment to offering viewers stories that honor timeless values and the wonder of Christmas,” Abbott concluded.
Since 2021, Great American Media has created one of the largest libraries of quality, Original Christmas content in all of entertainment. Great American Christmas is a cherished holiday ritual with brand-new original films, fan-favorite stars, festive surprises, and the biggest holiday lineup yet.
Great American Christmas kicks off exclusively on Great American Pure Flix on October 9 and begins on Great American Family and GFam+ on October 10.
GREAT AMERICAN CHRISTMAS 2025 PREMIERE SLATE:
Thursday, October 9, 2025, A Wisconsin Christmas Pie, starring Katie Leclerc and Ryan Carnes, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. A pastry chef (Leclerc) returns home to Door County, Wisconsin, for Christmas and find that saving her family’s orchard—and her heart—may depend on the perfect pie and a second chance at love (Carnes).
Saturday, October 11, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, A Wisconsin Christmas Pie, starring Katie Leclerc and Ryan Carnes, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. A pastry chef (Leclerc) returns home to Door County, Wisconsin, for Christmas and find that saving her family’s orchard—and her heart—may depend on the perfect pie and a second chance at love (Carnes).
Thursday, October 16, 2025, A Christmas Prayer, starring Shae Robins and Christopher Russell, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. In A Christmas Prayer, Natalie (Robins), a weary children’s book illustrator, rediscovers her creativity and faith when she secretly fulfills the heartfelt prayer-list of a little girl, unknowingly becoming the answer to the girl’s father’s (Russell) Christmas wish for love, healing, and hope.
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, A Christmas Prayer, starring Shae Robins and Christopher Russell, Great American Family and GFAM+, Original Linear Premiere. In A Christmas Prayer, Natalie (Robins), a weary children’s book illustrator, rediscovers her creativity and faith when she secretly fulfills the heartfelt prayer-list of a little girl, unknowingly becoming the answer to the girl’s father’s (Russell) Christmas wish for love, healing, and hope.
Thursday, October 23, 2025, Once Upon a Christmas Crown, starring Ellise Roth and Callum Buckley, Great American Pure Flix Premiere. In Once Upon A Christmas Crown, Princess Charlotte (Roth) of Marovia, a duty-bound princess, escapes to a New England town at Christmas, where a secret baking contest — and an unexpected romance (Buckley) — teach her that love may be life’s true crowning achievement.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Once Upon a Christmas Crown, starring Ellise Roth and Callum Buckley, Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. In Once Upon A Christmas Crown, Princess Charlotte (Roth) of Marovia, a duty-bound princess, escapes to a New England town at Christmas, where a secret baking contest — and an unexpected romance (Buckley) — teach her that love may be life’s true crowning achievement.
Thursday, October 30, 2025, Christmas of Giving (wt), starring Ash Tsai, Marshall Williams, and Julia Reilly, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. In Christmas of Giving, when a weary non-profit director (Tsai) faces dwindling donations and perceives she may be replaced just days before Christmas, the return of an old love (Williams) and a new and unexpected ally (Reilly) teach her that letting go may be the only way to save both her mission and her heart.
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Christmas of Giving (wt), starring Ash Tsai, Marshall Williams, and Julia Reilly, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. In Christmas of Giving, when a weary non-profit director (Tsai) faces dwindling donations and perceives she may be replaced just days before Christmas, the return of an old love (Williams) and a new, unexpected ally (Reilly) teach her that letting go may be the only way to save both her mission and her heart.
Thursday, November 6, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Christmas in Midnight Clear, starring Alicia Josipovic and Jon McLaren, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. A high-powered real estate developer (Josipovic), burdened by a costly setback, arrives in the struggling town of Midnight Clear just before Christmas where she meets a local pastor (McLaren) and learns saving the community may require opening her heart as much as her checkbook.
Saturday, November 8, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Love at Kringle Lake (wt) starring Alexa Maria Huerta and Joseph Morales, Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. When two ambitious executives from a top Chicago marketing firm (Huerta, Morales) are sent to the quaint town of Kringle Lake to rekindle the spirit of Christmas, they discover the greatest gift of the season may be each other.
Thursday, November 13, 2025, Timeless Tidings of Joy, starring Candace Cameron Bure, Natasha Bure, and Paul Greene, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. When Ally (Candace Cameron Bure) returns home to sell her grandmother’s (Natasha Bure) letterpress shop—long seen as a burden—she meets an old soul (Greene) determined to preserve its legacy, and together they discover that faith, sacrifice, and love can rewrite both the shop’s fate and their own.
Saturday, November 15, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Timeless Tidings of Joy, starring Candace Cameron Bure, Natasha Bure, and Paul Greene, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. When Ally (Candace Cameron Bure) returns home to sell her grandmother’s (Natasha Bure) letterpress shop—long seen as a burden—she meets an old soul (Greene) determined to preserve its legacy, and together they discover that faith, sacrifice, and love can rewrite both the shop’s fate and their own.
Thursday, November 20, 2025, Christmas on Every Page, starring Rose Reid and Jake Allyn, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. An advertising executive (Reid) returns to her hometown to help save her family’s struggling bookstore. While there, she partners with a local craftsman (Allyn) to design and paint a Christmas mural that not only brings the community together but also rekindles her own sense of creativity and connection.
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Christmas on Every Page, starring Rose Reid and Jake Allyn, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. An advertising executive (Reid) returns to her hometown to help save her family’s struggling bookstore. While there, she partners with a local craftsman (Allyn) to design and paint a Christmas mural that not only brings the community together but also rekindles her own sense of creativity and connection.
Sunday, November 23, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Christmas in Midnight Clear, starring Alicia Josipovic and Jon McLaren, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family. A high-powered real estate developer (Josipovic), burdened by a costly setback, arrives in the struggling town of Midnight Clear just before Christmas where she meets a local pastor (McLaren) and learns saving the community may require opening her heart as much as her checkbook.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025, The Christmas Spark, starring Mario Lopez and Ali Cobrin, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. At Christmastime, a passed-over corporate lawyer (Lopez) joins his small town’s fire department, where he competes with a fallen hero’s son – and finds unexpected sparks with his widowed mom (Cobrin).
Thursday, November 27, 2025, There’s No Place Like Christmas, starring Cindy Busby and Sam Page, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. A big city realtor (Busby) returns to her hometown to lead the local real estate office during its most crucial revenue season. But when she clashes with a charming photographer (Page), she must decide if success means chasing her career – or following her heart.
Friday, November 28, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, The Christmas Spark, starring Mario Lopez and Ali Cobrin, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. At Christmastime, a passed-over corporate lawyer (Lopez) joins his small town’s fire department, where he competes with a fallen hero’s son – and finds unexpected sparks with his widowed mom (Cobrin).
Saturday, November 29, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Encore Presentation — Timeless Tidings of Joy, starring Candace Cameron Bure, Natasha Bure, and Paul Greene, Great American Family and GFAM+. When Ally (Candace Cameron Bure) returns home to sell her grandmother’s (Natasha Bure) letterpress shop—long seen as a burden—she meets an old soul (Greene) determined to preserve its legacy, and together they discover that faith, sacrifice, and love can rewrite both the shop’s fate and their own.
Sunday, November 30, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, There’s No Place Like Christmas, starring Cindy Busby and Sam Page, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. A big city realtor (Busby) returns to her hometown to lead the local real estate office during its most crucial revenue season. But when she clashes with a charming photographer (Page), she must decide if success means chasing her career – or following her heart.
Thursday, December 4, 2025, Cranberries and Carols, starring Jill Wagner and Trevor Donovan, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. When a devoted café owner (Wagner) returns home to help her family host the town’s cherished Yuletide Potluck, she unexpectedly reunites with the man from a disastrous blind date twenty years ago – a military engineer (Donovan) – only to discover that Christmas may serve them both with a second chance at love.
Saturday, December 6, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Cranberries and Carols, starring Jill Wagner and Trevor Donovan, Great American Family and GFAM+. When a devoted café owner (Wagner) returns home to help her family host the town’s cherished Yuletide Potluck, she unexpectedly reunites with the man from a disastrous blind date twenty years ago – a military engineer (Donovan) – only to discover that Christmas may serve them both with a second chance at love.
Sunday, December 7, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Mistletoe at the Manor (wt), starring Madeleine Coghlan and Lior Selve, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. When Alice, a spirited East Coast cooking show influencer, journeys to a centuries-old English castle to honor a WWII nurse by laying her remains in the castle gardens, she finds herself swept into the castle’s holiday magic—and the unexpected warmth of it charming proprietor.
Thursday, December 11, 2025, Have We Met This Christmas?, starring Danica McKellar and Jesse Hutch, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. After a car accident leaves ambitious real estate executive Katie Sloan (McKellar) with amnesia at a cozy mountain inn, she unexpectedly falls for the innkeeper’s son (Hutch) from her forgotten past – while helping his family fight to save their beloved lodge before her memory returns and threatens their second chance at love.
Friday, December 12, 2025, Coupled Up for Christmas, starring Sara Canning and Marcus Rosner, Original Streaming Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. Two heartbroken singles (Canning, Rosner), desperate to win back their exes, hatch a scheme to pretend they are madly in love – only to discover that the real sparks flying may be between them.
Saturday, December 13, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Have We Met This Christmas?, starring Danica McKellar and Jesse Hutch, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. After a car accident leaves ambitious real estate executive Katie Sloan (McKellar) with amnesia at a cozy mountain inn, she unexpectedly falls for the innkeeper’s son (Hutch) from her forgotten past – while helping his family fight to save their beloved lodge before her memory returns and threatens their second chance at love.
Saturday, December 14, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, A Royal Christmas Tail, starring Jonathan Stoddard and Brittany Underwood, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. When a dashing prince trades a glass slipper for a dog tag, he embarks on a heartwarming Christmas quest to find the mysterious woman – and her adorable pup – who captured his heart in one magical holiday moment.
Thursday, December 18, 2025, SURPRISE CHRISTMAS FILM, Original Streaming Premiere, Great American Pure Flix
Friday, December 19, 2025, Mario Lopez Presents: Chasing Christmas (wt), starring Jillian Murray, Trevor Donovan, and Dominic Lopez, Original World Premiere, Great American Pure Flix. A wish tree unites a morning show host (Donovan) and an artist (Murray) as they race across Buffalo with the host’s daughter and the artist’s son, (Dominic Lopez) to find the season’s hottest toy – discovering love and family along the way.
Saturday, December 20, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, SURPRISE CHRISTMAS FILM, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+
Sunday, December 21, 2025, 8 p.m. ET, Mario Lopez Presents: Chasing Christmas (wt), starring Jillian Murray, Trevor Donovan, and Dominic Lopez, Original Linear Premiere, Great American Family and GFAM+. A wish tree unites a morning show host (Donovan) and an artist (Murray) as they race across Buffalo with the host’s daughter and the artist’s son, (Dominic Lopez) to find the season’s hottest toy – discovering love and family along the way.
Thursday, January 1, 2026, 8 a.m. ET, 137th TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE, Live from Pasadena, California, Original Linear and Streaming Premiere Event, Great American Family, GFAM+, and Great American Pure Flix. On New Year’s Day 2026, Pasadena bursts into color and music as the 137th Rose Parade, themed “The Magic of Teamwork,” rolls 5 ½ miles down Colorado Boulevard to infamous “TV Corner,” Orange Grove Boulevard, with dazzling flower-covered floats, world class marching bands, and majestic equestrian units, celebrating creativity, unity, and tradition performed in front of millions worldwide.
Chess Records has announced new additions to their 75th Anniversary release lineup. Two new compilation albums, The Chess Records Christmas Album and Let’s Play Chess: A Chess Record Anthology, will be released on November 14.
The Chess Records Christmas Album gathers holiday classics and hidden gems from the legendary Chicago label. Highlights include Chuck Berry’s yuletide staples “Run Rudolph Run” and “Merry Christmas Baby,” the joyful harmonies of The Moonglows’ “Hey Santa Claus,” the jazz brilliance of Ramsey Lewis and Kenny Burrell, plus new-to-digital rarities from The Soul Stirrers, The Salem Travelers, Lenox Avenue, and The Meditation Singers. From gospel to soul to electric blues, The Chess Records Christmas Album is a celebration of the label’s 75-year legacy — and a welcome alternative to the usual jingled bells and decked halls. The LP is pressed on Blue Frost vinyl and you can pre-order it HERE.
The Chess Records Christmas Album Tracklist
1. Chuck Berry – Run Rudolph Run
2. The Moonglows – Hey Santa Claus
3. Sonny Boy Williamson – Santa Claus
4. Chuck Berry – Merry Christmas Baby
5. The Meditation Singers – Blue Christmas*
6. The Gems – Love for Christmas
7. The Soul Stirrers – Christmas Means Love*
8. Ramsey Lewis Trio – Christmas Blues
9. The Soulful Strings – Snowfall
10. Rotary Connection – Christmas Love
11. Chuck Berry – Christmas
12. Lenox Avenue – Little Drummer Boy*
13. The Salem Travelers – Merry Christmas to You*
14. Kenny Burrell – Silent Night
*= never-before-released on digital
Let’s Play Chess: A Chess Records Anthology was specially curated by Grammy®-winning producer for the 2008 feature film, Cadillac Records, Chess Records scholar and inimitable drummer, Steve Jordan. The set offers 25 of the label’s best and most thrilling recordings. From Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy to Bo Diddley and Etta James this anthology showcases the now legendary songs that still influence popular culture today. Pre-Order the album HERE.

Let’s Play Chess: A Chess Records Anthology Tracklist
Disc 1 – Side A
1. Muddy Waters – (I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
2. Little Walter – Juke
3. Howlin’ Wolf – Smokestack Lightnin’
4. Chuck Berry – Maybellene
5. Lowell Fulson – Reconsider Baby
6. Etta James – At Last
7. The Moonglows – Sincerely
Disc 1 – Side B
1. Ramsey Lewis Trio – The “In” Crowd
2. Fontella Bass – Rescue Me
3. Tommy Tucker – High Heel Sneakers
4. Buddy Guy – First Time I Met the Blues
5. Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats – Rocket 88
6. Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
Disc 2 – Side A
1. John Lee Hooker – Ground Hog Blues
2. Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
3. Billy Stewart – I Do Love You
4. The Dells – Stay in My Corner
5. Etta James – All the Way Down
Disc 2 – Side B
1. Little Walter – Crazy Mixed Up World
2. Muddy Waters – Rollin’ Stone
3. Otis Rush – So Many Roads, So Many Trains
4. Sonny Boy Williamson – Don’t Start Me To Talkin’
5. Jimmy Rogers – That’s All Right
6. Howlin’ Wolf – Spoonful
7. Gene Ammons – My Foolish Heart
Founded in 1950 by Polish immigrant brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, Chess Records emerged from the south side of Chicago and quickly crossed lines of color and culture to create rhythm and blues music that influenced listeners the world over. Chess’ unmatched roster – and its canny founders – enhanced and transformed the blues from folk music to popular sound.
The story of Chess Records is the story of American popular music in the second half of the twentieth century. Best-known for capturing the sound of acoustic blues, originating from the Mississippi Delta and filtered through Chicago’s South Side, going electric and for releasing some of the earliest rock and roll singles, Chess also has a deep catalog of jazz, R&B and soul recordings. The legacy of Chess Records endures more than 75 years later.
The influence of Chess Records is felt across generations of popular music—from the British Invasion and acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton citing Chess artists as influences to today’s marquee acts that include Beyoncé, Jack White, Questlove, and Bruce Springsteen.
In celebrating its 75th anniversary, Chess Records is not only recognizing its own rich musical heritage but inviting fans and new audiences to discover their storied roster and the music revolution that was born over seven decades ago in Chicago.
UMe celebrates the legacy of one of the most quietly influential bands in history, Mother Love Bone, by reissuing the Seattle, WA group’s Shine EP and seminal full-length debut Apple on September 26. This reissue is a testament to the enduring impact of Mother Love Bone’s music and a must-have for any serious music collector. Both Shine and Apple will be available in multiple physical configurations, including CD, standard black vinyl, or limited-edition color vinyl variants. A limited-edition, newly remastered Japan-exclusive Mini-LP/SHM-CD that includes both the “Shine” EP, as well as the debut full-length album “Apple,” will also be available on October 10. Order HERE now.
The CD version of the Shine EP includes “Capricorn Sister (Album Version)” as a bonus track, not included on the LP. The Shine vinyl formats feature a 4-song track list repeated on both sides, and it is available in three options: a standard black vinyl, a limited-edition “Purple Haze” vinyl, and a limited-edition “Skyblue” vinyl LP.
Order Shine HERE.


Fully remastered for the 35th anniversary, Apple is officially being released for the first time since 1990. The CD version includes two bonus tracks not included on the vinyl format: “Gentle Groove” and “Mr. Danny Boy.” At the same time, the vinyl formats will be available in standard black vinyl, a limited-edition “Red Alert” color vinyl, or a limited-edition “Apple Habanero” color vinyl.
Order Apple HERE


Mother Love Bone’s sound, a unique blend of larger-than-life rock ‘n’ roll and intense nascent alternative, was first introduced on the ShineEP on March 6, 1989. This release showcased the interplay between drummer Greg Gilmore, lead guitarist Bruce Fairweather, the late legendary frontman Andrew Wood, and the tandem of guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, who would later co-found Pearl Jam. The band’s influence on the grunge and alternative rock scenes is undeniable, and their music continues to inspire new generations of musicians and fans.
The EP also effectively set the stage for the band to deliver a classic in the form of Apple. The latter arrived on August 14, 1990, in the wake of Wood’s untimely passing, which had occurred less than five months earlier. Despite this tragic loss, its 13 tracks stood as a testament to both the frontman’s outsized talent and the once-in-a-lifetime chemistry shared by his bandmates. The album yielded favorites such as “Crown Of Thorns” and “This Is Shangrila,“ among many others. To date, it has generated tens of millions of streams.
Speaking to Apple’s long-lasting impact, Rolling Stone asserted, “Their combination of Northwest grunge and runny-mascara glam sounded like a prediction of where hair metal, just beginning its decline in 1990, could go.” Ultimate Classic Rock applauded how “On Apple, the quintet combined funk-metal flash, bluesy Led Zeppelin homages, glam-grunge charisma and hard rock & roll aggression while eschewing hair metal’s sleazy pomp in favor of something more soulful.“ Classic Rock professed, “MLB walked the thin line between cutting-edge rock and evocative echoes from the past.” Plus, Pitchfork hailed it among “The 25 Best Grunge Albums of the ’90s,“ going on to attest, “Apple is nonetheless a foundational text for prophesying how the genre’s grimy guitar sound could be reengineered for arena-rattling mass appeal.“
Order Shine HERE
SHINE CD TRACKLISTING (**with one bonus track)
Capricorn Sister (Album Version)**
Chloe Dancer / Crown Of Thorns
Half Ass Monkey Boy
Mindshaker Meltdown
Thru Fade Away
SHINE LP TRACKLISTING
Side A
Thru Fade Away
Mindshaker Meltdown
Half Ass Monkey Boy
Chloe Dancer/ Crown Of Thorns
Side B = A
APPLE CD TRACKLISTING (**with two bonus tracks)
This is Shangrila
Stardog Champion
Holy Roller
Bone China
Come Bite The Apple
Stargazer
Heartshine
Captain Hi-Top
Man Of Golden Words
Capricorn Sister
Gentle Groove**
Mr. Danny Boy**
Crown Of Thorns
APPLE LP TRACKLISTING
Side A
This is Shangrila
Stardog Champion
Holy Roller
Bone China
Come Bite The Apple
Side B
Heartshine
Stargazer
Captain Hi-Top
Man Of Golden Words
Capricorn Sister
Crown Of Thorns
UMe, in conjunction with Frank Sinatra Enterprises, announce a new exclusive double-vinyl collection from Frank Sinatra, featuring his historic collaborations with Count Basie and Duke Ellington, entitled The Giants Of Jazz, out now.
This special release includes a pair of timeless albums—It Might As Well Be Swing with Count Basie and His Orchestra and Francis A. & Edward K. with Duke Ellington—newly remastered from the archival recordings. The package includes a new gatefold jacket design that incorporates rare photographs as well as the original artwork.
It is now available HERE via the Official Store.
Comprising seminal performances from Sinatra, Basie, and Ellington, the title The Giants Of Jazz couldn’t be more apropos.
It Might As Well Be Swing initially arrived in August 1964. It saw Sinatra accompanied by Basie in tandem with his orchestra on ten tracks for the second time following 1962’s Sinatra-Basie, and it was Sinatra’s first studio album arranged by Quincy Jones. It housed some of his most celebrated material, ranging from “The Best Is Yet To Come” to the definitive recording of “Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words).” The latter has eclipsed 766 million Spotify streams, which speak to its enduring influence and impact for the last 61 years. During 1964, the LP peaked at #13 on the Billboard 200. Retrospectively, Jazz Music Archives rated it “5-out-of-5 stars” and raved, “Absolutely wonderful album by Frank Sinatra as the title states It Might As Well Be Swing and that precisely is what it is with lashing of it from the arrangements of Quincy Jones and as usual the outstanding interpretations of each tune sung by Frank Sinatra.” Of Jones’ contribution, The Guardian applauded, “He arranged Sinatra’s voice in such a way that it made him sound like an instrument in the band and not just another singer taking the lead.”
Famously, the original cover of It Might As Well Be Swing also bears the phrase “A Meeting Of Giants.”
Then, there’s Francis A. & Edward K, first released in January 1968, united Sinatra with Ellington and his big band. Among a bevy of highlights, it features an iconic rendition of “All I Need Is The Girl” and “Indian Summer” that includes a wonderful solo by saxophonist Johnny Hodges. Jazz legends Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Paul Gonsalves, Russell Procope, and others are also part of the Ellington orchestra. Long time Sinatra arranger, Billy May, did the arrangements for the album.
Check out the tracklisting for The Giants Of Jazz below.
The release continues a series of sought-after reissues of Sinatra’s most-celebrated music. First up, a special 4-inch Tiny Vinyl Edition of “Jingle Bells/Silent Night” hits shelves well in advance of the holidays on September 12. Order HERE.
Experience The Giants Of Jazz this fall.
It Might As Well Be Swing Tracklisting:
A1. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
A2. I Wish You Love
A3. I Believe In You
A4. More (Theme From Mondo Cane)
A5. I Can’t Stop Loving You
B1. Hello, Dolly! (From Hello, Dolly!)
B2. I Wanna Be Around
B3. The Best Is Yet To Come
B4. The Good Life
B5. Wives And Lovers
Francis A. & Edward K. Tracklisting:
A1. Follow Me
A2. Sunny
A3. All I Need Is The Girl
A4. Indian Summer
B1. I Like The Sunrise
B2. Yellow Days
B3. Poor Butterfly
B4. Come Back To Me