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A two-CD anthology of Ramsey Lewis' Chess recordings might seem excessive, but considering how much material he cut for the label in the '60s, The In Crowd Anthology is actually fairly selective. Certainly it's good value, with 39 tracks and a running time of two-hours-and-twenty minutes. As for consistency of style and quality, that's another matter, though generally it's a worthwhile summary of highlights from the prime of a rare '60s instrumental musician who combined jazz, R&B, and pop with considerable commercial success. While none of this could be categorized as raw or earthy, some of the tracks (particularly on disc one) are fairly gutsy R&B-jazz fusions, particularly the hits "The 'In' Crowd" and "Wade in the Water" (Lewis' two other Top 40 singles, "Hang on Sloopy" and "A Hard Day's Night," are also here). On the other hand, the covers of pop/rock hits (including several by the Beatles) veer toward lounge soul, even though there was no one better than Lewis at that kind of stuff. Occasionally there are flashes of a more idiosyncratic, jazzy originality that sound as if Lewis is playing for himself as well as the marketplace, particularly when he gets into some Latin-influence boogaloo grooves on "Blue Bango" (easily the most uninhibited piece on this collection), "Spanish Grease," and "Hey Mrs. Jones." The later cuts, while showing him capable of keeping up with commercial trends by adding funk and touches of psychedelia, also find him losing the distinctive mid-'60s nightclubbish pop-soul sound that had vaulted him to prominence in the first place.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Doc Pomus, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher White, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1963 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eldee Young, Cello, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1964 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billy Page, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eldee Young, Cello, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Greene, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Buddy Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eldee Young, Cello, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Greene, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Pee Wee King, ComposerLyricist - Redd Stewart, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ed Green, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eldee Young, Cello, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1965 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gale Garnett, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Hirsch, ComposerLyricist - Eldee Young, Cello, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Ray Rivera, ComposerLyricist - Redd Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Greene, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc., UMG Recordings, Inc.
Vinicius De Moraes, Author - António Carlos Jobim, Composer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eldee Young, Cello, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - André Salvet, Author - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Greene, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eldee Young, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Reice Hamel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Higginbotham, ComposerLyricist - Eldee Young, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Reice Hamel, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Harry Warren, Composer - Mack Gordon, Author - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eldee Young, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Reice Hamel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
BERT BERNS, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eldee Young, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Farrell, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - El Dee Young, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - West Farrell, ComposerLyricist - Reice Hamel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Keyboards, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Marvin Tarplin, ComposerLyricist - Warren Moore, ComposerLyricist - Robert Rogers, ComposerLyricist - Richard Evans, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - SMOKEY ROBINSON, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bruce Swedien, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Evans, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Keyboards, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bruce Swedien, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - Richard Evans, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Keyboards, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bobby Hart, ComposerLyricist - Teddy Randazzo, ComposerLyricist - Bruce Swedien, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Evans, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Keyboards, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Weinstein, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Christian, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charles Miller, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Ragan, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Christian, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lamont Dozier, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Dave White Tricker, ComposerLyricist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Medora, ComposerLyricist - Leonard W. Borisoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Christian, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Armand Ferdinand Canfora, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Joseph Basile, ComposerLyricist - Robert Colby, ComposerLyricist - Michele Jourdan, ComposerLyricist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Traditional, ComposerLyricist - Richard Evans, Conductor, Arranger, Recording Arranger, Work Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Christian, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - E. Evans, Adapter - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
Richard Evans, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Christian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Christian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Shorty Long, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Melvin Lastie, ComposerLyricist - Richard Evans, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Christian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Willie Bobo, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Marvin Gaye, ComposerLyricist - Richard Evans, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Christian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ivy Joe Hunter, ComposerLyricist - William Mickey Stevenson, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Red Holt, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Cleveland Eaton, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Burt Bacharach, Composer - Hal David, Author - Richard Evans, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Christian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Isaac Hayes, ComposerLyricist - Richard Evans, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - David Porter, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Brand, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Evans, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Brand, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Stepney, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - HERBIE HANCOCK, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Brand, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Stepney, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Dylan, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Brand, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Stepney, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Brand, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Stepney, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Brand, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Stepney, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Brand, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Stepney, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - Maurice White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Doug Brand, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Stepney, Conductor, Producer, Synthesizer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis, MainArtist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Ron Malo, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
EDDIE HARRIS, ComposerLyricist - Phil Upchurch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Maurice White, Percussion, Kalimba, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Stu Black, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Morris Jennings, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Upchurch, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Piros, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ramsey Lewis, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Buddy Miles, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Reice Hamel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Edwin Hawkins, ComposerLyricist - Morris Jennings, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Upchurch, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Piros, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ramsey Lewis, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Reice Hamel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Morris Jennings, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Upchurch, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Piros, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ramsey Lewis, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Reice Hamel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Morris Jennings, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Upchurch, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - George Piros, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ramsey Lewis, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ramsey Lewis Trio, MainArtist - Cleveland Eaton, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Reice Hamel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
A two-CD anthology of Ramsey Lewis' Chess recordings might seem excessive, but considering how much material he cut for the label in the '60s, The In Crowd Anthology is actually fairly selective. Certainly it's good value, with 39 tracks and a running time of two-hours-and-twenty minutes. As for consistency of style and quality, that's another matter, though generally it's a worthwhile summary of highlights from the prime of a rare '60s instrumental musician who combined jazz, R&B, and pop with considerable commercial success. While none of this could be categorized as raw or earthy, some of the tracks (particularly on disc one) are fairly gutsy R&B-jazz fusions, particularly the hits "The 'In' Crowd" and "Wade in the Water" (Lewis' two other Top 40 singles, "Hang on Sloopy" and "A Hard Day's Night," are also here). On the other hand, the covers of pop/rock hits (including several by the Beatles) veer toward lounge soul, even though there was no one better than Lewis at that kind of stuff. Occasionally there are flashes of a more idiosyncratic, jazzy originality that sound as if Lewis is playing for himself as well as the marketplace, particularly when he gets into some Latin-influence boogaloo grooves on "Blue Bango" (easily the most uninhibited piece on this collection), "Spanish Grease," and "Hey Mrs. Jones." The later cuts, while showing him capable of keeping up with commercial trends by adding funk and touches of psychedelia, also find him losing the distinctive mid-'60s nightclubbish pop-soul sound that had vaulted him to prominence in the first place.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 39 track(s)
- Total length: 02:27:53
- Main artists: Ramsey Lewis Ramsey Lewis Trio
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Verve Reissues
- Genre: Jazz
© 2006 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2006 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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