Always Pack Your Uniform on Top

Always Pack Your Uniform on Top is a live album by bassist Steve Swallow recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in December 1999 and released on the Xtra Watt label in 2000.

Reception
Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars and the review by David R. Adler states: "This is Swallow's third standards-derived quintet album, following in the footsteps of 1994's Real Book and 1996's Deconstructed... Although there's a brand new batch of tunes, Swallow applies the same approach, using familiar progressions as the basis for clever original music". In JazzTimes Bill Bennett wrote: "His gifts as a composer is equally evident in this set... Throughout, the ensemble work is outstanding, with Goodrick and Nussbaum in constant touch". On All About Jazz Glen Astarita noted: "Always Pack Your Uniform On Top is a class act - as the band most assuredly brought down the house at this time-honored jazz venue".

Track listing
All compositions by Steve Swallow.
 * 1) "Bend over Backward" - 11:29
 * 2) "Dog With a Bone" - 6:12
 * 3) "Misery Loves Company" - 7:48
 * 4) "Reinventing the Wheel" - 7:48
 * 5) "Feet First" - 7:26
 * 6) "La Nostalgie de la Boue" - 6:49

Personnel

 * Steve Swallow - bass guitar
 * Barry Ries - trumpet
 * Chris Potter - tenor saxophone
 * Mick Goodrick - guitar
 * Adam Nussbaum - drums
 * Tom Mark - Engineer