Strike Up the Band (Tony Bennett and Count Basie album)

Strike Up the Band is a 1959 studio album by Tony Bennett with the Count Basie Orchestra. The album was released at first with the title Basie Swings, Bennett Sings as SR-25072, featuring a different cover and track order.

William Ruhlmann of Allmusic wrote "The band raves through tunes like "With Plenty of Money and You," and Bennett matches them, drawing strength from the bravura arrangements, while band and singer achieve a knowing tenderness on "Growing Pains.""

Bennett and Basie recorded two albums together in 1959. The other one, In Person!, was released by Bennett's record label, Columbia, while this album was released by Roulette, Basie's label.

Track listing

 * Side one
 * 1) "Strike Up the Band" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 1:33
 * 2) "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) – 1:44
 * 3) "Chicago" (Fred Fisher) – 2:07
 * 4) "With Plenty of Money and You" (Al Dubin, Harry Warren) – 1:33
 * 5) "Anything Goes" (Cole Porter) – 2:20
 * 6) "Life Is a Song" (Fred E. Ahlert, Joe Young) – 2:49


 * Side two
 * 1) "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 3:02
 * 2) "Jeepers Creepers" (Johnny Mercer, Warren) – 2:08
 * 3) "Growing Pains" (Dorothy Fields, Schwartz) – 3:33
 * 4) "Poor Little Rich Girl" (Noël Coward) – 3:30
 * 5) "Are You Havin' Any Fun?" (Sammy Fain, Jack Yellen) – 2:42

The 1990 compact disc reissue included the ballad "After Supper"

Personnel
The Count Basie Orchestra:
 * Tony Bennett – vocals
 * Ralph Sharon – piano and arranger
 * Count Basie – piano
 * Thad Jones, Snooky Young, Wendell Culley & Joe Newman – trumpet
 * Benny Powell, Henry Coker & Al Grey – trombone
 * Marshal Royal & Frank Wess – alto saxophone
 * Frank Foster & Billy Mitchell – tenor saxophone
 * Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
 * Freddie Green – guitar
 * Eddie Jones – bass
 * Sonny Payne – drums