album TRacks and Credits
1. Dance the Night Away
Songwriter: Sherwood Ball and Jon Gilutin
Lyrics: Sherwood Ball and Vicki Norton (BMI)
Sherwood wanted a 13th song to this album and asked me my opinion on a few tunes from many years ago that had no lyrics. As soon as Sherwood played this music, I was so excited I jumped up and started dancing! We decided on the title, Dance the Night Away and began writing lyrics right away. Sherwood recorded it and took it to Les. Les loved it as much as us, and we all agreed it should be the #1 song on the album. Unforgettable and a great dance tune!
2. I want a Little Girl
Songwriters: Billy Moll, Murray Mencher
Shapiro Bernstein & Co. Inc.
This song was originally recorded by the Great Ray Charles with his standard 7 piece band. This is one of Sherwood’s favorite songs on the album and told me this was the best singing he had ever done. It truly is!
3. C'est la Vie Mon Ami
Music – Les Hooper ~ Hooper Publishing (BMI)
Lyrics by Sherwood Ball and Vicki Norton(BMI)
This song was originally a haunting movie instrumental set to lyrics by Vicki and Sherwood. Sung beautifully by Sherwood.
4. Chinatown Blues
Songwriter: Les Hooper ~ Hooper Publishing (BMI)
East Coast Jazz Blues portrays a broken heart drowning his sorrows in Chinatown. An intro and ending in a dramatic Asian scene followed by a Shakahachi like flute. Solo by Bruce Babad finishes out the story.
5. Nature Boy
Songwriter: EDEN AHBEZ (ASCAP)
A favorite classic originally recorded by Nat King Cole. A Wonderful rendition by Sherwood with a great woodwind section.
6. Summertime
Songwriters: Du Bose Heyward, George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin (ASCAP)
This is Les’s 2nd arrangement of this great standard, and another display of Sherwood’s versatility! Jeff Bunnell is the soloist.
7. Stranger in my house
Songwriters: Sherwood Ball and Garret Adkins. Arrangement by Les Hooper.
This is an off the wall background of a very difficult horn, which this great band just walked through! This is yet another piece of diversity which Sherwood shows beautifully.
8. Lookin Back
Songwriter: Les Hooper ~ Hooper Publishing
Slow, backbeat song about a man who’s on the later part of his life, yet still has a song left to sing. Allen Hinds lends the guitar solo.
9. My Foolish Heart
Songwriters: NED WASHINGTON, VICTOR YOUNG (ASCAP)
A beautiful ballad with an impeccable interpretation by Sherwood and masterfully tenor sax work by a great musician, Bob Shepard.
10. Show me the Magic
Music: Jon Gilutin, Sherwood Ball, Jay Graydon, Jay Oliver
Lyrics: Jon Gilutin, Sherwood Ball, Jay Graydon and Janea Chadwick
Another rousing song by Sherwood, Jon Gilutin and Jay Graydon with a great guitar solo by Jay Graydon. This is another previously recorded piece.
11. Willow Weep
Songwriter: Ann Ronnell (ASCAP)
From the Les Hooper album “Out of the Woods"
This version of Willow Weep was released 4 years ago on Les’s album Out of the Woods. It is well worth a second release.
13. Up From the Skies
Songwriter: Jimi Hendrix (ASCAP)
Sherwood wanted to do a more Jazzy version of the classic Jimi Hendrix song. Great brush work by Dave Hooper and flute solo by Steve Kujalah.
14. Irish Eyes
Songwriters: Ernest Ball, (ASCAP) Chaucy Olcott and George Graff
This song came together quite by accident. Les had this piece from his AFRIKKA album called Mosquito Dance and Sherwood, while listening, began singing Irish Eyes to it. It gave birth to this very unique version on the classic Irish song which the music was written by Sherwood’s great grandfather Ernest Ball. Les and I decided to add this song to the album as a prelude to the next and final album sung by Sherwood. The songs from the next album will be from his great grandfather Ernest R. Ball as a tribute to his legacy.