Gravy Train (Lou Donaldson album)

Gravy Train
Studio album by Lou Donaldson
Released	Early July 1962[1]
Recorded	April 27, 1961
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Genre	Jazz
Length	43:08 original LP
Label	Blue Note BST 84079
Producer	Alfred Lion
Lou Donaldson chronology
Here 'Tis (1961) Gravy Train (1962) A Man With a Horn (1961)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[3]

Gravy Train is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1961 and performed by Donaldson with pianist Herman Foster, bassist Ben Tucker, drummer Dave Bailey and percussionist Alec Dorsey.[4]

Reception

The album was awarded 3½ stars in an Allmusic review by Steve Huey who states "Gravy Train is a fine, if not quite exceptional record from Lou Donaldson's initial soul-jazz phase of the early '60s... Donaldson's playing is pleasant, and the rest of the supporting group maintains a steady groove throughout".[5]

Track listing

All compositions by Lou Donaldson except where noted

1. "Gravy Train" - 8:14
2. "South of the Border" (Carr, Kennedy) - 5:31
3. "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" (Burke, Van Heusen) - 4:59
4. "Avalon" (DeSylva, Jolson, Rose) - 4:15
5. "Candy" (Mack David, Kramer, Whitney) - 9:18
6. "Twist Time" - 6:47
7. "Glory of Love" (Billy Hill) - 4:04

Bonus tracks on CD:

8. "Gravy Train" [Alternate Take] - 7:30
9. "Glory of Love" [Alternate Take] - 3:49

Personnel

• Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone
• Herman Foster - piano
• Ben Tucker - bass
• Dave Bailey - drums
• Alec Dorsey - congas (1, 2 & 4–9)

References

1. Billboard July 14, 1962
2. Allmusic Review
3. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 389. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
4. Lou Donaldson discography accessed December 8, 2009.
5. Huey, S. Allmusic Review accessed December 8, 2009.