Ramsey Lewis + Jean DuShon - You Better Believe Me

Ramsey Lewis Trio + Jean DuShon - You Better Believe Me - Argo LP 750 - Argo First Pressing, Blue Label

Side A:

Jean DuShon - Vocal
Ramsey Lewis - Piano
Eldee Young - Bass
Red Holt - Drums
Ronald Wilson - Alto Saxophone and Flute
Roland Faulkner - Guitar

Side B:

Ramsey Lewis - Piano
Eldee Young - Bass and Cello
Cleveland Eaton - Bass (only on B6)
[Red Holt - Drums? - uncredited]

Recorded: Universal Recording Studio, Chicago, December 19, 1964 and January 14, 1965

Engineer: Bob Kidder
Produced By: Esmond Edwards
Cover Design: Don Bronstein

Suits by: Davis-Congress Shop, Chicago [Best Credit, ever!]

Released: May 1, 1965 (Approximate, according to Billboard)

Welcome back, and Happy New Year! I'm starting this year off with a bang by posting one of the ultimate lost and forgotten Argo/Cadet Rarities: this time an obscure and never reissued side by the legendary Ramsey Lewis Trio... except this isn't much of a typical trio date that Lewis, Young and Holt routinely cut for the label from 1958-65...

This LP has a bit of a schizophrenic feel to it. Side A is a collaboration of the trio with the Chicago Blues-Jazz singer Jean DuShon augmented by some discreet support on winds/guitar. The first track has a great R&B/Blues kick to it that kinda belongs on Chess Records proper, but then the rest of the side settles into a nice pleasant jazz nightclub groove, but decidedly with a strong Blues feel to the whole proceedings. Side B returns to more typical Ramsey Lewis fare of the time ; as the trio cuts a nice early Soul Jazz groove. This LP was cut only a few months before the trio would experience massive popular acclaim and success with 'The In Crowd" recorded at the Bohemian Gardens in Washington DC six months later in May 1965 which would also ironically directly precipitate the trio's breakup, unfortunately. Acquired this vinyl in relatively good condition which accounts for the nice rip, plus with some slight digital restoration on my part, this record should sound perfect..

AMG Review: Jean Du Shon chases her Argo debut with this collaboration with the Ramsey Lewis Trio. (John Levy managed both at the time.) The pairing was a stroke of genius that went unnoticed to the masses. They groove on Woodrow "Buddy" Johnson's "You'd Better Believe Me" and mix Latin rhythms with cocktail vibes on Antonio Jobim's "Corcovado." "Goodbye Lover, Hello Friend," "It Had Better Be Tonight," and "Night Time" are other well-crafted joints from the out-of-print album's eight tracks.
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