Swedish Schnapps

Limited LP: Blue Vinyl

Released by Verve in 1958 – three years after Parker’s untimely death at the age of 34 – Swedish Schnapps compiles two complete 1951 sessions from which the master takes had previously been released as 78rpm singles, and later put together on the 1955 Clef Records LP The Magnificent Charlie Parker (MG C-646). While one date features Red Rodney (the regular trumpeter from Parker’s quintet during that time), the other is a reunion session featuring drummer Max Roach and, more importantly, trumpeter Miles Davis (who had left Bird’s group more than a year before). On that same day, Miles would record his fi rst studio session for Prestige and would play the piano on “I Know” from Sonny Rollins’ first date as a leader. An album consisting primarily of variations on the blues, Swedish Schnapps also includes Bird’s definitive reading of “Lover Man”, a song he insisted on recording again after the tormented 1946 Dial version was issued against his will. Four tunes presenting Bird soloing with larger groups have been added as a bonus (the Cole Porter tunes that complete both sessions can be found on Bird’s Nest LP 160654).

SIDE A:
01 SI SI
02 SWEDISH SCHNAPPS
03 SWEDISH SCHNAPPS [alt tk]
04 BACK HOME BLUES
05 BACK HOME BLUES [alt tk]
06 LOVER MAN
07 BLUES FOR ALICE
08 ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE (*)
09 I CAN’T GET STARTED (*)

SIDE B:
01 AU PRIVAVE
02 AU PRIVAVE [alt tk]
03 SHE ROTE
04 SHE ROTE [alt tk]
05 K.C. BLUES
06 STAR EYES
07 OLD FOLKS (*)
08 IF I LOVE AGAIN (*)