{"title":"Chet Baker","description":"\u003cp\u003eChesney Henry Baker Jr., born in Yale, Oklahoma in 1929, became jazz's most romantically tragic figure, nicknamed \"Prince of Cool\" for his lyrical, subdued trumpet style and achingly vulnerable vocals. Rising to fame at 23 with Gerry Mulligan's pioneering pianoless quartet in 1952, Baker's rendition of \"My Funny Valentine\" became his signature, establishing him as the face of West Coast cool jazz. His 1953 and 1954 victories in Metronome and DownBeat polls saw him beat Miles Davis and Clifford Brown, whilst 1954's Chet Baker Sings showcased his light, vibratoless tenor voice, catapulting him to teen idol status alongside James Dean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBaker's matinee idol looks and breezy California cool masked a lifelong heroin addiction that led to arrests, European deportations, and creative inconsistency throughout the 1960s. Yet his 1959 album \u003cem\u003eChet\u003c\/em\u003e, featuring Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones, demonstrated his lyrical trumpet mastery at its peak. The 1970s brought a remarkable comeback, with critics praising his late-period European recordings as matching his 1950s work, his tone more intimate and improvisations more forceful despite addiction's toll on his voice. He died falling from an Amsterdam hotel window in 1988 aged 58, his cult following growing posthumously through Bruce Weber's documentary \u003cem\u003eLet's Get Lost\u003c\/em\u003e and unfinished memoir \u003cem\u003eAs Though I Had Wings\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"chet-baker-chet-baker-sings-2023-blue-note-tone-poet-180g-mono-lp","title":"Chet Baker - Chet Baker Sings (2023 Blue Note Tone Poet 180g Mono LP)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the most beloved vocal jazz albums ever recorded, \u003cem\u003eChet Baker Sings\u003c\/em\u003e captures the trumpeter's intimate, almost fragile voice interpreting classic standards with heartbreaking vulnerability. Originally released in 1956 on Pacific Jazz and reissued in this 2023 Blue Note Tone Poet Series repress, the album features Baker's tender readings of songs like \"My Funny Valentine\", \"I Fall In Love Too Easily\", and \"Look For The Silver Lining\", accompanied by pianist Russ Freeman and rotating rhythm sections. Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed by Record Technology Incorporated on 180-gram mono vinyl in a gatefold sleeve, this represents the finest available contemporary presentation of Baker's landmark vocal debut.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBaker's voice, criticized by some for limited range and technique, possesses an emotional directness that transcends conventional vocal virtuosity. His half-spoken, half-sung delivery conveys loneliness, yearning, and a kind of bruised romanticism that made him an icon of 1950s cool jazz aesthetics. Freeman's sensitive piano accompaniment and the various rhythm sections (featuring Carson Smith and Jimmy Bond on bass, Bob Neel and others on drums) provide subtle support that never overwhelms Baker's delicate voice and trumpet. The 14 standards receive readings that have become definitive for many listeners, particularly \"My Funny Valentine\", which Baker essentially claimed as his signature song through this performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2023 repress of the 2020 Tone Poet release differs slightly from the original pressing in RTI plating identifiers and hype sticker wording (now \"cut directly from the original analog tapes\" rather than \"mastered from\"). The Tone Poet Series represents Blue Note's commitment to audiophile-quality reissues using all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray, RTI's premium pressing, and Stoughton tip-on gatefold packaging. Note the spine printing error stating \"Stereo\" when this is a mono pressing, carried over from the 2020 edition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blue Note","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43086464188475,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0630\/3203\/3339\/files\/602508358913.jpg?v=1766271205"},{"product_id":"chet-baker-she-was-too-good-to-me-1978-japanese-cti-limited-edition-lp","title":"Chet Baker - She Was Too Good To Me (1978 Japanese CTI Limited Edition LP)","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"1061\" data-end=\"1214\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eVinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: EX\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSleeve\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e:VG+\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObi:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur grading system explained \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dpbg4u-d1.myshopify.com\/pages\/secondhand-grading-guide\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ehere\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhoto is of the actual item.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChet Baker - \u003cem\u003eShe Was Too Good To Me\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVinyl LP - 1978 Japanese CTI Original 1500 Series Limited Edition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChet Baker's 1974 CTI recordings showcase the trumpeter at a crucial career resurgence, his delicate tone and intimate vocals backed by an all-star ensemble including alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, bassist Ron Carter, drummers Steve Gadd and Jack DeJohnette, electric pianist Bob James, and vibraphonist Dave Friedman. Arranged by Don Sebesky and produced by Creed Taylor, these seven tracks balance Baker's trademark ballad interpretations with more uptempo material, the lush CTI production aesthetic providing sophisticated orchestration while allowing Baker's vulnerable trumpet and vocals to remain front and centre. This 1978 Japanese limited edition, part of CTI's Original 1500 Series and manufactured by King Record Co. Ltd., captures Baker's CTI period in premium Japanese pressing quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBaker's pairing with Paul Desmond proves particularly sympathetic, both musicians favouring lyrical, melodic approaches and understated cool aesthetics. Don Sebesky's arrangements add CTI's signature string and woodwind orchestrations without overwhelming the jazz core, while the rhythm section of Ron Carter, Steve Gadd, and Jack DeJohnette provides both swing and contemporary grooves. Bob James' electric piano adds 1970s texture alongside the acoustic instruments, creating the polished yet soulful sound CTI became known for. Standards like \"Autumn Leaves\" and \"She Was Too Good To Me\" receive definitive readings that balance Baker's fragile romanticism with sophisticated musical support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecorded, engineered, and mastered by Rudy Van Gelder across multiple 1974 sessions, this album captures Baker's artistry with the sonic clarity CTI releases demanded. King Record's manufacturing as part of their CTI partnership ensures quality pressing, while the Original 1500 Series designation indicates curated limited edition status. For collectors seeking Baker's 1970s work when he re-established himself after difficult years, this CTI session represents a creative and commercial peak.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CTI","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43136778141755,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0630\/3203\/3339\/files\/IMG_5741.jpg?v=1768644524"},{"product_id":"chet-baker-chet-baker-sings-1981-japanese-pacific-jazz-mono-lp","title":"Chet Baker - Chet Baker Sings (1981 Japanese Pacific Jazz Mono LP)","description":"\u003cp data-end=\"1214\" data-start=\"1061\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eVinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: EX\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSleeve\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: VG+\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObi:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e None\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur grading system explained \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dpbg4u-d1.myshopify.com\/pages\/secondhand-grading-guide\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ehere\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhoto is of the actual item.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChet Baker - \u003cem\u003eChet Baker Sings\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVinyl LP - 1981 Japanese Pacific Jazz Mono Reissue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChet Baker's most beloved vocal album collects performances from two sessions (February 1954 and July 1956), showcasing his intimate, fragile voice interpreting standards with heartbreaking vulnerability. Originally released in 1956 on Pacific Jazz and reissued in Japan in 1981 as part of the Pacific Jazz Masterpieces series, this mono pressing manufactured by King Records features Baker's tender readings of \"My Funny Valentine\", \"I Fall In Love Too Easily\", and twelve other classic songs, accompanied by pianist Russ Freeman and rotating rhythm sections. Baker's half-spoken, half-sung delivery conveys loneliness and yearning that transcends conventional vocal technique, creating definitive performances that made him an icon of 1950s cool jazz aesthetics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBaker's voice, criticized by some for limited range and technique, possesses emotional directness that conventional vocal virtuosity cannot match. His intimate delivery makes listeners feel he's singing directly to them, each phrase weighted with genuine feeling rather than technical display. Russ Freeman's sensitive piano accompaniment and the rhythm sections (featuring bassists Carson Smith and James Bond, drummers Bob Neel, Lawrence Marable, and Peter Littman) provide subtle support that never overwhelms Baker's delicate voice and trumpet. The 14 standards receive readings that have become definitive, particularly \"My Funny Valentine\", which Baker essentially claimed as his signature song through this performance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pacific Jazz","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43165719855163,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0630\/3203\/3339\/files\/IMG_5803.jpg?v=1769387910"}],"url":"https:\/\/lushliferecords.com.au\/collections\/chet-baker.oembed","provider":"Lush Life Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}