Dick Stabile Plays for You - Bethlehem BCP 5003

Here's a very nice album by one of the truly exceptional alto sax players of all time. It's Hi-Fi mono and most likely recorded about 1957. Here's what Wikipedia says:

"Stabile got his start playing in theater ensembles on Broadway in the 1950s. He joined Ben Bernie's orchestra in 1928, where he remained for several years. In 1935 he started his own ensemble, recording with vocalists such as Bunny Berigan, Paula Kelly, Burt Shaw, and Gracie Barrie, the last of which he would go on to marry. During this time Stabile recorded for the labels Decca, Bluebird, ARC, and Vocalion/Okeh. His band worked often in hotels in New York City and was chosen to play at the New York World's Fair in 1959–60."


"During World War II Stabile led a band while serving in the Coast Guard; Gracie Barrie led his ensemble in his absence. After the war he moved to Los Angeles, where he began working with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis from 1949 up to his death. He was the leader of the orchestra on many of Martin's popular recordings. Additionally, he worked with Jimmy Dorsey and Vincent Lopez. Contrary to the assertions of some, Stabile did not play the alto solos in "So Rare," which was recorded by Jimmy Dorsey on November 11, 1956. Rather, Stabile was utilized for his alto in a session that occurred several days after Dorsey's death, and under the leadership of trumpeter Lee Castle."

"After spending the latter 1960s leading dance bands at Los Angeles ballrooms, Stabile took a job at the Hotel Roosevelt in New Orleans, where he worked from the middle of the 1970s until his death as a result of a heart attack in 1980."

A very good tribute page to him is at http://www.dickstabile.com/home.htm


The followup release to "So Rare" was a single on Fraternity of the great old standard "June Night." Stabile is the player on this and several other recordings by the Jimmy Dorsey band from that period. Some of the cuts on this LP are obviously done by the same arranger - not credited on the liner notes. They include: Poor Butterfly, For You, Oh Baby, and Without a Song. Russ Garcia wrote the charts for I'm Glad There is You, Broadway Beat, Do I Love You and Ballet Blue. They're all a little "syrupy" but highlight Stabile's fine sax technique and sound. Other arrangements are not credited. I presented these on individual files because not everyone will be interested in all. My favorites are the first five.

1. For You - Dick Stabile
http://www.mediafire.com/?g2rf29snn8ws21d
2. Poor Butterfly - Dick Stabile (Golden-Hubbell)
http://www.mediafire.com/?32nlcpcx38vakxu
3. Without a Song - Dick Stabile (Rose-Eliscu-Youmans)
http://www.mediafire.com/?3d23cpr1c1ra931
4. Oh Baby - Dick Stabile (Breen-Murphy)
http://www.mediafire.com/?z50mb5w11hrbcas
5. We'll be Together Again - Dick Stabile (Lane-Fischer)
http://www.mediafire.com/?94cr84hk94x9bli
6. My Fate is in Your Hands - Dick Stabile (Razaf-Waller)
http://www.mediafire.com/?xf1lw8g7ahl0uns
7. The Man with a Horn - Dick Stabile (Lake-Jenney-DeLange)
http://www.mediafire.com/?b6v6uib96g11fgo
8. I'm Glad There is You (Madeira-Dorsey)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ico65ljnkgn94cm
9. Broadway Beat - Dick Stabile (Lerner)
http://www.mediafire.com/?abdm1j6yz7r5po5
10. Ballet Bleu - Dick Stabile (Stabile)
http://www.mediafire.com/?hr8u05viuylvnie
11. I Lead a Charmed Life - Dick Stabile (Russ Garcia)
http://www.mediafire.com/?mu37eeo28emwfv2
12. Do I Love You? - Dick Stabile (Rodgers-Hammerstein)
http://www.mediafire.com/?3e824tupxsf3pc3