Bethlehem Records · in the Kissa Kissa racks

Take The "A" Train

Betty Roché

Recorded	Apr 1956
Label	Bethlehem Records
Catalog	BCP 64
Released	1956
Personnel	5 credited players
Discogs	master 627272

The record

Betty Roché made her name singing the vocalese take on Ellington's signature tune, and this 1956 Bethlehem date lets her stretch out with a tight West Coast-leaning combo -- Candoli's trumpet and Costa's vibes trading light, swinging commentary behind her phrasing. A fine showcase for a singer too often reduced to a footnote in the Ellington story.

Session personnel

Whitey Mitchell — bass
Davey Williams — drums
Donn Trenner — piano
Conte Candoli — trumpet
Eddie Costa — vibraphone

Contemporary reception

No period review located yet. The vintage-press pipeline searches DownBeat, Cash Box, and Billboard for this session.

Pressings

Showing the first pressing, audiophile reissues and copies carrying a collector marker, out of 17 pressings on file.

1956	Bethlehem Records · BCP 64 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Laminated Cover - High Fidelity earliest on file · laminated sleeve
1959	Parlophone · GEP 8756 — Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, EP, Mono
1977	Bethlehem Records
1977	Bethlehem Records · BCP 6026 — Vinyl, LP, Reissue
1981	Bethlehem Records · PAP-23018 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
1984	Bethlehem Records · YP-7106-BE — Vinyl, LP, Reissue, Mono
1987	Affinity · AFF175 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
1987	Fresh Sound Records · FSR-2034 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono
1993	Bethlehem Records · COJY-9131 — Vinyl, LP
1994	Bethlehem Records · 20-30142 — CD, Album, Misprint, Remastered
1996	Bethlehem Records · COCY-80050 — CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Mono, Paper Sleeve
2000	Avenue Jazz · R2 75992 — CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2007	Bethlehem Records · VICJ-61469 — CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Paper Sleeve
2007	Bethlehem Records · VICJ-61469 — CD, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Reissue, Remastered, Paper Sleeve