それでも、一枚だけを選んでほしいと言うと、ほとんどの方が、やはり、日本のジャズ評論で高く評価された"Man Bites Harmonica"を選ぶようですが、この2枚組ボックスは、初期のベスト四枚が収録されています。中でも四枚目の"The Romantic Sounds Of Toots Thielemans"は、ジャズファン以外の方々が、『ロマンチック・サウンド』という日本題のアルバムタイトルを気に入って、当時ラジオでもよく流れた"Stairway To The Stars"日本題『明日へのきざはし』を深く愛する方が多いです。
1-1 East Of The Sun 7:14
1-2 Don't Blame Me 2:27
1-3 18th Century 3:46
1-4 Soul Station 6:58
1-5 Fundamental Frequency 4:54
1-6 Struttin' With Some Barbecue 4:31
1-7 Imagination 4:27
1-8 Isn't It Romantic 5:16
Blues Pour Flirter
1-9 Winter In Madrid 2:44
1-10 Willow Weep For Me 5:30
1-11 Satin Doll 2:39
1-12 Bag's Groove 3:19
1-13 We'll All Be Together Again 3:45
1-14 Hot Toddy 2:24
1-15 Try A Little Tenderness 4:03
1-16T alk To Me 2:21
1-17 Le Trottoir 2:44
1-18 Honesuckle Rose 2:59
1-19 Flirt2:46
CD 2
Toots Thielemans
2-1 The Mountain Whistler 2:48
2-2 The Green Leaves Of Summe r2:25
2-3 Pentecostal Feeling 2:43
2-4 Moonlight Tango 2:00
2-5 Last Date 2:20
2-6 He's A Jolly Good Fellow 2:03
2-7 Lonely Room 2:27
2-8 One Morning In Rome 2:23
2-9 Bluesette 2:50
2-10 Homesick For Old England 1:49
2-11 I'll Be Around 3:10
2-12 Sultry Serenade 2:41
2-13 Geisha Blues 2:34
2-14 Paul's Pat 2:45
『ロマンチック・サウンド』The Romantic Sounds Of Toots
2-15 『明日へのきざはし』Stairway To The Stars 3:19
2-16 Love Walked In 2:31
2-17 Long Ago (And Far Away) 2:27
2-18 I Loves You Porgy 3:05
2-19 You Stepped Out Of A Dream 3:07
2-20 You're Driving Me Crazy 3:06
2-21 Isn't It Romantic 2:41
2-22 Homesick That's All 2:37
2-23 Penthouse Serenade (When We're Alone) 2:41
2-24 A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody 2:30
2-25 This Is Always 2:35
2-26 Stranger In Paradise 3:17
パーソネル情報
Alto Saxophone Arne Domnrus (tracks: 2-1, 2-3, 2-6 to 2- 13)
Baritone Saxophone Pepper Adams (tracks: 1-1, 1-3 to 1-6, 1-8)
Bass Jimmy Woode Jnr. (tracks: 2-1 to 2-14), Roland Lobligeois (tracks: 1-9 to 1-19), Wilbur Ware (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8)
Drums Art Taylor (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8), Conny Svensson (tracks: 2-1 to 2-14), Philippe Combelle (tracks: 1-9 to 1-19), Sture Kallin (tracks: 2-1 to 2-14)
Finger Cymbals Anders Burman (tracks: 2-3 & 2-4, 2-10)
Guitar Toots Thielemans (tracks: 1-3 & 1-4, 1-9 to 1-19. 2-1, 2-1 & 2-3, 2-4, 2-6 to 2-13 )
Harmonica Toots Thielemans
Orchestra Orchester Kurt Edelhagen (tracks: 2-15 to 2-26)
Organ Jan Johansson (tracks: 2-3 & 2-4), Knud Jrgensen (tracks: 2-1 to 2-14)
Piano Georges Arvanitas (tracks: 1-9 to 1-19), Kenny Drew (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8), Knud Jrgensen (tracks: 2-1 to 2-14)
録音データ
CD1 - Total Running Time: 76.22
Recorded: Reeves Sound Studios, New York. Tracks 1,3,4,5,6 & 8 - 30th December 1957, tracks 2 & 7 - 7th January 1958.
Recorded: Polydor Studios, Paris - 3rd & 4th January 1961. Tracks 9 to 19.
CD2 - Total Running Time: 69.15
Recorded: Stockholm 1961. Tracks 1 to 14
Recorded: Polydor Studios, Hamburg, 1961. Tracks 15 to 26