Beauty and the Beard is an album by Al Hirt and Ann-Margret released by RCA Victor in 1964. The album was arranged by Marty Paich and produced by Steve Sholes.Al Hirt, Beauty and the Beard. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
The album reached No. 84 on the Billboard Top LPs chart in 1964Al Hirt, Beauty and the Beard Chart Position. Retrieved April 9, 2013. and #47 on the Cashbox Top 100 Albums.
Billboard magazine awarded the album 'Special Merit' in their review column, stating that the record was "a wild and woolly combination. Ann-Margret and Al Hirt dish out a togetherness-type swingers. Ann-Margret does the huffin' while Al Hirt does the puffin'...duo provides much listenable entertainment."
In their review of the album, Cashbox praised the album as "delightfully entertaining...the trumpeter also turns singer here as he and the lark give good humoured readings of "My Baby Just Cares for Me", "Everybody Loves My Baby" and "The Best Man" and nine other lively tunes. Some brisk trumpet rides by Hirt add colour to the session."
The album was reissued on compact disc in 2010 by Bear Family Records under the title Personalities - The Velvet Lounge. It contained three bonus tracks never before released.
Track listing
Personnel Ann-Margret – vocals Al Hirt – trumpet, vocals Al Hendrickson – guitar Fred Crane – piano Lowell Miller – bass Jimmy Zitano – drums Red Norvo – vibraphone Eddie Miller – tenor saxophone Gerry Hirt – trombone Pee Wee Spitelera – clarinet Marty Paich – arrangements, conductor
Charts Chart (1964) Peakposition US Billboard Top LPs84 US Cashbox Top 100 47
References