Release date: 24-09-2010 (originally released in 1957)

2010 EU limited edtion High-definition premium 180gm vinyl-an all stars affair, among the cats that played with the King of clarinetists are Andre Previn, Zoot Sims, Russ Freeman, Chuck Wayne, Pepper Adams, Herb Geller, Leroy Vinnegar, Barney Kessel and Shelly Manne,-stickered & sealed.

Tracks:
A1. HAPPY SESSION BLUES (Benny Goodman-Bobby Gutesha)  
A2. YOU’D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO (Cole Porter)  
A3. THE KING AND ME (André Previn)  
A4. INDIAN SUMMER (Al Dubin-Victor Herbert)  
A5. WHAT A DIFF’RENCE A DAY MADE (Stanley Adams-María Méndez Grever)
B1. BATUNGA TRAIN (Benny Goodman-Bobby Gutesha)  
B2. HAVING A BALL (Benny Goodman)  
B3. CLARINET A LA KING (Eddie Sauter)  
B4. MACEDONIA LULLABY (Benny Goodman-Bobby Gutesha)  
B5. DIGA DIGA DOO (Jimmy McHugh-Dorothy Fields)  
B6. HAPPY SESSION BLUES (Benny Goodman-Bobby Gutesha)[alternate take]  *

Benny Goodman’s 1958 European tour was a resounding success. His visit to the Old Continent consisted of a week long engagement in the American section of the Brussels 1958 World Fair. He brought his big band with him (but also performed some songs in smaller formats), to which celebrated singer Jimmy Rushing was added as a special attraction. The band was very warmly received, and many of their performances there were preserved for posterity. Immediately following his return to the States, Goodman would record extensively in the studio. Happy Session is a product of those sessions taped between July 1958 and January 1959. Despite what the original LP title appears to suggest, this music wasn’t recorded on one single day, or by the exact same band. Although Benny is present on all of the numbers, there are orchestra sides with different formations, and even two different quintets – one with Russ Freeman on piano, and the other one with André Previn taking his place. Goodman himself covered the studio expenses of the recordings with his Park Recording Company, and was therefore able to negotiate the rights of this music with two different record companies. Columbia issued a third of the material from those dates on Happy Session, while another third of the material would be released on a Chess LP (catalog number Chess 1440) titled Benny Rides Again! The remaining third of this material (including the alternate take added here as a bonus) appeared years later on various LP or CD compilations.