Various Artists - Midnight Blue: The (Be)Witching Hour (1999)

As suggested by this compilation's title, this thing is slow but intense - perfect for late night listening. Lots of romantic ballads and familiar standards with a variety of lead instruments, including saxophone, trumpet, guitar, and voice. Plus, that's a heckuva line-up they selected.

Part of Blue Note's fantastic "Blue Series" compilations from the '90s:

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. Ill Wind - Ike Quebec
   Previously unreleased, ca. 1960
2. Please Send Me Someone to Love - Jimmy Smith
   From the 1963 album, Rockin' The Boat
3. Lover Man - Lawrence Marable Quartet feat. James Clay
   From the 1956 album, Tenorman
4. The Nearness Of You - Johnny Hartman
   Recorded 1972; taken from the posthumous 1995 compilation, For Trane
5. Smoke Gets In your Eyes - Bud Shank With The Len Mercer Strings
   Taken from the 1958 album, I'll Take Romance
6. Autumn Leaves - Coleman Hawkins
   Taken from the 1957 album, The Gilded Hawk
7. Fly Me to The Moon - Nat King Cole & George Shearing
   Taken from the 1962 album, Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays
8. After The Rain - Duke Pearson
   Taken from the 1967 album, Sweet Honey Bee
9. Sweet & Lovely - Bill Perkins & Richie Kamuca
   Taken from the 1957 album, Just Friends
10. You Don't Know What Love Is - Cassandra Wilson
    Taken from the 1993 album, Blue Light 'Til Dawn
11. Nancy (With The Laughing Face) - Grant Green
    Recorded 1962; taken from the 1997 compilation, The Complete Quartets With Sonny Clark
12. (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along - Dexter Gordon
    Taken from the 1962 album, A Swingin' Affair
13. Willow Weep For Me - Stanley Turrentine With The Three Sounds
    Taken from the 1961 album, Blue Hour
14. I Can't Get Started - Lester Young With Nat King Cole
    Recorded 1942; taken from the 1995 compilation The Complete Aladdin Recordings

Today, my favorites are The Nearness Of You, Nancy (With The Laughing Face), and Willow Weep For Me.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Let's keep this post "family-friendly," shall we?

Previously revisited for the blog:

Blue Bacharach (1999)	Capitol Rare (1999)
Blue Brazil (1999)	Capitol Rare Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Break Beats (1992)	Capitol Rare Vol 3 (1999)
Blue Beat (1991)	Blue Bossa (1991)
Blue Boogie (1999)	Blue Bossa Vol 2 (1999)
Blue Series Sampler (2001)