Breaking It Up!
Louis Prima · 1958
36 min · 15 tracks · jazz
A lively blend of jazz and novelty tunes featuring energetic brass, playful lyrics, and Prima's infectious charisma.
Top tracks — play these first
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Shake Hands With Santa Claus — This festive track combines jazz with humor, showcasing Prima's signature style and playful vocal delivery that invites listeners to celebrate the holiday spirit.
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One Mint Julep — A jazzy standard that highlights Prima's charismatic performance and rich instrumentation, making it a quintessential representation of his musical versatility.
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Barnacle Bill the Sailor — This track exemplifies the novelty aspect of Prima’s repertoire, filled with catchy melodies and whimsical lyrics that reflect his theatrical style.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases lively jazz compositions with strong brass arrangements and playful energy, marking a solid entry in Prima's catalog.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of upbeat tempos across nearly all tracks, with only one or two moments of slower pace.
- Brass instruments dominate the arrangements, often leading melodies while rhythm sections provide a lively backdrop.
- Several tracks incorporate playful call-and-response patterns between instruments and vocals, enhancing the energetic feel.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- upbeat tracks for lively gatherings
- short bursts of playful energy
- sing-along fun with friends
- quick, catchy tunes for dancing
Maybe skip if you
- long, introspective listening sessions
- slow-paced musical explorations
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1958, Breaking It Up! came at a pivotal time for Louis Prima as he transitioned from big band leader to a vibrant solo artist. This album followed his successful run with the classic 'Just a Gigolo' and showcased his ability to mix genres, solidifying his place in the burgeoning rock and roll era.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Cab Calloway· Django Reinhardt· Nat King Cole
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Eleanor 2:04
- 2 Shake Hands With Santa Claus 2:27
- 3 Oooh-Dahidily-Dah 2:21
- 4 Basta 2:28
- 5 The Bigger the Figure 2:40
- 6 Boney Bones 2:44
- 7 One Mint Julep 2:45
- 8 Chili Sauce 1:54
- 9 Oh, Marie 2:19
- 10 Luigi 2:44
- 11 Paul Revere 2:32
- 12 It’s Good as New (I Painted It Blue) 2:14
- 13 Barnacle Bill the Sailor 2:25
- 14 Shepherd Boy 2:33
- 15 Chop Suey, Chow Mein 2:39
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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