Laughin' to Keep from Cryin'
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Laughin' to Keep from Cryin'
| type = studio
| artist = Lester Young
| cover = Laughing Crying Lester.jpeg
|border=yes
| alt =
| released = 1958
| recorded = February 8, 1958
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Jazz
| length = 50:17
| label = Verve MG V-8316{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Lester-Young-Roy-Eldridge-And-Harry-Edison-Laughin-To-Keep-From-Cryin/master/309955 |title=Lester Young, Roy Eldridge And Harry Edison - Laughin' To Keep From Cryin' at Discogs |publisher=discogs.com|access-date=2015-11-02}}
| producer = Norman Granz
| chronology = Lester Young
| prev_title = Going for Myself
| prev_year = 1956
| next_title = Pres and Teddy
| next_year = 1959
}}
Laughin' to Keep from Cryin' is a 1958 studio album by Lester Young featuring the trumpeters Harry "Sweets" Edison and Roy Eldridge.{{AllMusic|class=album|id=laughin-to-keep-from-cryin-mw0000256393|label=Laughin' to Keep from Cryin'}}
Reception
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = Allmusic
|rev2 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings
|rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |authorlink1=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |authorlink2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=1537}}
}}
Scott Yanow reviewed the album for Allmusic and wrote that "...this date apparently had a lot of difficulties but the recorded results are excellent. Young takes rare clarinet solos on two of the selections with his emotional statement on "They Can't Take That Away from Me" being one of the highpoints of his career."
Track listing
- "Salute to Benny" (Lester Young) - 8:32
- "They Can't Take That Away from Me" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 6:02
- "Romping" (Young) - 11:42
- "The Gypsy in My Soul" (Clay Boland, Moe Jaffe) - 4:14
- "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" (Sidney Clare, Sam H. Stept) - 6:11
- Ballad medley: "The Very Thought of You"/"I Want a Little Girl"/"Blue and Sentimental" (Ray Noble)/(Murray Mencher, Billy Moll)/(Count Basie, Jerry Livingston, Mack David) - 6:38
- "Mean to Me" (Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk) - 6:58
Personnel
- Lester Young - clarinet, tenor saxophone
- Harry "Sweets" Edison, Roy Eldridge - trumpet
- Herb Ellis - guitar
- Hank Jones - piano
- George Duvivier - double bass
- Mickey Sheen - drums
;Production
- Sherniece Smith - art coordinator
- Hollis King, Sheldon Marks - art direction
- Francis Davis - liner notes
- JoDee Stringham - design
- Kevin Reeves - mastering
- Peter Keepnews - notes editing
- Cynthia Sesso - photo research
- Burt Goldblatt - photography
- Norman Granz - producer
- Tom Greenwood - production assistant, research assistant
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Lester Young}}
{{Hank Jones}}
{{Authority control}}