Capitol Recordings

Prima had been a jazz trumpeter in the ’30s and ’40s, and by the time he signed with Capitol in 1956 he led a hot combo with Sam Butera and ultra-cool Keely Smith. His music took its key from Louis Prima’s own exuberance. It wasn’t quite R&B, pop, or jazz, but it was, as Louis himself promised, ‘The Wildest!’ This set includes all his 1956-1962 Capitol recordings, as well as Keely’s solo records.