Album Review: The Complete Galaxy Recordings by Art Pepper
Art Pepper’s The Complete Galaxy Recordings is a sprawling, ambitious collection that captures the saxophonist at his most expressive and eclectic. Released in 1989 (posthumously), this massive box set spans multiple sessions recorded between 1975 and 1982, showcasing Pepper's mastery of jazz styles from West Coast Cool to hard-hitting Post-Bop. It’s not just an album—it’s a journey through Pepper’s soul, complete with alternate takes, never-before-released tracks, and enough musical depth to keep even the pickiest jazz aficionado glued to their headphones.
What makes this record stand out isn’t just its sheer size but how it reflects Pepper’s resilience. After battling addiction and spending years away from music, he returned with a fire that feels both raw and refined. The arrangements are tight when they need to be—thanks in part to Bill Holman and Jimmy Bond—and loose enough elsewhere to let Pepper’s alto sax shine like it was born for these moments.
Let’s talk about two tracks that stick with me long after the needle lifts. First up is "A Night in Tunisia (Alternate)." This version has a kind of restless energy to it, like Pepper couldn’t wait to get into the groove. His phrasing dances around the rhythm section, teasing out notes that feel spontaneous yet perfectly placed. There’s something magical about hearing him stretch out on this tune—it’s familiar enough to hum along to but unpredictable enough to surprise you every time. And then there’s "True Blues," which hits different because it’s one of those rare cuts labeled “Never Before Released.” It’s got grit, man. You can hear the weight of Pepper’s life experiences in his playing here, each note dripping with emotion. When George Cables lays down his piano solo, it’s like he’s having a conversation with Pepper, finishing sentences neither of them started.
One thing I gotta say? Listening to this album feels like flipping through old Polaroids of Pepper’s career. Tracks like "Over the Rainbow" or "Body and Soul" come in so many variations that you start noticing little quirks—the way Billy Higgins’ drums shuffle slightly differently in one take, or how Red Callender’s bass adds a whole new layer of warmth in another. It’s almost overwhelming, but in the best way possible. Like, who needs 30 versions of the same song? Well… turns out, we do.
If you’re looking for perfection, this ain’t it. Some tracks feel unfinished, some solos go on maybe a smidge too long, and yeah, it’s a lot to digest. But that’s also what makes it human. Pepper wasn’t trying to polish everything to a glossy sheen; he was laying it all out there, warts and all. And honestly? That honesty is what makes this collection unforgettable.
Final thought: If you ever find yourself wondering why people call jazz America’s classical music, give The Complete Galaxy Recordings a spin. By the end, you won’t just understand—you’ll feel it. Oh, and if anyone asks why you’ve been listening to the same guy play "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" ten times in a row, just tell 'em you're doing research. They'll believe you.
Artist:Art Pepper Album: The Complete Galaxy Recordings
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' (Alternate B) (Never Before Released)
4:44
Melolev
5:26
Patricia
10:23
Goodbye, Again! (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
6:23
Straight Life
8:33
Body And Soul
4:34
Straight Life (Never Before Release)
6:27
For Freddie
11:21
Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying
04:56
Long Ago And Far Away
6:12
Donna Lee (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
6:09
Our Song (Alternate) (Never Before Release)
5:30
Mambo Koyama (Never Before Released)
17:51
Make A List (Make A Wish)
9:46
There Will Never Be Another You (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
6:13
The Shadow Of Your Smile (Released Only In Japan)
6:16
Our Song
5:29
Lover Come Back To Me
6:51
Blues For Blanche (Alternate A)
7:24
These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)
5:42
So In Love
11:33
Melolev (Alternate)
5:52
Over The Rainbow (Alternate)
9:04
True Blues
9:47
Last Thing Blues (Never Before Released)
12:07
Desafinado
8:1
Yardbird Suite
5:17
Lover Man
05:42
Donne Lee
6:10
Isn't She Lovely
04:12
You Go To My Head
5:57
Long Ago (And Far Away)
06:13
Long Ago And Far Away (Never Before Released)
6:12
Everything Happens to Me
13:48
The Shadow Of Your Smile
6:16
Mambo De La Pinta (Never Before Release)
10:38
Samba Mom Mom (Never Before Released)
5:49
You Go to My Head
6:0
Here's That Rainy Day
05:21
Allen's Alley (Wee)
11:12
Mambo De La Pinta
10:38
Body And Soul (Alternate)
5:37
But Beautiful (Never Before Release)
3:18
Arthur's Blues
15:28
That's Love
04:52
Duo Blues
7:52
Melolev (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
5:52
When You're Smiling (Never Before Release)
3:43
Tete-A-Tete
4:30
Chris's Blues
3:50
Make a List (Make a Wish)
09:48
Landscape
9:24
The Trip
10:13
When The Sun Comes Out
5:47
Tête-À-Tête
04:33
These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)
5:44
Ol' Man River
6:12
Arthur's Blues
14:43
Mr.Big Falls His J.G.Hand
6:08
Darn That Dream (Never Before Released)
5:00
Straight, No Chaser
5:56
A Night in Tunisia
09:47
Over the Rainbow
8:48
Goodbye, Again!
6:23
Nature Boy
9:55
Lover, Come Back to Me
6:51
Sometime
5:33
Pepper Pot (Never Before Released)
6:39
Body And Soul (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
5:37
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' (Alternate B)
4:44
Billie's Bounce
3:56
Mambo Koyama (Never Before Release)
12:59
Roadgame
9:26
When The Sun Comes Out (Alternate) (Never Before Release)
6:15
You Go To My Head (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
6:04
Blues For Blanche (Alternate B) (Never Before Released)
8:11
Here's That Rainy Day (Alternate)
5:39
Blues For Blanche
6:42
Arthur's Blues (Never Before Released)
14:43
My Friend John (Alternate) (Never Before Release)
7:18
My Friend John (Alternate)
7:18
When You're Smiling
8:47
What's New?
11:46
That's Love
4:50
These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
5:51
Ol' Man River
06:15
Don' Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' (Alternate A)
5:19
Darn That Dream
4:17
When You're Smiling
03:48
Landscape (Unedited Version) (Never Before Released)
14:04
Tin Tin Deo (Released Only In Japan)
10:58
Avalon
9:8
Winter Moon (Alternate) (Never Before Release)
5:28
The Prisoner
6:45
Diane
12:15
What's New
9:55
Surf Ride
6:57
I Love You (Never Before Released)
4:32
Tin Tin Deo
11:3
Nature Boy (Alternate)
9:42
September Song
11:00
Samba Mom Mom
10:17
Winter Moon
5:30
Red Car (Release Only In Japan)
9:04
Donna Lee
5:56
There Will Never Be Another You (Alternate)
6:13
Body and Soul
4:37
Mambo de la Pinta
11:5
The Shadow of Your Smile
06:27
The Way You Look Tonight
6:47
'Round Midnight
05:43
Allen's Alley (Wee)
10:34
Sometime (Never Before Release)
6:19
Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?)
5:40
True Blues (Never Before Release)
8:17
Winter Moon (Alternate)
5:28
Landscape (Never Before Released)
15:25
But Beautiful (Never Before Released)
8:10
Straight, No Chaser (Alternate)
5:54
Over The Rainbow
8:46
Stardust
10:29
Besame Mucho
9:20
Blues For Blanche (Alternate B)
8:11
Isn't She Lovely
4:10
The Sweetest Sounds
5:03
Here's That Rainy Day
5:18
These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) (Alternate)
5:51
Our Song (Alternate)
5:30
These Foolish Things
05:45
Stardust (Alternate)
8:37
You Can Go To My Head
5:57
The Trip (Release Only In Japan)
9:46
Chris's Blues
3:50
Over The Rainbow (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
6:18
For Freddie (Never Before Released)
11:21
Blues in the Night
07:00
I Love You
4:33
Road Waltz (Never Before Released)
14:03
Donna Lee (Alternate)
6:09
Over The Rainbow (Alternate) (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
9:04
Yesterdays (Never Before Released)
8:09
My Friend John (Never Before Release)
7:42
Thank You Blues
13:17
Valse Triste
9:25
Goodbye, Again! (Alternate)
6:23
A Night In Tunisia (Never Before Released)
5:30
Mambo De La Pinta (Released Only In Japan)
11:17
In A Mellow Tone
5:30
Besame Mucho (Never Before Release)
10:44
Mambo Koyama
6:41
In a Mellow Tone
8:33
Anthropology
6:33
A Night In Tunisia (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
9:42
Blues for Blanche
7:27
Close To You Alone
6:43
Stardust (Alternate) (Released Only In Japan)
8:37
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'
4:56
Mr. Big Falls His J.G. Hand
06:11
Pepper Pot
6:38
Avalon (Never Before Release)
8:15
Last Thing Blues
12:07
Everything Happens To Me
12:05
'Round Midnight
5:41
Landscape (Never Before Release)
9:17
Stardust (Never Before Released)
6:29
Here's That Rainy Day (Alternate) (Never Before Release)
5:39
Billie's Bounce
03:58
But Beautiful
8:28
Road Waltz
10:50
Brazil
8:25
Ol' Man River (Never Before Release)
6:12
A Night In Tunisia
9:44
Blues In The Night
6:59
Besame Mucho (Released Only In Japan)
8:47
Miss Who?
4:42
Blues For Blanche (Alternate)
7:24
Close to You Alone
06:45
Nature Boy (Alternate) (Never Before Released)
9:42
The Prisoner (Aternate)
4:53
Yesterdays
8:11
Don' Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' (Alternate A) (Never Before Released)
5:19
Red Car (Never Before Release)
7:33
Goin' Home
05:30
There Will Never Be Another You
6:09
Images
Catalog Numbers
GCD-1016-2
Labels
Galaxy
Listen online
online anhören
écouter en ligne
lyssna på nätet
online luisteren
ouvir online
ascolta in linea
kuunnella verkossa
escuchar en línea
lytte på nettet
Formats
16 × CD
Compilation
Remastered Box Set
Box Set 16 × CD
Companies
Role
Company
Phonographic Copyright (p)
Fantasy, Inc.
Copyright (c)
Fantasy, Inc.
Recorded At
Fantasy Studios
Remastered At
Fantasy Studios
Remixed At
Fantasy Studios
Licensed From
Fantasy, Inc.
Distributed By
ZYX Music GMBH & Co. KG
Manufactured By
Multi Media Masters
Credits
Role
Credit
Alto Saxophone
Art Pepper
Clarinet
Art Pepper
Arranged By
Bill Holman (tracks: 9-7, 10-1 to 10-3), Jimmy Bond (tracks: 9-10, 9-4, 9-9, 10-4)
Conductor
Bill Holman (tracks: 9-7, 10-1 to 10-3), Jimmy Bond (tracks: 9-10, 9-4, 9-9, 10-4)
Art Direction
Phil Carroll
Bass
Cecil McBee (tracks: 1-1 to 2-1), Cecil McBee (tracks: 9-2 to 11-1), Charlie Haden (tracks: 3-2 to 4-10), David Williams , Red Callender (tracks: 8-4 to 9-1), Ron Carter (tracks: 2-2 to 3-1), Tony Dumas (tracks: 5-1 to 8-1)
Cello
Mary Ann Meredith (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4), Sharon O'Connor (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4)
Co-producer
Ed Michel, Laurie Pepper
Concertmaster
Nate Rubin (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4)
Congas
Kenneth Nash (tracks: 1-2)
Percussion
Kenneth Nash (tracks: 1-2)
Cowbell
Kenneth Nash (tracks: 8-8)
Reco-reco
Kenneth Nash (tracks: 8-8)
Design
Jamie Putnam
Drums
Al Foster (tracks: 2-2 to 3-1), Billy Higgins (tracks: 3-2 to 8-1, 9-4 to 9-1), Carl Burnett (tracks: 9-2 to 14-6), Roy Haynes (tracks: 1-1 to 2-1)
Engineer
Baker Bigsby (tracks: 1-1 to 2-1, 3-2 to 4-10. 9-2 to 14-14), Kathy Dennis (tracks: 2-2 to 3-1), Tamaki Bekku (tracks: 5-1 to 8-1), Wally Buck (tracks: 8-4 to 9-1)
Guitar
Howard Roberts (tracks: 9-2 to 11-1)
Liner Notes
Gary Giddins
Photography By
Laurie Pepper, Phil Bray, William Claxton
Piano
George Cables (tracks: 3-2 to 8-1, 11-2 to 16-14), Hank Jones (tracks: 2-2 to 3-1), Stanley Cowell (tracks: 1-1 to 2-1, 9-2 to 11-1), Tommy Flanagan (tracks: 8-4 to 9-1)
Remastered By
Joe Tarantino
Remix
Danny Kopelson
Violin
Audrey Desilva (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4), Clifton Foster (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4), Dan Smiley (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4), Elizabeth Gibson (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4), Emily Van Valkenburgh (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4), Greg Mazmanian (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4), John Tenney (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4), Patrick Anderson (tracks: 9-2 to 10-4)
Artwork
Phil Carroll
Compiled By
Ralph Kaffel
Featuring
Cecil McBee, Charlie Haden, Dave Williams, Red Mitchell, Ron Carter, Tony Dumas
Producer
Ed Michel, Laurie Pepper
Recorded By
Danny Kopelson
Notes
Recorded:
#1-1 to 2-1: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, December 1-2, 1978
#2-2 to 3-1; Sound Ideas, NYC, February 23, 1979
#3-2 to 4-10: Kendun Recorders, Burbank, CA, may 25-26, 1979
#5-1 to 6-4: Shiba Yubin Chokin Hall, Tokyo, July 16, 1979
#6-5 to 8-1: Shiba Yubin Chokin Hall, Tokyo, July 23, 1979
#8-2, 8-3: Electric Lady Sutdio, New York, >ugust 21, 1979
#8-4 to 9-1: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, September 21, 1979
#9-2 to 10-4:Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, September 3-4, 1980
#10-5 to 11-1: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, September 5, 1980
#11-2 to 14-6; Mayden Voyage, Los Angeles, August 13-14-15, 1981
#15-1 to 16-14: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, April 13-14, 1982, May 11, 1982
Ⓟ 1989 Fantasy Inc.
Ⓟ 1989 Arthur Pepper Music Corporation (Disc 2, #2-8; Disc 3 and 4; Disc 8, # 2-3)
Made in Germany
Manufactured under license for distrtibution by ZYX-Music
"The Complete Galaxy Recordings" is a deluxe 16-CD package that contains everything recorded by Art Pepper during his 1978-82 affiliation with the Galaxy label
The slipcase contains 4 volumes in plastic CD cases with 4 CDs each + a small booklet
Matrix / Runout (CD 7): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-7 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 7, mould, inner ring): 291.
Matrix / Runout (CD 8): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-8 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 8, mould, inner ring): 291.
Matrix / Runout (CD 9): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-9 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 9, mould, inner ring): 291.
Matrix / Runout (CD 10): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-10 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 10, mould, inner ring): 291.
Matrix / Runout (CD 11): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-11 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 11, mould, inner ring): 291.
Matrix / Runout (CD 12): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-12 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 12, mould, inner ring): 291.
Matrix / Runout (CD 13): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-13 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 13, mould, inner ring): 291.
Matrix / Runout (CD 14): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-14 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 14, mould, inner ring): 291.
Matrix / Runout (CD 15): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-15 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 15, mould, inner ring): 291.
Matrix / Runout (CD 16): Multi Media Masters Switzerland GXY CD 1016-16 Mikulski
Matrix / Runout (CD 16, mould, inner ring): 291.
About Art Pepper
American jazz saxophonist. Starting on clarinet & switching to alto-sax at 13, Pepper was playing professionally with by the age of 17.
After being drafted for service in 1943, Pepper was a leading alto-saxophonist in the 1950's, most often associated with the West Coast Jazz scene.
A 1982 Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame inductee.
: September 1, 1925 - Gardena, California,
: June 15, 1982 - Los Angeles, California
Did you know that Art Pepper's *The Complete Galaxy Recordings* is a treasure trove for jazz fans? It includes over 100 tracks, many of which were never released before. Among them are alternate versions of classics like *"A Night in Tunisia"* and *"Over the Rainbow."* What’s wild is how this album captures Pepper’s brilliance on alto saxophone across different styles—cool jazz, bop, post-bop—you name it. Plus, with legendary musicians like Charlie Haden on bass and Billy Higgins on drums, it feels like a masterclass in jazz. The fact that some tracks were only released in Japan adds an extra layer of intrigue. It’s not just music; it’s a journey through Pepper’s genius.
