Erroll Garner’s “Misty,” one of the most beautiful ballads of the past 40 years, has also enjoyed a second life as hard-driving, chart-topping swinger. Vocalist Lloyd Price was the first to make a hit out of the tune as a flagwaver, and the feat was repeated by organist Richard “Groove” Holmes in 1965 when he recorded his debut session for the Prestige label, Soul Message (OJC-329). The popular success of Holmes’s arrangement led him to assemble an all-standard program the following summer, where the pop warhorses received the same “Groove” treatment of syncopated left-hand riffs and flowing walking lines played on the foot pedals. For good measure, the abbreviated single version of “Misty” was included to display the source of the upbeat Holmes conception.

with Gene Edwards, George Randall, Jimmie Smith