The immensely talented Chet Baker had a complex relationship with the music scene and after almost 20 years of performing he withdrew from the business. In 1973 he vowed to make a comeback, returning to the straight-ahead jazz that started his career. She Was Too Good To Me was released in 1974 by Creed Taylor’s legendary CTI label, by then home to Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, Deodato and many others, and is considered Baker’s comeback album.

This record is indeed a beautiful homage to the bop sound of the early 50s but with the unmistakeable forward-thinking attitude for which CTI became famous. Bob James here plays on electric piano for example, injecting a dose of funk into the tunes to move them into the 70s zeitgeist. As always, Baker employed a star-studded lineup consisting among others of Ron Carter on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums (both alumni of Miles’ fusion period), Paul Desmond on alto saxophone and Hubert Laws on flute. Throw master arranger Don Sebesky in the mix and you have yourself a vintage CTI record.

She Was Too Good To Me is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on crystal clear vinyl and includes liner notes by jazz critic Doug Ramsey.