Strike Up the Band is a 1959 studio album by Tony Bennett with the Count Basie Orchestra. The album was released at first with the title Basie Swings, Bennett Sings as SR-25072, featuring a different cover and track order.
Bennett and Count Basie recorded two albums together in 1959. The other one, In Person!, was released by Bennett's record label, Columbia, while this album was released by Roulette, Basie's label.
On November 8, 2011, Sony Music Distribution included the CD in a box set entitled The Complete Collection.
Cashbox believed that "an electric excitement emanates from every groove as the two prove they are an unbeatable combination on such tasty items as âÂÂJeepers Creepers,â âÂÂAnything Goes,â âÂÂStrike Up The Band,â and .âÂÂI Guess IâÂÂll Have To Change My Plans.âÂÂ
William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote: "The band raves through tunes like 'With Plenty of Money and You', and Bennett matches them, drawing strength from the bravura arrangements, while band and singer achieve a knowing tenderness on 'Growing Pains'."
The 1990 compact disc reissue included the ballad "After Supper"