In preparing for this album, Maynard proved once again just how keenly aware he was of what was going on in the world of music ("
Fantasy" and "
Baker Street" had become hits mere months before entering the studio, and "Birdland" was still growing in popularity after its debut the year before), but he was having trouble converting these sensibilities into chart success. Having taken over the reins as producer, he hedged his bets by including a couple of songs from his past, re-recording the
Slide Hampton arrangement of "Stella by Starlight" (originally on his 1959 release "A Message from Birdland", which featured
Joe Zawinul in one of his earliest US appearances), and a new arrangement of "
Over the Rainbow" (the original was recorded for the 1956 release "
Dimensions", after recording it as part of
Charlie Barnet's band years before). == Critical reception ==