The Beat Goes On

Buddy Rich and his big band recorded 'The Beat Goes On' for the album of the same name, arranged by Bill Reddie, whose ambitious charts transformed the Sonny Bono pop song into a full orchestral big band showcase. Released in 1967, the album marked Rich's bold attempt to bridge the big band tradition with contemporary pop material, demonstrating that jazz orchestras could engage with the rock and pop era without abandoning swing. The recording stands as one of the more audacious crossover moves of the late-1960s big band revival, and the album remains a reference point for Rich's ability to command a large ensemble across stylistically diverse repertoire.