The original Arlen LP is neatly divided, in terms of personnel, between sides 1 and 2, the former consisting solely of Tjader, backed by piano, bass and drums, and the latter supplementing that unit with a string section and harp, arranged and conducted by Fischer.

[a] Allmusic's Richie Unterberger gives the album three stars, noting in it a certain monotony of mood and tempo, to which the Fischer tracks offer a welcome contrast: Clare Fischer's tense orchestral arrangements actually add a bit of wakeup spice to the latter part of the program, even as they heighten the sentimentality factor in some respects.

[1]Contemporaneous reviews likewise highlighted Fischer's efforts; the album's bipartite structure was duly noted by Billboard Magazine, with kudos reserved for side two: Tjader is heard in two contrasting types of ensemble.

"Over the Rainbow" opens with a lot of out of tempo effects, then has Tjader take the melody in a yearning six-eight, the strings playing against him in four.

Like the other pieces, this abounds in tempo shifts, all of which work out swingingly.The most amazing thing, though, is that Fischer is theatrical.