When Sidney Bechet returned to France on June 5, 1950, he decided to stay. To his own surprise he became somewhat of a national celebrity over the coming months and years. The following month he went on tour with Claude Luter's band and gave a number of concerts in Switzerland where he also enjoyed enormous popularity. Back in Paris, he made a fine session that included a new version of "Egyptian Fantasy" which he had first recorded back in 1941 (see CLC #638). Only days later Bechet played in the Netherlands with the Dutch Swing College Band who tackled the songs with zest and immense drive. On Nov. 5, 1951 Blue Note seized the opportunity to record him together with musicians he had known for many years.