I'm Hip (Please Don't Tell My Father)

Released in 1983 (and later reissued), I'm Hip (Please Don't Tell My Father) serves as the debut studio recording for John Pizzarelli. While the artist would later become a polished fixture of the Great American Songbook, this record captures a raw, more overtly humorous side of his persona. The album is notable for its sparse instrumentation, often focusing on the interplay between his signature seven-string electric guitar and a tight rhythm section. This specific guitar allows Pizzarelli to play walking bass lines simultaneously with chords and leads, a technique inherited from his father, Bucky Pizzarelli. Critically, the album is viewed as a charming entry point that showcases his developing vocal style - which AllMusic's Scott Yanow noted as having a 'likable personality' that overcomes technical limitations. The tracklist is a mix of standards like 'Route 66' and novelty-adjacent jazz tunes, establishing the 'hipster' wit that would define his early career.