Customer Reviews

1943-46

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Anyone who grew up in the 30s and 40s will-like myself be
quite familiar with the big band sound, Miller,goodman.
woody Herman-etc-however, though the net was wide and it did include Charlie Spivak,he didn't seem to have the status or the
coverage of the aforementioned bands,and recorded material of
him is thin on the ground,but Hindsighthas done a great job of
producing a cd of Spivak from 1943-1946-anyone who missed out on
Charlie Spivak now have the opportunity to hear him-and everyone
who loves the Harry James trumpet sound must buy this disc and
sit back and listen to Spivacs version of "Stardust" he gives Harry a run for his money-and after hearing it for the first time will I'm sure press the replay button on his recorder to
listen again to the wonderful sound of charlies trumpet making
his recording of Stardust one of the best ever recorded,
"Serenade In Blue" is also given the Spivak touch ,and as for Laura-well enough said ,what ever the weather go out and buy this cd- you will play it again and again -enjoy

This is well-performed dance music from the later years of the swing era. The charts - if at times a bit bland - are played with precision. Tasteful drumming by Alvin Stoller (and the superb Dave Tough on a few tunes) propels things along at a tastefully swinging pace.

It is vocalist Irene Daye who really knocked my socks off. Irene Daye has an appealing voice and an amiable, lightly swinging style. Her delivery is relaxed, her diction is clear and she never strains trying to overreach. Her slightly syncopated phrasing adds appeal even to banal tunes.

Irene Daye with Spivak holds her own when compared to Helen Forrest singing with the Harry James band. Daye may have less vocal equipment than Forrest, but her phrasing sometimes sounds more playful and more jazz-informed to my ears.

Irene Daye had recorded 63 songs with Gene Krupa (Drum Boogie was her biggest hit) and then retired in 1941 at age 23 to marry trumpeter Corky Cornelius. After the death of her husband in 1943, she started performing again - this time with Spivak's band. Daye and Spivak married in 1950, and she then permanently retired.

Spivak was initially known for his pretty sound when soloing on ballads with his customized mute. When playing open, he has a beautiful tone that is a bit sweeter than Harry James's sound. Spivak seldom grandstands, but is a master of melody and technique. There are no other big name soloists in the band, but Fran Ludwig adds a couple of good sax solos.

The band's sound is mostly middle-of-the-road, but is occasionally jazzy or aggressive. The tunes with the most esprit de corps are Blue Lou, featuring a brassy arrangement and Spivak's open horn, and Travelin' Light, a jazzy instrumental with energetic exchanges.

This orchestra enjoyed a sizable fan base in the 1940's, and Spivak somehow managed to keep a band together into the late 1950's.

Bottom line: A fine addition for collectors of swing music. Irene Daye should delight any fan of big band singers. And, yes, Spivak has an amazing tone.