Best Of The Big Bands

Harry James | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 2011)
• Original Release Date: June 19, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia
• ASIN: B0000026VN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,887 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MR. JAMES, YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU, April 30, 2000

By 

"scotsladdie" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best Of The Big Bands (Audio CD)

This collection is simply superb. Listen to "Trumpet Blues" for a 1942 killer diller! "I'll Get By" offers a great vocal by the very young Dick Haymes. "Sleepy Lagoon" is absolutely dreamy in it's introduction (a'la Debussy) and a classic performance by James and his golden trumpet (he really was THE greatest bar none of the Big Band era! If you wish to dig deeper into James (here we have the eloquent "You Made Me Love You" - his first really big hit; listen to "Cherry" (1942) "Autumn Serenade" (1945) and lastly "The Mole" his 1955 version-it's the supreme epitome & definition of swing and all it's glory; the radio program "The Swingin' Years" used it as their theme and it was my VERY favourite LONG before I heard the broadcasts!- it's truly a classic among classics. James was my second fave Big Band (My #1 is Artie Shaw) His records with Helen Forrest and his best instrumentals are legendary and they really DO stand the test of time. Listen to Helen Forrest sing "I Remember You" and you'll agree!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Boy, could this guy play a trumpet..., January 7, 2002

By 

Jimmy "jimbo71" (YELM, WA. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best Of The Big Bands (Audio CD)

One of my favorite musicians and for good reasons. Harry James probably had control over the trumpet better then anyone in his time! I would say the band he had in 1943 was the best. And the female singers were excellent also. Helen Forrest, Kitty Kallen and Betty Grable. Dick Haymes did the male singing. This album shows off the band and singers very well with songs like "I've heard that song before", " I cant begain to tell you," Ciribiribin" to name a few. I would say to anyone who liked the music of this era to buy this album. Dont think you could go wrong.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best big bands of the '40s - a good collection., July 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Best Of The Big Bands (Audio CD)

Harry James' big band perhaps isn't remembered as well as the Miller, Goodman, Basie, or Ellington bands, but he was one of the Goodman sidemen - drummer Gene Krupa was another - who left to seek fame and fortune on their own. And he deserved every bit of it. His trumpet playing, his good looks, his marriage to Betty Grable - he had a lot going for him. This collection will appeal even to listeners who, while they may not have heard of Harry James, will say, "Hey, I've heard that number before." Included are several vocals by Helen Forrest and Kitty Kallen - and a Betty Grable number. The sound quality is pretty good, mostly.