Customer Reviews

Big Band Blast: The Classic Originals

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For the record, here are the contents of this volume, which first came out in 2000 from Memoir Records. Being a U.K. release it likely focuses on those sides that had a major impact over there. What I show here are the original North American label numbers, year and, if applicable, the highest chart position achieved in North America:

1. On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Tommy Dorsey & His Orch, vocal by The Sentimentalists - Victor 1648 - # 16 in June 1945; 2. Trumpet Blues And Cantabile - Harry James & His Orch - Columbia 36549 - Feb 1942; 3. Begin The Beguine - Artie Shaw & His Orch - Bluebird 7746 - # 1 for 6 weeks in the fall of 1938; 4. In The Mood - Glenn Miller & His Orch - Bluebird 10416 - # 1 for 12 weeks in late 1939/early 1940; 5. Apple Honey - Woody Herman & His Orch - Columbia 36803 - # 16 July 1945; 6. Early Autumn - Woody Herman & His Orch - first released in 1949 on capitol 57-616 - then again in 1952 on Mars 300 - # 28 in November; 7. The Peanut Vendor - Stan Kenton & His Orch - Capitol 15052 - 1947; 8. Skyliner - Charlie Barnet & His Orch - Decca 18659 - # 19 in April 1945; 9. Sing Sing Sing (With A Swing) - Benny Goodman & His Orch - Victor 25796 - # 7 April 1938; 10. Jumpin' At The Woodside - Count Basie & His Orch - Decca 2212 - # 11 Dec 1938/Jan 1939; 11. Perdido - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orch - Decca 18812 - 1943; 12. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Les Brown & His Orch - Columbia 38324 - # 1 Dec 1948/Jan 1949; 13. Leave Us Leap - Gene Krupa & His Orch - Columbia 36802 - 1945; 14. Bakerloo Nonstop - Ted Heath & His Orch, vocal by Jack Parnell - U.K. Decca release in 1946 ; 15. No Name Jive - Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra - Decca 3089 - # 9 in May 1940; 16. South Rampart Street Parade - Bob Crosby & His Orch - Decca 15038 - 1938; 17. Robbins' Nest - Claude Thornhill & His Orch - Columbia 38136 - 1947; 18. I Can't Get Started - Bunny Berigan & His Orch. Vocal by Bunny - Victor 25728 - # 10 February 1938.

Anyone familiar with the Big Band Sound and its many fine recordings from about 1935 to the mid-1940s will recognize most of the selections, which are now available on any number of fine compilations - some with extensive liner notes, discographies and even sessionographies. Having said that, there are a few hidden gems here, sides that are not all that easy to find by devoted collectors, and in that regard I refer to tracks 2, 7, 13, 14 and 17.

I have about 5 different Big Band collections on cassette and CD. This collection is my favorite. I can't put my finger on why. But I think it is the up-tempo nature of most of the songs on this compilation. The quality is about right for me--not amped up or exaggerated by remastering. Yeah, the sound quality is not as good as stuff recorded 20 years later, but I can easily live with it. I stumbled across this album looking for the signature Big Band Song: Sing, Sing, Sing. It also has my tie for favorite big band song: I Can't Get Started by Bunny Berigan. I also enjoy Skyliner by Charlie Barnet.