Billy Crystal Presents: The Milt Gabler

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 15, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Grp Records
• ASIN: B0006VXMIK
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #269,884 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Love Is Just Around the Corner

2. Them There Eyes

3. Strange Fruit

4. Fine and Mellow

5. That's a Plenty

6. Flying Home

7. You'll Never Know

8. Lover Man

9. Rum and Coca-Cola

10. MacNamara's Band

11. Choo Choo Ch' Boogie

12. Oh, Lady Be Good

13. How High the Moon

14. Blueberry Hill

15. Goodnight Irene

16. Dream a Little Dream of Me

17. Lover

18. The Glow-Worm

19. It Takes Two to Tango

20. Little Things Mean a Lot

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Although he founded pioneering jazz label Commodore and later became a legendary producer for Decca, Milt Gabler couldn't read a note of music or play an instrument. Instead, as Gabler's nephew/compilation producer Billy Crystal notes in his warm recollection here, the producer's accomplishments came almost solely courtesy of his "big heart and a great set of ears." The 26 tracks here span four decades and include some of the richest, most vibrant performances of the jazz, swing and even early rock eras. Gabler's Commodore years yield Billie Holiday's iconic "Strange Fruit" and the nascent, energetic swing of Eddie Condon, the Kansas City Six and Wild Bill Davison. His productive collaboration with Holiday (the evocative "Lover Man" here) would continue at Decca, an era in which Gabler's eclectic tastes and effusive personality would inform everything from novelty pop (The Andrews Sisters' "Rum and Coca-Cola," Bing Crosby's "McNamara's Band") and savory jazz performances by Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton and Louis Armstrong to the Weavers' folk classic "Goodnight Irene." In the 50's, Gabler would help midwife rock 'n' roll via Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie" and Bill Haley's 1954 landmark, "Rock Around the Clock," yet also continue to produce some of the era's most successful pop singles, including key tracks here by Peggy Lee, The Four Aces and Mills Brothers. Rewarding as this collection is, it can't help but scratch the surface of his legacy; if any producer deserves his own box set, surely it's Milt Gabler. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Billy Crystal's Mom's Older Brother was a Legendary music produce, April 19, 2009

By 

William E Donoghue "Fessor Mojo" (Healdsburg CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Billy Crystal Presents: The Milt Gabler (Audio CD)

That's how Milt Gabler insisted Billy Crystal to introduce him when inducting him into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame!
This loving and insightful introduction into this legendary producer is not to be missed.