The Centennial Collection (with bonus DVD) [Original recording remastered]

Glenn Miller | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B0001CLY66
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,618 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Moonlight Serenade

2. Chattanooga Choo Choo

3. Juke Box Saturday Night

4. Over the Rainbow

5. Tuxedo Junction

6. In the Mood

7. Fools Rush In

8. Imagination

9. The Booglie Wooglie Piggy

10. A String of Pearls

11. When You Wish Upon a Star

12. Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else but Me)

13. Pennsylvania 6-5000

14. Along the Santa Fe Trail

15. Begin the Beguine

16. At Last

17. King Porter Stomp [Live][#]

18. Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar [Live][#]

19. Moon Love [Live][#]

20. Pennsylvania 6-5000 [DJ Touché Remix]

Editorial Reviews

No description available.
Genre: Jazz Music
Rating:
Release Date: 0000-00-00
Media Type: Compact Disk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Miller Completists....otherwise a missed opportunity, April 20, 2004

By 

DAVID A. FLETCHER (Richmond, Va United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Centennial Collection (with bonus DVD) (Audio CD)

I really wanted to be more enthusiastic about this much-awaited Miller "Centennial" collection, what looks to be the first of a series of "Centennial" 2-fers for RCA/BMG artists coming up on their 100th birthdays. When the track listings first appeared on Towerrecords.com, my heart started to sink. Yet, upon its national release today, I went to my local Borders and picked it up. To recap the subject line above, yes, I am a completist and Miller collector. And, boy oh boy, was this a missed opportunity for RCA/BMG to truly honor the bandleader who has pulled more bucks into their coffers over the years than any other.

What we have is a two-disc set, half of which is a DVD which, to be fair, is the real star of the package. Included are some vintage Miller movie trailers, the "Chattanooga Choo Choo" performance from "Sun Valley Serenade" (in early multi-track stereo, something evidenced when Fox Home Video released the two Miller movies on VHS a few years back), a good bit of bassist Trigger Alpert's vintage 8mm home movie footage of his time with the band, and an incredibly rare bit of film with decent audio of Miller's Army Air Force band at a bond rally in England during its overseas stint. This is all to the good, and a great addition to the scant opus of Miller video. On this count, do yourself a favor and pick up BMG's "Glenn Miller--America's Musical Hero" for a quality video portrait of Miller.

Now, to the CD portion of the set. For the most part, it's yet another run-down of the usual Miller suspects. The remastering is decent, but nothing we haven't had for the past several Miller reissues. I do worry about "Tuxedo Junction," though; it seems to sound worse with every successive incarnation. Of note are a handful of airchecks included for the first time in any RCA/BMG Miller collection, and while grateful for their inclusion, I just have to say, "Is that it?" I'm sure I'm not the only Miller fan and collector with roots in the 78rpm and LP era who wonders when the absolute treasure trove of previously released broadcast performances, as well as those still languishing in the vaults, are going to experience new life in a definitive multi-disc set. We got a taste of just what was lurking in the shadows with the terrific Miller/Andrews Sisters 2-fer, so why not do for Miller what was done for Artie Shaw with the impressive "Self Portrait" package?

The BMG folks have already proven what they can do with the remastered "Army Air Force Band" box, as well as "The Secret Broadcasts" and "Lost Recordings" sets. So, dear record execs, how about it? Imagine a five disc box featuring the best of all the early LP Miller aircheck packages, from the two "Limited Edition" collections, the fabulous "For the Very First Time" set, as well as the various single LP's of Miller's Chesterfield and sustaining remote broadcasts? Then spice up the mix with terrific live versions of the hits we've become a bit jaded with in their usual Bluebird 78rpm renditions? I think it can be done.

Oh, I almost forgot. At the close of the CD portion of the program, there's a truly dreadful DJ "remix" of samples from "Pennsylvania 6-5000." Why oh why? Fortunately, it's the last tune on the disc, and is easily avoided.

Back to the drawing board, BMG. You've got the tools and the know-how. Make us all proud. I'd rather rave than rant any day.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is like leftover mashed potatoes, April 23, 2004

By 

phillyrich (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Centennial Collection (with bonus DVD) (Audio CD)

I have to agree with most of Mr. Fletcher's review comments. This was a missed opportunity. The 100th anniversary of Glenn Miller's birth should have been a great time to release so much of the rare "live" material that sits in the Miller archives. It could have been the right time to re-issue the big Miller box set of the complete commercial recordings(1938-42), in improved sound quality, as the original box (issued more than ten years ago) is now far surpassed by recent remastering techniques.
Instead we get (mostly) a rehash of the usual standards, already available in many CD releases, including "Pennsyvania 6-5000" repeated on two tracks(!)--including that second, pointless, remix version. The good liner notes alluded to Miller's "Stardust" being on this CD, but it is nowhere to be found. Was it bumped for the remix? That ought to be retitled: "Pennsylvania DEEP-SIXED 5000." I'm not against remixing for the young fans, but this was not the place for it.

The dvd is also a disappointment. Some fascinating clips to be sure, but there is no context provided for them. They are simply fragments that you click from the menu. One wonders why the BMG folks couldn't have included the fine PBS one-hour bio on Miller that contains some of these very clips, and puts things in an interesting historical perspective. That would have made for a wonderful keepsake.
I recommend people not buy this set, and those who have purchased it, let RCA/BMG know that the Miller audience deserves better treatment than this. After all, we won't be around for the 200th anniversary set.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Glenn is still the GREATEST!!, December 27, 2004

By 

Robert Badgley (St Thomas,Ontario,Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Centennial Collection (with bonus DVD) (Audio CD)

I bought this CD set not so much for the song content but for the included DVD.Neither disappointed me.
This isn't your usual "greatest hits" package but an unusual compilation of tunes culled from his studio,live and AAF band catalogues.Along with his better known studio numbers such as "In the Mood" and "String of Pearls" we have included here "Along the Sante Fe Trail" and "When you wish upon a Star" which you don't see/hear often.
There are three live numbers included,all billed as "previously unreleased".All these tunes HAVE been released just not on the RCA label.But they are well restored.
There is one AAF number "Begin the Beguine" sung wonderfully by Tony Martin.
The last tune is a remix of Pennsylvannia 6-5000 by British hip-hop myster Theo Keating,aka Wiseguys.
All of the above have been remastered in 24 bit digital sound and are quite a revelation to hear.The sound is very clean and crisp.
The accompanying DVD is a marvellous addition to this set.It includes among other things the "Chattanooga Choo Choo" number from Sun Valley Serenade,a few clips from a TV show in the early 60s featuring Ray McKinley and Johnnny Desmond and some very rare footage of Glenns' AAF band in England during a war bond rally at which Gen.Jimmy Doolittle was in attendance.The DVD only runs around 35 minutes and certainly leaves one hankering for more but I really liked what I saw.
As a 100th anniversary release this collection does leave alot to be desired as some previous reviewers have stated.What COULD have been included or released boggles the mind as RCA continues to sit on their collective backsides year after year releasing pitiful dribs and drabs of rare material that sits for the most part collecting dust in their storage facilities,especially Glenns'live material and his AAF recordings.
Having said that however my rating and review in all fairness must be based soley on the material at hand and the quality of its' presentation.And that is my basis for the 4 star rating.
For the first time or new listener to Glenns' music this is a great starter and introduction to the greatest big band and leader of the 20th century.If your a dyed-in-the-wool fan like myself then while(musically) there may be really nothing new under the sun for you the big attraction here is the remastered 24 bit sound AND the accompanying DVD.You'll be pleasantly surprised and I'm sure make a special place for this in your collection.