Customer Reviews

Chesterfield Broadcasts 1

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As a serious Glenn Miller Fan, I bought this CD for his music first. I had heard the Andrew Sisters on other compilation CD's and loved their talent, so I thought they and the Glenn Miller Orchestra would be a great combination. Well, I was right, but I wasn't prepared for how right I was! This CD is absolutely wonderful!! Not only do you get the intros and speaking from the band that make you feel you have just stepped back over 60 years, but you get the fabulous singing of the Andrew Sisters plus the Glenn Miller "sound", which compliments the sisters like peanut butter compliments jelly! And just like that combination, you'll love it and will never get enough of it no matter how old you are! I'm 36 so I didn't grow up with this music, but I am convinced that this era of music is the finest our country has or will ever produce. These were the true masters and nothing today can light a candle to this stuff! Enjoy this one!

The legions of Glenn Miller Fans around the world now have a new disc for their collections, an heretofore unheard sampling of the very first Chesterfield Broadcasts, covering the thirteen weeks beginning December 27, 1939, which featured the immensely popular Andrews Sister, Patti, Maxine and Laverne. The disc is presented as if it were one complete radio program, although it does run much longer than the original 15 minutes (including commercials) that the original shows played. Beginning with the opening Bulova Watch time check, we are transported to that CBS Radio studio in New York, where announcer Ed Herlihy tells us its Chesterfield time, and to settle back for America's favorite Swing Trio along with ace arranger and popular band leader Glenn Miller. Its swing with attitude from there on in. The liner notes are very thorough and give detailed information on every cut, even to stories about the girl's fights and why Patti sings alone on I Love You Much Too Much. We get to hear the first time Donkey Serenade is performed on the air, and it never sounded better than with Glenn's solid arrangement backing them. Also featured are several of Glenn's tunes without the girls, including a very touching Indian Summer, dedicated to ailing announcer Paul Douglas, and the ever-present In the Mood. I am excited for Volume Two to be released, as it promises more of the same, with no repeats. (The trio did twenty five different songs during those 13 weeks, plus an additional 14 versions of ten of those songs.) Bravo to RCA Victor and bring on Volume Two!

Swing/Big Band music is not my hobby. I'm in my early 20s and bought this CD to have something to listen to with my grandmother as I drove her to and from chemo and radiation. Surprisingly, I LOVE IT! I didn't think I would. All the Andrews Sisters' songs really move. I love percussion and the solid, fast tempo the drums keep. It being a live performance makes such a huge difference. You can just feel all the performers' energy. I found myself bouncing around in the car and singing the songs all day long. My friends think I'm nuts. My grandmother loves me to sing the old songs to her now -- we're jitterbugs. ;-) I don't know much about the finer points of music, all I know is that this CD puts a big smile on my face.

Fellow swing fans, it doesn't get any better than this! The best bandleader of all time backing the best swing singers of any age on one bargain-priced, superbly recorded CD! Maxine, Patty, and Laverne A. really get the Paramount Theatre jumping with their renditions of "Hold Tight," "Donkey Serenade," "Say Si Si," "Beer Barrel Polka," and one of their all-time hits, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon". And Glenn, Ray Eberle, Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke, and the "boys in the band" are behind them 1000%. On those rare occasions when the Andrews Sisters come up for air, the band fills in with screaming brass riffs, smooth reed figures, and hard-hitting drumming. (The backup work on "Say Si Si" is especially exciting.) The band does its bit alone on the enchanting "Indian Summer" (solo by Ray), the rockin' "The Rhumba Jumps!" (with Tex and Marion), and "One O'Clock Jump" (which features a great trumpet solo by either Clyde Hurley or Durham, NC's Johnny Best--not sure which). All tunes were recorded live during the "Moonlight Serenade" Broadcasts (sponsored by Chesterfield cigarettes and announced by Paul Douglas, who made it big in Hollywood after WWII) between December 1939 and March 1940. After that all-too-brief period, the Andrews Sisters and Mr. Miller parted company, never to work together again. Thereafter, each marched separately into music immortality. But for these thirteen wonderful weeks, they were making music most marvelous. If you can only afford one Miller or Andrews Sisters CD, buy THIS one.

I first heard this recording on a local jazz station during a road trip, and it immediately became one of those CD's that I had to have. As a fan of both swing music and female singing trios, I was in heaven. The harmonies of the Andrews Sisters are tight and rich and perfectly complement the Glenn Miller Orchestra. The songs are peppy and catchy and I found myself able to sing along, even when I didn't really know the words. It has the feel of an authentic radio broadcast, complete with the announcer and sponsors, and if you turn down the lights a little, slap on your bright red lipstick (or your pinstripes and wingtips) and whirl around the living room with your guy (or gal), this recording will make you feel like you're really back there. Two quintessential acts of the thirties and forties on one recording, both in top form, how could you miss? It's priceless.

This CD is probably the best recording of the Andrews Sisters and The Glenn Miller Orchestra team. The clear crisp and refreshing sounds of both groups ring clear. The hoaky Decca arrangements of the Andrews Sisters original recordings are replaced with the full big band sound of Glenn Miller's Orchestra. Miller's music rings clear also, Tuxedo Junction never sounded better, to me this is its best recording. The beautiful reed overvoicings of the clairnets,and saxes on his theme Moonlight Serenade send shivers and bring back memories of Gardenias and Summer nights and moonlight. The girls (Patti, Maxine and Lavern)get your feet tappin with Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny and , I've got No Strings both feature the driving sound of Miller in swing, and the Andrews Sisters bounce you brother with a solid four. Though the girls fought like cats, and Miller got discussed with them, they all come to gether to ceate truly a Magic Moment in Radio, I can't wait for Vol 2. Andrews Sister and Glenn Miller aficionados will not be disapointed.

While Volume 2 still has yet to see the light of day, this first cd of Miller's airchecks with the Andrews Sisters on the CBS Chesterfield shows of 1939-1940 will get the speakers bouncing, as Miller's incredibly swinging band tries its best--and succeeds--to keep up with the fabulous syncopating harmonies of Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne. Hits of each artist are plentiful, with Vic Schoen's arrangements giving the sisters an added bounce. The swinging tunes, the nostalgic announcements, and the fever-pitch audience response all result in a perfect sound-bite of the energy contained in the big-band era. For more info on the trio's working relationship with Miller, check out my book, "Swing It! The Andrews Sisters Story," right here.