Customer Reviews

Good to Go

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The first half of a 50 side marathon radio transcription session Benny did in June 1935 (Buddha never released the second volume, although it is promised in these liner notes. ) No second takes were done, so this has some of the feeling of a 'live' recording. Excellent mastering, and the liner notes are well done ( except for a minor typo listing Harry Goodman on drums instead of bass ). This is a good CD, but I can't recommend it unless you're happy to never see the other half.

I have the whole session on a two CD set from another label (the Swedish TAX label, 1990).

(March 2005 addition) This entire session just became available as a two CD set on the British label, Jasmine, titled "50 Tracks In One Day", and is very well done.

This CD contains half of a marathon recording session by Benny Goodman's first-rate 1935 band. Benny's boys knocked off 25 tunes intended for broadcast -- with only one take each. Listeners who expect hurriedness or sloppiness will be disappointed, because virtually all the renditions are well up to Goodman's high standard. Fans who know Goodman's Victor records will be especially interested in this session, because there are some departures from the usual renditions: no vocals (so you can hear familiar Goodman arrangements with additional solos replacing the lyrics); "Bugle Call Rag" follows the seldom-heard, original melody more closely; "Changes" uses staccato horns instead of the familiar overlapping "bell-tone" brass. There are also a few rarely revived cuts ("Pardon My Love," "Yes, We Have No Bananas"). Swing fans can't miss with this one; grab it while it's still available.