Customer Reviews

In Hollywood 1928-1933

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This superb 2-CD set from Renovation harks back to the heyday of Hollywood, when after a day on set the stars relaxed to the music of Gus Arnheim. The first CD presents tracks by Russ Columbo, and Bing Crosby, the latter just beginning his solo career after parting from Paul Whiteman. Many of the songwriters involved became household names, and many of the tunes have become standards. Remastering is excellent, and packaging is of the highest quality.

This is a very good two-cd set, attractively presented in state-of-the-art-deco style. The band is not dissimilar to that of the early Richard Himber (also on Renovation): lush, sweet (in the positive sense of the word) but when called upon also rhythmically exhilarating. The only band members that might ring a bell are bassist Ward Lay, reedman Joe Krechter (who played bass clarinet on Artie Shaw's march 1940 recordings), violinist Sterling Young (who led a sweet band later on, his violin-lead emulating Glenn Miller's saxophone sound), Russ Columbo (whose singing is not as great as one is sometimes led to believe) and, surprisingly, film star-to-be Fred MacMurray (of 'Double Indemnity' fame) on reeds and as vocalist.
As for the singers: Bing Crosby is generously featured on disc one; his style is lightyears removed from the glib, unctuous, emotionally incontinent singers like Donald Novis and Dave Marshall who sadly keep popping up all over the place on disc two, but fortunately their contributions are limited to the obligatory vocal refrain, so their intrusions are bearable through brevity.
Otherwise this is a musically very rewarding collection that will certainly appeal to those interested in the better kind of pre-swing dance music.