Customer Reviews

The Hot Years 1925-1930

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before becoming a "second Guy Lombardo" sweet band in the 1930s, Jan Garber led a moderately hot dance band in the 1920s which recorded for Victor. This disc features a couple dozen of these "hot" sides, and even a selection or two from late 1920s "talkie" film soundtracks. If you need any proof that Jan Garber's Orchestra could play hot, just listen to the last minute of "Since My Best Girl Turned Me Down." All of the tunes on this disc are upbeat; some are well-known, others are not. I love 'em all! Despite being recorded 75 years ago, the sound quality is very good--thanks to Victor's excellent electrical recording equipment at the time, and thanks to the restortion engineer(s) responsible for cleaning up the hiss and crackle on the old 78s. I also appreciate the detailed liner notes and full discography in the booklet. It's a fantastic disc!

The Hot Years is a very good album of its genre, and Old Masters does a very nice job with remastering. I really enjoy this album, but be advised it is a CD-R, not a pressed CD.

This is one of the best compilations I've bought in years - know I will isten to it over and over. In fact it's one of the FEW CDs where I bought TWO so I'd have one at home and one for work and car. The numbers are simply excellent and the quality of the remaster is also grand. I recommend this collection to anyone else who loves this style of music.
HOT STUFF!

If you love pre-swing American Popular music, you'll love this CD. This is an excellent example of popular music from those years. The restoration on all the cuts are excellent and you could hardly tell that these came from vintage 78rpm photograph records. This CD is a must have for anyone interested in Hot Jazz from the late 1920's and early 1930's.

Gregory

Excellent example of the era.Re-mastering done superbly, the recordings sound as if recorded yesterday! Delighted with the selections. A great addition to any collection!

For those who know Jan Garber only as the purveyor of sweet music, this selection of 24 mostly pre-Depression sides will come as a revelation. These are songs that were highly popular when they were recorded, and many have stayed in the jazz repertoire. These may not be the definitive performances, which as Rich Conaty points out in his authoritative liner note, were produced by the likes of Goldkette and Whiteman. It's fascinating nevertheless to hear these alternative versions, which reveal the effect of those influences. Two items were transferred from a 1928 MGM musical short, one of which transposes a phrase from Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Sound quality is excellent, and this should appeal to collectors of hot dance and jazz alike.

I collect this type of music and I am happy to have almost anything reissued in my collection. This is not the most exciting music out there. I found this band to be merely adequate. None of the songs really heat up. If you are a collector, put this on the bottom of your Christmas list. Put the Hotel Biltmore Orchestra near the top! (It's still available on Amazon).

This CD is marvelous. Every track is a danceable, bouncy joyful indulgence. I listen to it over and over and never tire of it. You shan't be disappointed.

I highly recommend this CD for anyone suffering from the doldrums. I play it as background music while I'm getting ready for work each day, and find myself happier and more invigorated as I leave home for work. The music is upbeat, the lyrics silly and romantic....it's impossible not to be in a good mood after listening to this CD! Glad I found it!