Customer Reviews

Lost Recordings (RCA)

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

 

 

This is excellence. One of the great band leaders, with all the resources that the US Army Air Corp could bring to bare, broadcasting and (Thanks be to God) recording from the Abbie Road studios in London. The orchestration includes a full complement of strings and the vocals are by some of the greats of the era, including Dinah Shore. Interspersed is commentary (Propoganda in its best form) by Glenn himself and Ilse Weinberger, whoever she was. These recordings are made from the masters and are the best "originals" I've heard from the era. This set is also great because it is not the same 12 -15 songs that everyone associates with Miller. To be sure some of them are in here, but I'd be willing to bet that you'll agree even the "standards" are better recordings than the ones you're used to hearing. There are also unexpected treats like "Poinciana" and a unique arrangement of "Begin the Beguine", with some nifty string parts. In some circles, Miller takes a bum rap for being too commercial. I don't if this fits the bill for that criticism. If it does, I can understand why he was so commercially successful. He proves his excellent taste for arranging and his ability to make good music here. Well, I could go on but why? You could be listening for yourself. BUY IT! You'll thank me later. But you won't need to. The smile on your face will be enough.

This US pressing is good, but inferior to the English one, which has many additional songs, and several vocals with Dinah Shore. The liner notes even include a letter saying that the recording of "Stardust" with Glenn and Dinah is "propoganda."! Do yourself a favor and search for the English version.

This set is one of a pair of AAF gems released during the mid '90s. Because most of the sides were made at the famous Abbey Road studios, the fidelity is higher than most of the other AAF releases on the market. The recordings showcase much of the AAF Band's breadth, with many older Miller standards as well as the richer concert sound of the full orchestra with its 21 strings. The only thing missing is an example of the strings-only arrangements found on the companion "Secret Broadcasts". It's also interesting to hear the German-language patter and vocals used as part of the Allies' propaganda effort. I only have 2 minor grumbles: first, unlike the UK version, the US release leaves out the 4 long-lost commercial sides (including 2 Dinah Shore vocals) the band recorded but never released, and second, even though I can understand the German dialogues a translation would have been helpful for those who don't speak the language. In any case, combine this CD with the marvelous "Secret Broadcasts" for a true Miller treat.

Addendum -

Yes, some of these recordings are considered as "propaganda" (note to other posters: the word has 3 'a's and only 1 'o') but IMO that only adds to their importance. Miller volunteered for military service with the stated aim of using his music to help the war effort and these recordings show that he did it his way. The narration, both in English and German, doesn't contain any heavy-handed "we will defeat you"-style blathering. Rather, the music is presented as entertainment that crosses national and cultural boundaries and Miller expresses his wishes for eventual peace among nations. There's even a short discussion of how the orchestra members represent different nationalities and religions all working together, with the clear but unspoken aim of rubbing American unity in the face of Nazi hatred. A bit more sophisticated than might be expected for the time but not surprising, because Glenn Miller was described as a man who "could only [be] fake on his trombone" (- George T. Simon).

If that's propaganda, so be it.

Love this! Great songs, great sound and great variety! Who could ask for more. For the Glenn Miller fan, or anyone who loves Big Bands!

Some of the featured recordings appeared on an LP in the eighties, so the title "Lost recordings" is a bit hyperbolic. This double CD miraculously appeared shortly after Geoffrey Butcher's second edition of his book about Glenn Miller's AAF Band, in which once again was stated that the four HMV records Miller cut in London (on two of which Dinah Shore sang) were lost to posterity. I have always suspected a clever marketing trick, but it led to articles in magazines and newspapers (even in Holland), creating a hype of sorts, renewing the interest in Miller's music and in that it was most welcome.

The music is a cross-section of Miller's usual AAF Band repertoire (as appeared on an exhaustive series of AVID CDs), introduced by Miller and sung by Johnny Desmond in a hilarious kind of German that would have done 'Allo, 'Allo" proud. The music itself is very good though (some British music critics who were present when the Dinah Shore sides were cut in 1944 were dumbfounded by the band's discipline and Miller's attention to musical details), although the sound quality is a bit on the dull side. Whether this is to be blamed on the original sources or the remastering may be debatable (the Avid CDs are much clearer though), but it should not detract from your listening pleasure. Certainly the concert arrangements of "Stormy Weather", "Summertime", "Stardust", "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" are little short of spectacular. The swing items suffer a little by comparison, with at times uninspired, repetitive arrangements (e.g "Get Happy", "Great Day" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot") and always with frustratingly little room for extended solos (while Miller had a roster of talent to rival Sam Donahue in that department). The civilian band's hits are treated quite well though and give aural evidence of the fact that with a good rhythm section Miller's band could swing with the best of them. An unmissable item for Miller aficionados.

You have to realize that these discs were recorded at the height of World War II. The "jerries" were just across the English Channel.

Here we have Glenn Miller toned down - Henry Mancini or Montovani - while retaining the whole of his best work.

A lot of German soldiers must have dreamed of Betty Grable after these broadcasts.

It is obvious that the Glenn Miller Orchestra contributed a lot to the war effort.

D-Day was only part of it.

Before the release of this set almost 10 years ago now,I recall all the hype about it.I could hardly wait to get my copy.
When I did I couldn't believe what the producers of this set had done.No it wasn't the selections...there are some very rare pieces here that have finally seen the light of day after more than 50 years.No it wasn't the sound....considering the sources for some of these songs it is a wonder that they sound as good as they do.
No what was wrong here is the speed of the recordings.Each one is either too fast or too slow.I am fortunate that I have an adjustable speed CD player so I have been able to compensate for the faux speed of these recordings.
However considering the care and attention that the Brits made to restore these recordings you'd have thought someone with half an ear would have had the common sense to properly adjust for the inconsistent speeds and record/release them as they should have been.And also considering the price for this set it is just another indignation that further peeves this reviewer no end.
So in as much as I can recommend this set for the material alone as it is historically a genuine musical treasure,I cannot do the same for its' presentation for to me this was just plain(and out of character for Brit releases) sloppiness.Thus it barely rates its' 3 star rating.
Glenn deserves far better.