Customer Reviews

Secret Broadcasts

5 star:		(4)
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Glen Miller's Army Air Force Band is thought by many to have been superior to his pre-war Band, and based on these recordings I'd have to agree. The menu leans a bit more towards the soft end of the spectrum, but there are some jumping dance tunes scattered throughout. Sound quality (via the CEDAR process) is excellent, with none of the edgy brightness that sometimes mars big band recordings from this era.

This recording should be in the collection of anyone who is a serious fan and/or student of Miller's music. The recordings were made for the Office of War Information and, except for some inevitable deterioration after a half-century, have some of the best fidelity of any Miller sides anywhere. The music goes far beyond the usual Miller standards: the selections cover the incredible breadth of the AAF Band, ranging from straight-ahead jazz to serious classical performances by the string section, along with unusual mixes of the 2 genres (e.g., "Pearls on Velvet", "Blue is the Night"). A real eye- and ear-opener for anyone who only knows the civilian band, and a tantalizing hint at what might have been, had things turned out differently that December afternoon in 1944.

Simply one of the best CD's on the market for Glenn. This album definately gives the respect to one of the most talented condutors of all time. There is not a track on here where you feel like you should turn it. I would definately recommend this CD for any Miller fan, and if you aren't, get this album. After one listen you'll never want to put it down. My only problem is there is no Pennsylvania 6-5000. Only minor in one of the best albums of all time.

This CD outdoes the already fantastic Lost Recordings. Sound quality and performance are the best I have ever heard of a GM band. I heard a story that Miller used to record the band's performances out of his own pocket to judge their playing. If he did do this for his civilian band or the AAF band, I wonder where those secrets are hidden away?