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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Upscale Look at Some of the Best Numbers of World War II, September 11, 2007
An intriquing and fascinating selection! If you're not interested in a complete box set of all the music there are four separate CDs accompanying Ken Burns' World War II Documentary. Two - this one, "Sentimental Journey", and the album titled "I'm Beginning to See the Light" - showcase sensational popular music selections, among the best from what is commonly referred to as the Swing Era. For some, this reviewer included, the Swing Era at its best produced the most distinctive and thrilling popular music in our history. This was a time with numbers such as the Benny Goodman explosion on, "Swing, Swing, Swing", with a very young Harry James' striking trumpet work utterly overshadowed by Gene Krupa's insane and mythic drum solo. You had arguably the greatest rhythm section of perhaps any time in Count Basie's "One O'clock Jump". And when you add Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and the rest it's all just plain mindboggling. Burns' did fascinating work in his documentary on American Jazz and his grasp of the lives of the early jazz musicians brings a quiet assurance to the selections on these CDs. Heavily weighted away from merely compiling the popular hits of the day, the two CDs are geared for a modern audience rather than an audience seeking nostalgia. This is not to suggest that the two CDs contain off beat stuff for jazz aficionados only, not at all! These are loaded with gold - many of the choices were huge hits, some will sound almost too familiar to anyone over fifty. The title song, "Sentimental Journey" by Les Brown was one of the biggest hits of the War, topping the billboard of 1945.
There are, however, several caveats to this collection, "Sentimental Journey" and the other CD, "I'm Beginning to See the Light". First, overall this list simply doesn't reflect the general taste, the favorite songs of the day. Whatever the rationalizations, it's both bad history and misleading to offer three songs by Sinatra but little from the female vocalists. Dear Mr. Burns - cold and lonely guys around the world weren't listening in their foxholes and bunks to the voice of Frank Sinatra. And when somebody played "Skylark" chances are it was a female voice they chose. Kitty Kallen's work on the title song to the other CD is not even noted on the notes above - why? Because her name is unknown? It's hard to beleive that argument could be given to the singer on the title song of this CD, Sentimental Journey. Her name - Doris Day. Let's give credit where credit is due.
Also, two albums of contemporary World War II hits without der Bingel or the Andrews Sisters? The CD of the documentary sountrack does include one song by Bing Crosby, but there should also be one on one of these CDs as well. In 1944 Bing and the trio had 6 hits in the top 15, including numbers one and three. And I could list several dozen similar 'oversights.
However; to quote 1945's #6 hit by Johnny Mercer, with these selections it's easy to "Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive!" This is a fine and even distinquished collection: the chosen selections avoid a brainless list of wartime favorites, many now hopelessly dated, and in the process set forth what an exalted level of music-making was taking place. Burns understands some of the most popular films of the time are almost unwatchable by modern viewers - for every Casablanca there's also yet another Fox musical. So instead of a song like "Mairzy Doates" or the "Pennsylvannia Polka" we have instead an extra Artie Shaw or Count Basie. Thank Goodness!
I'm also happy the price is so fair - it didn't have to be.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible recording quality, May 18, 2009
Great compilation, poor, poor sound quality. I have this on a playlist with my Dean Martin's Greatest Hits, and on shuffle, I'm entreated to clear Dino, and scratchy, tinny Sentimental Journey. I would really like to see remastered tracks. Especially for the higher price.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars! Fantastic Gift!, December 17, 2007
When my MIL saw the Ken Burns WW II series on PBS, she enjoyed the music so much that I searched for the track online. I purchased it for her as a surprise gift. If you want to get a gift for someone who lived through that era, this is the GREATEST! No dusting, no calories! She LOVES it! She played it continuously and was worried enough to ask, "Do these wear out?" Although I told her I doubt it, I assured her I would get another set if it should. She is back at the Big Band dances with her sweetheart, she is anxiously awaiting a letter from her love across the ocean, she is interrupting waiting on customers at the soda shop to listen yet again to Frank Sinatra.
It was such a hit with her, that I ordered another set for my dear Aunt who also had a sweetheart in the Navy in WW II. My sister-in-law ordered a set for a friend's parent who has early Alzhiemer's. Music has the ability to transport them back to the sights, sounds and even smells of the events taking place in the 40's--a true Time Machine. They are young, beautiful and in love again.
If you want to give a WINNER gift to one of your older relatives or friends, this is it! "Sentimental Journey" and "I'm Beginning to See the Light" bring several hours of smiles and occasional tears again and again as they evoke memories of those highly charged emotional days of World War II.
P.S. We Beatles kids are enjoying the pure sounds, beat and lyrics of the 40's, too!
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
~ Original Soundtrack
DVD ~ Ken Burns
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