All,

(And some of you have already indicated some of this in part): What's your favorite Big Band music and favorite songs from that era? Who are your favorite Big Band vocalists?

My favorite Big Band leader is Tommy Dorsey, especially "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" and "Song of India". I also love "So Rare" which Tommy's brother, Jimmy Dorsey, also recorded.

I also like Vaughn Monroe, "Racing with the Moon", "Ruby" and a few other band leaders.

I especially like Jo Stafford's "No Other Love", which actually came out in 1964.

Pam

There is no question that the big band era holds a spot in most of our hearts but as I indicated elsewhere Glenn Miller is the best (At least in my mind) Smiley

Smiley/All

What are your favorite Glenn Miller songs? Mine include Moonlight Serenade, You and I, I Know Why, A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square, At Last, Serenade in Blue and I'm sure more.

Pam

In my opinion, the Glenn Miller orchestra had no peers.
If you are in doubt, catch his only two films "Sun Valley Serenade" or "Orchestra Wives" or listen to his renditions of "At Last" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo" or my favorite both to listen to and especially to dance to "In The Mood".

I gotta go with Harry James, most especially The Man With The Horn and It's Been A Long, Long Time.

I also dig Kay Kyser and His Kollege of Musical Knowledge, in particular Slow Boat To China

I just have to jump in and say that Glenn Miller has been my favorite for a long, long time. Mr. Miller developed a very special sound that seems to grab almost everyone that hears it. I wonder what wonderful music we missed when his plane went down.

This is a cop out. I like 'em all. All were great to listen to. Harry James, Jimmy & Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, even Ray Noble, although not really Big Band, but popular during the Thirties. He composed or co-authored two great standards, "The Very Thought of You", and "Goodnight Sweetheart".

Hope I'm not getting off track by adding the following. But they were great influences to what kind of music I like... First, Benny Goodman. His Trios that included guitarist, Charlie Christian. He had such a way with the guitar that I had never heard before (as in strumming cowboys). Charlie's innovations with the guitar paved the way on how I listened to Jazz years later.

Then there was Tommy Dorsey's "Tchaikovsky Melodies For Dancing", I believe this was recorded during ASCAP's strike against the recording industry. This album, a great departure from TD's norm, opened my eyes (ears) to the world of Classical Music.
Willard

Yes, Willard--they all had wonderful songs [:)] What are some of your favorites of those bands? I didn't realize Ray Noble had written the music/words to those songs. They're very nice.

I like Harry James's Cherry-cherry-bim. And there are Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman songs that I like but I can't think of the specific ones I like most.

Willard, what kind of Jazz guitar music do you like best, the type that you feel came from Charlie Christian's influence?

Anyone out there like Stan Getz? In addition to his bossa nova music with Jobim and I also liked some of his earlier work from the early 50s, especially Indian Summer and a couple of other songs.

I haven't heard "Tchaikovsky Melodies For Dancing"--I bet that was wonderful [:)] .

Pam

Pam: In another thread I mentioned a company, World Records, but couldn't think of their address. Here it is. World Records, P. O. Box 1922, Novato, CA 94948, Tele: (800) 742-6663. They have music going back to the teens. And, have ALL types of music. Something for everyone's taste. Smiley

Smiley, Thanks so much for that information! I really appreciate it! [:)] I'll get in touch with them and make sure that my father also knows about them.

Pam

The mention of classical music and big bands reminded me of a disc I bought a couple of years ago. It is called "Beethoven Wrote it...But It Swings!" and is a compilation from Sony Classical from 1996. Not sure if it is still in print, but it features 23 tracks of swing versions of (mostly) familiar classica pieces. The interesting part of the disc is that it features Benny goodman on 3 tracks, Woody Herman and Glenn Miller Miller on one track apiece, Les Brown on 2 and the rest are from lesser known big bands, some quite obscure (Dolly Dawn and Her Dawn Patrol on the title track). There is also a track apiece from Red Nichols and Xavier Cugat.
It is an enjoyable disc. Found mine at a CD store in an outlet mall (Music for a Song).
Worth your time if you can find it.

Thanks, Harry! I will look into that CD. There was something about the swing arrangements and sounds of the Big Band era that is soothing while energizing. I have heard of Dolly Dawn. My father also likes Red Nichols and I like Xavier Cugat's music. My mother and I are probably more of the Big Band fans. My father prefers pre-big band music.

Pam

Does anyone remember Sauter and Finnegan from the 50s?

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