No comments about Big Band Era.

3 comments about Bing Crosby the Crooner: The Columbia Years 1928-1934.

1. OK, so what if I just missed living in this era by 50 years? It's no big deal really, anyone with the slightest appreciation for pop music history could put this box set on their radio (oops, I mean iPod) and immediately recognize the voice of ol' Bing. His voice is that timeless and classic, of which nothing else need be said (after all, praise for Bing has been scribed countless times for more than 80 years now). What is fascinating about this collection is the history of the era- in the span of 3 CDs (or 4 vinyl records if you're lucky enough to locate this set in that format) one can hear Mr. Crosby happily croon at the end of the roaring 20s Jazz era, through the beginning of troubling times in the early 30s, to the height of the Depression ("Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" is so brooding and dark that Bing's anxious and exhausted tone invites goosebumps). Bing's singing deftly defines each time period with a mood in each song that's palpable even today.
   
   It's not just Bing singing on these tracks; it's the voice of a nation entire. Even though most of us weren't around then, one could easily play this box set and receive a college level lesson in American pop culture history through the middle of the Depression era. The liner notes are amazingly well researched: a read-along with each track reveals other performers with names like the Dorsey Brothers, Paul Whiteman, and Guy Lombardo. It's Bing and Company, really- and they were performing not to set the mood for the audience, but to parallel it. It was during this era that Bing's voice became that of a generation; it's unlikely that a single entertainer could ever again accomplish what he could, and through this compilation we get to experience the beginning of the most successful career for a single entertainer, ever.
   
   Although many Baby Boomers (and subsequent generations) associate Bing Crosby's vocal style with songs released during World War II and later, they are largely unaware that Bing's greatest vocal performances came during the early 1930s, of which this box set highlights admirably. "I've got to sing a Torch Song" and "Home on the Range", recorded in mid-late 1933, showcase a singer at the very top of his game. Never again will Bing sound so pure and in control of his ability.
   
   The mastering and cleanup of each track, although using late 1980s technology, is superb even by today's demanding standards. It is not a stretch to say that the audio quality on these tracks supersedes many of those that appear on the MCA compilation released 5 years later- despite the relative youth of Bing's MCA (then Decca) recording sessions. Recording with high fidelity was non-existent in the early 1930s so don't expect any of these tracks to amaze your ears, but the tracks lack the annoying clicks, hiss, and scratches that many old 78 RPM records contain.
   
   Although Bing Crosby's original fans are departing this world at an increasing rate, limiting the key target demographic for this compilation, one can hold out hope that Columbia will re-release this now out-of-print gem in the future. A future that will no doubt introduce new listeners to the legacy and musical greatness of a youthful Bing Crosby.



2. Disc 1:
   Rose of Mandalay
   (Anyone can see with half an eye that) I'm crazy over you
   My kinda love
   My Angeline
   Little pal
   Oh! Miss Hannah
   Orange blossom time
   Waiting at the end of the road
   Southern medley
   I'm sorry, dear
   Can't we talk it over?
   I found you
   Snuggled on your shoulder
   Starlight (Help me find the one I love)
   Love, you funny thing
   Shine
   "Face the music" medley: Soft lights & sweet music/On a roof in Manhattan
   Shadows on the window
   Paradise
   You're still in my heart.
   
   Disc 2: Lawd, you made the night too long
   Waltzing in a dream
   Happy-go-lucky-you and broken-hearted me
   Lazy day
   Let's try again
   With summer coming on (I'm still without a sweetheart)
   Love me tonight
   Some of these days
   Linger a little longer in the twilight
   We're a couple of soldiers
   Brother, can you spare a dime?
   Sweet Sue
   Let's put out the lights and go to sleep
   I'll follow you
   Someday we'll meet again
   On a street of dreams
   It's within your power
   I'm playing with fire
   Try a little tenderness
   You're getting to be a habit with me
   Young and healthy
   You're beautiful to-night, my dear.
   
   Disc 3:
   I've got the world on a string
   My honey's loving arms
   What do I care, it's home!
   You've got me crying again
   Someone stole Gabriel's horn
   Stay on the right side of the road
   Here is my heart
   Learn to croon
   My love
   I've got to pass your house to get to my house
   Blue prelude
   I would if I could but I can't
   Shadow waltz
   I've got to sing a torch song
   There's a cabin in the pines
   The last round up
   Home on the range
   Let's spend an evening at home
   May I?
   Little Dutch mill
   Shadows of love
   Ridin' around in the rain
   Give me a heart to sing to



3. Unfortunately, they don't give you a track listing here, but this CD encompasses Crosby's early work, beginning with the Rhythm Boys and Whiteman, and ending in 1936 with "Moonburn." This last recording is one of Bing's finest, with some memorable scat singing and jazz intonations which will send shivers down your spine. The sound quality here is universally good, though there is some tinny elements to "Dinah" and "Please." There are no great rarities here, these are all standard songs available on many other anthologies. But if you're a fan of Bing's early work (and who isn't?) then this is a pleasing addition to your collection. The liner notes are interesting, informative and very complimentary to Crosby. What's not to like?

4 comments about East of the Sun: The West Coast Sessions.

1. I ADORE THIS MUSIC. I don't know how else to put it. This is some of my favorite jazz music, it's got that sweet, swinging, mellow, cool feel of West Coast jazz from the late 50's & early '60's. Stan Gets, at this point, was at the height of his powers as an improvisor. The sidemen may not be the most famous players in the world, but for some reason, Stan Levy, the pianist, lays down some of the most swinging sounds you'll ever hear. These were clearly jam sessions, they mainly played standards, and allowed themselves plenty of space to improvise, but that takes nothing away from the impact of the music. Yes, there are some repeated tracks (which an above lame critic complains about) which I simply programme out when I listen. You still get over two hours of music, if you omit the alternate takes of songs. I can't reccomend this highly enough to anyone who likes the lighter West Coast feel. I probably have about 1000 jazz albums, and this set is easily in my top 10. BUY IT, SUCKER! JUST A LITTLE OVER 20 BUCKS, AND IT'S OUT OF PRINT!!!



2. The sound in his west coast days.
   It doesn't come more better than this.
   Applause to Conte Candoli, Stan Levey and the other californians too.



3. There is much good music here but some of this 3 cd box set CD is duplicated on the more recent released single CD's "West Coast Jazz", "The Steamer" & "Award Winner". Those CD's, better mixes with more bits, contain less duplication of outtakes and more other songs, particularly more ballads (see my reviews).

   For the same price, the prudent Getz collector will get the three Cool classics listed above, instead.

   This music is mostly faster bebop.




4. These Mid-Fifties Sessions by Stan-The-Man, are the most frequently played in my collection. Their enjoyment being enhanced by his accompanying musicians (Conte Candoli,Lou Levy,Leroy vinnegar & Stan Levey(D)). Excellent West Coast Jazz Epitomising the Style and the time!

No comments about Jazz Divas.

No comments about I'm Getting Sentimental Over You.

2 comments about The Voice: The Columbia Years (1943-1952).

1. DISC 1:
   1. Nearness Of You, The
   2. If I Had You
   3. Nevertheless
   4. You Go To My Head
   5. My Melancholy Baby
   6. How Deep Is The Ocean
   7. Embraceable You
   8. She's Funny That Way, (I Got A Woman Crazy For Me)
   9. For Every Man There's A Woman
   10. I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)
   11. Someone To Watch Over Me
   12. Love Me
   13. There's No Business Like Show-Business
   14. Song Is You, The
   15. September Song
   16. Oh What A Beautiful Morning
   17. They Say It's Wonderful
   18. Bess Oh Where Is My Bess
   
   DISC 2:
   1. Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night In The Week)
   2. Poinciana
   3. Try A Little Tenderness
   4. Autumn In New York
   5. April In Paris
   6. Dream
   7. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
   8. Put Your Dreams Away
   9. I'm Glad There Is You
   10. Day By Day
   11. Close To You
   12. I'm A Fool To Want You
   13. Where Or When
   14. I Could Write A Book
   15. Why Was I Born
   16. Lost In The Stars
   17. All The Things You Are
   18. Ol' Man River
   
   DISC 3:
   1. Should I
   2. Birth Of The Blues
   3. Mean To Me
   4. It All Depends On You
   5. Deep Night
   6. Sweet Lorraine
   7. Castle Rock
   8. Why Can't You Behave
   9. My Blue Heaven
   10. S'Posin'
   11. You Can Take My Word For It Baby
   12. Blue Skies
   13. Continental, The
   14. It's The Same Old Dream
   15. Laura
   16. Stormy Weather
   17. I've Got A Crush On You
   18. House I Live In, The
   
   DISC 4:
   1. One For My Baby
   2. I Should Care
   3. These Foolish Things
   4. I Guess I'll Have To Dream The Rest
   5. It Never Entered My Mind
   6. When Your Lover Has Gone
   7. Body And Soul
   8. That Old Feeling
   9. Ghost Of A Chance With You, (I Don't Stand A)
   10. There's No You
   11. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry
   12. Why Try To Change Me Now
   13. All Through The Day
   14. I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night
   15. Time After Time
   16. But Beautiful
   17. I Fall In Love Too Easily
   18. Brooklyn Bridge, The



2. Just imagine; you're somewhere alone, sitting at a cafe, there is no one else except for a piano and a nice man, singing softly, slowly with a voice you will never forget. This CD gives you that feeling, old music as I call it, just a voice, just a piano but so beautiful. I bought the CD 6 years ago and it is still one of my favourites. Not only for the sad moments but also for the very romantic moments, you and you're new partner, listening to that beautiful voice of good ol' Frank. Just buy it and you'll see....

No comments about The Original Jazz Masters Series, Vol. 5.

1 comments about The Original Jazz Masters Series, Vol. 3.

1. My son, a Music professor in an out of state college asked for this vol.3 of THE ORIGINAL JAZZ MASTERS SERIES, VOL. 3 by various artists to complete his set. He is very pleased that Amazon had it before Christmas 2007.

3 comments about Swing Time! The Fabulous Big Band Era 1925-1955.

1. This is hardly a definitive collection - how can there be an ultimate swing set with only three discs? - but it IS a great collection for the novice, or just for the collector.
   My favorite disc is disc one, which gives an overview of the roots of swing from the 1920's and early '30's. Some hoppin' tunes here, the kind of Jazz that had parents fretting over the music their children were listening to. Yes, that's something that many younger folks are not aware of. This period in time was the beginning of the teenager as a rebellious sort, and that continued on until the Great Depression put an end to the frivolousness of their ways - driving fast and wild in their automobiles, wearing outrageous clothes, crazy bobbed haircuts, diggin' these hep cat grooves while dancin' as if they were possessed. And you thought that the teen's of the 1950's were out of control! My grandmother and her sisters were part of the roaring twenties scene and turned their mother's hair white!
   The Great Depression and the unrest in Europe of the 1930's didn't stop the swinging sounds that came out of the big American cities. The youth of the day needed a release, and the edgy music of Swing was IT. Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers, Chick Webb, and so many more kept the sounds coming and the kids alive, allowing them to forget their troubles for a few minutes while Tain't What You Do, Let's Dance, and Stompin' At the Savoy played on.
   Of course, WWII soon came to America and, although there were some swinging cuts, for the most part the music began to ease on the jumpin' and jumped on the vocal sounds instead. This set, however, shows us that, although the smooth Frank Sinatra may have been king of the jukeboxes during the war, the hep sounds still did abound with Take The A Train, Caldonia, and Let Me Off Uptown.
   This collection is a great starter set as an introduction to a musical form that was, in its day, every bit at wild as rock and roll was in the 1950's. There are glaring ommissions (no Sing Sing Sing?) but neat trivia tunes such as Hot and Anxious by the Baltimore Bellhops, which is where Glenn Miller 'borrowed' the rif for his In The Mood (also on this collection).
   A worthy set that's worth your buck.



2. Consider this three CD set from Columbia as a sort of start-up kit into the fabulous world of Big Band music. I'm one of those souls who always feel they were born in the wrong era and for a nostalgia nut like me these recordings still give off a vibe both jazzy and innocent. This was a time when men and women made music without the use of any technological recording wizardry and through a combination of craftsmanship and sheer moxie created a sound that was the "rock" and "rap" for whom some call the "greatest generation." There's a youthful exhuberance here. Just close your eyes when you here the first cut of "Sweet Georgia Brown" by the California Ramblers (featuring future Big Band stars Red Nicols and Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey) and you soon realize that your hearing not your granddad but guys in their twenties and thirties letting loose and sharing in what was primarily a Black American art form.
   
   "Swing Time" is a wonderfully designed package that includes a lavish booklet featuring both history and enlightening analysis of the era from writer Michael Brooks. Some musicologists will no doubt gripe about what may or may not be included here. No matter, for my untrained ears these 66 cuts speak for themselves brilliantly. .



3. 5 STAR for the music and 1 STAR for the reproductions.

   The music is the greatest! However, the quality of the CD's were horrendous. I have records that are 50 years old, played hundreds of times, that sound better! No matter if they used CEDAR or any other method of restoration, they sound lousy to me!!!

1 comments about Greatest Hits of 90's, Vol. 1.

1. You can't like every track on a colletion of this size, but you can love most of it. Such a great cross-section of this era...I only wish they would have make a Vol. 2, or 3.