The big bands are back

in a new and exciting way!

MARCH 2013 "BIG BAND NEWS"

compiled by Music Librarian

CHRISTOPHER POPA

    It's also the perfect opportunity for me to present another installment of Roland Taylor's multi-part investigation tracing the day-by-day activities of The Glenn Miller Army Air Force Orchestra, which Mr. Taylor began in 2006 in the pages of the Moonlight Serenader, the journal of the international Glenn Miller Society.  The Society, which had been formed in London in 1950, ceased operation last Spring and Mr. Taylor kindly consented to allowing the remaining installments of his series to be presented here.  (The first was in the September 2012 "Big Band News.").

   

The Chronology Continues

MILLER'S MIGHTY SERVICE BAND

The ensemble in focus

by Roland Taylor

   Major Glenn Miller and his American Band of the AEF had now completed their tour of duty at air bases, officers and Red Cross clubs, supply bases, hospitals, and cinemas, but due to adverse weather conditions they now concentrated completely on their massive broadcasting schedule for the AEF Programme.  During this period from 8th July to 3rd October 1944, Major Miller’s full band or units from the full band were involved in 82 individual appearances for a total of 221,000 service personnel entertained by the magic of the Miller music.

    Towards the end of September 1944, Lt. Don Haynes in Bedford received a call from Colonel Edward Kirby who was attached to General Eisenhower’s Supreme Headquarters of The Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF), stating that Major Miller had to report to SHAEF (Rear) with immediate effect.  The next day, Lt. Haynes drove Major Miller to London, checked in at the Mount Royal Hotel, later met up with Colonel Kirby and over dinner claimed he had not been informed for the reason for Major Miller to make himself available.  The following morning, Haynes drove Miller to SHAEF (Rear) which was located in Bushey Park and Major Miller was told it was mandatory he should report immediately to Lt. General Walter Bedell Smith, Chief of Staff to General Eisenhower at SHAEF (Main) in Versailles, near Paris.  Orders were cut for Major Miller to fly on the SHAEF shuttle operated by the USAAF Air Transport Command from Bovingdon Airfield, near Hemel Hempstead for customs and security clearance.

    Haynes drove Miller to Bovingdon for the next available flight to Paris – transport would have been available to Versailles – and on arrival at SHAEF (Main), Major Miller met Major-General Ray Barker (U.S. Army), Head of SHAEF G-1 (Personnel) and Assistant Chief of Staff to Lt. General Bedell Smith.  Miller also saw Barker’s Executive Officer Major May.  Neither knew why Major Miller had been summoned by Lt. General Bedell Smith.  Major Miller was escorted to Bedell’s office, saluted, and the Lt. General, who was studying some papers, said, “Sit down, Major.”  The Lt. General then asked him whether he would like to take over the U.S. Army Band which was the “number one” band in the Army.  Miller said he would not like that.  The Lt. General then asked why not, and Major Miller said that they didn’t play his kind of music.  That certainly wasn’t the reply that the Lt. General wanted and Major Miller was dismissed!

    The problem was the U.S. Army Band in the ETO had not been performing as well as other bands, and General Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, who had a particular interest in this band, was determined to revitalize the unit.  He had been told by someone in Washington about Miller’s success.  General Marshall then got in touch with Lt. General Bedell Smith.

    It is difficult to pinpoint the actual date that Major Miller left England for France.  We know that the Major was at the Queensberry All-Services Club with the full band on 28th September 1944 for the 8:30 broadcast with special guest Pat Kirkwood, but he was not present at the band’s personal appearances at Great Ashfield and Nuthampstead on the 1st and 2nd October respectively (T./Sgt. Ray McKinley fronted the band on both days), but Major Miller did lead the unit on the 3rd at Kings Cliffe.  So the statement Lt. Haynes made later that Miller was away for four days would be correct.

D A T E L I N E   4 T H   O C T O B E R   1 9 4 4

4th October 1944 (Wed) 2:00-2:15pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“Piano Parade” reserve recording no.1 (aired 16th Dec ’44 11:45-12 Noon AEFP)

Pfc. Jack Rusin

Chopsticks [ opening theme ] / Sweet and Lovely / Nevermore / I Never Knew / Taboo / Spring Is Here / You Are Too Beautiful / Have You Met Miss Jones? / Chopsticks [ closing theme ]

4th October 1944 (Wed) 2:30-2:45 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“Piano Parade” reserve recording no.2 (aired 23rd Dec ’44 11:45-12 Noon AEFP)

Pfc. Jack Rusin

Chopsticks [ opening theme ] / Fancy Our Meeting / A Room with a View / These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) / I’ll Follow My Secret Heart / Don’t Get Around Much Anymore / All the Things You Are / Stompin’ At the Savoy / Sweet and Lovely / Chopsticks [ closing theme ]

4th October 1944 (Wed) 6:15-6:30 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“The Uptown Hall” broadcast AEPF

S/Sgt. Mel Powell and the American Swing Sextet

with Cpl. Joe Shulman (string bass), Pfc. Frank Ippolito (drums)

My Guy’s Come Back [ opening theme ] / Emaline / Louise / If Dreams Come True (quartet: Hucko, Powell, Shulman, Ippolito) / I’ll Be Seeing You (voc: Johnny Desmond) / Night in Tunisia / My Guy’s Come Back [ closing theme ]

4th October 1944 (Wed) 7:45-8:00 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“Strings with Wings” broadcast AEFP

S/Sgt. George Ockner and the string section

I Sustain the Wings [ opening theme ] / Embraceable You / Orchids in the Moonlight / May Night / Sure Thing / I Sustain the Wings [ closing theme ]

5th October 1944 (Thu) 8:00-8:30 pm

Queensberry All-Services Club, London

Concert: warm-up for broadcast

Major Glenn Miller and The American Band of the AEF

guest star: RSM George Melanchrino

clarinet solo by George Melanchrino (using Sgt. Peanuts Hucko’s clarinet) / Amor - violin solo by George Melanchrino (using a violin borrowed from a member of the string section) / Great Day

A buzz bomb flew directly over the Club during this warm-up and Major Miller hushed the band so that everyone present would know it had passed over!

5th October 1944 (Thu) 8:30-9;)0 pm

Queensberry All-Services Club, London

“American Band of the AEF” broadcast on AEFP, AFN, BBC-GFP

Major Glenn Miller and The American Band of the AEF

guest star: RSM George Melanchrino

Moonlight Serenade [ opening theme ] / Great Day

Miller: “Tonight we tap the supply line of British talent not for a gal, as is the usual custom, but for the man who leads the British Band of the AEF, regimental Sergeant George Melanchrino.  George… “

Melanchrino: “Thank you up there.  Thank you Major Glenn Miller.  As you know, I’ve looked forward to appearing with your band.”

Miller: “Well, we’ve looked forward to having you, George.  You’re a handy guy to have around.  I – I understand that you not only can direct an orchestra but I know you play violin, viola, saxophone, clarinet, oboe and trumpet.”

Melanchrino: “That’s right.”

Miller: “Well, how about it?  Do you play anything else?”

Melanchrino: “Oh, a bit of cricket and a fair game of darts.”

Miller: “Oh, that’s great.  That darts is for me.  Well, what are you going to play tonight?”

Melanchrino: “Oh, nothing at all, I’m just going to sing.”

Miller: “Well, you’re a really dangerous man to have around, George.  What’ll it be?”

Melanchrino: “Well, I’m going to sing Good Night Good Neighbour.”

Miller: “Good choice, George.  Come out singing.”

Good Night Good Neighbour

Miller: “Mighty fancy piece of singing there, Regimental Sergeant Major George Melanchrino.  And now to answer some of the mail that’s coming in from the boys fighting on the all Allied team, they ask for, they’re gonna get it, String of Pearls.”

A String of Pearls

The rest of the programme was as follows:

medley: Caprice Viennois – I’ll Walk Alone (voc: Johnny Desmond) – My Isle of Golden Dreams – The Birth of the Blues / It Could Happen to You (voc: Johnny Desmond) / What Do You Do in the Infantry (voc: The Crew Chiefs) / Moonlight Serenade [ closing theme ]

In their issue dated 14th October ’44, Melody Maker published a review of the warm-up and the broadcast which took place at the Queensberry on the 5th.  This is what they had to say:

“It was a real treat, and very appropriate also, to have RSM George Melanchrino (leaders of the British Band of the AEF) as guest artist with Major Glenn Miller’s American Band of the AEF on the latter’s air show on the 5th at the Queensberry All-Services Club.  Original idea was for George to sing one number with the band on the broadcast which he did, and very well too.  However, during the half-hour before the red light flicks on to announce the Band is on the air, during which time Major Miller usually introduces the various ‘corner men’ in the band (usually with some incredible wisecracks, too!), he also introduced George Melanchrino.  Said the Major ‘ Besides singing, George is a bit of a multi-instrumentalist; he plays clarinet, violin, etc., and I’m going to suggest that he plays them now’ – and in spite of George’s protests, he was handed a clarinet by ‘Peanuts’ Hucko, and made to play a chorus, after which he borrowed a violin from a member of the string section and played a slow tasteful version of ‘Amor Amor,’ which tickled the audience no end in its tuneful simplicity.  Main feature of this particular Miller airing, by the way, was the playing of the new super Sergeant Jerry Gray arrangement of ‘Great Day.’  Containing some pretty intricate scoring, this masterpiece took a lot of rehearsal, and the boys didn’t seem quite at home with it, even when they played it over in that half hour before the broadcast commenced.  However, as seems to be the case with everything from the Miller outfit, when it went out over the air, a little later, it sounded perfect.”

6th October 1944 (fri) 6:15-6:30 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

S/Sgt. Mel Powell and The American Swing Sextet

My Guy’s Come Back [ opening theme ] / Hallelujah / You Took Advantage of Me / Capener Close Clambake (quartet: Hucko, Powell, Alpert, McKinley) / I Surrender, Dear / The Earl / My Guy’s Come Back [ closing theme ]

7th October 1944 (Sat) 6:15-6:30 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“The Uptown Hall” broadcast AEFP

S/Sgt. Mel Powell and The American Swing Sextet

My Guy’s Come Back [ opening theme ] / Flying Home / Don’t Blame Me / Portrait of a Worried Cat (quartet: Hucko, Powell, Alpert, McKinley) / What a Diff’rence a Day Made (voc: Johnny Desmond) / Blue Skies / My Guy’s Come Back [ closing theme ]

8th October 1944 (Sun) 12:45-1:00 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“A Soldier and a Song” broadcast AEFP

Sgt. Johnny Desmond and The American Band of the AEF

all Desmond vocals except *

Time On My Hands [ opening theme ] / You’re the Rainbow / All the Things You Are / Somebody’s Wrong * / I’ll Be Seeing You / Time On My Hands [ closing theme ]

8th October 1944 (Sun) 4:15-5:00 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“The Swing Shift” reserve recording no.5 (aired 21st Dec ’44 7:30-8:00 pm AEFP)

T/Sgt. Ray McKinley and The American Dance Band

Song and Dance (voc: Ray McKinley) [ opening theme ] / Everybody Loves My Baby / In a Sentimental Mood / Cow-Cow Boogie (voc: Ray McKinley) / If Dreams Come True – Boogie Woogie Trio (Hucko, Powell, McKinley) / My Ideal (voc: Johnny Desmond) / Caribbean Clipper / Song and Dance (voc: Ray McKinley) [ closing theme ]

9th October 1944 (Mon) 7:15-7:30 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“Strings with Wings” broadcast AEFP

S/Sgt. George Ockner and the string section

no details of the titles played

10th October 1944 (Tue) 6:30-7:00 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“The Swing Shift” broadcast AEFP

T/Sgt. Ray McKinley and The American Dance Band

Song and Dance (voc: Ray McKinley) [ opening theme ] / Mission to Moscow / This Love Above All (voc: Johnny Desmond) / I Thought I’d Get It, But I Guess I’ve Had It – Boogie Woogie Trio (Hucko, Powell, McKinley) / Sweet and Low (voc: Johnny Desmond) / Nine Twenty Special / Irresistible You (voc: Johnny Desmond and The Crew Chiefs) / Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Bubble Bath / Song and Dance (voc: Ray McKinley) [ closing theme ]

11th October 1944 (Wed) 6:15-6:30 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“The Uptown Hall” broadcast AEFP

S/Sgt. Mel Powell and The American Swing Sextet

no details of the titles played

11th October 1944 (Wed) 7:45-8:00 pm

Co-Partners Hall, Bedford

“Strings with Wings” broadcast AEFP

S/Sgt. George Ockner and the string section

no details of the titles played

12th October 1944 (Thu) 8:00-8:30 pm

Queensberry All-Services Club, London

Concert warm-up for broadcast

Major Glenn Miller and The American Band of the AEF

Is You Is, or Is You Ain’t My Baby (voc: Ray McKinley) / Warsaw Concerto (featuring S/Sgt. Mel Powell at the piano)

12th October 1944 (Thu) 8:00-8:30 pm

Queensberry All-Services Club, London

“American Band of the AEF” broadcast on AEFP, AFN, BBC-GFP

Major Glenn Miller and The American Band of the AEF

guest star: Jack Hylton

Moonlight Serenade [ opening theme ] / Caribbean Clipper / My Prayer (voc: Johnny Desmond) / Mission to Moscow / medley: Goin’ Home – Star Eyes (voc: Johnny Desmond) – Honeysuckle Rose (featuring S/Sgt. Mel Powell at the piano) / My Blue Heaven

Miller: “Tonight our British guest star is a man who is as famous back home in the big 48 as he is over here.  He used to be the leader of an orchestra, a mighty swell one too.  A few years ago he decided to sort of go straight.  At that time he embarked on a career that made him what he is today, ah, London and I dare say Britain’s greatest theatrical producer and impresario.  Ladies and gentlemen, Hylton’s back.  Here’s Jack Hylton.”

Hylton: “Thank you, Glenn, for those kind words and even more for the invitation to join you on this programme.”

Miller: “Well, there’s no thanks necessary, Jack.  As a matter of fact, ah, we invited you here to sort of put you to work.”

Hylton: “Sounds bad.”

Miller: “Sounds good.  There’s not a guy in the band or a Yank in the audience who doesn’t remember and admire the records you’ve made and sent to our nation.”

Hylton: “Well, what’s that got to do with putting me to work?”

Miller: “Well, just this, Jack.  We dug up an arrangement that sold a heap of records over on our side of the Atlantic and tonight we want you to conduct the American Band of the AEF playing that same arrangement.”

Hylton: “You might find me rusty or a bit dusty, you know.”

Miller: “Well, we’ll take that chance.  The band’s all yours, the pleasure’s all ours, and the tune, She Shall Have Music.”

She Shall Have Music (voc: Johnny Desmond) / Poinciana (voc: Johnny Desmond and The Crew Chiefs) / Moonlight Serenade [ closing theme ]

During the rehearsal of the broadcast Major Miller and the musicians of the AEF Band spotted the fact that Jack Hylton conducted the band with a drumstick and as a spontaneous gesture Glenn Miller and the band purchased a fine baton previously used by many famous conductors at the Covent Garden Opera House.  The baton was presented to Jack Hylton by Glenn which attracted wild applause by the audience!

[ TO BE CONTINUED ]

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS TO:

Orrin Keepnews, b.Mar. 2, 1923.  Writer (A Pictorial History of Jazz: People and Places

    From New Orleans to Modern Jazz) and record producer.

Rocky Rockwell, b.Mar. 2, 1923.  Trumpeter - vocalist with Welk '51-'62.

Harry Prime, b.Mar. 5, 1920.  Vocalist with Brooks '47; Fina '47; T. Dorsey '47; Flanagan

    '49-'53.

Dick Hyman, b.Mar. 8, 1927.  Pianist with Goodman '50 / '55 / '85-'86.

Keely Smith, b.Mar. 9, 1932.  Vocalist with Prima '49-'61.

Donn Trenner, b.Mar. 10, 1927.  Pianist with Fio Rito '43-'45; Morrow '47?; Brown '54-'56 /

    '57-'60?.

Quincy Jones, b.Mar. 14, 1933.  Trumpeter with Hampton '51-'53 and Gillespie '56; and

    composer (Basie '58 Rat Race / The Midnight Sun Never Sets / Meet B.B.).

George Avakian, b.Mar. 15, 1919.  Record producer.

Bob Wilber, b.Mar. 15, 1928.  Clarinetist - soprano sax with Hackett '57; Goodman '58.

Larry Elgart, b.Mar. 20, 1922.  Saxophonist with Byrne and brother Les Elgart; and

    bandleader with Les and on his own.

Sonny Russo, b.Mar. 20, 1929.  Trombonist with Shaw '49-'50; Sauter-Finegan '53-'58 /

    '60 / '61; Dorsey Brothers '54-'56; Goodman '61/ '65.

Bill Hughes, b.Mar. 28, 1930.  Trombonist with Basie '54-'57 / '63-'84 and leader of the

    Basie Orch. '03-'10.

NECROLOGY

Fran Warren, 87, d.Mar. 4, 2013.  Vocalist with Barnet '45-'46; Thornhill '46-'48.

Virginia Wicks, 92, d.Mar. 20, 2013, natural causes.  Publicist, at various times from the

    mid-1940s-on, for Kenton, Gillespie, Goodman, Shaw, Hampton, and Barnet.

REMEMBERING YOU

Barrett Deems, b.Mar. 1, 1914.  Drummer with Venuti, Norvo, Barnet, Spanier, Armstrong.

Bob Hardaway, b.Mar. 1, 1928.  Tenor saxophonist with Anthony, McIntyre, May, J. Gray,

    Herman.

Glenn Miller, b.Mar. 1, 1904.  Trombonist with Pollack, Nichols, Dorsey Brothers, Noble.

    Leader of his own band.

Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, b.Mar. 2, 1921.  Tenor saxophonist with Williams, Millinder, Kirk,

    Armstrong, Basie, Krupa.

Barney Bigard, b.Mar. 3, 1906.  Clarinetist with Ellington, Slack, Armstrong.

Cy Touff, b.Mar. 4, 1927.  Trumpeter with Herman.

Red Callendar, b.Mar. 6, 1918.  Bassist with Armstrong, May.

Mahlon Clark, b.Mar. 7, 1923.  Clarinetist / saxophonist with Bradley, McKinley.

Heinie Beau, b.Mar. 8, 1911.  Clarinetist with Nichols, T. Dorsey.

Sam Donahue, b. Mar. 8, 1918.  Tenor saxophonist with Krupa, James, Shaw, T. Dorsey.

    Leader of T. Dorsey Orch; own band.

Dick Hyman, b.Mar. 8, 1927.  Pianist with Norvo, Goodman.

Herschel Evans, b.Mar. 9, 1909.  Tenor saxophonist with Hampton, Basie, James.

Bix Beiderbecke, b.Mar. 10, 1903.  Cornetist with Goldkette, Whiteman.

Mercer Ellington, b.Mar. 11, 1919.  Trumpeter with Oliver, Ellington.  Leader of Ellington

    Orch.

Jackie Mills, b.Mar. 11, 1922.  Drummer with Raeburn, James.

Bob Haggart, b.Mar. 13, 1914,  Bassist with Crosby.

Ina Ray Hutton ,b. Mar. 13, 1916.  Leader of her own band.

Les Brown, b.Mar. 14, 1912.  Arranger for Clinton, I. Jones.  Leader of own band.

Harry James, b.Mar. 15, 1916.  Trumpeter with Pollack, Goodman.  Leader of own band.

Deane Kincaide, b.Mar. 18, 1911.  Clarinetist / saxophonist / arranger for Pollack, Crosby,

    Herman, T. Dorsey, Noble, Spanier, McKinley, Goodman.

Buster Harding, b.Mar. 19, 1917.  Arranger / composer for Wilson, Calloway, Shaw, Basie.

Doug Mettome, b.Mar. 19, 1925.  Trumpeter with Eckstine, Goodman, Herman, T. Dorsey,

    Dorsey Brothers.

Hank D’Amico, b.Mar. 21, 1915.  Clarinetist with Norvo, Crosby, Scott.

Sonny Burke, b.Mar. 22, 1914.  Arranger for Venuti, Cugat, Spivak, Eckstine, J. Dorsey.

    Leader of own band.

Charlie Christian, b.Mar. 22, 1919.  Guitarist with Goodman, Hampton.

Johnny Guarnieri, b.Mar. 23, 1917.  Pianist with Goodman, Shaw.

Jimmy Blanton, b.Mar. 26, 1921.  Bassist with Ellington.

Burt Collins, b.Mar. 27, 1931.  Trumpeter with Hefti, Herman, Gillespie, Thornhill, Lawrence,

    McKinley.

Sarah Vaughan, b.Mar. 27, 1924.  Vocalist with Hines, Eckstine.

Eric Dixon, b.Mar. 28, 1930.  Tenor saxophonist with Williams, Basie.

Chummy MacGregor, b.Mar. 28, 1903.  Pianist with Aaronson, Miller.

Paul Whiteman, b.Mar. 28, 1890.  Leader of own band.

Pearl Bailey, b.Mar. 29, 1918.  Vocalist with Bellson.

Ted Heath, b.Mar. 30, 1900.  Leader of his own band.

Freddie Green, b.Mar. 31, 1911.  Guitarist with Basie.

Red Norvo, b.Mar. 31, 1908.  With Whiteman, Goodman, Herman.  Leader of own band.

BIG BANDS IN-PERSON

Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra directed by Bill Tole.  Mar. 13, The Castle, Chandler, AZ; Mar. 23,

    Oak Ridge, TN.

Jan Garber Orchestra directed by Howard Schneider.  Mar. 22, Sundial Recreation

    Center, Sun City, AZ.

Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Nick Hilscher.  Mar. 2, Hillman Center, Pittsburgh, PA;

    Mar. 3, Capitol Theatre, Chambersburg, PA; Mar. 4, The Academy Theatre, Meadville,

    PA; Mar. 6, Lincoln Way-North High School, Frankfort, IL; Mar. 8, Sunnybrook Ballroom,

    Pottstown, PA; Mar. 9, Park Theatre, Cranston, RI; Mar. 10, Warner Theatre, Torrington,

    CT; Mar. 12, Salle Albert Rousseau, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 14, Theatre

    Marcellin-Champagnat du College Laval, Laval, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 15, Salle

    Albert-Dumouchel, Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 16, L'etoile Banque Nationale,

    Brossard, Quebec, Canada, Mar. 17, Salle Andre-Provost, St. Jerome, Quebec,

    Canada; Mar. 20, Centre Culturel de Beloeil, Beloeil, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 21,

    Theatre de Vieux Terrebonne, Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 22, Theatre de la

    Ville - Salle Pratt & Whitney Canada, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 23, Theatre

    Hector-Charland, L'Assomption, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 24, Salle Edwin-Belanger,

    Montmagny, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 26, Theatre de la Ville - Salle Pratt & Whitney

    Canada, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 27, Salle J.-Antonio-Thompson, Trois-

    Rivieres, Quebec, Canada; Mar. 28, Salle Pauline-Julien, St. Genevieve, Quebec,

    Canada; Mar. 31, start of Crystal Serenity cruise, boarding in Miami, FL.

Artie Shaw Orchestra directed by Matt Koza.  Mar. 1, Jacksonville State University,

    Jacksonville, AL; Mar. 2, Fountain Inn Civic Center, Fountain Inn, SC; Mar. 3, Jabez S.

    Hardin Performing Arts Center, Evans, GA; Mar. 7, Performing Arts Center, Lincoln

    High School, Wisconsin Rapids, WI; Mar. 8, Fairfield Community Arts Center,

    Fairfield, IA; Mar. 9, The Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL; Mar. 10, Ohnward Fine

    Arts Center, Maquoketa, IA; Mar. 15, Midland Theatre, Newark, OH; Mar. 17,

    Elba Auditorium Theater, Elba, NY.

NEW COMPACT DISCS

Ted Heath.  "'Round Midnight: Rare Transcription Recordings of the 1950s: Volume 6,"

    Vocalion (E) CDEA 6215.  Taped for the BBC in 1959.

Harry James.  "Flash Harry: Broadcasts 1942-46," Hep (E) CD94.  24 tracks heard over

    the radio from various locations.

Syd Lawrence.  "Command Performance / McCartney - His Music & Me," Vocalion (E)

    CDLK 4498.  The 1971 and 1978 LPs, respectively.

Louis Prima.  "Sing, Sing, Sing: Prime Louis Prima," Upbeat Jazz ( E ) URCD243.

    21 tracks.

Si Zentner.  "More / Exotica Suite," Vocalion (E) CDLK 4494.  Two Liberty LPs (the

    latter with Martin Denny) made in 1962 and 1963.

SNEAK PEEK

   I'm anticipating a bonanza for collectors of a certain big band, with previously-unreleased broadcasts by this legend.

go to Big Band Library homepage

    With this being the month that legendary bandleader Glenn Miller was born, it's my pleasure to put the spotlight on the continuing Miller magic. 

    As the cover artwork to the left shows, there's another new Glenn Miller CD on the way from Sounds of YesterYear in England. The label has a large number of Miller items in their catalog. 

    To it they will be adding "Songs of States" (DSOY921), a compilation of 22 titles that each mention a different state, such as Beautiful Ohio, Georgia On My Mind, and Deep in the Heart of Texas. 

    Actually, 9 of the tracks are by Glenn Miller himself, while the balance feature Tex Beneke as leader of the post-World War II Glenn Miller Orchestra, with his own early '50s band, and a single selection from his 1960 RCA Camden "Alamo" LP.  

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