The big bands are back
in a new and exciting way
Jan Garber, l., and his band's guitarist, Donald Shoup,
broadcasting on WGN from The Blackhawk Restaurant, too.
photo © WGN Gold 2014
3418, Jan Garber: Mickey’s Melody / Corpus Christi, Dot 45-15426
3436, Bing Crosby: Christmas Is a-Comin’ / Is Christmas Only a Tree, Dec 9-29790 *
3438, Ralph Flanagan: My Souvenir / Flanagan’s Boogie, RCA Vic 47-6338
3445, The Modernaires: Ain’t She Sweet / Go On with the Wedding, Coral 9-61555 *
3449, Lawrence Welk: Musette / The Champagne Waltz, Coral 9-61508 *
3460, Ted Heath: Malaguena / Barber Shop Jump, London 45-1621 *
3502, Ralph Marterie: The Grass Is Green / Where the Wind Blows, Merc 70771X45
3516, Lawrence Welk: Stompin’ At the Savoy / Moritat, Coral 9-61574 *
3524, Ray Anthony: Bullfighter’s Lament / . . . Dixie, Cap F3319 *
3525, Gordon MacRae: Never Before and N Again / Fate * with Van Alexander
3531, Vic Damone: Help Me / Sure, Col 4-40630 * w/P Weston
3533, Steve Allen: Goodbye / Let’s Dance, Coral 9-61566 *
3534, Don’t Be That Way / Sing S S, Coral 9-61565 *
3536, Don Cherry: The Thrill Is G / Wanted S to L Me, Dec 9-29807 * sd 1 w/Sy Oliver
3539, Ray Anthony: Show Me the Way to Go Home / Madeira, Cap F3335
3540, Nat “King” Cole: Nothing Ever Changes My Love for You / Ask Me, Cap F3328
3562, Merv Griffin: A Handful of Dreams / Call Out the Engines, Col 4-40624 *
3583, Jackie Gleason, You’re My Greatest Love / Capri in May, Cap F3337 *
3586, Teddy Phillips: My Love for You / Pochahontas, Dot 45-15438
3603, Benny Goodman: Goodbye / A Fine Romance, Col 4-40625 sd 1 w/R Clooney
3604, Frankie Laine: Robin Hood / Champion, the W Horse, Col J 4-75 * w/P Weston
3616, Sophia Loren: Woman of the River / F Giordano: Nvyes, RCA Vic 47-6385
3631, Glen Gray: Don’t Get A M Anymore /Memories of You, Dec 9-29763 *
3637, Wayne King: Do You Ever Think of Me? / Sleepy Time Gal, Dec 9-29808 *
3640, Benny Goodman: Sometimes I’m Happy / Goody Goody, Cap F3331
3645, Jackie Gleason: The Petite Waltz / Little G, Cap PRO 236/7 sd 2 feat B Hackett
4175, Guy Lombardo: The Doggone Blues / The Sand Dance, Dec 9-29859 *
4176, Carmen Cavallaro, Brazil / To Love Again, Dec 9-29907 *
4185, The Ink Spots: Rock and Roll Rag / Do I Worry?, Grand Award 45-1001
4199, Guy Lombardo: Charleston Parisien / Rinka Tinka Man, Cap F3411
4226, Fred Norman: Cherry Coke / Post Time, MGM K12231
4240, Merv Griffin: Joe sings: Joey, Joey, Joey / Ginny, Col 4-40685 *
4262, Russ Morgan: Lover’s Rhapsody / The Prince and Princess Waltz, Dec 9-29927 *
4263, Tex Beneke: Moritat / Lullaby of Birdland, RCA Camd SPA-7-24, 1956 *
4309, Larry Clinton: My Reverie / Deep Purple, RCA Vic 447-0101
4310, Luis Arcaraz: Blues in the Night / The Bullfighter’s Song, RCA Vic 447-0063
4311, Luis Arcaraz: Bewitched / Johnson Rag, RCA Vic 447-0062
4312, Artie Shaw: Summit Ridge Drive / Special Delivery Stomp, RCA Vic 447-0058
4313, Artie Shaw: Frenesi / September Song, RCA Vic 447-0057
4314, Artie Shaw: Carioca / Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise, RCA Vic 447-0056
4315, Artie Shaw: Back Bay Shuffle / Moonglow, RCA Vic 447-0055
4316, Artie Shaw: Traffic Jam / Serenade to a Savage, RCA Vic 447-0054
4317, Artie Shaw: Begin the Beguine / Temptation, RCA Vic 447-0052
4318, Artie Shaw: Stardust / Dancing in the Dark, RCA Vic 447-0051
4326, Luis Arcaraz: Stormy Weather / Caravan, RCA Vic 447-0064
4344, The General Motors Orch: The Happiness T / Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo, RCA Vic 47-7095
4345, Sauter-Finegan: Midnight Sleighride / Azure-Te, RCA Vic 447-0222
4346, Sauter-Finegan: Nina Never Knew / Rain, RCA Vic 447-0223
4351, Perry Como: Bless This House / The Rosary, RCA Vic 447-0104
4352, Wayne King: Josephine / Intermezzo, RCA Vic 447-0184
4354, Ray McKinley: You Came a L Way (from St. Louis) / Airizay, RCA Vic 447-0196
photo © WGN Gold 2014
POPA FAMILY COLLECTION
WGN Radio, 1955-1983 ( selection )
acquired 2014
These 189 discs were originally part of the record library of WGN-AM 720, a prominent Chicago radio station in operation since the 1920s, so, in the words of Chicago Tribune Reporter Jeff Danna, each represents "a piece of Chicago radio history."
As one example of WGN's long history with big band music, Kay Kyser is shown above during a late 1930s afternoon broadcast from The Blackhawk Restaurant, presenting Miss Marion Elisberg a "victory" trophy to commemorate her reign as "Betty Co-Ed" during a homecoming festivity at the University of Chicago. The program was part of the first of a WGN series of salutes to various Greek letter organizations on the campuses of the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Paul Fogarty, creator of "Rube Appleberry" and co-author (with bandleader Ted Fio Rito) of the college song hit Betty Co-Ed, looks on.
In 2012, at age 94, Marion Elisberg Simon published her memoir, The Show Must Go On: My Dance with Chicago, in which she recalled bygone days including her reign as "Miss University of Chicago" in 1939.
The recordings are an especially rich representation of the big bands on RCA Victor’s original, black label “Gold Standard Series” (with many titles that were not kept in print by the company) as well as newer bands of the 1950s such as Ralph Marterie, a Mercury Records artist.
They are listed according to WGN numbering.
Promotional copies are indicated by an asterisk ( * ).
7” singles
2517, Richard Maltby: Midnight Mood / The Book of Love, "X" 4X-0158 *
2518, Les Brown: "Umh Hum" / She is the Sunshine of Virginia, Dec 9-29568
B Crosby vcls
2526, Lawrence Welk: I Hear Those Bells / Wake the Town and T the People,
Coral 9-61477 *
2533, Woody Herman: Love Is a Many-Splendored T / House of Bamboo, Cap F3202
2534, Spike Jones: Pick-It-You-Peasant / Double E Rag, Dec 9-29623 *
as "Banjo Maniacs"
2535, Art Mooney: A Happy Song / Twenty Tiny Fingers, MGM K12039 *
2536, Gordon Jenkins: Young Ideas / Goodnight Sweet Dreams, “X” 4X-0159 *
2544, Dick Jurgens: Elmer's Tune / Ragtime Cowboy Joe, Amsterdam AM 85015 *
2549, Guy Lombardo: Nevada / Present Arms (Present Lips), Dec 9-29628 *
2550, Bing Crosby: Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine / You Are My Sunshine, Dec 9-29634 *
2553, Tony Martin: Young Ideas / What Is the Secret . . . Success, RCA Vic 47-6209 *
2554, Buddy Morrow: Stomping Room Only / Scrub-a-Dub-Dub, Merc 90014X45
2564, Joe Reisman: Saxophone Rag / Charleston Alley, RCA Vic 47-6220 *
2583, Jerry Wald: Pennies From Heaven / Raisins and Almonds, Dec 9-29575 *
2585, The Mills Bros: Mi Muchacha (Little Girl) / That's All I Ask of You, Dec 9-29621 *
2604, Les Elgart: Start Dancin’ with a Smile No.1 / No.2, Col 4-40545 *
2608, Jackie Gleason: Autumn L / Oo! What Y Do to Me, Cap F3223 * feat B Hackett
2624, Bing Crosby: Let’s Harmonize / Angel Bells, Dec 9-29636 *
2630, Ray Anthony: People Will . . . Love / The Surrey . . . , Cap F3124 * w/G MacRae
3153, Stan Freberg: The N B Christmas / Nuttin’ for Christmas, Cap F3280 * w/B May
3163, Richard Maltby: Four Or Five Times / Walkie Talkie, “X” 4X-0177 *
3182, Georgie Auld: My Blue Heaven / If I Loved You, Merc 70740X45
3197, Paul Weston: Memories of You / The Naked Sea, Col 4-40605 *
3205, Carmen Cavallaro: In Love / Just Forgive Her, Dec 9-29735 *
3246, Art Mooney: Memories of You / The Lord Is a Busy Man, MGM K12133, 1955
3294, Ralph Marterie: Move Over / . . . Tune, Merc DJ-17X45 *
3295, Ralph Marterie: Purple Shades / Take the “A” Train, Merc DJ-16X45 *
3296, Ralph Marterie: Melancholy Rhapsody / Pennsylvania Turnpike, Merc DJ15X45 *
3299, The Ink Spots: It’s Funny to Everyone But Me / Memories of You, Dec 9-29750 *
3322, Lawrence Welk: Christmas Carols, Part 1 / Part 2, Coral 9-61095 *
3270, Tony Martin: Christmas in America / Christmas in Rio, RCA Vic 47-6317 *
3329, Vaughn Monroe: Don't Go to Strangers / Steel Guitar, RCA Vic 47-6358 *
3334, Les Elgart: The Trouble with Harry / Devil May Care, Col 4-40617 *
3350, Ray McKinley: You Remind Me of Someone / Celery Stalks At M, Dot 45-15431
3358, Artie Shaw: Jingle Bells / White Christmas, Dec 9-27243
3375, Kitty Kallen: Go On with the Wedding / The Second Greatest Sex, Dec 9-29776 *
3377, Glenn Miller: Pearls On Velvet / W Schumann: Christmas Chopsticks, RCA Vic,
1955 *
3410, The Mills Bros: All the Way 'Round . . . / I've Changed My Mind a T Times,
Dec 9-29781 *
4355, Freddy Martin, Tchaikovsky Piano C No.1 / Grieg Piano C, RCA Vic 447-0187
4357, Perry Como: Some Enchanted Evening / Bali Ha’I, RCA Vic 447-0109
4359, David Rose: Holiday for Strings / Our Waltz, RCA Vic 447-0211
4363, Tommy Dorsey: Well, Git It! / Summertime, RCA Vic 447-0120
4365, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Perdido / Take the A Train, GRP 3019 *
4369, Tommy Dorsey: I’ll Never Smile Again / I’ll Be Seeing You RCA Vic 447-0116
4374, Benny Goodman: Good-Bye / After You’ve Gone, RCA Vic 447-0150
4381, Vaughn Monroe: There! I’ve Said It Again / Ballerina, RCA Vic 447-0201
4382, Bennie Moten: South / Moten Swing, RCA Vic 447-0207
4385, Freddy Martin: Bumble Boogie / Cumana, RCA Vic 447-0189
4386, Metronome All-Star Band: One O’Clock J / Bugle Call Rag, RCA Vic 447-0199
4387, Tony Martin: Night and Day / You and the Night and the Music, RCA Vic 447-0193
4391, Hal Kemp: Got a Date with An Angel / Remember Me?, RCA Vic 447-0178
4394, Benny Goodman: Sugar Foot Stomp / Riffin’ At the Ritz, RCA Vic 447-0149
4399, Benny Goodman: Sing, Sing, Sing (Part 1) / (concluded), RCA Vic 447-0154
4401, Lionel Hampton: Central A Breakdown / Jack the Bellboy, RCA Vic 447-0162
4402, Spike Jones: Hawaiian War Chant / The Glow Worm, RCA Vic 447-0174
4404, Spike Jones: My Two Front T / Rudolph the R-N Reindeer, RCA Vic 447-0172
4407, Phil Harris: That’s W I L A the South / Darktown Poker Club, RCA Vic 447-0165
4408, Spike Jones: None But the Lonely Heart / Dance of the Hours, RCA Vic 447-0171
4410, Perry Como: When You Were Sweet Sixteen / A Hubba-H-H, RCA Vic 447-0103
4411, Fats Waller: It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie / I’m Gonna Sit Right . . . , RCA Vic 447-0234
4402, Bunny Berigan: I Can’t Get Started / Frankie and Johnnie, RCA Vic 447-0075
4413, Sauter-Finegan: Doodletown Races / April in Paris, RCA Vic 447-0221
4414, Perry Como: Easter Parade / Song of Songs, RCA Vic 447-0106
4415, Perry Como: You’ll Never Walk Alone / Over the Rain bow, RCA Vic 447-0107
4416, Freddy Martin: Managua, Nicaragua / The L From 29 Palms, RCA Vic 447-0188
4419, Tommy Dorsey: Opus No. 1 / Boogie Woogie, RCA Vic 447-0119
4420, Bunny Berigan: I Can't Get Started / Frankie and Johnnie, RCA Vic 447-0075
4423, Louis Armstrong: Do You Know What . . . / Ain’t Misbehavin’, RCA Vic 447-0068
4425, Charlie Barnet: Pompton Turnpike / Leapin’ At the Lincoln, RCA Vic 447-0072
4426, Charlie Barnet: Cherokee / Redskin Rhumba, RCA Vic 447-0071
4439, Ralph Flanagan: Crackerjack / Radar Love, RCA Vic 47-6525
4457, Lawrence Welk: I’ve Grown A to Her Face / With a L Bit of Luck, Coral 9-61645 *
4458, Lawrence Welk: On the Street W You L / I Could H D All Night, Coral 9-61644 *
4459, Hal Dickinson: She’s Got 20 M Pesos / The . . . , Coral 9-61634 * w/S Burke
4483, Paul Weston: Big Brave Song / Loma, Col JZSP 33630 / 33628 *
4489, Frankie Laine: Joe sings: Don’t Cry / Ticky Tick Tick, Col 4-40693 * w/P Weston
4491, Jo Stafford: Cleo . . . sings: Big D / Rosella sings: Warm All Over, Col 4-40697
6511, Jo Stafford: St. Louis Blues / Ain’t Cha-Cha Comin’ Out T-Tonight, Col 4-40538
16402, The Mills Bros: Welcome H / You're Making the W Guy Happy, Dot 45-16705, 1965
16497, Kitty Kallen: Make Someone Love You / Lies & More Lies, 20th Century-Fox 471 *
16532, Frankie Carle: Love T From "In Harm's Way" / Sunrise Boogie , RCA Vic 47-8540 *
17263, Bobby Hackett: Ciribiribin / Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White, Epic 5-9836 *
17277, Billy Vaughn: Please / Anniversary Song, Dot 45-16774
17329, Lawrence Welk: Summer Nights / La Bamba, Dot 45-16778
17485, Perry Como: Meet Me At the Altar / Bye Bye, Little Girl, RCA Vic 47-8722 *
17487, Lawrence Welk: Moonlight and Roses / Send Me the Pillow You Dream On,
Dot 45-16794
17611, Lester Lanin: Theme From "The Yearling" / Dancing Tambourine, Philips 40344 *
17625, Lawrence Welk: Tijuana / Currier & Ives, Dot 45-16810
18471, Billy Vaughn: Somewhere, My Love / Alfie, Dot 45-16924 * sd 2 arr by J Gray
20495, Stan Kenton: Sunny / Imagine, Cap P 2069 *
20528, Wayne King: Engine, Engine #9 / Blue Hours, Dec 25727 *
20529, Jimmy Dorsey Orch-Castle: Indian Summer / Brother Bill, Fona 309 *
20653, Lawrence Welk: Watch What Happens / Green Tambourine, Ranwood R-801
20716, Les & Larry Elgart: The Sounds of Silence / When I Look in Your Eyes,
Col 4-44467 *
20742, Glenn Miller Orch-DeFranco: You've Changed / Seeing You Like This, RCA
Vic 47-9474 *
21447, Enoch Light: The Windmills of Your Mind, Pro5j 3 PR 45-1340-M *
21791, Kay Starr: The 12th Street Marching Band / Something Happened to Me,
Dot 45-17183 *
24317, Ray Anthony: Song Of India / Sidewalks of New York, Ranwood R-865 *
25441, Dick Jurgens: Elmer's Tune / Ragtime Cowboy Joe, Amsterdam AM 85015 *
24590, Tony Martin: The Hills of Yesterday / Strangers
26559, Pearl Bailey with Louis Bellson & His Orchestra: Mama, Rainbow / Two By Two,
RCA 74-0435 *
26830, Peter Duchin: Theme From Lawrence of Araba / Theme From the Movie, Theme,
Bell 988 *
32869, The Mills Brothers: Cab Driver / Truck Stop, Ranwood R-961, 1974
32957, Henry Jerome's Banjos: I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover / Canadian
Capers, Green Menu Records GM 10050, 1974
34019, Kay Starr: Tie a Yellow Ribbon / Something's Missing, GNP Crescendo GNP
488, 1974 *
34032, Billy May: Front Page Rag, MCA Records MCA-40352, 1974 *
41047, Larry Elgart: Hooked On Astaire / Hooked On the Blues, RCA PB-13342,
1982 *
41074, Mickey Rooney: Lover of the Simple Things / You Perfect Stranger, New Horizon
Records NH-117
41096, Frank Sinatra: To Love a Child, Reprise 7-29903, 1982 *
41514, The Glenn Miller Orchestra: In the Mood / Chattanooga Choo Choo, GRP
GRP-S-3001, 1983 *
no #, Bing Crosby: How Lovely Is Christmas / My Own Individual Star, Kapp K-196X
no #, Billy Eckstine: Wish You Were Here / Slender Thread, Motown M-1091 *
7" EPs
EP 6, Jan August: Jan and he Cats, Merc EP-1-3202
EP 10, Bing Crosby: sings selections from The Country Girl, Dec ED 2186
EP 21, Johnny Guarnieri: Today's Hits Sung by Snooky Lanson, RCA Camd CAE 263
EP 28, Richard Maltby: Musical Highlights . . . "Damn Yankees," X EXA-136
EP 29, Johnny Guarnieri: Hey, Mr. Banjo Rag / Crazy otto Medley, RCA Camd CAE 300
EP 36, Ray Anthony, Cap EAP 1-9129
EP 56, Guy Lombardo: Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, Cap EAP 1-9132
EP 62, Sammy Kaye: Swing and Sway to Today's Top Pops, Col B-2102
EP 74, Lawrence Welk: Show Time . . . Happy Hunting, Coral EC 81151
EP 85, Lawrence Welk: Show Time . . . Bells Are Ringing, Coral EC 81153
EP 86, Lawrence Welk: Show Time . . . Li'L Abner, Coral EC 81152
EP 121, Ray Anthony: Minute Masters: Highlights From "Anthony Plays Allen,"
Cap PRO 803~804 *
EP 126, Glen Gray: Selections From "Sounds Of The Great Bands, Vol.2," Cap
PRO 854~855 *
EP 130, Ray Anthony: Special DJ Album Highlights: Minute Masters From Anthony
Italiano, Cap PRO 983~984 *
EP 161, various: 10 Short Selections From 10 New Capitol Abums, Cap PRO
1265~1266 *
EP 170, Features From Mercury's March Long Playing Records, Merc MEP-74 *
EP 172, Ray Anthony: Daddy Long Legs, Cap EAP-1-597
EP 192, Jimmy Palmer: "Dancing At the Roosevelt," Merc ZTEP 65904~65905 *
7" box sets
37, Bing Crosby: Collectors' Classics Vol 1, Dec 9-194
38, Bing Crosby: Collectors' Classics Vol 2, Dec 9-195
39, Bing Crosby: Collectors' Classics Vol 3, Dec 9-200
12” LPs
3742, The Modernaires: Like Swung, Merc MG 20546 *
12686, Woody Herman: Woody’s Winners, Col CL 2436 *
14900, Doris Day Sings Do Re Mi, Harmony HL 9559 *,
17317, G Miller Orch dir by B DeFranco: Do You W Dance, Command 940s * gatefold
no #, Aaron Copland conducts his clarinet concerto: benny goodman, soloist, Col ML 5897 *
By 2012, WGN had focused heavily on news and sports; when they want to play music on the air, much material is now available in a digital format, at their fingertips. So they decided to sell their collection of about 45,000 records, which had been in storage.
"WGN radio's collection has to be absolutely priceless," Rick Morris, Associate Professor of Communications Studies at Northwestern University, told Jeff Danna, a Reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
sources:
Jeff Danna. "WGN radio sells vintage record collection," Chicago Tribune, Jul 5, 2012.
WGNradio.com.
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