Search - Artie Shaw :: Highlights From the Bluebird Anthology

A decent sampler if you ca nget it cheap enough

papi-chulo | sant ana | 03/30/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Buy this one used only if you can find it cheap. The music is great, but there are only 14 songs, and even though frenesi, and Begin the Beguine are here, where is Summit Ridge Drive, Back Bay Shuffle, and a plethora of hits and important tracks. 27 songs could fin here, why only 14??? Find the "Bein the beguine" cd on bluebird, it's better for a one disc overview and buy the gramercy five cd too, but only get this one if you can find it cheap, it is a good cd, and has billie holiday singing any old time, and a good summertime too. good cd, not ennough songs considering there are so many better shaw cd's to choose from, also check out the box set, that this cd is culled from, i'm gettin it when i get some mo' dough. papi chulo says buy this cd only if u can get it cheap"

A Big Band Icon

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 01/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of my favorite jazzmen was Artie Shaw, a fine clarinetist, innovative band leader, orchestrator and arranger who had made a name for himself during the Big Band Era. In the Thirties and Forties, each year the Billboard conducted a poll of college editors in a form of survey called "Collegiate Choice of Orchestras." Artie Shaw made it to Number One in 1939, Benny Goodman in 1938 and Glenn Miller was Number One for three years in a row - 1940, 1941 and 1942.



In this compilation, you'll hear fourteen of the best-ever Artie Shaw hits recorded from 1937 through 1954. You'll be delighted with his performance on one of the greatest melodies of all-time and my very favorite classic "Stardust," which is one of the most definitive versions of this gem of a tune. It charted Number One in the 1955 Billboard Disc Jockey Poll for "All-Time Pop Record Standards."



The best tracks for me include Cole Porter's "Begin The Beguine," the lovely tune that made him an overnight superstar. Another big hit is a beautiful Latin-flavored-tune he heard while he was vacationing in Mexico and rushed back to the U.S. to record it - Alberto Dominguez's "Frenesi," which I absolutely enjoy listening to with a few repeats. George and Ira Gershwin's "Summertime" is also a tune to beguile with.



His grand performance on Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" is my top favorite from this collection. Mr. Shaw had made it more enchanting with a snippet of Jerome Kern's "The Song Is You." It's so beautiful and I just love it when musicians do that certain style and creativity. Incidentally, Mr. Shaw was once married and divorced to the daughter of Jerome Kern, Elizabeth Kern.



Give yourself a musical treat and a touch of nostalgia by listening to this spectacular CD. It's one of my late parents' favorite recordings, and mine too. A great addition to your Big Band music collection."