Search - Benny Goodman :: Benny Goodman's Golden Era

Benny as he sounded on a typical 1937 evening...spectacular!

John Grabowski | USA | 03/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow! Imagine tuning in the radio the mid-to-late 30s and hearing music like this. Well, you don't have to imagine, because that's what this set is--four sequential broadcasts of Goodman's Tuesday night Camel Caravan show on CBS, complete with announcer intro and patter from Goodman and some lightweight comedians. Most of the music is quite fine, although the sponsors felt they had to break up the swing numbers with some silly novelty routines. These never get as silly as the kind of music, say, Kay Kaiser indulged in, but they are forgettable and bring down the musical content somewhat. On the other hand, lovers of kitch may enjoy such items as a Russian comedian who brings swing to the Stepps, or a goofy comic team learning what swing is all about. Then there's an interesting attempt at a singing commercial worked into the program, and since the sponsor was Camel cigarettes we get a number about the pleasures and romance of cigarette smoking among college students. (Back then, even the Surgeon General wouldn't have complained.)



But the real highlights here are the up-tempo "killer-diller" numbers, as they were called, which at that time no one could quite do like Benny (and even subsequently it's hard to find equals to that band). Here BG and company are in full cry, a couple years before things inexplicably degenerated into trite pop tunes with air-headed Martha Tilton vocals. On numbers such as Caravan, House Hop, Roll 'Em and Minnie The Moocher's Wedding Day, the sidemen blow the roof down and the band plays with a spit-and-polish that's all the more remarkable because it came in an era before tape splicing, yet they can outdo any ensemble today. With musicians like that, you didn't need to splice. Oh, and let's not forget the exciting Trio and Quartet, with Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson on several memorable numbers playing what was at that time cutting-edge jazz. (A vibraharp? What was that?!?)



Sound is what you'd expect for the period, a bit tinny but overall not bad. It's certainly more listenable than the Phil Schapp version of the Carnegie Hall concert, so if that recording has you frightened off of '30s BG, be frightened no more. This is a great collection of live airchecks that belongs in any swing-lover's collection. It should also be interesting to students of the period who want to relieve a typical night at home in front of the ol' RCA radio."