Search - Glenn Miller :: The Glenn Miller Story, Vols. 5-8

MILLER'S MAGIC STILL SHINES!

A. POLLOCK | PLYMOUTH, DEVON United Kingdom | 08/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

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The musical legacy of Glenn Miller has been fuelled by his creative special sound, the 1954 biographical movie, and the ongoing mystery concerning his death in 1944. Still at the forefront of popular music, 2004 marks his birth centenary and THE GLENN MILLER STORY is a series of twenty CD's released in five volumes which provide the ultimate tribute and adds so much additional material to the usual popular numbers which normally appear on compilations. This particular collection covers the period just 4 years after the formation of Miller's own band after many years as a trombonist with many outfits including Benny Goodman and the Dorseys'. The popularity of big bands began to peak in 1939 and continued well into the 40's and Miller's RCA recording output was prolific and opportune for the demands of the American record buying public of the day and these four CD's merely cover a ten month period for the featured 100 tracks. At the time, the Orchestra was playing at the famed Glen Island Casino from where it also made frequent radio broadcasts which aided his growing popularity. In fact in a Poll he was voted 4th behind the longer established Goodman, Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras. Featured vocalists, Bob Eberle and Marion Hutton are well-featured with songs like OH YOU CRAZY MOON, WHO'S SORRY NOW?, GIVE A LITTLE WHISTLE and WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME? The embryonic Kay Starr also did a brief stint and recorded a couple of light-hearted numbers, LOVE WITH A CAPITAL "YOU" and BABY ME, whilst Tex Beneke often dropped clarinet or tenor saxophone for the occasional spot of vocalising on songs like THE LITTLE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE. The singers often had to keep up with break neck speed arrangements so must have quickly learned their breathing techniques in order to cope! As for the band itself, there are the big-sellers, PENNSYLVANIA 6-5000 and IN THE MOOD - the latter in two versions - one studio; the other a live recording and the inclusion of many of the latter in this collection gives a fair idea of the atmosphere which prevailed in front of an audience as opposed to the better ambiance but colder feel of the recording studio. Other numbers include PAGAN LOVE SONG, BEER BARREL POLKA, JOHNSON RAG and RUG CUTTER'S SWING and these are in fact more typical of a more jazzy but typical Miller style compared to the familiar hits. The sound quality is quite superb for recordings of this age which are well documented within the extensive notes, rare photographs and the band's musician line-up with dates fitting and following the chronological running order. There's certainly enough quality here to want to seek out the other four volumes in this excellent anthology.

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Good, but could've been better...

Micaloneus | the Cosmos | 06/30/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"What to say? Well, it's a pretty darn good collection no doubt, with many of the great RCA/Bluebird classics and choice cuts from the radio broadcasts. But, the sound quality is too heavy on noise reduction. Some may like it, but I did not. That's what's keeping me from giving this collection 4 or 5 stars. Where as the RCA collection (5 stars) breathes better, and has all the sparkle and fire that is missing from these Avid collections. So, if you're not afraid of a little surface noise, go for the RCA collection. Finally, the Avid booklet is alright but not great. For example, the pictures are really small and the story wasn't too insightful. Where as the RCA booklet was much better on both counts."