Search - Glenn Miller Orchestra :: In the Nutcracker Mood

Lovely Christmas Album . . . Until They Start Singing.

C. Michael Massey | St. Louis, Missouri | 11/21/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I first became enamored with the Glenn Miller Orchestra's IN THE CHRISTMAS MOOD albums with the second of the three. I've since collected them all, this being the most recent.I love the purely instrumental big band tracks on all three of the albums. These guys-original members of the Glenn Miller Orchestra who've gotten together to create these holiday recordings-are OBVIOUSLY the real thing. They interpret traditional holiday songs with an impeccable and immensely fun big band swing.My bone to pick-and a major one, unfortunately-is with the "Moonlight Seranaders," who sing on (thankfully only) four of the sixteen tracks on this album. Although my experience of authentic big band recordings from the 1940s is slim, I do have a couple of albums, including a two-disc set of original Glenn Miller recordings. On NONE of these albums do the singers sound as disgustingly saccharin as these vocalists.The sound of the "Moonlight Seranaders" is definitely that of the sappy Lawrence Welk singers of the 1960s and '70s. It's truly terrifying and, sadly, interferes greatly with the otherwise fantastic tracks on this album and the others in the series. Personally, I'd much rather have had a single, talented, emotive vocalist on several of the tracks rather than the sickly-sweet chorus, which completely ruins songs like "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" on this album and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" on one of the other two.Nevertheless, for the usually ridiculoulsly low price of these albums, you really can't go wrong. The twelve great tracks on IN THE NUTCRACKER MOOD is well worth its cost-with or without the "Moonlight Seranaders." Buy it and re-live those fantastic days of big band music right in your own home this holiday season."

Glenn Miller fans will adore it.

C. Michael Massey | 11/30/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Without a doubt, the coolest arrangement of the Nutcracker I've ever heard. True Glenn Miller and swing fans will love it. Best Xmas album we own."

Glenn Miller died in 1944 but his orchestra lives on

Nancy Moran | Baltimore, Maryland USA | 07/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

""In the Nutcracker Mood" is disc 3 of a three disc box set titled "In The Christmas Mood" which I got from Amazon recently. Members of the original Glenn Miller Band did the arrangements and the performances many years later in tribute and in stereo according to their old bandleader's inspiration.This disk does Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and then many other Christmas songs (ending with "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" not only with a Big Band flair, but with an authentic, original Glenn Miller flair."