Search - The Si Zentner Orchestra, The Johnny Mann Singers :: Great Band With Great Voices / Swing the Great Voices of the Great Bands

Smooth Standards

H. Beavers | Murphy, TX United States | 11/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These LP's were very good when originally issued and sounds just as good on CD. Johnny Mann's vocal group works have long been overdue on CD .The mix with Si Zentner's band makes for a good blend. Mississippi Mud has a bit of the 'Up a Lazy River' arrangement that might be considered too 'pop' for some. All in all a good variation of tempo but generally on the up side. This 24 track collection is for those who appreciate 'adult standards' not necessarily by the original artist."

Another fine Taragon Release

dpc915 | Ossining, NY United States | 07/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not sure why some of the reviewers just don't get it? stereo was much different back in the day and so was the equipment to play our "LP's". If Taragon had released this exactly like the original lp's chances are everybody would complain that in the car, they couldn't hear one part of the album! If you want to hear the ping pong back and forth go to the original lp...if you want to hear a great remaster then pick up this CD. (REVIEWER NOTE: I also own several Taragon releases...it seems this label uses the best quality masters around, they do indeed take the time to make the best possible sound. I wish the major labels would get the hint! Long live Taragon!)"

Not as I remember, but still good

Shore DJ | Oceanport, New Jersey United States | 05/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the early 60's, Johnny Mann and singers were providing the West Coast alternative to the jingles coming out of Dallas that were heard on most radio stations. While LA listeners heard Johnny's singers performing accapella on KHJ, we in the New York area heard him (possibly with Si Zentner's backing) on WMCA. Plus his weekly Saturday morning theme on "The Alvin Show", which also had the Mann/Zentner trademark style of blaring horns with a zylophone doubling the horns' top note. I was very happy to see the Great Band/Voices album out on CD, but with 2 twists. We've had this album in the family on a 4-track reel since it came out in the early 60's, and some time ago, I burned it on a CD (revealing the fact that the tape hasn't held up that well). To my suprise on this CD, the sides were flipped (the tape starts with "St. Louis Blues" instead of "Serenade in Blue"). So I'm still getting used to the running order. The other suprise on the CD was that the "Visual Sound Stereo" was gone... meaning the occaisional channel flipping of the voices and horns. I sort of liked that feature, particularly on "T'Ain't What You Do" in the middle call and response part with the band. (Is that Thurl Ravenscroft singing those big bass notes on this?) As for Swing the Great Voices, I could have done without the "twistin" arrangements on "Mississippi Mud", "Chatanooga Choo Choo", and "Rum and Coca Cola". But the rest of this stuff just cooks, particularly on "Undecided". So, this, along with the works of the Singers Unlimited, will belong in the music collection of most "jingle freaks", along with the collections of people who like good vocal harmony and big bands."