Search - Larry Clinton :: Live in 1938 & 1939

A Fun and Easy-Going Big Band Radio Evening (or Two)

QuincyAnn | Rural Midwest USA | 12/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I admit that I bought this CD merely out of curiosity to hear Dennis Day (Gene McNulty) performing prior to his days on "The Jack Benny Show." I was completely surprised and bowled over by how much I enjoyed the entire shows--not just the two songs featuring McNulty.



The music is easy-going and fun, perfect listening for an evening puttering around the kitchen or sitting at some living room activity during a quiet evening at home, much as original listeners might have done in 1938 and 1939. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed this so much, I went to the Internet Archive to sample more big band of the era. However, I haven't found shows I enjoy and return to as I do these. I certainly have gotten my money's worth out of this CD.



I'm used to listening to Old Time Radio restorations, and this might be the finest quality restoration I have ever heard. I feel like I must be just on the outskirts of New York City listening in live on one of those high-end RCA-Victor radios the shows advertise. For anyone who pipes recordings through an old-time radio cabinet, this is a must-have for your music collection. (Of course, I am not a professional. Please listen to the mp3 clips and make your own judgments about what you might expect.)



The CD sleeve also unfolds to include an expansive commentary; this is not just some cheap knock-off of open-domain recordings.



By the way, for Dennis Day fans, if you haven't heard this recording, there is a little bit of a surprise in the initial dialog with Gene prior to his songs. I think I won't spoil it by a commentary, but let you enjoy discovering it for yourself."