Search - Woody Herman & His Orchestra :: Best of Woody Herman & His

Jazz Collectors May Be Missing Something That Is Scarce!

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 11/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an unique album even though it consists of previously recorded material.



Back in the fifties, Capitol Records in the very late stages of the big band era had Ray Anthony, Billy May, Harry James, Stan Kenton, Les Brown and Woody Herman all under contract. Tracks 1, 3 and 6 of this album were originally recorded in May of 1956 as part of a two record LP titled "Dance to the Bands". I'm certain you won't find these tracks anywhere except on this album!



"Skinned" (track 5) was recorded a year later as a single, the flip side being (what else?) "Skinned Again". I first heard it while I was in the USAF and I thought the drummer was Buddy Rich....however somewhere along the way, it seems like I read it was Chuck Flores. Anyhow "Skinned Again" I've never found.



"Early Autumn" is from 1948 and served as the launching pad for the career of Stan Getz."Tenderly" is from 1948 or 49.



This seems to be the original recording of "Woodchopper's Ball" on Decca from April 12, 1939............note the surface noise! The piece started as a head arrangement improvised during an engagement at Brooklyn's Roseland Ballroom. According to Woody, he sometimes wished he'd never played the number. "It was great the first thousand times". After so many times, so many changes had crept in that Woody sent out for a stock arrangement of it "because we had become so far out that nobody could tell what the hell it was any more. We had to find the simple basic roots of the thing.......and then we started changing it all over again".



"Apple Honey" is a 1956 version (the original had a vibes solo by Marjorie Hyams). "Lemon Drop" is from 1948-49, "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" is from 1956.



The final cut is also a recording of May 1956. You may recall an earlier version of this tune by Les Brown titled "Mexican Hat Dance".



This is an album with excellent sound quality, good big band sounds and one that should appeal to fans of such....particularly of Woody Herman. It's definitely a bargain at the prices advertised...........excellent for anyone's collection!"

Top Shelf Stuff

Mark L. Budahl | Mitchell, SD | 07/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a joy to hear some classic big band sounds. These guys are talented musicians. It is fun listening to my dad, never got to hear him live."