Search - Glenn Miller :: America's Band Leader

Good sampler of the Miller magic...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 04/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Glenn's arrangements and his orchestra are just wonderful, and this CD is an excellent value for the price. Several of these performances are from radio transcriptions, but the sound quality is quite good. These recordings were made between 1939 and 1942, and one song was done on the day after Pearl Harbor. Nine of the 14 tunes feature vocals. It is 50 minutes of swinging fun, a reminder of an America long-gone. To me, good songs and good playing are never "dated" although the arrangements might be out-of-fashion now. However, "American Patrol" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "In the Mood" and "Tuxedo Junction" and "Blues in the Night" and "I Got Rhythm" are immortal mini-masterpieces, and everyone who cares about 20th-century American music should own a disc like this."

Nice compilation of familiar and obscure Miller tunes

osdela | San Antonio, TX USA | 05/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"RCA/BMG did a nice job on this package of re-releasing several versions of Miller standards that were not generally released before. For example, "American Patrol" is from a radio broadcast from 1942 that was last released on the RCA Glenn Miller Limited Edition that came out in the 1950s. "At Last" is the first version that was recorded for Sun Valley Serenade in 1941 and never used. I've always wondered why Miller never recorded "Blues In The Night", but we have a great radio broadcast version that is included in this set from December 18, 1941. Also, Billy May arranged an excellent deconstruction (there's no other word for it) of George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" that appears on this cd. It's almost like he cut apart the main song and re-arranged it into a collage. The sound is generally excellent throughout this set, and if you listen closely to the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band during "Tuxedo Junction", you might wonder as I did, what it was exactly the people on the recording were laughing at. My only reservation is with the cover art, if RCA was going for a "patriotic" theme, there are alot of photos of Glenn Miller in his Air Force uniform they could have used."

GOOD COMPILATION

William E. Adams | 02/03/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This really is an interesting and entertaining compilation of Glenn Miller recordings (which dates from 1939 to 1942). It's very mixed. About half of the recordings are "live" and the other half recorded in a studio. This collection mixes some hits and a few less known. There are the odd rare[ish] recordings here also (some of which barely ever appear on other discs).



The original Glenn Miller recordings (as in during his life time) easily beat those of the later so-called "Glenn Miller" bands (unless noted otherwise). There is nothing wrong with keeping alive the music through newer recordings. But I fail to see how they can still keep recording under his name while he's sadly no longer alive. This collection is authentic Glenn Miller, not the Glenn Miller band without Glenn Miller. People who want improved stereo sound quality should look elsewhere.



It's true, there are literally hundreds of Glenn Miller compilations out there. But this one is always a good one to have. The sound quality is decent enough, but it is mixed. Some of the recordings sound very clear while others are just a little fuzzy. All fully listenable, but it should just be noted.



Some of this music had been recorded better elsewhere, but different recordings (for the more serious fan) is always nice to have. People who are simply casual fans will be better off with a "Hits" collection. But this will please just about everyone. So, if you want the original Glenn Miller, go for this one. If you can't stand listening to vintage recordings, look for another CD. Simple as that.



RCA/BMG did a nice job on this package of re-releasing several versions of Miller standards that weren't generally released before. For example, "American Patrol" is from a radio broadcast from 1942 that was last released on the RCA Glenn Miller Limited Edition that came out in the 1950s; "At Last" is the first version that was recorded for "Sun Valley Serenade" in 1941 and was never used; I've always wondered why Miller never recorded "Blues In The Night," but we have a great radio broadcast version that is included in this set from December 18, 1941; also, Billy May arranged an excellent deconstruction of George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" that appears on this CD (it's almost like he cut apart the main song and re-arranged it into a collage). The sound is generally excellent throughout this set and if you listen closely to Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band during "Tuxedo Junction," you might wonder what it was exactly the people on the recording were laughing at. My only reservation is with the cover art (if RCA was going for a patriotic theme, there are a lot of photos of Glenn Miller in his Air Force uniform they could have used).



It is also nice to note that one of the songs was done on the day after the Pearl Harbor attack. Plus, nine of the 14 tunes feature vocals. It is 50 minutes of swinging fun -- a reminder of an America long-gone.

"