Search - Glenn Miller :: Best of

Some Problems, but a Great Miller CD Nonetheless

loungelizard7 | 10/10/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Don't let the generic cover and bargain-basement price fool you. This CD belongs in any Miller or big band aficionado's collection. A caveat emptor to hardcore purists--these are probably not original Miller recordings, with the possible exceptions of "In the Mood," "Kalamazoo," and "Tuxedo Junction," which were recorded live. The tracks are slightly heavy on bass, but this is a pleasant surprise. Drums and bass are emphasized more than usual, which makes Miller swing harder than ever. It also makes for robust brass and rich reeds.All the standards are in their finest form here. The best (and by FAR most swinging) version of Miller's "Little Brown Jug" will spoil the listener against all others. A slightly slowed "Pennsylvania 6-5000" grooves, the "approaching train" intro of instrumental "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" is marvelous, "American Patrol" is better than ever, and the loveliest "String of Pearls" lends a touch of class. The latter's intro is fun, fading in and giving the feeling of walking into a club where the band is playing it. The sound spreads more evenly on "Anvil Chorus"; if this and "Bugle Call Rag" don't get your fingers snapping, check your pulse.The three live recordings have absolutely dreadful sound, and are almost certainly not played by the same band from the other tracks, which is a shame because aside from the sound, these are great. "In the Mood" clips along at a lively pace, with a rip-roaring sax duel and a blistering trumpet solo. A fun arrangement of "Kalamazoo," and a deliciously naughty trumpet on "Tuxedo Junction" round out the live tracks.A divine "Sunset Serenade" is worth the price of the CD all by itself. The arrangement is slightly modified from the traditional Miller arrangement, with a blaring intro like the first rays of dawn breaking on the horizon. This song is treated with a velvet glove, with reeds like singing birds and brass warm as the sun; rarely have I heard horns play with such emotion, down to the gorgeous sax solo. "Moonlight Cocktail" is beautiful, but the heavy bass mars the end of this track. Dim, smoky "Serenade in Blue" gets you hooked in before the melody even starts and ends the disc on a high note."Best-of" re-recordings are usually pretty awful, but this is one of the best. The old Miller favorites are here, with the exception of "St. Louis Blues March" and, sadly, "Moonlight Serenade," with a couple of oft-overlooked gem "Sunrise." The bass trouble on "Cocktail," the terribly quality of the live tracks, the conspicuous absence of Miller's theme song, and a complete lack of liner notes lose two stars for the rating, but this is still one of the best Glenn Miller CDs around, played by a very good band at an unbeatable price."