Ironically, given its subtitle, King of Swing, the second volume in Time-Life's Big Band series, devoted to Benny Goodman, traces the period of his abdication rather than that of his reign. The first volume, simply called Big Bands, drew primarily from Goodman's time on RCA Victor Records, 1935-39, the period when he inaugurated the swing era and earned his crown. This volume picks up with the Columbia Records years, starting in 1939, when his authority was being usurped, notably by Glenn Miller. The compilers, always more ...
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Ironically, given its subtitle, King of Swing, the second volume in Time-Life's Big Band series, devoted to Benny Goodman, traces the period of his abdication rather than that of his reign. The first volume, simply called Big Bands, drew primarily from Goodman's time on RCA Victor Records, 1935-39, the period when he inaugurated the swing era and earned his crown. This volume picks up with the Columbia Records years, starting in 1939, when his authority was being usurped, notably by Glenn Miller. The compilers, always more interested in jazzy instrumentals than actual hits, unconsciously evoke Goodman's commercial decline by including his non-hit takes on "Elmer's Tune" and "Shake Down the Stars," two songs that were big hits for Miller. There are enough Goodman classics -- "Stealin' Apples," "Why Don't You Do Right?" (with Peggy Lee), "Gotta Be This or That" -- along with interesting novelties -- "I Thought About You," sung by Mildred Bailey, "Who Cares?" sung by Fred Astaire -- and the only okay tracks chosen for a solo or two to make this a pleasing collection. But as usual, the casual fans targeted by this release may wonder what happened to chart-toppers like "Darn That Dream," "There'll Be Some Changes Made" and "Taking a Chance on Love," among others. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi
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