The Very Best of Benny Goodman

The Very Best of Benny Goodman

by Benny GoodmanBenny Goodman

Overview

The Benny Goodman library hasn't been well treated by RCA-BMG, especially in the area of mid-priced compilations -- there were too many reissues done in the late '80s and early '90s, before the advent of 20-bit and 24-bit mastering and other high-resolution digital formats, that really make a difference on those old analog masters. The result is a lot of Goodman out there on CD (from Sony Music as well as BMG, the former label hardly being guiltless in this matter, either) that sounds tinny and thin. That is most decidedly not a problem with this 20-song CD, which offers the kind of sound that CDs originally promised (but generally didn't deliver) on music of this vintage, all dating between 1935 and 1938 -- Goodman's solo on "St. Louis Blues" does, indeed, sound as though the clarinetist is suddenly in the room with you, and the entire rhythm section right down to the guitar comes through just as clearly as the featured soloists. What's more, you even get the experience of room ambience on these nearly 70-year-old masters. It's worth buying just to hear the studio rendition of "One O'Clock Jump," a piece better known from its concert incarnation at the legendary Carnegie Hall performance -- most of what's here is instrumental, though the producers have included the Martha Tilton-sung "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" (in two-parts), "And the Angels Sing," "Goodie Goodie" with Helen Ward's vocals, and, most important, "Exactly Like You," featuring the Goodman Quartet with Lionel Hampton singing -- Hampton's vibraphone is so much in the fore that it sounds as fresh as if it had been recorded yesterday, on "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Moonglow." Loren Schoenberg's annotation is as good as the remastering, and the disc is a bargain by any measure, as well as a pleasure.

Product Details

Release Date: 11/07/2000
Label: Rca
UPC: 0090266373024
catalogNumber: 63730

Tracks

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Benny Goodman   Primary Artist,Clarinet
Bunny Berigan   Trumpet
Lionel Hampton   Vocals,Vibes
Harry James   Trumpet
Gene Krupa   Drums
Teddy Wilson   Clarinet,Piano
Ziggy Elman   Trumpet
Pee Wee Erwin   Trumpet
Vido Musso   Tenor Saxophone
Babe Russin   Tenor Saxophone
Helen Ward   Vocals
George Van Eps   Guitar
Frank Froeba   Piano
Red Ballard   Trombone
Noni Bernardi   Trombone
Vernon Brown   Trombone
Harry Geller   Trumpet
Harry Goodman   Bass
Irving Goodman   Trumpet
Chris Griffin   Trumpet
Benny Heller   Guitar
Jerry Jerome   Alto Saxophone
Nate Kazebier   Trumpet
George Koenig   Alto Saxophone
Jack Lacey   Trombone
Murray McEachern   Trumpet
Nuncio "Toots" Mondello   Alto Saxophone
Ralph Muzillo   Trumpet
Allan Reuss   Guitar
Arthur Rollini   Tenor Saxophone
Hymie Schertzer   Alto Saxophone
Buddy Schutz   Drums
Jess Stacy   Piano
Martha Tilton   Vocals
Dave Tough   Drums
Sterling Bose   Trumpet
Bill DePew   Trombone
Benny Goodman & His Orchestra   Track Performer
Joe Harris   Trombone
Dick Clark   Tenor Saxophone

Technical Credits

Billy Hill   Composer
Loren Schoenberg   Liner Notes
Ziggy Elman   Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Jimmy Mundy   Arranger
Jack Pettis   Composer
Eddie DeLange   Composer
Fletcher Henderson   Arranger
Will Hudson   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Elmer Schoebel   Composer
Matty Malneck   Composer
Sholom Secunda   Composer
Billy Meyers   Composer

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