Big Band Bash

Latest Episodes:

The Complete RCA Victor Recordings of Glenn Miller Part 2 Mar 18, 2023

Show notes

Today I am going to continue with part two of the Complete RCA Victor Recordings of Glenn Miller. This was a nine double album set or a thirteen CD set. I have all these recordings in my library so as we progress in chronological fashion we'll be plying some of his well known recordings and some of the lesser known ones. I am also taking a biographical look at Glenn's career. For all the Glenn Miller fans, this set is for you as we celebrate Glenn's birthday of March 01, 1904. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Complete RCA Victor Recordings of Glenn Miller Part 1 Mar 11, 2023

Show notes

March 01, 1904 is the birthday of the late Glenn Miller. To celebrate his birthday, we are going to start a six part series called The Complete Victor Recordings of Glenn Miller. There are thirteen double record sets in the series so I am going to combine 2 sets per show. I will omit set thirteen as it contains outtakes and unissued recordings. Glenn's second band produced all their recordings for RCA Victor on the Bluebird label. We are going to hear many of the Miller band's big hits along with some that are not as well known. This is a great series and the recordings all sound good. I hope you enjoy this series as we wish Glenn a happy birthday. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Black History Month Part Four Mar 04, 2023

Show notes

This is the final part of our celebration of Black History Month. Today we will highlight the band led by Jimmie Lunceford and in the second half, I have some assorted selections to play. I have really enjoyed putting together this series and today I have pulled out many of the major hits by the Lunceford Orchestra. Some of the assorted cuts include songs from Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Teddy Wilson, The Mills Brothers and a few others. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Black History Month Part Three Feb 25, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to part three of our celebration of Black Hiistory Month. Today we will be looking at and listening to two bands that were led by African-American Bandleaders. In the first half, we will present some music from Erskine Hawkins and then in the second half music from Duke Ellington. Erskine Hawkins, although not a household name today, had a few big hits during his career and I think I have them all on today's show. I hope your are enjoying this series of music as we will wind up next week. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Black History Month Part Two Feb 18, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to part two of our celebration of Black History Month. For this year's celebration I elected to split each show into two parts and highlight two African-American bands from the big band era. Today we pay a salute to the bands of Benny Carter and Count Basie. Benny was an outstanding alto sax and trumpet player as well as being a great arranger and composer. We'll hear a few of his hits and I'll be playing some early Count Basie from the late 1930's. There is some outstanding music on the show today and I hope you enjoy the selections. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Black History Month Part One Feb 11, 2023

Show notes

February is Black History Month and for our celebration this month I am taking the four Saturdays and splitting them into two parts and presenting two bands and band leaders per show. Today, I am going to feature the bands of Chick Webb and Andy Kirk. Chick had a very exciting band and was a mainstay at the Savoy Ballroom. Andy Kirk comes out of Kansas City and had several hits and was popular in the late 1930's into the 1940's. I hope you enjoy part one of our celebration of Black History Month. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The RCA Victor Recordings of Benny Goodman Part 5 Feb 04, 2023

Show notes

This is the final episode of the Complete RCA Victor Recordings of Benny Goodman. I am going to start with a few numbers from Volume Six and then most of the recordings are from Volume Seven during the year of 1938 and we'll wind up with a few recordings from Volume Eight in the year of 1939. Volume Eight was mainly unissued recordings and retakes. Also, I have an interview that the author of the liner notes had with Benny in 1980. This series has been a labor of love for me because the Benny Goodman Orchestra was the first big band that I ever listened to. I was fortunate to see Benny in person when he brought his sextet to the city I was living in in 1978. I hope you enjoy this last episode of the complete RCA Victor recordings of Benny Goodman 1935 - 1939. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The RCA Victor Recordings of Benny Goodman Part 4 Jan 28, 2023

Show notes

We continue our look at the music in the eight volume set from RCA records of the complete Victor recordings of Benny Goodman. This week we start volume five and get into volume six. Martha Tilton is still the featured vocalist but gradually there are sideman changes in the orchestra. Gene Krupa leaves in March of 1938 to start his own orchestra and then there are a few other changes. The music, however, is still top notch. One thing I noticed while going through this volume is that Benny is recording more pop hits of the day. Most of these songs are unheard of today. It is still a great volume and I hope you enjoy the music in volume number five and six. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The RCA Victor Recordings of Benny Goodman Part 3 Jan 21, 2023

Show notes

On Part Three of the Complete RCA Victor recordings of Benny Goodman, we start with the last recording that Helen Ward sang with the band. Benny used a few substitutes while he was looking for Helen's replacement so we'll hear a number by each of those vocalists. Then at the end of the program I have included the first couple of numbers that Martha Tilton recorded with the band. Also, it was during this time in 1937 that Benny recorded one of his biggest hits, it was called Sing, Sing, Sing. We'll hear the whole commercial recording which took up both sides of a 78 rpm record. I hope you are enjoying these recordings from the 8 double album set of RCA Victor recordings released by RCA in the mid 1970's. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The RCA Victor Recordings of Benny Goodman Part 2 Jan 14, 2023

Show notes

This week we continue our look at the recordings made by Benny Goodman for the RCA Victor label. We start with some songs from Volume Two and move into Volume Three. I also continue with my look at the career of Benny Goodman. Thia show also introduces the Goodman Quartet with the addition of vibraphonist Lionel Hampton. Most of these songs were recorded in 1936. There are a lot of favorites for all the fans of Benny and his Orchestra. I hope you are enjoying the recordings that Benny made for RCA Victor at the start of his career. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

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