Big Band Bash

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The RCA Victor Recordings of Benny Goodman Part 1 Jan 07, 2023

Show notes

Benny Goodman's orchestra was the first big band that I ever listened to. Another big band show that I listen to just did a five week series on the life and music of Benny Goodman tracing his recordings from the earliest to the last ones. I wanted to do a series on Benny but I didn't want to duplicate what David Miller did on his show Swinging Down the Lane. Luckily, I have in my collection a series of albums from the 1970's released by RCA Victor call the Complete. Well, I have all eight double albums so I thought I would play many of the Victor recordings of the Goodman band. There are lots of great songs in this series and we will also trace the career of Benny Goodman. I hope you enjoy Part One of the RCA Victor Recordings of Benny Goodman. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Holiday Favorites on the Radio Part 2 Dec 24, 2022

Show notes

There are many popular Holiday songs through the years, but the 1930's through the 1950's produced many of them. We will take a look at why this was and enjoy some unique Holiday songs from this period on Part Two of Holiday Songs on the Radio. I want to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone of you a Happy holiday season. Be safe and enjoy yourselves this year. Seasons greetings everyone and I hope you enjoy the selections from this week's Big Band Bash. I forgot to give credit in the podcast, but the information I got was from the National Review and vocativ.com websites. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Holiday Favorites on the Radio Part 1 Dec 17, 2022

Show notes

I would like to celebrate the holidays with a program I call Holiday Favorites and the Radio. Imagine you have been transported back in time to the 1940's and are in your living room or den or bedroom listening to the radio. These are some of the holiday songs you might have heard. In addition to the songs from back then, I would like to give a little history on the importance of radio from that era. Happy Holidays everyone and I hope you enjoy the selections from this week's Big Band Bash. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

1942-1944 Time Life - The Swing Era Part 2 Repeat Dec 03, 2022

Show notes

We continue this week with the second part of the Time-Life Swing Era volume 1942-1944. I first discovered this series when I made a trip to the local library and found a couple volumes in the set. They were on vinyl lps and so I checked them out and transferred them to cassette (kudos to anyone who remembers cassette players and vinyl lps). After I started working at our radio station, someone donated the whole set in the series to us. It's a challenge thinking up topics for the show so I thought this would be an interesting way of remembering all those great hits from the big band era. I hope you enjoy the original recordings from "The Swing Era" 1942-1944 Part 2. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

1942-1944 Time Life - The Swing Era Part 1 Repeat Nov 26, 2022

Show notes

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Welcome to this encore presentation from the Time-Life series, "The Swing Era". Today we return with the volume from the years of 1942-1944. These were the war years but there were still some great recordings made. As I have done in previous shows from the Time-Life series I am playing the original recordings. We'll be hearing from Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Les Brown and more. This is a fantastic set with lots of great music. I hope you enjoy this volume in the series, "The Swing Era". Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Great Big Band Singers - Part Three Nov 19, 2022

Show notes

This week concludes the Great Big Band Singers set from Reader's Digest. I have picked one song from each singer in the set to play. It is sad that this set is no longer available but I have seen it listed on Ebay. If you are a fan of the big band singers you might want to see if you can buy it there. The puzzler is back this week. I hope you enjoy the songs and singers on this program. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Great Big Band Singers - Part Two Nov 12, 2022

Show notes

This week's show is a continuation of the series The Great Big Band Singers that I started last week. Some new vocalists make their way into the show: Dick Haymes, Bob Eberle, Helen O'Connell, June Christy and Peggy Lee. This is a great set which unfortunately is no longer available. In addition to the featured singers I will be reading from the booklet that came with the set. Also, the big band puzzler is back. I hope you enjoy the music from The Great Big Band Singers. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

The Great Big Band Singers - Part One Nov 05, 2022

Show notes

Reader's Digest records has put out many collections of Big Bands in the past. One that I have in my collection is called The Great Big Band Singers. I found that when I started to play these CDs that the songs were not the same old songs associated with the singers but different versions. For example, there are live reordings and lesser known recordings in addition to the hits. I hope you enjoy this set from Reader's Digest. This series is for all the vocal fans. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

Scary Songs Oct 29, 2022

Show notes

Halloween will be in a few days and so to do something different on the program this week, I have picked out some songs that are scary or eerie sounding or have a scary word in the title. And to make things a little fun I put in a different sounding background to get us in the mood for Halloween. This is the first show I have produced with a Halloween flavor so I hope you enjoy this little bit of eeriness and scary big band sounds. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

V-Discs Part 3 Oct 22, 2022

Show notes

This week I am going to conclude our look at the V-Disc Program by playing some more songs from the Time-Life four disc set on the V-Disc program. Since I read from two internet sites that told about the V-Disc program on parts one and two, I am not going to do much discussion other than to announce the various songs. As usual the Puzzler will be back. I hope you enjoy this collection of songs as we wind up or look at the many recordings that were part of the V-Disc series. Please visit this podcast at http://bigbandbashfm.blogspot.com

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