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Various Artists: Swingin
Picture this. You're sitting in the Glen Island Casino with your best gal, sipping a gimlet and smoking a Chesterfield. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra take the stage, and so begins Swingin' Christmas Party. Miller's rendition of “Jingle Bells“ crackles like a roaring Yule log. Tex Beneke's vocals on this number only adds fuel to the already roaring fire. Tommy Dorsey lets all the kids know that “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” with his rousing interpretation. It's a pity that Frank Sinatra wasn't around for this recording.
Nowadays, Vaughn Monroe doesn't get the same recognition as other big band names, and it is a shame. His wonderful arrangement and bass delivery of “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” demonstrates his wonderful gifts. It's easy to see how this recording went to the top of the charts.
This collection also features many of the top names from the Swing Era such as Benny Goodman, Sammy Kaye, and Freddy Martin but three others really stand out. Larry Clinton's rendition of “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” is terrific. He takes this children's classic and gives it a swingin' arrangement that'll knock your socks off. Spike Jones and his City Slickers were known for their spoofs of mainstream hit songs. The novelty, “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”, is pure juvenile delight. The wacky orchestrations and clever lyric delivery make this a holiday classic.
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians were one of the greatest dance bands of their time. Lombardo's “Auld Lang Syne” is bar none, the definitive version of this song. As long as I can remember, this was the one that everybody played on New Year's Eve, and its inclusion makes this album mandatory for any collector of holiday music.
The selections on Swingin' Christmas Party would please the novice, the seasoned collector of the big band sound, or any holiday music nut.
Track Listing
1. Jingle Bells performed by Miller, Glen And His Orchestra / Tex Beneke / Modernaires - 3:04 2. Winter Wonderland performed by Flanagan, Ralph And His Orchestra - 2:41 3. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town performed by Dorsey, Tommy And His Orchestra / Cliff Weston - 3:23 4. Sleigh Ride performed by Martin, Freddy And His Orchestra / Merv Griffin - 3:11 5. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! performed by Monroe, Vaughn And His Orchestra / Norton Sisters - 3:08 6. Snowfall performed by Thornhill, Claude And His Orchestra - 3:22 7. White Christmas performed by Kaye, Sammy And His Orchestra / Johnny Ryan - 2:58 8. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers performed by Clinton, Larry And His Orchestra / Ford Leary - 2:44 9. Winter Weather performed by Waller, Fats And His Rhythm - 3:18 10. Santa Claus Came in the Spring performed by Goodman, Benny And His Orchestra / Joe Harris - 3:09 11. Swingin' Them Jingle Bells performed by Waller, Fats And His Rhythm - 2:57 12. All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front... performed by Jones, Spike And His City Slickers / George Rock - 3:12 13. Auld Lang Syne performed by Lumbardo, Guy And Royal Canadians - 2:06
Personnel
Various Artists
variousGuy Lombardo - Arranger Vaughn Monroe - Vocals Fats Waller - Piano, Vocals The Modernaires - Vocals Tex Beneke - Vocals Bill Finegan - Arranger Ford Leary - Vocals Johnny B. Ryan - Vocals Merv Griffin - Vocals Joe Harris - Vocals George Rock - Vocals Cliff Weston - Vocals Edythe Wright - Vocals Kaye Choir - Vocals Norton Sisters - Vocals
Album information
Title: Swingin | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Bluebird
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