Swing Is the Thing [Retrieval]

by Benny Goodman

Overview

Released in 2007, Retrieval's Swing Is the Thing is a highly recommended sampler of definitive swing recordings made between February 1932 and February 1942 by Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, Bob Crosby, and Artie Shaw. Most of the selections are instrumental, and most exceed the durational constraints of the 10" record, which is a fancy way of saying that 14 out of 16 tracks last longer than four minutes, allowing for longer solos and extended ensemble jamming. While this compilation works well both as an introduction to and a reaffirmation of the swing tradition, the extra emphasis on Crosby -- he gets four tracks while the rest are assigned only two -- is a bit puzzling. If the producers of this album wanted to stick with long tracks, all they had to do was substitute Count Basie's "Cherokee" and "Miss Thing" for two of the Crosby tunes and this would have been even better and more accurate. Omitting Basie from the lineup in favor of Crosby is a programmatic gaff that bumps this collection down from outstanding to merely excellent. ~ arwulf arwulf

Product Details

Release Date:	04/08/2008
Label:	Retrieval Recordings
UPC:	0608917905328
Rank:	198854

Tracks

1. St. Louis Blues  - Duke Ellington  - W.C. Handy
2. Creole Love Call  - Duke Ellington  - Rudy Jackson  - Bubber Miley
3. Honeysuckle Rose  -  Immerman  -  Waller
4. Stop, Look and Listen  -  Dorsey  - Alan Freed
5. Beale St. Blues  -  Dorsey
6. Blue, Turning Grey Over You  -  Waller
7. Sing, Sing, Sing, Pt. 1  -  Goodman
8. Sing, Sing, Sing, Pt. 2  -  Goodman
9. I Can't Get Started  -  Berigan
10. The Prisoner's Song  -  Berigan
11. South Rampart Street Parade  - Ray Bauduc  -  Crosby  - Bob Haggart
12. Dogtown Blues  -  Crosby
13. Concerto for Clarinet, Pt. 1  -  Shaw
14. Concerto for Clarinet, Pt. 2  -  Shaw
15. Chain Gang  -  Crosby  - Bob Haggart
16. Ec Stacy  -  Crosby

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Crosby & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Duke Ellington   Primary Artist,Piano,Director
Fats Waller His Rhythm & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Bunny Berigan & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Benny Goodman & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Artie Shaw & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Benny Goodman   Primary Artist,Clarinet,Director,Bandleader
Matty Matlock   Sax (Alto),Clarinet
Freddy Jenkins   Trumpet
Neely Plumb   Sax (Alto)
Nick Fatool   Drums
George Koenig   Sax (Alto)
Artie Shaw   Clarinet,Director
Tom Morgan   Guitar
Johnny Hodges   Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Soprano)
Bud Freeman   Sax (Tenor)
Buddy Morrow   Trombone
Allan Reuss   Guitar
Barney Bigard   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
Gene Sedric   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
Tommy Dorsey   Trombone,Director
Harry Carney   Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Baritone)
Harry James   Trumpet
Al George   Trombone
Les Jenkins   Trombone
Red Bone   Trombone
Joe Bauer   Trumpet
Clyde Rounds   Sax (Tenor)
Elmer Smithers   Trombone
J. Cathcart   Trumpet
Alex Beller   Violin
Ward Silloway   Trombone
Artt Mendelsohn   Sax (Alto)
Jud de Naut   String Bass
E. Lamas   Violin
Joe Dixon   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Fred Stuice   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Warren Smith   Trombone
Charles Turner   String Bass
Slick Jones   Drums,Vibraphone
Sonny Greer   Drums
Bob Haggart   String Bass
Bing Crosby   Vocals
Jack Jenney   Trombone
Fred Guy   Banjo,Guitar
Fats Waller   Piano,Vocals
Allan Harshman   Viola
Carmen Mastren   Guitar
Gene Krupa   Drums
Wellman Braud   String Bass
Howard Smith   Piano
Jerry Jerome   Sax (Tenor)
Juan Tizol   Vocals,Trombone,Trumpet (Muted)
Pee Wee Erwin   Trumpet
Vernon Brown   Trombone
Steve Lipkins   Trumpet
Bob Morrow   Violin
Max Herman   Trumpet
Mike Doty   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Floyd O'Brien   Trombone
Gene Traxler   String Bass
Fred Goerner   Cello
K. Collins   Viola
T. Klages   Violin
Arthur Rando   Sax (Alto)
Sonny Lee   Trombone
Joe Lippman Orchestra   Piano
George Wendt   Trumpet
Lyman Vunk   Trumpet
Hymie Schertzer   Sax (Alto)
Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton   Trombone
Johnny Guarnieri   Piano
Charlie Spivak   Trumpet
Vido Musso   Sax (Tenor)
Johnny Mince   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Albert Casey   Guitar
Red Ballard   Trombone
Jess Stacy   Piano
Les Robinson   Sax (Tenor)
Nappy Lamare   Guitar
Ray Bauduc   Drums
Ray Conniff   Trombone
Arthur Rollini   Sax (Tenor)
Bus Bassey   Sax (Alto)
Harry Goodman   String Bass
Hank Wayland   String Bass
George Wettling   Drums
Irving Goodman   Trumpet
Gordon Griffin   Trumpet
Arthur Whetsol   Trumpet
Al Hendrickson   Guitar,Clarinet
Murray McEachern   Trombone
Bunny Berigan   Vocals,Trumpet,Director
Georgie Auld   Sax (Tenor)
Gil Rodin   Sax (Tenor)
Herman Autrey   Trumpet
Yank Lawson   Trumpet
Ziggy Elman   Trumpet
Andrew Ferretti   Trumpet
Bob Zurke   Piano
Billy Butterfield   Trumpet
Cootie Williams   Trumpet
Lawrence Brown   Trombone

Technical Credits

Rudy Jackson   Composer
Harry Coster   Audio Restoration,Original Material
Alan Freed   Composer
Bubber Miley   Composer
Deane Kincaide   Arranger
Michael Brooks   Original Material
Jimmy Munday   Arranger
Bob Haggart   Arranger,Composer
Duke Ellington   Arranger,Composer
W.C. Handy   Composer
Joe Lippman Orchestra   Arranger
Immerman   Composer
Dick Sudhalter   Sleeve Notes
Ray Bauduc   Composer