Let's Dance: Themes of the Big Bands 1934-1947

by Let's Dance

Overview

For a budget-line production, Let's Dance isn't half bad. Gathering together some of the best-known bands and bandleaders (Xavier Cugat, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton) is sure to deliver at least a few gems, even if the recordings aren't from the artists' top shelf. That's what occurs here. Though versions of Basie's "One O'Clock Jump" and Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train" don't necessarily pop and fizz like some that listeners have heard, the groove is still there. Elsewhere, Clyde McCoy's "Sugar Blues" and Jimmie Lunceford's "Jazznocracy" swing with underground abandon, approximating the sound of the party depicted on the release's front cover. Though noise reduction technology has been employed here, many tracks still suffer from age. But Naxos has included full notes and recording details for each track. Overall, a thoroughly entertaining big-band comp for the casual fan. ~ Johnny Loftus

Product Details

Release Date:	02/13/2007
Label:	Naxos Jazz / Naxos
UPC:	0636943253625
Rank:	170132

Tracks

1. Let's Dance  - Fannie Baldridge  - Josef Bonime  -  Goodman  - Gregory Stone
2. Blue Flame  - Joe Bishop  - Leo Corday  - Woody Herman  - James Noble  - Jimmy Noble
3. Ciribiribin (They're So in Love)  - Harry James  -  James  - Jack Lawrence  - Alberto Pestalozza
4. My Shawl  - Xavier Cugat
5. One O'Clock Jump  - Count Basie  -  Basie
6. I Can't Get Started  - Bunny Berigan  - Vernon Duke  - Ira Gershwin
7. Sunburst  - Bob Chester  - James Scott
8. Sugar Blues  - Lucy Fletcher  - Clyde McCoy  - Clarence Williams
9. Smoke Rings  - Gene Gifford  - H.E. Gifford  - Ned Washington  -  Gray
10. Take the "A" Train  -  Ellington  - Billy Strayhorn
11. My Twilight Dream (Chopin Nocturne in E Flat)  - Eddy Duchin
12. Got a Date With an Angel  - Skinnay Ennis  - Clifford Grey  - Sonny Miller  - Thomas Tunbridge  - Joseph Turnbridge  - Fats Waller  - Jack Waller
13. Does Your Heart Beat for Me  - Arnold Johnson  - Russ Morgan  - Mitchell Parish  -  Morgan
14. Flying Home  - Benny Goodman  - Lionel Hampton  -  Hampton  - Sydney Robin
15. Contrasts  - Jimmy Dorsey  -  Dorsey
16. Rippling Rhythm  - Dorothy Fields  -  Fields
17. Goodbye  -  Goodman  - Gordon Jenkins
18. Jazznocracy  - Will Hudson  -  Lunceford

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Glen Gray & the Casa Loma Orchestra   Primary Artist
Russ Morgan & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Bob Chester   Primary Artist
Woody Herman   Primary Artist
Count Basie Orchestra   Primary Artist
Duke Ellington's Famous Orchestra   Primary Artist
Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Benny Goodman & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Skinnay Ennis   Primary Artist,Vocals
Clyde McCoy   Primary Artist
Russ Morgan   Primary Artist
Eddy Duchin   Primary Artist
Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Bunny Berigan   Primary Artist,Vocals
Harry James & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Xavier Cugat   Primary Artist
Shep Fields & His Orchestra   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

David Lennick   Compilation Producer,Producer,Transfers
Shep Fields & His Orchestra   Performer
Jack Waller   Composer
Clarence Williams   Composer
Dorothy Fields   Composer
Gene Gifford   Composer
Lionel Hampton   Composer
Alberto Pestalozza   Composer
H. E. Gifford   Composer
Gordon Jenkins   Composer
Harry James   Composer,Performer
Woody Herman   Performer
Ron Hoares   Design
Lucy Fletcher   Composer
James Scott   Composer
Graham Newton   Digital Noise Reduction
Thomas Tunbridge   Composer
Josef Bonime   Composer
Jimmy Dorsey   Composer
Peter Dempsey   Liner Notes
Ned Washington   Composer
Jimmie Lunceford   Performer
Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra   Performer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Benny Goodman & His Orchestra   Performer
Arnold Johnson   Composer
Sydney Robin   Composer
Jimmy Noble   Composer
Vernon Duke   Composer
Jack Lawrence   Composer
Joe Bishop   Composer
Duke Ellington   Performer
James Noble   Composer
Count Basie   Composer,Performer
Clyde McCoy   Performer
Fannie Baldridge   Composer
Clifford Grey   Composer
Fats Waller   Composer
Benny Goodman   Composer,Performer
Russ Morgan   Composer
Eddy Duchin   Performer
Gregory Stone   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Leo Corday   Composer
Joseph Turnbridge   Composer
Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra   Performer
Xavier Cugat   Composer,Performer
Will Hudson   Composer
Sonny Miller   Composer
Bob Chester   Performer