The Band That Plays the Blues: 1937-1941

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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Richard S. Ginell
True to its word, this bargain-priced survey of Woody Herman's first band is right on message; all but three of the 18 tracks have "blues" or "blue" in the title. As such, it succeeds in surveying that aspect of the Herman band from early sessions in 1937 to September 1941 on the eve of the AF of M recording ban. Among the rarer treats here is the unusual "Calliope Blues," with its radical for the time use of a flute choir. On the last session covered here, the band made a famous cover version of Harold Arlen's standard-to-be "Blues in the Night," and you can hear the composer chime in as he answers Herman's lead vocal. Typically, Naxos scrambles the chronological ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Richard S. Ginell
True to its word, this bargain-priced survey of Woody Herman's first band is right on message; all but three of the 18 tracks have "blues" or "blue" in the title. As such, it succeeds in surveying that aspect of the Herman band from early sessions in 1937 to September 1941 on the eve of the AF of M recording ban. Among the rarer treats here is the unusual "Calliope Blues," with its radical for the time use of a flute choir. On the last session covered here, the band made a famous cover version of Harold Arlen's standard-to-be "Blues in the Night," and you can hear the composer chime in as he answers Herman's lead vocal. Typically, Naxos scrambles the chronological order of the survey, but any sure-fingered listener can correct that by using the programming control. In one seamless sleight-of-hand editing feat, "Blues Upstairs" and "Blues Downstairs" -- the A and B sides of a Decca 78 -- are joined together without a pause; even the cymbal crash that ends "Upstairs" carries over into the piano intro of "Downstairs." Furthermore, Naxos' transfers, although somewhat subdued, are closer to the original 78s in sound than Decca/GRP's brash, NoNoised versions of some of these tracks on the 1991 CD Blues on Parade even though, in a few cases, Decca had access to better sources. And Naxos has corrected the pitch of the original 78s that were faulty, which Decca did not do in its transfers -- one more pertinent reason to pick up this release.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 7/17/2001
  • Label: Naxos
  • UPC: 636943252727
  • Catalog Number: 8120527

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Woodchopper's Ball - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:11)
  2. 2 Blue Flame - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:13)
  3. 3 Dupree Blues - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (2:47)
  4. 4 Twin City Blues - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (2:57)
  5. 5 Laughing Boy Blues - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (2:56)
  6. 6 Casbah Blues - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:08)
  7. 7 Blues Upstairs - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:00)
  8. 8 Blues Downstairs - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (2:45)
  9. 9 River Bed Blues - Woody Herman's Woodchoppers (2:59)
  10. 10 Dallas Blues - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (2:55)
  11. 11 Calliope Blues - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:18)
  12. 12 Peach Tree Street - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:12)
  13. 13 Blue Prelude - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:11)
  14. 14 Pick-A-Rib - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:02)
  15. 15 Bessie's Blues - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:02)
  16. 16 Bishop's Blues - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (2:41)
  17. 17 Blues in the Night - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:13)
  18. 18 Blues on Parade - Woody Herman & His Orchestra (3:08)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Woody Herman Primary Artist, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Vocals
Ray Linn Trumpet
Horace Diaz Piano
Harold Arlen Vocals
Nick Caiazza Tenor Saxophone
Frank Carlson Drums
Joseph Estren Alto Saxophone
Mickey Folus Tenor Saxophone
Herbie Haymer Tenor Saxophone
Cappy Lewis Trumpet
Jerry Neary Trumpet
John Owens Trumpet
Jerry Rosa Trombone
Sam Rubinwich Alto Saxophone
Tobee Tyler Trombone
Hy White Guitar
Clarence Willard Trumpet
Walter Yoder Bass
Jimmy Horvath Alto Saxophone
Woody Herman & His Orchestra Track Performer
Joe Bishop Flugelhorn
Murray Williams Alto Saxophone
Don Watt Alto Saxophone
Malcolm Crain Trumpet
Pete Johns Tenor Saxophone
Tommy Linehan Piano
Steady Nelson Trumpet, Vocals
Bud Smith Trombone
Bob Price Trumpet
Ray Hopfner Alto Saxophone
Saxie Mansfield Tenor Saxophone
Neal Reid Trombone
Jack Ferrier Alto Saxophone
Nick Hupfer Violin
Eddie Scalzi Alto Saxophone
Herb Tompkins Alto Saxophone
Vic Hamann Trombone
Chick Reeves Guitar
Kermit Simmons Trumpet
Bruce Wilkins Tenor Saxophone
Joe Denton Alto Saxophone
Sunny Skylar Vocals
Oliver Matthewson Guitar
Sammy Armato Tenor Saxophone
Technical Credits
Benny Goodman Composer
Lionel Hampton Composer
Gordon Jenkins Composer
Ray Noble Composer
Andy Razaf Composer
Joe Davis Composer
Georgia White Composer
Joe Bishop Composer
David Lennick Producer
Peter Dempsey Liner Notes
Margaret Bonds Composer
Lloyd Garrett Composer
Hart A. Wand Composer
Jimmy Noble Composer
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