The Essential Glenn Miller [Bluebird/Legacy]

( 1 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Bruce Eder
This double-CD set should not be confused with the similarly named mid-'90s, 47-song compilation from BMG, which was good in its time but is outclassed by this entry in Sony Music's now Sony BMG's Essential series. Wisely ignoring a by-release-date-order approach, producer Barry Feldman has instead opted for a track lineup that, plain and simple, sells the Glenn Miller sound to modern ears -- so the summer 1939 "In the Mood" is the first cut on the set, and "Moonlight Serenade," from four months earlier, is held back, to the last slot among the Miller commercial recordings, thus allowing the listener to meander delightfully across three years of hits -- across 1940, 1941, ...
See more details below
CD (Remastered)
$11.19
BN.com price
(Save 20%)$13.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (11) from $11.81   
  • New (11) from $11.81   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Bruce Eder
This double-CD set should not be confused with the similarly named mid-'90s, 47-song compilation from BMG, which was good in its time but is outclassed by this entry in Sony Music's now Sony BMG's Essential series. Wisely ignoring a by-release-date-order approach, producer Barry Feldman has instead opted for a track lineup that, plain and simple, sells the Glenn Miller sound to modern ears -- so the summer 1939 "In the Mood" is the first cut on the set, and "Moonlight Serenade," from four months earlier, is held back, to the last slot among the Miller commercial recordings, thus allowing the listener to meander delightfully across three years of hits -- across 1940, 1941, and the first half of 1942, zigging and zagging through various "hot" and "sweet" instrumentals and vocal numbers, alternately featuring Ray Eberle, Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, and the Modernaires. The last seven slots on the second disc are reserved for sides that Miller recorded during the final two years of his life, leading the Army Air Force Overseas Orchestra, which show off the richer, lusher sound that he achieved as a bandleader serving the war effort during WWII. Modern listeners will probably be astounded to hear the Eberle-sung rendition of "Blueberry Hill" from 1940, so thoroughly has the song become identified with Fats Domino over the past five decades, but the real treat upon hearing this set is the sound quality -- the latest remastering brings out the internal detail of the arrangements on the Miller sides better than anyone has heard them since the day they were recorded on lacquer masters more than 60 years ago; you can actually make out the rhythm-playing, and the voicings of the reeds at the center of the Miller sound have never been more vivid. There are no surprises here, just incredibly sophisticated yet animated, and downright busy playing -- given the smoothness of the results -- that still seduces and overwhelms the listener nearly seven decades later. With his chestnuts "Little Brown Jug" and "Tuxedo Junction" at the head of the list; they're so clean and sharp here that it's refreshing to hear them once again, for the ka-gillionth time, sounding better and more rewarding than ever, and without a trace of noise; "Tuxedo Junction," in particular, on its middle section, sounds about 40 years newer than it would seem to have a right to. The liner notes are also excellent, endeavoring and largely succeeding at explaining an era of entertainment that is only known today from the late-'30s and early-'40s movies that are increasingly not shown on cable and have all-but-vanished from broadcast television, except for a token presence on public TV stations. If the double-CD price is a little off-putting, it's worth the plunge anyway -- you may own 30 Miller CDs and still justify buying this set -- because no single disc can capture Miller's best. and his legacy as well -- and the box set is also a great way to become a fan, in case someone hasn't yet been sold on him, one listen to the playing -- as good as you'd find in any symphony orchestra this side of Vienna or Berlin -- and the arrangements which were just hot enough to keep Miller relevant to jazz will make the sale.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 6/28/2005
  • Label: Rca
  • UPC: 828766924121
  • Catalog Number: 69241
  • Sales rank: 6,961

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 In the Mood (3:39)
  2. 2 Tuxedo Junction (3:29)
  3. 3 Serenade in Blue (3:28)
  4. 4 Blueberry Hill (2:54)
  5. 5 (I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo (3:17)
  6. 6 Moon Love (2:55)
  7. 7 Over the Rainbow (2:31)
  8. 8 Stairway to the Stars (2:53)
  9. 9 Little Brown Jug (2:51)
  10. 10 A String of Pearls - The Glenn Miller Orchestra (3:16)
  11. 11 Juke Box Saturday Night (3:06)
  12. 12 The Woodpecker Song (2:35)
  13. 13 When You Wish Upon a Star (2:54)
  14. 14 Imagination (2:50)
  15. 15 The Booglie Wooglie Piggy (3:26)
  16. 16 Moonlight Cocktail (3:18)
  17. 17 A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (3:42)
  18. 18 Blue Rain (3:12)
  19. 19 Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar (3:04)
Disc 2
  1. 1 Pennsylvania 6-5000 (3:15)
  2. 2 Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me) (3:13)
  3. 3 Elmer's Tune (3:09)
  4. 4 Chattanooga Choo Choo (3:29)
  5. 5 The Story of a Starry Night (3:31)
  6. 6 At Last (3:06)
  7. 7 American Patrol (3:19)
  8. 8 Fools Rush In (2:34)
  9. 9 The Nearness of You (3:14)
  10. 10 Blue Orchids (2:55)
  11. 11 Song of the Volga Boatmen (3:26)
  12. 12 Moonlight Serenade (3:25)
  13. 13 Over There - Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band (2:03)
  14. 14 The St. Louis Blues March - Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band (4:28)
  15. 15 Peggy, The Pin-Up Girl - Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band (3:24)
  16. 16 Along the Santa Fe Trail - Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band (3:21)
  17. 17 Mission to Moscow - Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band (2:34)
  18. 18 Medley: Londonderry Air (Danny Boy) /Shoo-Shoo Baby /The Way - Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band (8:50)
  19. 19 G.I. Jive - Glenn Miller & the Army Air Force Band (3:09)
Read More Show Less

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Glenn Miller Primary Artist, Trombone
Johnny Desmond Vocals
Al Klink Tenor Saxophone, Soloist
Ray Eberle Vocals
The Modernaires Vocals
Tex Beneke Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Soloist
Marion Hutton Vocals
Dale McMickle Trumpet, Soloist
Murray Kane Vocals
Don Briggs Announcer
Technical Credits
Erskine Hawkins Composer
Billy May Arranger
Mel Powell Arranger, Composer
Julian Dash Composer
W.C. Handy Composer
Harold Arlen Composer
George M. Cohan Composer
Barry Feldman Reissue Producer
Bill Finegan Arranger
M. Gordon Composer
Mack Gordon Composer
Jerry Gray Arranger, Composer
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg Composer
William Johnson Composer
J. Livingston Composer
David M. Composer
Glenn Miller Composer
Mitchell Parish Composer
Doug Pomeroy Mastering
Frank Signorelli Composer
Harry Warren Composer
Ned Washington Composer
Matty Malneck Composer
Howard Fritzson Art Direction
Paul McGrane Composer
Ralph Wilkinson Arranger
M.P. Curtis Composer
Buddy Feyne Composer
Eric Maschwitz Composer
Manning Sherwin Composer
A.J. Lewis Composer
P. Moore Composer
M. Davis Composer
R. Evans Composer
Traditional Composer
Mike Plaskett Liner Notes
Triana DOrazio Packaging Manager
Frank W. Meacham Composer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 1 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    WONDERFUL COLLECTION

    What a great compilation of big band tunes from Glenn Miller! This is a must have CD for the fan of classic big band.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review