This particular recording is made 15 years after Goodman's first big band recording and 16 years after Count Basie's immortal version of hs own tune was etched into grooves. Goodman's version here misses the exciting upward clarinet "swoops" heard in the out-chorus of the 1939 recording, but this still makes for thrilling listening. .
Here is recording information for this song:
BENNY GOODMAN, clarinet.
Chris Griffin, Ruby Braff, Bernie Privin, Carl Poole (tp),
Will Bradley, Cutty Cutshall, Vernon Brown (tb), Hymie Schertzer,
Paul Ricci (as), Boomie Richman, Al Klink (ts), Sol Schlinger (bar),
Mel Powell (p), Steve Jordan (g), George Duvivier (b), Bobby Donaldson (d), Neal Hefti (arr). New York, Nov. 9, 1954.
My Mother has always said my Dad, born in 1920, was a "jitterbug." Listening to this track, I understand what she meant.
Wow! Blistering swing. What a band! 20 years after the intense excitement of ROLL 'EM and SWINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES and the Blanton/Webster band and the war and RHYTHM JUMPS and all the stupid pop records here comes the real Godzilla of swing, great solos and power house drive played by masters. Bravo!
I can see Daddy now: eyes shining, feet tapping, head bobbing, smiling from ear to ear, lost in the 30s & 40s, "when swing was king." Benny Goodman was the greatest!
