Today’s show begins and concludes with the fabulous Count Basie band. The orchestra flourished on the music scene for decades, led by one of the great jazz pianists of the era. They are featured today in our celebration of big bands in recordings from the 1930s and 1940s, which takes us through the Swing Era and then beyond. The orchestras were jam packed with immensely talented musicians, and were frequently joined by some fine vocalists. In addition to Jimmy Rushing, singing with the Basie band, we hear Doris Day and Helen Forrest just as they were starting out on very successful solo careers, as well as a young Anita O’Day. And enjoy some very smooth instrumental pieces from, among others, Billy Butterfield and Woody Herman.
IHTSB May 15, 2022
Artist Year Song Time 1. Count Basie 1937 Georgianna 2:35
2. Glenn Miller & His Orchestra 1939 Melancholy Lullaby 3:07
3. Bob Crosby orchestra 1937 The Loveliness Of You 3:20
4. Woody Herman 1954 Long Long Night 2:50
5. Billy Butterfield 1945 They Can’t Take That Away From Me 3:01
6. Gene Krupa 1941 Let Me Off Uptown 3:05
7. Benny Goodman 1936 Remember 2:40
8. Kitty Kallen 1939 So Many Times 2:52
9. Fletcher Henderson 1936 Stealin’ Apples 2:57
10. Doris Day, Les Brown 1945 Don’t Worry About Me 2:06
11. Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra 1939 Echoes Of Harlem 3:29
12. Tommy Dorsey orchestra 1939 All The Things You Are 3:23
13. Artie Shaw And His New Music 1939 Deep Purple 3:14
14. Teddy Wilson orchestra 1939 The Little Things That Mean So Much 2:59
15. Count Basie 1937 Exactly Like You 2:43