I probably spent more on this baby than I should have (I have a $30 dollar limit for single CDs, including postage), but this is some sweet action.
Trev mentioned it eight days ago, I checked it out, did some late night impulse CD purchasing, and it arrived from somewhere foreign yesterday. How’s that for amazingly speedy gratification?
Ok so here’s what I think of it:
Some bits are a bit squawky. But that’s ok… well, I don’t like that squawk much because it sounds fucked at CBD, but it’s ok for this album. Some bits are a bit sweet, but, well, we can ignore that. Overall, there are at least six songs that I’d happily DJ, a couple that I’m very keen to DJ and some that probably need to be tested. There are also a good number of clappy/shouty songs, which is pleasing.
We’re looking at a spread of stuff from 1939 to 1945, reasonable sound quality (well, at home anyway) and some nice liner notes. Not amazing liner notes, but useful liner notes. It seems Sy Oliver is my man.
What tracks? Have a look down there below. But let’s look at some highlights.
What a coincidence – The Minor Goes Muggin’, as crapped on about here (and which I now realise I do like, have liked and have had a copy of for ages). Duke Ellington with Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra in 1945.
Well, Git It!, made fairly famous with local dancers by the Mad Dog people in 2003 (check out that performance on youtube here). Mad Dog of course included a bunch of now-rockstar dancers. I had a couple of versions of this song, but this is the slower one and it’s decent quality. It’s less sweet than the version that’s on that Swingin’ in Hollywood, but not quite as good as the chunky fun version Mad Dog used.
I really like At the Fat Man’s (more clapping and talking about food) – nice, unscary tempo. Bit squawky, but fun. Fun lyrics, too.
There’s also a great version of Easy Does It (made famous by Basie and his versions are the ones I’ve heard mostly – kind of dull though goodish). This version chunks along and really makes me feel like dancing.
The version of Stomp It Off (a song originally written for Jimmie Lunceford by Sy Oliver and recorded in 1935) isn’t anywhere as good as the Lunceford versions I have. In fact, the Lunceford versions are ones I really adore – they make me dancing-crazy, clock in at about 190bpm and have a fun, upenergy, perky feel. This Dorsey one is a bit too sweet and kind of annoying. The tempo is a bit low as well, so it kind of drags. It doesn’t feel as ‘crisp’ either. But it’s a curiousity.
Swingin’ on Nothing is an old favourite, and I’m fond of it. It’s a trifle slow and draggy for me, but it’s a goody for newer/tireder dancers. Bit squawky, but you know, I can deal.
Well, All Right is fun, but I can’t decide if it’s the same song as the Lunceford Well Alright Then, which I’m fond of. There are vocals in this Dorsey one and they’re different tempos. I don’t think they’re the same. The Lunceford one is better, of course. But this is kind of fun. Reminds me of Calloway. But Calloway sung by a straighty-one-eighty chick.
There are songs like Opus #1 which everyone has a copy of and I don’t particularly like. It’s ok.
So What, Quiet Please and Swing High are fasty fun tracks (I prefer the last one, but there’s good shouting in Quiet Please). The rest are either a bit sweet, a bit slow or a bit dumb. Or I’ve just forgotten to talk about them.
But this is actually a good album if you want some good Dorsey action.
Lonesome Road, Part 1 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 1939 Yes, Indeed! 2:36
Lonesome Road, Part 2 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 129 1939 Yes, Indeed! 2:19
Well, All Right Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 150 1939 Yes, Indeed! 3:13
Night In Sudan Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 139 1939 Yes, Indeed! 3:14
Stomp It Off Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 160 1939 Yes, Indeed! 3:46
Easy Does It Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 155 1939 Yes, Indeed! 3:15
Quiet Please Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 292 1940 Yes, Indeed! 2:47
So What Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 301 1940 Yes, Indeed! 2:43
Swing High Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 251 1941 Yes, Indeed! 2:49
Swanee River Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 111 1941 Yes, Indeed! 3:14
Deep River Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 277 1941 Yes, Indeed! 3:59
Yes, Indeed! Sy Oliver and Jo Stafford with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 134 1941 Yes, Indeed! 3:30
Loose Lid Special Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 114 1941 Yes, Indeed! 2:47
Swingin’ On Nothin’ Sy Oliver and Jo Stafford with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 126 1941 Yes, Indeed! 3:17
Hallelujah Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 277 1941 Yes, Indeed! 3:04
Moonlight On The Ganges Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 136 1942 Yes, Indeed! 2:55
Well, Git It! Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 189 1942 Yes, Indeed! 3:03
Mandy, Make Up Your Mind Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 152 1942 Yes, Indeed! 2:59
Opus #1 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 170 1944 Yes, Indeed! 2:55
Chloe Edythe Wright with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 1945 Yes, Indeed! 3:14
At The Fat Man’s Charlie Shavers with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 151 1945 Yes, Indeed! 3:11
The Minor Goes Muggin’ Duke Ellington with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra 177 1945 Yes, Indeed! 3:01
