Benny Goodman was a clarinettist and band leader, equally at home with small bands or fronting a large orchestra, whose music covered the spectrum of jazz and popular music in the four decades spanning WWII, and who earned the nickname of “The King Of Swing” as a pioneer of that style of jazz. He was so popular and successful that he racked up well over 150 hits in the quarter century or so from 1930 to the early ‘50s, so many indeed that we were present them in two volumes – this great-value 68-track 3-CD covers the second era from 1939-53, and the 3-CD set “The Benny Goodman Hits Collection Vol. 1 1931-38” (ACQCD7177) deals with the earlier years. This collection comprises all hits with his orchestra and small bands during these years on the Victor, Columbia, Okeh & Capitol labels. It features his No. 1 hits from these years “Darn That Dream”, “There’ll Be Some Changes Made”, “Somebody Else Is Taking My Place”, “Jersey Bounce” and “Taking A Chance On Love”, with performances by featured vocalists Louise Tobin, Mildred Bailey, Martha Tilton, Helen Forrest, Peggy Lee, Art Lund, Lou McGarrity, Dick Haymes, Jane Harvey, Dottie Reid, Peggy Mann, Liza Morrow, Eve Young, Matt Dennis, Lillian Lane, Al Hendrickson, Jimmy Ricks, Nancy Reed. Helen Ward and Benny Goodman. It’s a fascinating and enlightening showcase for one of the most influential musicians of his times. – 1 – 1. My Honeys Lovin Arms 2. And the Angels Sing 3. Rose of Washington Square 4. Blue Orchids 5. Whats New 6. I Didnt Know What Time It Was 7. Scatter Brain 8. I Thought About You 9. Bluebirds In the Moonlight 10. Darn That Dream 11. Whats the Matter With Me 12. How High the Moon 13. The Fable of the Rose 14. I Cant Love You Any More (Any More Than I Do) 15. Gone With What Wind 16. Soft Winds 17. I Cant Resist You 18. Dreaming Out Loud 19. The Hour of Parting 20. Therell Be Some Changes Made 21. As Long As I Live 22. Perfidia (Tonight) 23. Intermezzo (A Love Story) – 2 – 1. My Sister and I 2. The Things You Left Me 3. Air Mail Special 4. Yours 5. I Got It Bad and That Aint Good 6. Winter Weather 7. Blues In the Night 8. Somebody Else is Taking My Place 9. A String of Pearls 10. Jersey Bounce 11. My Little Cousin 12. Well Meet Again 13. Full Moon (Noche De Luna) 14. The Way You Look Tonight 15. Idaho 16. Take Me 17. Serenade In Blue 18. Why Dont You Do Right 19. Taking a Chance On Love 20. Cabin In the Sky 21. Mission To Moscow 22. Solo Flight – 3 – 1. Evry Time We Say Goodbye 2. Close As the Pages In a Book 3. Gotta Be This or That 4. Im Gonna Love That Guy 5. Its Only a Paper Moon 6. How Deep is the Ocean 7. Symphony 8. My Guys Come Back 9. Give Me the Simple Life 10. Dont Be a Baby, Baby 11. I Dont Know Enough About You 12. Blue Skies 13. A Gal In Calico 14. Moon-Faced, Starry-Eyed 15. I Want To Be Loved 16. For Every Man Theres a Woman 17. Beyond the Sea 18. Give Me Those Good Old Days 19. On a Slow Boat To China 20. It Isnt Fair 21. Oh Babe! 22. Wang Wang Blues 23. Ill Never Say Never Again Again
