Woody Herman, His Orchestra - The Woody Herman Collection 1937-56 (2017)

Tracklist

CD1
01. I Double Dare You 
02. Woodchopper's Ball 
03. Blue Evening 
04. There I Go 
05. Frenesi 
06. Blue Flame 
07. G'bye Now 
08. By-U By-O (The Lou'siana Lullaby) 
09. Blues in The Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me) 
10. Rose O'day 
11. Amen 
12. Four or Five Times 
13. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 
14. The Music Stopped 
15. By the River of the Roses 
16. Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet
17. Let Me Love You Tonight 
18. Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night in the Week) 
19. Laura 
20. Apple Honey
21. Caldonia 
22. A Kiss Goodnight 
23. Northwest Passage 

CD2
01. Fan It 
02. Gee, It's Good to Hold You 
03. Everybody Knew but Me 
04. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 
05. Atlanta, Ga
06. Red Top
07. Hallelujah
08. Surrender 
09. Mabel! Mabel! 
10. Ebony Concerto
11. Lady Mcgowan's Dream
12. Across the Alley from the Alamo 
13. That's My Desire 
14. Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo) 
15. Sabre Dance 
16. Four Brothers
17. Lemon Drop
18. Early Autumn
19. Blues in Advance
20. Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing 
21. I Don't Want Nobody (To Have My Love but You)

Clarinettist and bandleader Woody Herman was one of the leading figures of the swing era and beyond, with his various bands, generally known as "Herman's Herd", being known for the force and originality of their music, which was often cutting edge and experimental for it's time. However, his records were always very popular, and regularly featured in the Billboard charts from the 1930s through to the 1950s. This collection, unusually perhaps for jazz music, focuses on those chart hits, and primarily comprises the 34 chart hits he had, which included the No. 1 hit "Blues In The Night" and the Top 5 hits "Laura" and "Caldonia". Herman himself was a noted vocalist, and he features as a singer on some of these titles, while others provide a showcase for two of his female singers during the '40s, Frances Wayne and Muriel Lane. Alongside those hits, and interspersed within the chronological presentation of the 44 recordings in the 2-CD collection, are other titles which were not hits, but which are recognised by commentators and critics and being among his most interesting and notable recordings, such as his suite, with Igor Stravinsky conducting, called "The Ebony Concerto". The range of material in this anthology provides a fascinating overview of the Herman's innovative, but always fresh and entertaining music during this dynamic era in jazz and popular music.

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