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The year, 1944, brought fresh new life to the big bands of the Swing Era. The musicians' union chief, James Petrillo, had managed to keep the musicians out on strike against the record companies for more than two years. Although the bands were active in movies, on radio, at public appearances and wartime camps, they were not given the opportunity to make records as non-union musicians. In November 1944, the last companies finally succumbed to Petrillo's demands for special royalties. The bands rushed to the studios and in the space of a few months recorded many of the songs they had been playing for those years on strike. Since they had last recorded, the bands had changed through new ideas. New sidemen, replacing those still in the armed services, were heard in the bands of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Harry James, Gene Krupa and Artie Shaw. Woody Herman, with his unique band, dominated the swing scene for several years. A new jazz was springing forth with Stan Kenton, who was coming into his own. Standard swing was gaining momentum with new techniques, tones and even full-size string sections. There was great hope for salvaging the record buyers lost during the strike. But, this would not be the case even though records of the period possess a special quality about them. Check out the artist's website: http://bigbandsounds.com Track List: 1. Opus One (Tommy Dorsey Version) 2. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' (Jimmy Dorsey Version) 3. Taps Miller (Count Basie Version) 4. It's Only a Paper Moon (Nat King Cole Version) 5. 'S Wonderful (Artie Shaw Version) 6. Carnival (Harry James Version) 7. Sentimental Journey (Les Brown Version) 8. Wildroot (Woody Herman Version) 9. Sweet Lorraine (Nat King Cole Version) 10. Things Ain't What They Used To Be (Duke Ellington Version) 11. Eager Beaver (Stan Kenton Version) 12. Begin the Beguine (Eddie Heywood Version) 13. Tippin' In (Erskine Hawkins Version) 14. Northwest Passage (Woody Herman Version) 15. Apple Honey (Woody Herman Version) 16. On the Sunny Side of the Street (Tommy Dorsey Version) 17. Skyliner (Charlie Barnet Version) 18. Twilight Time (Les Brown Version) 19. Hamp's Boogie Woogie (Lionel Hampton Version) 20. Leap Frog (Les Brown Version) 21. I'm Beginning To See the Light (Harry James Version) 22. Clarinade (Benny Goodman Version) 23. Southern Scandal (Stan Kenton Version) 24. Goosey Gander (Woody Herman Version) Suggested CDs:
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