Stop, Look And Listen - The Less Familiar Dorsey [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED]
In selecting the music here, the intention has clearly been to include less familiar recordings from Jimmy's career between 1935 and 1946, with the accent on the swinging instrumentals. "Dorsey Stomp", otherwise known as "Dusk In Upper Sandusky", leads off. The first eleven tracks illustrate the sound of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra of the 1930s (plus two for good measure a little later in the running order) "Cowboy From Brooklyn", offers a vocal diversion with Ray McKinley warbling in his engaging style. Other key musicians in the thirties band were Bobby Byrne, 'Shorty' Sherock, Herbie Haymer and Freddy Slack, who also arranged. Byrne is a featured soloist on "Song Of The Volga Boatmen" and "In A Sentimental Mood". Another vocal offering (dripping with double entendres), "Hold Tight", features The Andrews Sisters in a guest appearance. Opening the segment mainly devoted to recordings from the 1940s is "On The Trail". Kitty Kallen. Previously with Jack Teagarden's big band, and later with Harry James, she is heard on "That Wonderful Worrisome Feeling" that under-rated vocalist Dee Parker sings most attractively on an easy paced version of "Ain't Misbehavin'" and then the band ride out on the big band standard "King Porter Stomp". Both "The Great Lie" and "I Got Rhythm" show that, in a free swinging mood, the Dorsey band could compete with the best in the business. Jimmy Dorsey has always unfairly suffered by comparison with his more assertive younger brother Tommy, but Jimmy was his equal as a musician (he played clarinet and alto sax) and led a very good band on his own for many years. The tracks selected here include some less familiar recordings from Jimmy Dorsey's career between 1935 and 1946, with the accent on the swinging instrumentals. Musicians include Ray McKinlays, Tutti Camarata, Bobby Byrne and Freddy Slack. Great value from Jasmine at 23 tracks over 73 minutes, with full notes and discography.