[.ca] Hollywood Swing and Jazz: Hot Numbers from Classic MGM, ...

From Amazon.com:
Say what you will about the state of entertainment-conglomerate megamergers, but this ambitious Rhino compilation of jazz in film--combining music selections from three studios--would have been all but impossible without them. More importantly, this satisfying set serves as a virtual primer of jazz's influence on American films and its rich, multihued heritage and diversity--be it the "race music" of the Mills Brothers' 1933 romp "Congo Fever," Duke Ellington and Hoagy Carmichael's elegant classicism, Louis Armstrong's refined Dixieland, the big-band swing of Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman, or even that unlikeliest of jazz chanteuses, Doris Day. Collectors will also be delighted at the generous sampling of stellar outtakes that surface here for the first time, including an Ellington reading of "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm," originally intended for the Marx Brothers' Day at the Races, a smoky Lena Horne rendition of "I'll Get By," originally recorded for Louis B. Mayer's personal collection. And there are no fewer than nine cuts from the 1960 hipster opus The Subterraneans, many featuring Andre Previn, Art Farmer, Gerry Mulligan, and Art Pepper. Painstakingly compiled and lovingly annotated, this set is both great entertainment and joyous history lesson. Regarding history, it bears noting that when much of America's radio and clubs were still strictly segregated, black jazz performers found their broadest public exposure via Hollywood. --Jerry McCulley

Brilliant selections unavailable elsewhere:
The only way to approximate this collection would be to turn on your tape recorder while these movies were showing on your TV. Even if you'd managed to do all that, you still wouldn't have the pristine sound quality that Rhino managed to get by using the source material for this collection. Let alone the out-takes that were never included in the released versions of the films. My favorite examples here are the Bojangles/Fats version of "Great Big Way" (which opens the collection), Ellington's uncut rendition of "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" (Marx Brothers fans take note - this is different than the hacked version that you'll hear in "Day At The Races"), and the Andre Previn selections on disk 2 - there's some wonderful soloing here, as good as the material that Benny Goodman recorded with him in the late 50's. Sure, there's a little hokey stuff in here too, like the Mel Torme' selection in disk 1, but it's good-natured and doesn't detract from the real gems of the collection. It's a narrowly better value than Rhino's previous movie nugget compilation, "Alive and Kickin'", and it's fair to say that if you like that one, then you'll love this CD too.

A Phenomenal Treasure-Trove of Amazing Music.:
If you're a fan of "traditional jazz", you'll love this incredible collection from Turner/Rhino. If you're a fan of classic musical soundtracks, you will also find this collection essential for your music library. If you're like me, and you have a pechant for both kinds of music, you'll be in utter ecstacy with the selections here. The list of performers here reads like a who's who of jazz: DUKE ELLINGTON, COUNT BASIE, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, GERRY MULLIGAN, LESTER YOUNG, BENNY GOODMAN, CARMEN McRAE, FATS WALLER, the list goes on and on. What really makes this collection sizzle, are the real rarities included. Who knew Duke Ellington had recorded music for A DAY AT THE RACES with the Marx Bros.? No one! Until the producers here unearthed a track that had been recorded by 'Sir Duke' for that classic comedy that ended up on the cutting room floor. That's just one example of the jewels to be found here. There are several great vocal renditions, with everyone from Ethel Waters to Pearl Bailey, and you even get a whiff of Brazillian Bossa Nova Jazz with Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto doing a version of THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA that is slightly different (but just as incredible) than the famous recording. Then there's unreleased material from Nat "King" Cole, Billy Eckstine, and even Dorothy Dandridge. My favorite track is a swingin' rendition of "One O'Clock Jump" by Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra that almost sounds like it's going to explode! It's too bad that more people don't know about this album. It's one of the most creative assemblages ever released on CD. The album comes with a richly-illustrated booklet and great liner notes, too!

• I'm Living in a Great Big Way - Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Fats Waller
• Congo Fever (Jungle Fever) - The Mills Brothers
• Let That Be a Lesson to You - Johnny Scat Davis, Benny Goodman & His Orchestra, Frances Langford
• I've Got a Heartful of Music - Goodman Group
• You're an Education - Fred Rich & His Orchestra, Three Symphonettes
• All God's Chillun Got Rhythm - Ivie Anderson, Benny & Chrinoline Choir, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
• Jeepers Creepers - Louis Armstrong
• Nightmare - Artie Shaw & His Orchestra
• Traffic Jam - Artie Shaw & His Orchestra
• Blues in the Night - Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra
• You've Got to Know How to Dance - Six Hits and a Miss, Warner Bros. Orchestra
• Buds Won't Bud - Ethel Waters
• Medley: Things Ain't What They Used to Be/Going Up - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
• Shine - The Hall Johnson Choir
• Mrs. Whiffen - Marcy McGuire, Ivy Scott, Mel Tormé
• One O'Clock Jump - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
• Body and Soul - Hazel Scott Trio
• Toot Suite - Harry James & His Orchestra
• Hong Kong Blues - Hoagy Carmichael
• Baltimore Oriole - Hoagy Carmichael
• Please Don't Say No - The King Sisters
• Jammin' the Blues - Harry "Sweets" Edison, Garland Finney, Illinois Jacquet, Marlowe Morris, John Simmons, Lester Young
• On the Sunny Side of the Street - Marie Bryant, , Harry "Sweets" Edison, Garland Finney, Illinois Jacquet, Marlowe Morris, John Simmons, Lester Young
• It's You or No One - Page Cavanaugh Trio, Doris Day
• You Do Something to Me - Lena Horne
• I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) - Lena Horne
• Medley: Do, Do, Do/Bidin' My Time/I've Got a Crush on You/Love Is Here - Benny Carter & His Orchestra
• Ain't Misbehavin' - Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden
• Hold Me Close to You - Billy Eckstine
• Taking a Chance on Love - Dorothy Dandridge
• My Flaming Heart - Nat King Cole
• Now You Has Jazz - Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby
• I Love You, Samantha - Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby
• I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - Ray Anthony, Ray Anthony Orchestra, Julie Wilson
• Improvisation \oSource #1\c - André Previn's Trio Jazz
• Red Drum Blues - André Previn's Trio Jazz
• Improvisation \oSource #2\c - André Previn's Trio Jazz
• Coffee Time - Carmen McRae, André Previn's Trio Jazz
• Spaghetti Fantasy - Dave Bailey, Buddy Clark, Buddy Clark, Bob Enevoldsen, Art Farmer, Russ Freeman, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Bill Perkins
• Alarm Clock - Dave Bailey, Buddy Clark, Buddy Clark, Bob Enevoldsen, Art Farmer, Russ Freeman, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Bill Perkins
• Should I? - André Previn's Trio Jazz
• Things Are Looking Down - Dave Bailey, Buddy Clark, Buddy Clark, Bob Enevoldsen, Art Farmer, Russ Freeman, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Bill Perkins
• Bread and Wine - Dave Bailey, Buddy Clark, Buddy Clark, Bob Enevoldsen, Art Farmer, Russ Freeman, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Bill Perkins
• God Bless the Child - Pearl Bailey
• Don't Blame Me - Leslie Uggams
• Sunday in New York - Mel Tormé
• Girl from Ipanema - Gary Burton, , Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto, Joe Hunt
• Skol Sister - Count Basie & His Octet
• Goof Proof - Count Basie & His Octet
• Lottie - Count Basie & His Octet
• I Got Rhythm - Louis Armstrong, Buster Bailey, Danny Barcelona, Buddy Catlett, Tyree Glenn, Billy Kyle