The Great Band Era

The Great Band Era is a compilation album featuring Swing music from 1936-1945. Reader's Digest released the album in 1965. In 1988, the Recording Industry Association of America certified 9 million sales of the album – making it one of the top selling albums ever within the United States. The album was released as a ten LP album box set. The album included many swing favorites, as well as new recordings.

The Great Band Era
Compilation album by Various Artists
Released	1965
Recorded	1936–1945
Genre	Swing
Label	Reader's Digest/RCA Victor

Promotion

Reader's Digest sent out a free promotional record before releasing the album. Voiced by Vaughn Monroe, the record boasted that in The Great Band Era, RCA Victor sound engineers had "remove[d] all the irritating noise and scratchiness that was always present on the original records, even when they were brand new."

Music

The records contains mostly swing standards by major swing bands. It included an entire LP of "theme songs", or songs particularly associated or played exceptionally often by a band. Besides previous swing recordings, the album also contained some song versions released for the first time, including a version of Blues in the Night by Tommy Dorsey and Jo Stafford.

Restored Audio

This was one of the first LP releases to introduce the concept of audio restoration to the general public. although that term was not yet in general use. As mentioned above, a free promotional paper record was sent to Reader's Digest subscribers introducing the set, with Vaughn Monroe presenting "Before" and "After" versions of one of the songs to demonstrate what had been done to enhance the sound. As described in the booklet accompanying the records, each song was transferred from a new matrix, then electronically treated to remove surface noise as well as "ticks" and "pops." Although there is still some residual surface noise on a few of the tracks, the restoration overall was remarkably successful.

Sales

According to the RIAA, The Great Band Era sold over 9 million copies in the United States, making it one of the best selling-albums of all time within the country. In addition, the Australian Recording Industry Association certified the album as gold in 1999.

Track list

From Discogs.

Side 1

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"I'm Getting Sentimental Over You"	Ned Washington; George Bassman	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
2.	"Take the "A" Train"	Billy Strayhorn	Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
3.	"Blossoms"	Al Avola	Tony Pastor and His Orchestra
4.	"Moonlight Serenade"	Glenn Miller; Mitchell Parish	Glenn Miller Orchestra
5.	"Stardreams"	Charlie Spivak; Sonny Burke; Sylvia Dee	Charlie Spivak and His Orchestra
6.	"Nighty Night"	Joe Davis	Alvino Rey and His Orchestra

Side 2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Nightmare"	Artie Shaw	Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
2.	"Kaye's Melody"	Sammy Kaye	Sammy Kaye
3.	"Goodbye"	Gordon Jenkins	Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
4.	"Make Believe Ballroom"	Andy Razaf; Paul Denniker	Charlie Barnet and His Glen Island Casino Orchestra
5.	"Flying Home"	Lionel Hampton; Eddie DeLange; Benny Goodman	Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra
6.	"Snowfall"	Claude Thornhill	Claude Thornhill and His Orchestra

Side 3

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Christopher Columbus"	Leon "Chu" Berry; Andy Razaf	Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
2.	"The Music Goes Round and Round"	Edward Farley; Mike Riley; Red Hodgson	Tommy Dorsey and His Clambake Seven
3.	"When Did You Leave Heaven?"	Richard A. Whiting; Walter Bullock	Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians
4.	"All My Life"	Sam H. Stept; Sidney Mitchell	Fats Waller and Hish Rhythm
5.	"Moon Over Miami"	Edgar Leslie; Joseph A. Burke	Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra
6.	"These Foolish Things Remind Me of You"	Harry Link; Holt Marvell; Jack Strachey	Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

Side 4

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe"	Harry Warren; Johnny Mercer	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
2.	"There I've Said It Again"	Bill Evans; Herbie Mann	Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra
3.	"Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive"	Harold Arlen; Johnny Mercer	Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
4.	"Symphony"	Alex Alstone; Jack Lawrence	Freddy Martin and His Orchestra
5.	"It's Been a Long, Long Time"	Jule Styne; Sammy Cahn	Charlie Spivak and His Orchestra
6.	"Sentimental Journey"	Ben Homer; Bud Green; Les Brown	Hal McIntyre and His Orchestra

Side 5

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Bob White"	Bernie Hanighen; Johnny Mercer	Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
2.	"A Sailboat in the Moonlight"	Carmen Lombardo; John Jacob Loeb	Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians
3.	"A Study in Brown"	Larry Clinton	Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
4.	"Moonlight and Shadows"	Friedrich Hollaender; Leo Robin	Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra
5.	"Once in a While"	Bud Green; Michael Edwards	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
6.	"Goodnight My Love"	Harry Revel; Mack Gordon	Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra

Side 6

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Blue Rain"	Jimmy Van Heusen; Johhny Mercer	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
2.	"It Had to Be You"	Gus Kahn; Isham Jones	Earl Hines and His Orchestra
3.	"I'm Making Believe"	James V. Monaco; Mack Gordon	Hal McIntyre and His Orchestra
4.	"Mairzy Doats (and Dozy Doats)"	Al Hoffman; Jerry Livingston; Milton Drake	The Four King Sisters with Male Chorus
5.	"You Always Hurt the One You Love"	Allan Roberts; Doris Fisher	Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra
6.	"Poinciana"	Nat Simon; Buddy Bernier	David Rose and His Orchestra

Side 7

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Dipsy Doodle"	Larry Clinton	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
2.	"The Moon Got in My Eyes"	Arthur Johnston; Joseph A. Burke	Hal Kemp and His Orchestra
3.	"So Rare"	Jerry Herst; John Rufus Sharpe	Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians
4.	"Afraid to Dream"	Harry Revel; Mack Gordon	Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
5.	"Vieni, Vieni"	Rudy Vallée and the Gentlemen Songsters	Rudy Vallée and His Connecticut Yankees
6.	"That Old Feeling"	Lew Brown; Sammy Fain	Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians

Side 8

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"I'll Be Seeing You"	Irving Kahal; Sammy Fain	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
2.	"There Goes That Song Again"	Jule Styne; Sammy Cahn	Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra
3.	"Dance with a Dolly"	Jimmy Eaton; Mickey Leader; Terry Shand	Tony Pastor and His Orchestra
4.	"I Dream of You (More Than You Dream I Do)"	Edna Osser; Marjorie Goetschius	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
5.	"Rum and Coca-Cola"	Jeri Sullavan; Morey Amsterdam; Paul Baron	Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra
6.	"San Fernando Valley"	Gordon Jenkins	The Four King Sisters

Side 9

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Music, Maestro, Please"	Allie Wrubel; Herbert Magidson	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
2.	"Bei mir bist Du schön"	Jacob Jacobs; Sammy Cahn; Saul Chaplin; Sholom Secunda	Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians
3.	"I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart"	Duke Ellington; Henry Nemo; Irving Mills; John Redmond	Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
4.	"I Have Eyes"	Leo Robin; Ralph Rainger	Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
5.	"Heart and Soul"	Frank Loesser; Hoagy Carmichael	Larry Clinton and His Orchestra
6.	"I've Got a Pocket Full of Dreams"	James V. Monaco; Johnny Burke	Hal Kemp and His Orchestra

Side 10

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"For Me and My Gal"	E. Ray Goetz; Edgar Leslie; George W. Meyer	Abe Lyman and His Californians
2.	"Manhattan Serenade"	Harold Adamson; Louis Alter	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
3.	"All or Nothing at All"	Arthur Altman; Jack Lawrence	Freddy Martin and His Orchestra
4.	"A Pink Cocktail for a Blue Lady"	Ben Oakland; Herbert Magidson	Glenn Miller
5.	"Brazil"	Ary Barroso	Enric Madriguera and His Orchestra
6.	"It's Always You"	Jimmy Van Heusen; Johnny Burke	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

Side 11

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"The Flat Foot Floogee"	Bud Green; Slam Stewart; Slim Gaillard	Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
2.	"I Double Dare You"	Jimmy Eaton; Terry Shand	Larry Clinton and His Orchestra
3.	"You Go to My Head"	Haven Gillespie; John Frederick Coots	Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters
4.	"Says My Heart"	Burton Lane; Frank Loesser; Harriet Hillard	Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra
5.	"My Reverie"	Larry Clinton	Larry Clinton and His Orchestra
6.	"You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby"	Harry Warren; Johnny Mercer	Tommy Dorsey and His Clambake Seven

Side 12

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Taking a Chance on Love"	John La Touche; Ted Fetter; Vernon Duke	Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra
2.	"Moonlight Mood"	Harold Adamson; Peter DeRose	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
3.	"Dearly Beloved"	Jerome Kern; Johnny Mercer	Alvino Rey and His Orchestra
4.	"Let's Get Lost"	Frank Loesser; Jimmy McHugh	Teddy Powell and His Orchestra
5.	"That Old Black Magic"	Harold Arlen; Johnny Mercer	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
6.	"Warsaw Concerto"	Richard Addinsell	Freddy Martin and His Orchestra

Side 13

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Blue Orchids"	Hoagy Carmichael	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
2.	"Don't Worry 'bout Me"	Rube Bloom; Ted Koehler	Les Brown and His Orchestra
3.	"Our Love"	Bob Emmerich; Buddy Bernier; Larry Clinton	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
4.	"Scatter-Brain"	Frankie Masters; Johnny Burke; Keene-Bean	Freddy Martin and His Orchestra
5.	"Wishing"	Buddy DeSylva	Skinnay Ennis and His Orchestra
6.	"Sunrise Serenade"	Frankie Carle; Jack Lawrence	Hal Kemp and His Orchestra

Side 14

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Serenade in Blue"	Harry Warren; Mack Gordon	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
2.	"Jingle, Jangle, Jingle"	Frank Loesser; Joseph J. Liley	Freddy Martin and His Orchestra
3.	"Blues in the Night"	Harold Arlen; Johnny Mercer	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
4.	"When the Lights Go on Again"	Bennie Benjamin; Eddie Seiler; Sol Marcus	Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra
5.	"Strip Polka"	Johnny Mercer	Alvino Rey and His Orchestra
6.	"Tangerine"	Johnny Mercer; Victor Schertzinger	Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra

Side 15

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Do I Love You?"	Cole Porter	Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
2.	"And the Angels Sing"	Johnny Mercer; Ziggy Elman	Ziggy Elman and His Orchestra
3.	"I Cried for You"	Abe Lyman; Arthur Freed; Gus Arnheim	Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra
4.	"Heaven Can Wait"	Eddie DeLange; Jimmy Van Heusen	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
5.	"The Lamp Is Low"	Bert Shefter; Maurice Ravel; Mitchell Parish; Peter DeRose	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
6.	"The Umbrella Man"	Larry Stock; Vincent Rose; James Cavanaugh	Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra

Side 16

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"I Don't Want to Walk Without You"	Frank Loesser; Jule Styne	Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
2.	"Sleepy Lagoon"	Eric Coates; Jack Lawrence	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
3.	"Deep in the Heart of Texas"	Don Swander; June Hershey	Alvino Rey and His Orchestra
4.	" Skylark"	Hoagy Carmichael; Johnny Mercer	Earl Hines and His Orchestra
5.	"Rose O'Day"	Al Lewis; Charles Tobias	Freddy Martin and His Orchestra
6.	"Moonlight Cocktail"	Kim Gannon; Luckey Roberts	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

Side 17

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Blueberry Hill"	Al Lewis; Larry Stock; Vincent Rose	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
2.	"All This and Heaven Too"	Eddie Delange; Jimmy Van Heusen	Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra
3.	"We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)"	Dick Robertson; Nelson Cogane; Sammy Mysels	Bob Chester and His Orchestra
4.	"Ferryboat Serenade"	Eldo Di Lazzaro; Harold Adamson; Mario Panzeri	Gray Gordon and His Tic-Toc Rhythm
5.	"Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)"	Johnny Mercer; Rube Bloom	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
6.	"There I Go"	Hy Zaret; Irving Weiser	Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra

Side 18

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"I Hear a Rhapsody"	Dick Gasparre; George Fragos; Jack Baker	Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra
2.	"Daddy"	Bobby Troup	Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra
3.	"Chattanooga Choo Choo"	Harry Warren; Mack Gordon	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
4.	"The Hut-Sut Song"	Jack Owens; Leo V. Killion; Ted McMichael	Freddy Martin and His Orchestra
5.	"I Guess I'll Have to Dream the Rest"	Bud Green; Martin Block; Mickey Stoner	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
6.	"It All Comes Back to Me Now"	Alex Kramer; Hy Zaret; Joan Whitney Kramer	Hal Kemp and His Orchestra

Side 19

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Frenesi"	Alberto Dominguez; Bob Russell; Ray Charles	Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
2.	"The Nearness of You"	Hoagy Carmichael; Ned Washington	Larry Clinton and His Orchestra
3.	"The Woodpecker Song"	Bruno Cherubini; Eldo DiLazzaro; Harold Adamson	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
4.	"Imagination"	Jimmy Van Heusen; Johnny Burke	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
5.	"With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair"	Clara Edwards; Jack Lawrence	Bob Chester and His Orchestra
6.	"Sierra Sue"	Joseph B. Carey	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

Side 20

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Artist	Length
1.	"Perfidia"	Alberto Dominguez; Milton Leeds	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
2.	"Dolores"	Frank Loesser; Louis Alter	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
3.	"This Time the Dream's on Me"	Harold Arlen; Johnny Mercer	Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
4.	"The Things I Love"	Harold Barlow; Lew Harris	Jan Savitt and His Top Hatters
5.	"You and I"	Meredith Willson	Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
6.	"Yours (Quiéreme Mucho)"	Gonzalo Roig; Jack Sherr	Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra