Back in Your Own Backyard - Gus Arnheim, Dreyer, Dave
Now I'm in Love - Gus Arnheim, Shapiro, Ted
Singin' in the Rain - Gus Arnheim, Brown, Nacio Herb
This Is Heaven - Gus Arnheim, Akst, Harry
I'm Feathering a Nest - Gus Arnheim, Ager, Milton
One Sweet Kiss - Gus Arnheim, Dreyer, Dave
Lovable and Sweet - Gus Arnheim, Clare, Sidney
All I Want Is Just One - Gus Arnheim, Robin, Leo
Dancing to Save Your Soul - Gus Arnheim, Baer, Abel
I've Gotta Yen for You - Gus Arnheim, Marion, George Jr.
A Peach of a Pair - Gus Arnheim, Marion, George Jr.
Go Home and Tell Your Mother - Gus Arnheim, Fields, Dorothy
I'm Doin' That Thing - Gus Arnheim, Fields, Dorothy
Fool Me Some More! - Gus Arnheim, DeRose, Peter
Them There Eyes - Gus Arnheim, Pinkard, Maceo
It Must Be True - Gus Arnheim, Arnheim, Gus
The Little Things in Life - Gus Arnheim, Berlin, Irving
La Rosita - Gus Arnheim, Dupont, Paul
Thanks to You - Gus Arnheim, Clareke, Grant
One More Time - Gus Arnheim, Brown
Ho Hum! - Gus Arnheim, Heyman, Edward
I Surrender, Dear - Gus Arnheim, Barris, Harry
I'm Gonna Get You - Gus Arnheim, Arnheim
To Whisper, Dear, I Love You - Gus Arnheim, Harris, Mort
Why Shouldn't I? - Gus Arnheim, Freed, Arthur
Track Listings (25) - Disc #2
Just One More Chance - Gus Arnheim, Coslow, Sam
At Your Command - Gus Arnheim, Barris
There's Nothing Too Good for My Baby - Gus Arnheim, Akst
Sweet and Lovely - Gus Arnheim, Arnheim, Gus
Red, Red Roses - Gus Arnheim, Coslow, Sam
How Long Will It Last? - Gus Arnheim, Lief, Max
Lies - Gus Arnheim, Barris, Harry
Put Your Little Arms Around Me - Gus Arnheim, Arnheim
You've Got Me in the Palm of Your Hand - Gus Arnheim, Friend
You're Blasé - Gus Arnheim, Hamilton, Ord
Evening - Gus Arnheim, Arnheim, Gus
It Might Have Been You - Gus Arnheim, Arnheim
Love Is a Dream - Gus Arnheim, Kisco, Charley
If You Don't Want to Be Sweethearts - Gus Arnheim, Fain, Sammy
Suzanne - Gus Arnheim, Goodhart
Love in the Moonlight (For Me) - Gus Arnheim, Kisco, Charley
Dancing in the Moonlight - Gus Arnheim, Donaldson, Walter
I Want You - I Need You - Gus Arnheim, Brooks
Love Passes Me By - Gus Arnheim, Burkhardt
I'm No Angel - Gus Arnheim, Brooks, Harry
Coffee in the Morning (And Kisses in the Night) - Gus Arnheim, Dubin, Al
Like Me a Little Bit Less (Love Me a Little Bit More) - Gus Arnheim, Adamson, Harold
Let's Fall in Love - Gus Arnheim, Arlen, Harold
Summer Is Over (And So Is My Dream of Love) - Gus Arnheim, Burke, Johnny
Goin' to Heaven on a Mule - Gus Arnheim, Dubin, Al
(2-CD set) Gus Arnheim's 5 year residence at the Coconut Grove marked a period of its highest popularity; his name was synonymous with the Grove. What has now become known as the 'West Coast Sound' was particularly apparen... more »t in Arnheim's presentation. The driving rhythms and hot solo breaks of the New York band were contrary to a smoother, sweeter, more refined style of playing in L.A. This style had a strong emphasis on the sax and reed sections, with a more held-back melody line. He began recording with OKeh Records (1927-29) but it wasn't until his contract with Victor Records in 1929 that the real Arnheim sound emerged. Heard on this CD are vocals by Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray, Shirley Ross, Russ Columbo and Eddie Cantor.« less
(2-CD set) Gus Arnheim's 5 year residence at the Coconut Grove marked a period of its highest popularity; his name was synonymous with the Grove. What has now become known as the 'West Coast Sound' was particularly apparent in Arnheim's presentation. The driving rhythms and hot solo breaks of the New York band were contrary to a smoother, sweeter, more refined style of playing in L.A. This style had a strong emphasis on the sax and reed sections, with a more held-back melody line. He began recording with OKeh Records (1927-29) but it wasn't until his contract with Victor Records in 1929 that the real Arnheim sound emerged. Heard on this CD are vocals by Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray, Shirley Ross, Russ Columbo and Eddie Cantor.
CD Reviews
This Is Heaven
Barry McCanna | Normandy, France | 07/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This superb 2-CD set from Renovation harks back to the heyday of Hollywood, when after a day on set the stars relaxed to the music of Gus Arnheim. The first CD presents tracks by Russ Columbo, and Bing Crosby, the latter just beginning his solo career after parting from Paul Whiteman. Many of the songwriters involved became household names, and many of the tunes have become standards. Remastering is excellent, and packaging is of the highest quality.
"
Excellent release!
JJA Kiefte | Tegelen, Nederland | 12/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very good two-cd set, attractively presented in state-of-the-art-deco style. The band is not dissimilar to that of the early Richard Himber (also on Renovation): lush, sweet (in the positive sense of the word) but when called upon also rhythmically exhilarating. The only band members that might ring a bell are bassist Ward Lay, reedman Joe Krechter (who played bass clarinet on Artie Shaw's march 1940 recordings), violinist Sterling Young (who led a sweet band later on, his violin-lead emulating Glenn Miller's saxophone sound), Russ Columbo (whose singing is not as great as one is sometimes led to believe) and, surprisingly, film star-to-be Fred MacMurray (of 'Double Indemnity' fame) on reeds and as vocalist.
As for the singers: Bing Crosby is generously featured on disc one; his style is lightyears removed from the glib, unctuous, emotionally incontinent singers like Donald Novis and Dave Marshall who sadly keep popping up all over the place on disc two, but fortunately their contributions are limited to the obligatory vocal refrain, so their intrusions are bearable through brevity.
Otherwise this is a musically very rewarding collection that will certainly appeal to those interested in the better kind of pre-swing dance music."
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1