Title: Old Gold Rehearsals 1944 Artist: Woody Herman Release Date: 10/30/2001 Label: Storyville Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPC: 717101207923 Genre: Jazz Moods: Earthy, Exuberant, Rollicking, Amiable/Good-Natured, Boisterous, Elegant, Joyous, Playful, Refined/Mannered, Sophisticated, Stylish, Cheerful, Complex, Energetic, Freewheeling, Party/Celebratory, Passionate Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Blue Flame (Theme)
2. Is You or Is You Ain't My Baby
3. It Must Be Jelly 'Cause Jam Don't Shake Like That
4. Woodchopper's Ball
5. G.I. Jive
6. Red Top
7. Yeah, Man (Amen)
8. Noah
9. Sweet Lorraine
10. The Golden Wedding
11. I've Got the World on a String
12. Jones Beachhead
13. Four or Five Times
14. Somebody Loves Me
15. 125th Street Prophet
16. 'TAin't Me
17. There Is No Greater Love
18. Basie's Basement
19. There'll Be a Hot Time in the Town of Berlin
20. 1-2-3-4 Jump
21. Old Gold Commercial
22. Apple Honey
23. Blues on Parade
24. Blue Flame (Theme)

Year Type Label Catalog # 2001 CD Storyville 2012079

No other editions were found for this album.

This is a very surprising collection of recordings by Woody Herman's First Herd, which consists of rehearsals from a series of broadcasts in 1944 made by the big band on the Old Gold Cigarettes summer season of radio shows. These transcriptions were rehearsals primarily made to check broadcast timings and microphone balances; what is unusual is that they were set aside without damage for over six and a half decades, showing little signs of wear or sound flaws. The generally swinging arrangements are by either Ralph Burns or Neal Hefti; the material includes a mix of songs associated with Herman ("Woodchopper's Ball" and "Apple Honey"), standards ("Sweet Lorraine" and "I've Got the World on a String"), and quite a few novelty throwaways with good-natured vocals by the leader, such as the forgettable "It Must Be Jelly Cause Jam Don't Shake Like That" and the rather bland "Noah." Herman fans will enjoy strong performances by Flip Phillips and Bill Harris, as well as the leader's clarinet solos and underrated vocals. Announcements, commercials, and incidental commentary by sports broadcaster Red Barber and popular singer Allan Jones are included; especially amusing is the "Old Gold Commercial" with Barber referring to "tuhbaccah" laced with "Apple Honey" in his thick southern accent. Fans of big band swing will enjoy this long-overlooked music. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

Name Credits Bill Harris Trombone Bill Shine Sax (Alto) Billy Bauer Guitar Billy Robbins Trumpet Carl Warwick Trumpet Charlie Frankhouser Trumpet Chrisna Morten Layout Design Chubby Jackson Bass Conte Candoli Trumpet Dave Tough Drums Ed Kiefer Trombone Flip Phillips Sax (Tenor) George Hall Liner Notes John LaPorta Sax (Tenor) Marjorie Hyams Vibraphone Neal Hefti Arranger, Trumpet Pete Candoli Trumpet Pete Mondello Sax (Tenor) Ralph Burns Arranger, Piano Ralph Pfeffner Trombone Ray Wetzel Trumpet Sam Marowitz Sax (Alto) Skippy de Sair Sax (Baritone) Woody Herman Vocals, Sax (Alto), Main Performer, Clarinet Woody Herman & His Orchestra Performer