I have tried for years to compile his hundreds, if not thousands, of
pieces of vinyl, but through my penchant for starting too many things and not
finishing them all, and other activities, I have yet to do so. About a month
ago, the job became a little larger, happily, due to me finding a new group of
vinyl recordings covered by some old clothes in a packing box.
The 12 78-RPM records are in one of those old record book binders; the
binding spine itself is missing, but the back cover is still attached and the
front cover is with it; the covers are dark brown with a black faux (I think)
leather fastening tape of sorts near the ends that were attached to the
binding.
As I opened it, I was surprised to find the inside cover full of my
immediately recognizable father’s handwriting, listing what were at one time
the contents of this record binder. While some of the 78s are still in it,
unfortunately, the copies of “Tampico,” “Do Nothin’ ‘Till You Hear from Me” and
”Artistry in Rhythm” are not here, although I did find a copy of Stan Kenton’s
“Artistry in Rhythm,” an all-time favorite of my father, in another record
binder. My father was more anal than I was in arranging his records, so I hope
I come across some of these as I finish compiling his collection.
As for the actual contents, I have to start off by saying I found this
gem: “In the Mood,” b/w “Sunrise Serenade,” by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra,
RCA Victor 20-1753. I remember hearing my father play this record on Sundays,
our main adult record listening day (outside of football season), and it has always
been one of my favorite big band jazz songs.
The other records in this binder are: “Harlem Nocturne,” b/w “A Night at
the Deuces,” Randy Brooks and His Orchestra, Decca 23935; “Star Dust,” b/w
“Back Bay Shuffle,” Artie Shaw and His Orchestra, RCA Victor 27547; “I’ve Heard
That Song Before,
b/w “Moonlight Becomes You,” Harry James and His Orchestra, Columbia 36668; “The Legend of Tiabi,” b/w “Cool Water,” Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra,” RCA Victor 20-2923; “Rainbow Mood,” b/w “Dardanella,” the Herbie Fields Quintet, RCA Victor 20-2274; “China Night,” b/w “Apple Song,” Columbia Tokyo Orchestra, Columbia 10093 (M 212286/M 212287); “Sophisticated Swing,” b/w “Blue Danube,” Les Brown and His Orchestra, Columbia 38250; “Put That Ring on My Finger,” b/w “Bijou,” Woody Herman and His Orchestra, Columbia 36861;”Let’s Say Goodnight with a Dance,” b/w “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You,” Tommy Tucker Time, Okeh 6554; “Night Special,” b/w “Back Beat Boogie,” Harry James and His Orchestra, Columbia 35456; “Falling Leaves,” b/w “Star Dust,” Tex Beneke with the Miller Orchestra, RCA Victor 20-2016.
b/w “Moonlight Becomes You,” Harry James and His Orchestra, Columbia 36668; “The Legend of Tiabi,” b/w “Cool Water,” Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra,” RCA Victor 20-2923; “Rainbow Mood,” b/w “Dardanella,” the Herbie Fields Quintet, RCA Victor 20-2274; “China Night,” b/w “Apple Song,” Columbia Tokyo Orchestra, Columbia 10093 (M 212286/M 212287); “Sophisticated Swing,” b/w “Blue Danube,” Les Brown and His Orchestra, Columbia 38250; “Put That Ring on My Finger,” b/w “Bijou,” Woody Herman and His Orchestra, Columbia 36861;”Let’s Say Goodnight with a Dance,” b/w “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You,” Tommy Tucker Time, Okeh 6554; “Night Special,” b/w “Back Beat Boogie,” Harry James and His Orchestra, Columbia 35456; “Falling Leaves,” b/w “Star Dust,” Tex Beneke with the Miller Orchestra, RCA Victor 20-2016.
