Record basics

• Album name: Big Bands’ Greatest Hits
• Group name: Various Artists (including Glenn Miller, Lawrence Welk, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington)
• Number of discs: two
• Label: Columbia Records
• Collection: Selman
• Distinguishing characteristics: “MOR – INSTR” handwritten on tape; “Jazz – ANTHOLOGY” handwritten on tape; “WAMU” handwritten on front, back and insides
• Buy it:
  • Amazon (Vinyl): $60.00

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I’ve only heard of a few of the bandleaders on this compilation: Glenn Miller, Lawrence Welk, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. I don’t know any of their songs.

What I expected

I assume this will be pretty easy listening, and that I’ll actually recognize more than just what I think I know, and maybe that I’ll actually enjoy it.

What it was actually like

Like most people who are not fans of jazz music, there is a form of jazz music that I prefer over the others, and in my case, it’s New Orleans style. This was much more swing style, so really not my kind of jazz.

Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman was the only song that I recognized, and I didn’t really like it very much. Somewhat to my surprise, the rest of this record was rather forgettable and boring.

Grade

2/5: weak, but I was able to listen to the whole thing