Benny Goodman vs. Glenn Miller

[Cousin Hepcat]

Glenn Miller...BTW, I found a free online archive of his songs here:

http://vininst03.tripod.com/GMiller.htm

Steve, you are just the MAN! Thanks, that's great, there's so many there I never heard, looks like I need to get hep-tified with some Miller CDs. And "April in Paris" has been one of my favorite songs in general by anyone, but his version is just... ethereal...

Swing High,
- C H

 

[Steve]

Steve, you are just the MAN! Thanks, that's great, there's so many there I never heard, looks like I need to get hep-tified with some Miller CDs. And "April in Paris" has been one of my favorite songs in general by anyone, but his version is just... ethereal...

Swing High,
- C H

You are very welcome!

 

[harmonslide]

Wow. Very tough choice. I don't think I could choose one. However, I'd have to lean on the side of Miller -- hey, I'm a trombonist.

Of course, "Sing, sing, sing" is simply great stuff!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I like 'em both equally. I'm not really into the regimented "scripted solo" swing thing, so i don't listen to them much. As HBK said, the Benny Goodman small group stuff is quite outstanding and more along the Basie head arrangement lines. So i'll point myself at Goodman.

Even though i've just voted against him, i must say that Glenn miller had one of the sweetest trombone sounds of any jazz man. Bested only, in my opinion, by Dickie Wells.

Neither of 'em (the Goodman or Miller big bands) can stand next to the Basie bands as equals.

bk

 

[Solid Citizen]

Edge to Goodman

I like both Goodman's big band & small group material :eusa_clap

IMO always thought Tommy Dorsey was a sweeter player than Miller
BUT Miler had "THE TUNES"!!!

SC

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

I like both Goodman's big band & small group material :eusa_clap

IMO always thought Tommy Dorsey was a sweeter player than Miller
BUT Miler had "THE TUNES"!!!

SC

fftopic:
Offtopic, but if we're comparing other artists besides Miller & Goodman, My top 2 faves of the entire swing era were #1 Ellington (1940-42), and #2 Tommy Dorsey
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=146567&postcount=1
fftopic:


Swing High,
- C H

 

[Paisley]

This reminds me of Coke vs. Pepsi: one is a little sweeter, the other is a little fizzier. I like the fizzier one.

 

[FedoraGent]

This reminds me of Coke vs. Pepsi: one is a little sweeter, the other is a little fizzier. I like the fizzier one.

Kinda.

Jon

 

[The Reno Kid]

This reminds me of Coke vs. Pepsi: one is a little sweeter, the other is a little fizzier. I like the fizzier one.

The difference for me is that I don't like Coke, but I love Goodman. I was asked to state a preference and gave the edge to Miller (but not by much).

 

[FedoraGent]

I can't believe I'm doing this, that one wasn't in my MP3 database yet lol Hey I always wanted to be a late-night jazz DJ...

By special request,



Glenn Miller "I Want to Be Happy"


Swing High,
- C H

I just absolutely love how in the beginning of this song, the phonograph motor hasn't quite gone to speed yet and it slurs the beginning of the song. It made me smile and think about other records. You JUST don't get that anymore with CDs.

Jon

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

Well, I was looking through a few boxes and didn't find what I wanted, but did find one I'd forgotten about: a Benny Goodman recording of the same tune "I Want To Be Happy", on the same label, released about the same time as Miller's! I remember thinking "whaddya know" at the time, but don't think I've ever played it till now, ya gotta love life's little suprises...

Here tis, side by side, Goodman & Miller:

.

Goodman's "I Want To Be Happy" (MP3)
Miller's "I Want To Be Happy" (MP3)

Thus proving the point, that both rocked, in their own way...


Swing High,
- C H

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I really love both, but the clarinet wins me over every time.

 

[VintageJess]

I have to go with Glenn Miller. His sweet sound "captures" me in such a unique way. I swear that I could listen to "Moonlight Serenade" over and over and over.

I might also add that I really respect Glenn Miller for his service and ultimate sacrifice during WW2.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

ultimate sacrifice during WW2.

Still nothing clear about his demise. The version that he died in a French brothel seems to come out of German intelligence circles, and should be valued with this in mind. I think a BBC documentary claimed they found out, and it was "friendly fire", some British bomb hail.

 

[VintageJess]

Still nothing clear about his demise. The version that he died in a French brothel seems to come out of German intelligence circles, and should be valued with this in mind. I think a BBC documentary claimed they found out, and it was "friendly fire", some British bomb hail.

Oh yes, I think I have seen that same documentary where they did the research and ultimately decided that he may have gotten caught in the area where the British bombing units were dumping their bombs.

I guess my main point is that he was over there in country, and trying to contribute in the best way that he knew how.

 

[Phil]

A Glenn Miller man

I'd have to go with Glenn Miller on this one, he writes songs that are more fun to play. OR rather, he puts a large importance on turmpets.

 

[Michaelson]

Wow! What a poll. If you had asked 'Goodman, pre-1940', I'd go with that one....but his sound changed after 40. His sound became more 'sophisticated' dance music, where his late 30's driving swing was what turned me on.

Miller, on the other hand, had the same sound throughout his entire lifetime. He probably did more 'cover tunes' than Goodman did, but he was consistant. They BOTH got the grade of 'A' in Downbeat magazine from the mid 30's to the tragic end of Miller's short life, so the live listeners voted them both being equal in terms of consistant delivery of great tunes.

So, I just can't vote this time.

Regards! Michaelson

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

If you had asked 'Goodman, pre-1940', I'd go with that one....but his sound changed after 40. ... Miller, on the other hand, had the same sound throughout his entire lifetime...

Good point, Michaelson. I agree with you on the Goodman change. The sound became to my ears more like "just going through the motions". Although I really do like his Columbia 40s tracks "Gotta Be This or That" and "The Count", thats about all, the rest are "okay". But when he then in the later 40s switched to Capitol, his sound changed again (a bit more Bop-ish) and I really liked him again. Even had some tracks with L.A. tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Swing High,
- C H

 

[Michaelson]

A good comparison would be his 1937 'Bach Goes to Town'....then compare it to his 1941 'I had to do it'.

You'd think you were listening to a completely different band. Not bad at all, don't get me wrong....but it just sounds like the life got siphoned out of his style, and he became commercial. His quartette never lost that 'zing'....but his band seemed to, overall. They had flashes, but not many after 1940.

JMO, though.

Regards! Michaelson

 

[Serial Hero]

I enjoy both, but if I have to choose, I have to go with Goodman (nine times out of ten). Duke Ellington is also in a close race for first.

I really respect Glenn Miller for his service and ultimate sacrifice during WW2.

I know what you mean, but I just pictured “Glenn Miller and his Howling Commandos”