Benny Goodman vs. Glenn Miller

[FedoraGent]

Folks,

I was on the phone with a dear pal of mine today. He was telling me how he was planning on exposing his kids to Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. As it seems, just as I would and I'm sure his old man would we all agree that either you're a Benny Goodman fan or a Glenn Miller fan. He and I both err on the Benny Goodman side because I just love his music and the fact that he had SO MUCH FUN DOING IT. I also like Benny because he was just so doggone good at what he did. So my pal and I have decided that we're going to do a test. Tonight I'm putting together a CD of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller tunes that I think that the kids might love. We're going to let them listen to it while they play and go about their normal everyday business and see what they like. So this had me thinking, what about the Fedora Loungers? Which camp are they from? Goodman Camp? Miller Camp? Or gawd forbid both?

Just a passing curiousity. Let's see what happens.

Jon

P.S. Thanks for moving this.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Goodman!

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

what about the Fedora Loungers? Which camp are they from? Goodman Camp? Miller Camp? Or gawd forbid both?

Auuugh, Apples and Oranges, my friend, Apples and Oranges! Couldn't live without BOTH.

PS. My faves for Miller are the soft stuff cause that's what he was all about, but Before anyone says Glenn Miller couldn't **ROCK** when he wanted to, must check out these tunes!: Click here for an MP3 of Carribean Clipper straight from the 78. (I heard the Glenn Miller Orch. play this live and they Tore It Up!)

.

Swing High,
- C H

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Agreed, both are great, and each one has it's own merit.

 

[FedoraGent]

Auuugh, Apples and Oranges, my friend, Apples and Oranges! Couldn't live without BOTH.

PS. My faves for Miller are the soft stuff cause that's what he was all about, but Before anyone says Glenn Miller couldn't **ROCK** when he wanted to, must check out these tunes!: Click here for an MP3 of Carribean Clipper straight from the 78. (I heard the Glenn Miller Orch. play this live and they Tore It Up!)

.

Swing High,
- C H

Gosh, I can't believe I'm saying this...MORE PLEASE.

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

Gosh, I can't believe I'm saying this...MORE PLEASE.

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

 

[EdinLA44]

Hepcat,

Thanks for the two songs. I've got a starter collection of big band CDs and I've never heard those two before. Great stuff!

Ed

 

[ITG]

It is close, but because Miller's music is who turned me onto Big Band from the beginning, I had to go with him, although "Swing, Swing, Swing" is my favorite swing era piece. There is just a simple magic about Miller's music that make the songs so rememberable and catchy.

 

[FedoraGent]

Goodman!

Good man! LOL.

Jon

 

[EdinLA44]

Hey Hepcat,

How'd you post those songs so that they play when you click on them?

Ed

 

[herringbonekid]

i think Benny Goodman was the more naturally gifted jazzman of the two. if you haven't heard his sextet recordings from '39-'41 featuring guitarist Charlie Christian then try to find them. they're pure joy.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

No question: Binyomin ben Dovid Gutman (of blissful memory).

Goodman was popular, but jazz. Miller was popular. He did arrange for a good luscious sound, and composed some good things, too, but if I have to choose, it's an easy one for me. Just too, well, white. Preppy.

 

[LizzieMaine]

It's Goodman's small-group recordings that really do it for me, the Trios and the Quartets, and the Sextets. Elegant yet swinging!

 

[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

Cousin Hepcat,

Perhaps do you have any Benny perchance?

Jon

 

[CharlieH.]

Most of the time, it's Goodman in my book, paricularly the 1935-1939 outfits. Those folks could sure blow the roof off the joint! They didn't call him the King of Swing for nuthin'.

 

[The Reno Kid]

I love 'em both!

However, I have to give the edge to Miller. Goodman was an outstanding musician and his band was top notch. As Lizzie pointed out, his smaller-group stuff was wonderful (esp. with Charlie Christian on guitar). Miller was more of an entertainer and I like to be entertained. Sure, his stuff was a little schmaltzy sometimes, but so what? It was always fun! Moonlight Cocktail is pure fluff and I absolutely love it.

 

[Cousin Hepcat]

Cousin Hepcat,
Perhaps do you have any Benny perchance?
Jon

The server is starting to fill up but did find a great song on someone else's Like Miller had a hot side, Goodman could also definitely do sweet: ya gotta love the darkly brooding "Goodbye" (MP3).

Hepcat,

Thanks for the two songs. I've got a starter collection of big band CDs and I've never heard those two before. Great stuff!

Ed

Glad you enjoyed, Ed. That's what's so cool about running across the old 78s, you hear stuff not common on "greatest hits" reissues. This one is somewhat ironic though - "I want to be happy" was the flip side to one of Miller's most well-known hits, "In The Mood" lol (PS. The easiest way you can make songs clickable in a post is just put the URL of the MP3 within {URL}{/URL} markers, but using square brackets.)

It is close, but because Miller's music is who turned me onto Big Band from the beginning, I had to go with him, although "Swing, Swing, Swing" is my favorite swing era piece. There is just a simple magic about Miller's music that make the songs so rememberable and catchy.

Exactly: No wonder he was so popular! My granddad was entirely responsible for my Golden Era tastes, and Miller was his favorite; he bought me my first record player when I was 5, along with a Miller LP of course First I heard of swing; man I played that thing to death. That's how the whole Golden Era thing started for me, and so unbelievable to find the Lounge with so many other like-minded folks...

Goodman was popular, but jazz. Miller was popular. He did arrange for a good luscious sound, and composed some good things, too, but if I have to choose, it's an easy one for me. Just too, well, white. Preppy.

You know, I started to think like that when I first really got going hardcore collecting 78s. But since, been coming back around to Miller's (and T. Dorsey's) sweeter sound in a Big Way. And kicking myself a bit for passing up tons of Miller originals. lol No matter how sure you are of what you like at one moment, you just never know how your tastes may change...

It's Goodman's small-group recordings that really do it for me, the Trios and the Quartets, and the Sextets. Elegant yet swinging!

Check. Moonglow! Goodman & Hamp OWN it.

Most of the time, it's Goodman in my book, paricularly the 1935-1939 outfits. Those folks could sure blow the roof off the joint! They didn't call him the King of Swing for nuthin'.

No kidding. The "This Is Benny Goodman" cassette from that span didn't come out of the walkman for almost a year in high school

...However, I have to give the edge to Miller... Miller was more of an entertainer and I like to be entertained. Sure, his stuff was a little schmaltzy sometimes, but so what? It was always fun! Moonlight Cocktail is pure fluff and I absolutely love it.

Yesss! and Elmer's Tune.

And, am I the only one who has been Totally Unable to get Miller's "The Man with the Mandolin" out of my head for going on Weeks now?! lol (in a good way. "Open your heart, let the music in..." she's just Too Cute in that one.)


Swing High,
- C H

 

[Brad Bowers]

Check. Moonglow! Goodman & Hamp OWN it.

That one makes me want to learn the clarinet so I can play along!

Brad

 

[Steve]

Glenn Miller. "Jive Bunny" is one of my all-time favorites.

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

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

 

[CharlieH.]

That one makes me want to learn the clarinet so I can play along!

Brad

I had the very same reaction when I first heard BG. I even went as far as to actually buying a clarinet, and took lessons for a while. Unfortunately, alarmingly heavy school work and the nagging cries of the sister made me to quit. I still have it, and sometimes I wish I could pull it out to play "Goodbye" (Boy, do I love that tune!) but I forgot everything there is to it and beyond.

One of these days I'll be playing that ole licorice stick again...