The big band era of music was something elsefor the music lovers of that time, and it still has its relevance to this day.Whether you are looking for inspiration, feeling passionate, or thinking about dancing, the big band songs can always uplift your soul. It is no wonder that the songs are successful as the era of big band music in USA was filled with brilliant musicians. Songs composedduring and performed during the time are one of a kind and have made their place among the most memorable tunes in the entire music industry.
The Greatest Hits ofBig Band Music in USA
Want to listen to the best pieces composed bythe best musicians of the big band era? Here is a list of the greatest hitswhere you can start your journey of exploring the best music era –
1. “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You” by Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
A hit composition of Ned Washington and lyricsof George Bassman, “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You” was first performed in1932, and first recorded in 1935. Another recording came out a month later in the same year, and the exact arrangement of this second recording was featured by Tommy henceforth. Frank Sinatra was the singer of the song for the recording by Dorsey Orchestra while Dorsey himself was the trombone soloist.
Considered a fox trot or swing, the tempo hitwas covered by several artists including Bill Kenny, Carol Bruce, Earl Bostic,Spike Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller, Harry James, and more. It was featured in the Oscar-winning film “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis”, as well as in the films “Bart Got a Room” and “Carnal Knowledge”.
2. “Sing, Sing, Sing” by The Benny Goodman Orchestra
Written and composed by Louis Prima, “Sing,Sing, Sing” was first released in 1936 by Brunswick Records. Being identifiedwith the swing and big band era strongly, the song has been performed by many as an instrumental and rose to fame by the legendary performance of Benny Goodman with his orchestra.
In 1937, the song was recorded in Hollywoodwith Benny Goodman on clarinet, Allan Reuss on guitar, Harry Goodman on bass,Ziggy Elman, Harry James, and Chris Griffin on trumpets, Gene Krupa on drums,Jess Stacy on piano, Red Ballard and Murry McEachern on trombones, Art Rollini and Vido Musso on tenor saxophone, and Geroge Koenig and Hymie Schertzer on alto saxophones.
Goodman also performed the song in his 1938Carnegie Hall Concert and often played it as the closing number at his liveperformances. “Sing, Sing, Sing” was a huge hit of the time and appeared in numerous films, TV programs, theatres, and even in video games.
3. “A String of Pearls” by The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Written by Eddie DeLange, “A String of Pearls”was composed by Jerry Gray in 1941. The big band and jazz standard song becamea #1 hit after it was recorded by Glenn Miller and his orchestra in the same year, holding its no. 1 rank in the US for two weeks on the Billboard Best Sellers chart in 1942.
Apart from Glenn Miller, the song was alsorecorded by many great musicians, including Connee Boswell, Benny Goodman,Harry James, Herb Miller, Woody Herman, Marty Gold, and more. Several versions of “A String of Pearls” was featured in popular culture and media, including biopics, action thrillers, soundtrack albums, and TV series. The latest feature of this song was in the soundtrack of Revolutionary Road, the 2008 film starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Conclusion: If you want to listen to the besthits of the big band music in USA,then it is always recommended to go through the List of 1930s jazz standards.Live the legendary era of music again by playing these greatest hits in your free time!
