A MEMORIAL 1944 - 1969 - Glenn Miller

YEAR: 1969

LABEL: RCA Victor

TRACK LISTING: Moonlight Serenade, Sunrise Serenade, Little Brown Jug, To You, Stairway To the Stars, In the Mood, My Prayer, Johnson Rag, Indian Summer, Stardust, Tuxedo Junction, Danny Boy, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Anvil Chorus, Song of the Volga Boatman, Perfidia, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Adios, Elmer's Tune, A String of Pearls, Moonlight Cocktail, Skylark, Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree, American Patrol, At Last, (I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo, Serenade In Blue, Juke Box Saturday Night, That Old Black Magic, St. Louis Blues March

IMPRESSIONS: Glenn Miller and His Orchestra is my favourite "big band" or "swing band". This album -- oddly subtitled 1944-1969 (the year's spanning Miller's disappearance to the release of this collection) -- was given to me as a birthday present by my grandmother in 1980 because of my then-current interest in the music of the big band era. The double album quickly became a favourite. The album contains all of Miller's biggest hits and is the perfect introduction to the man's music. Glenn Miller was highly praised by many prominent musicians including Louis Armstrong (he always traveled with reel-t0-reel tapes of Glenn Miller's records), Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra and many others. While this album was released on cd, I'm pretty sure it's out of print now. There are many Glenn Miller collections on the market but this one will always be my favourite.
MY FAVOURITE TRACKS: Moonlight Serenade, Sunrise Serenade, Stairway To the Stars, In the Mood, Indian Summer, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Anvil Chorus, Song of the Volga Boatmen, Perfidia, A String of Pearls, At Last, (I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo, Serenade In Blue, Juke Box Saturday Night

FACT SHEET: Glenn Miller was one of the most popular band leaders of the late 30s-early 40s. He gave up his civilian career to join the war effort during World War II; too old at 38 to be drafted, Miller convinced the US government to allow him to serve in a non-combat function by starting a U.S. military band to entertain the troops. While flying from England to France, Miller's plane disappeared in bad weather over the English Channel.