Gordon Jenkins - Collection (CD)

We continue our series focusing on the great arrangers and conductors of the pre- and post-war eras with an anthology devoted to the work of Gordon Jenkins, a fine pianist and composer as well as a noted arranger, who is especially associated with lush string arrangements which accompanied some of the great singers of the time. This great value 87-track 4-CD set comprises examples of his work from a period of over a quarter of a century spanning WWII, featuring recordings made with a host of top flight male and female vocalists during his long tenures as house arranger for Capitol and Decca, as well as his performances of the several orchestral suites which he composed and recorded under his own name over the years. Included are recordings by artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Dick Haymes, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, The Weavers, Marlene Dietrich, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Ethel Merman, Danny Kaye, Burl Ives and many more, so it provides a fascinating trawl across the spectrum of popular music as well as an insight into the techniques and talents of one of the industry's hugely talented backroom boys. Compiled and with extensive booklet notes by former national newspaper showbiz writer and photographer Geoff Wilding, creator of previous anthologies in this series.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. One Little Word Led to Another (Isham Jones ; Charles French) - Isham Jones ; His Orchestra
2. A Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia (Isham Jones ; Charles French) - Isham Jones ; His Orchestra
3. Goodbye (Benny Goodman) - Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
4. Don't Mention Love to Me (Isham Jones ; Eddie Stone) - Isham Jones ; His Orchestra
5. They Didn't Believe Me (Johnny Mercer ; the Mellowares) - Various Performers
6. I'll Remember April (Martha Tilton)
7. He Wears a Pair of Silver Wings (Connie Haynes)
8. The Angels Cried (Martha Tilton)
9. Comin' Through the Rye (Martha Tilton)
10. White Christmas (Bob Carroll)
11. There Will Never Be Another You (Bob Carroll)
12. Manhattan Tower - a Musical Narrative (Gordon Jenkins)
13. Mi Vida (Dick Haymes)
14. Don't Tell Me That Story (Judy Garland)
15. There Is No Breeze (Judy Garland)
16. How Are Things in Glocca Morra? (Dick Haymes)
17. Maybe You'll Be There (Charles la Vere)
18. Mamselle (Dick Haymes)
19. Je Vous Aime (Dick Haymes)
20. Little White Lies (Gordon Jenkins with Four Hits ; a Miss)

Disc: 2

1. I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore (Gordon Jenkins ; the Stardusters)
2. Illusions (Marlene Dietrich)
3. Again (Joe Graydon)
4. Happy Talk (Ella Fitzgerald)
5. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair (Ella Fitzgerald)
6. My One and Only Highland Fling (Dorothy Carless ; Dick Haymes)
7. I Can Dream Can't I (Patti Andrews, the Andrews Sisters)
8. California - a Musical Narrative (Gordon Jenkins)
9. Don't Cry Joe (Gordon Jenkins ; Betty Brewer)
10. Blueberry Hill (Louis Armstrong)
11. Foolish Tears (Ella Fitzgerald)
12. Crazy He Calls Me (Billie Holiday)
13. My Foolish Heart (Gordon Jenkins with Sandy Evans)
14. I Remember the Cornfields (Evelyn Knight)
15. God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday)
16. Bewitched (Gordon Jenkins with Bonnie Lou Williams)
17. When a Woman Loves a Man (Gordon Jenkins with Bonnie Lou Williams)
18. Goodbye (Gordon Jenkins with Bonnie Lou Williams)
19. Homesick, That's All (Gordon Jenkins with Don Burke)
20. P.S. I Love You (Gordon Jenkins with Don Burke)

Disc: 3

1. You Have Taken My Heart (Gordon Jenkins with Bob Stevens)
2. Blue Evening (Gordon Jenkins with Bob Stevens)
3. With You So Far Away (Gordon Jenkins)
4. Tzena, Tzena, Tzena (The Weavers)
5. Goodnight Irene (The Weavers)
6. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (Artie Shaw)
7. You're Mine You (Artie Shaw)
8. The Best Thing for You Would Be Me (Ethel Merman)
9. You're Just in Love (Ethel Merman ; Dick Haymes)
10. The Hostess with the Mostest (Ethel Merman)
11. My Resistance Is Low (Hoagy Carmichael)
12. Wimoweh (The Weavers)
13. It's All in the Game (Louis Armstrong)
14. Just One of Those Things (Peggy Lee)
15. Lover (Peggy Lee)
16. Sans Souci (Peggy Lee)
17. Go You Where You Go (Peggy Lee)
18. Wonderful Copenhagen (Danny Kaye)
19. The King's New Clothes (Danny Kaye)
20. No Two People (Danny Kaye ; Jane Wyman)
21. True Love Goes on and on (Burl Ives)
22. Brave Man (Burl Ives)
23. Listen to the Mocking Bird (Louis Armstrong)
24. Alone Again (Gordon Jenkins)

Disc: 4

1. Mood at Midnight (Gordon Jenkins)
2. The Lady and the Cellist (Gordon Jenkins with Louli Jean Norman ; Cy Bernard)
3. Marietta's Waltz (Gordon Jenkins)
4. Moon Over Miami (Gordon Jenkins ; the Ralph Brewster Singers)
5. Allah's Holiday (Gordon Jenkins ; the Ralph Brewster Singers)
6. Never Leave Me (Dick Haymes)
7. New York's My Home (Dick Haymes)
8. Stardust (Nat King Cole)
9. Love Is the Thing (Nat King Cole)
10. When I Fall in Love (Nat King Cole)
11. Stay As Sweet As You Are (Nat King Cole)
12. By His Word (The Andrews Sisters)
13. Me and My Shadow (Judy Garland)
14. By Myself (Judy Garland)
15. Mean to Me (Judy Garland)
16. Blue Prelude (Judy Garland)
17. There's No You (Frank Sinatra)
18. Autumn Leaves (Frank Sinatra)
19. I Cover the Waterfront (Frank Sinatra)
20. Laura (Frank Sinatra)
21. Mommy I Wanna Drink of Water (Danny Kaye)
22. Crazy Barbara (Danny Kaye)
23. That's All There Is, There Isn't Any More (Judy Garland with the Ralph Brewster Singers)