Billy Crystal Presents: The Milt Gabler Story [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
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Although he founded pioneering jazz label Commodore and later became a legendary producer for Decca, Milt Gabler couldn't read a note of music or play an instrument. Instead, as Gabler's nephew/compilation producer Billy Crystal notes in his warm recollection here, the producer's accomplishments came almost solely courtesy of his "big heart and a great set of ears." The 26 tracks here span four decades and include some of the richest, most vibrant performances of the jazz, swing and even early rock eras. Gabler's Commodore years yield Billie Holiday's iconic "Strange Fruit" and the nascent, energetic swing of Eddie Condon, the Kansas City Six and Wild Bill Davison. His productive collaboration with Holiday (the evocative "Lover Man" here) would continue at Decca, an era in which Gabler's eclectic tastes and effusive personality would inform everything from novelty pop (The Andrews Sisters' "Rum and Coca-Cola," Bing Crosby's "McNamara's Band") and savory jazz performances by Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton and Louis Armstrong to the Weavers' folk classic "Goodnight Irene." In the 50's, Gabler would help midwife rock 'n' roll via Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie" and Bill Haley's 1954 landmark, "Rock Around the Clock," yet also continue to produce some of the era's most successful pop singles, including key tracks here by Peggy Lee, The Four Aces and Mills Brothers. Rewarding as this collection is, it can't help but scratch the surface of his legacy; if any producer deserves his own box set, surely it's Milt Gabler. --Jerry McCulley

Tracks:

Love Is Just Around The Corner - Eddie Condon And His Windy City Seven
Them There Eyes - The Kansas City Six
Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
Fine And Mellow - Billie Holiday
That's A Plenty - Wild Bill Davison And His Commodores
Flying Home - Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra
You'll Never Know - Dick Haymes And The Song Spinners
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) - Billie Holiday
Rum And Coca-Cola - The Andrews Sisters
Macnamara's Band - Bing Crosby And The Jesters
Choo Choo Ch' Boogie - Louis Jordan And His Tympany
Oh, Lady, Be Good! - Ella Fitzgerald
How High The Moon - Ella Fitzgerald
Blueberry Hill - Louis Armstrong
Good Night Irene - The Weavers
Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Louis Armstrong
Lover - Peggy Lee
The Glow-Worm - The Mills Borthers
It Takes Two To Tango - Pearl Bailey
Little Things Mean A Lot - Kitty Kallen
Three Coins In The Fountain - The Four Aces
(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley And His Comets
Hey There - Sammy Davis Jr.
You're Nobody 'Till Someone Loves You - Roberta Sherwood
Danke Schoen - Wayne Newton
L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole

Amazon.com

Although he founded pioneering jazz label Commodore and later became a legendary producer for Decca, Milt Gabler couldn't read a note of music or play an instrument. Instead, as Gabler's nephew/compilation producer Billy Crystal notes in his warm recollection here, the producer's accomplishments came almost solely courtesy of his "big heart and a great set of ears." The 26 tracks here span four decades and include some of the richest, most vibrant performances of the jazz, swing and even early rock eras. Gabler's Commodore years yield Billie Holiday's iconic "Strange Fruit" and the nascent, energetic swing of Eddie Condon, the Kansas City Six and Wild Bill Davison. His productive collaboration with Holiday (the evocative "Lover Man" here) would continue at Decca, an era in which Gabler's eclectic tastes and effusive personality would inform everything from novelty pop (The Andrews Sisters' "Rum and Coca-Cola," Bing Crosby's "McNamara's Band") and savory jazz performances by Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton and Louis Armstrong to the Weavers' folk classic "Goodnight Irene." In the 50's, Gabler would help midwife rock 'n' roll via Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie" and Bill Haley's 1954 landmark, "Rock Around the Clock," yet also continue to produce some of the era's most successful pop singles, including key tracks here by Peggy Lee, The Four Aces and Mills Brothers. Rewarding as this collection is, it can't help but scratch the surface of his legacy; if any producer deserves his own box set, surely it's Milt Gabler. --Jerry McCulley

Billy Crystal Presents: The Milt Gabler Story

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Billy Crystal Presents: The Milt Gabler Story
Original Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Grp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

GRP | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B0006SSNB4
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

Love Is Just Around The Corner - Eddie Condon And His Windy City Seven
Them There Eyes - The Kansas City Six
Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
Fine And Mellow - Billie Holiday
That's A Plenty - Wild Bill Davison And His Commodores
Flying Home - Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra
You'll Never Know - Dick Haymes And The Song Spinners
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) - Billie Holiday
Rum And Coca-Cola - The Andrews Sisters
MacNamara's Band - Bign Crosby And The Jesters
Choo Choo Ch' Boogie - Louis Jordan And His Tympany 5
Oh, Lady, Be Good! - Ella Fitzgerald
How High The Moon - Ella Fitzgerald
Blueberry Hill - Louis Armstrong
Goodnight Irene - The Weavers
Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Louis Armstrong
Lover - Peggy Lee
The Glow-Worm - The Mills Brothers
It Takes Two To Tango - Pearl Bailey
Little Things Mean A Lot - Kitty Kallen
Three Coins In The Fountain - The Four Aces
(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley And His Comets
Hey There - Sammy Davis Jr.
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - Robert Sherwood
Danke Schoen - Wayne Newton
L-O-V-E - Nat 'King' Cole

Music:

Music

Music