[Dixielandjazz] More On "In The Mood" and Miller

[Marek Boym]

Dear Bill,
I still like In the Mood, because it swings like mad!  One of the very
few Glenn Miller recordings in my collection (I only have one Miller
LP, out of my 1000 records, and a few tracks on reel-toreel tape).
The Gonella version is so much better!  And I have nothing against
Woodchopper's Ball (again, haven't got too many Herman records,
because he went "modern" in the mid-forties).
Cheers

On 01/09/07, Bill Haesler <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au> wrote:
> Marek Boym wrote:
> > Hello Bill,
> > Have you heard the excellent Nat Gonella (British) version?  It ends
> > with "I hope we've put you in good mood" (quoting from memory).  But
> > that was recorded AFTER the Glenn Miller version.
>
> Dear Marek,
> I certainly have.
> It has been in my extensive collection for quite a while.
> Recorded in London for English Columbia on 30 October 1940 by his New
> Georgians and backed by another 'hated' tune, "At The Woodchopper's
> Ball".
> However, as "In The Mood" and "Woodchopper's Ball" have never been
> favourites of mine (we loathed them both as young jazzers in the
> 40s-50s) I never had the 78 and rarely play the CD.
> But, following your prompt, I have just done so.
> Nat gives his two "In The Mood" solos the usual fine 'Louis' treatment,
> but the sax solos are boring.
> You have a good memory too. Nat's ending is almost as you quoted.
> The same comment applies for "At The Woodchopper's Ball". Good Nat (as
> always), the rest predictable and forgettable.
> Kind regards,
> Bill.
>
>