What are some of your favorite big band/swing classics & standards? Some of mine include
Moonlight Serenade - A classic in every sense of the word. As beautiful and moving today as the day it was first performed.
Pennsylvania 6-5000 - A great and fun song.
String of Pearls - I've actually had this one stuck in my head all morning
In the Mood - Perhaps second only to Moonlight Serenade as the definitive song of the swing era.
Sing Sing Sing - A close third to In the Mood and Moonlight Serenade as far as how well it has stood the test of time/how well it's remembered.
Caravan - Great song, great rhythm
Well, ya got 4 of my favorites...my Very Favorite: "SING, SING, SING"--Love this!! Do you remember the movie "SWING KIDS"? (Early 90's I think...ROBERT SEAN LEONARD--Wilson in "HOUSE" was in it...? The OMPS was great.)
Then, "IN THE MOOD", "CARAVAN" and, "PENNSYLVANIA 6-5000"--
DID YOU KNOW--That STILL TO THIS DAY--is a working number?? I wasn't sure so I called...TRY IT--(212)736-5000 It's the number of the Hotel Pennsylvania--on 7th Avenue, directly across from MSG. And the song is on the intro automated recording! I stayed there in 93 (There was a CREATION CONVENTION; special guest, SIR PATRICK STEWART
)
Okay...here's a few more I like off the top of my head:
BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY/DON'T SIT UNDER THE APPLE TREE--Andrews Sisters (I LOVE THE ANDREWS SISTERS...)
MOONLIGHT SERENADE--Glenn Miller
STOMPIN' AT THE SAVOY--Benny Goodman (didn't write it...but they played it.)
MILLIE THE MOOCHER--Cab Calloway
MOOD INDIGO--Duke Ellington
RHAPSODY IN BLUE--George Gershwin
That's a pretty good 10...!
...There's SO MANY AMAZING BIG BAND RECORDINGS. There's a STEAMER TRUNK in the attic FULL OF 78'S--they were in the house when the 'rents moved in. And--WHY YES!--we still have a way to PLAY 'EM. (now, if I just had the stones to go to the attic...it's a HEIGHT THING. LOL!!) Every time someone GOES UP THERE...I get 'em to bring a stack downstairs. They're SO COOL!!
PEACE--Kath
