Track Listing
1. Smiles
2. Shady Lady
3. That Old Black Magic
4. Oh, Miss Jaxson
5. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
6. Moose, The
7. Pow-Wow
8. Great Lie, The
9. Drop Me Off in Harlem
10. Gulf Coast Blues
11. Skyliner
12. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
13. You Always Hurt the One You Love
14. West End Blues
15. Desert Sands
16. E Bob O le Bob
17. Andy's Boogie
18. Dark Bayou
19. Zanesville Zohio Zzz
20. Lonesome as the Night Is Long
| Details | | Contributing Artists: | Al Haig, Barney Kessel, Bill Miller, Buddy DeFranco, Dodo Marmarosa, Kay Starr, Peanuts Holland, Roy Eldridge | | Producer: | Orrin Keepnews (Reissue) | | Distributor: | Universal Distribution | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Mono | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
Personnel includes: Charlie Barnet (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones); Peanuts Holland, Art Robey (vocals, trumpet); Frances Wayne, Kay Starr (vocals); George Bone, Conn Humphries, Murray Williams, Buddy DeFranco (alto saxophone); Kurt Bloom, James Lamare (tenor saxophone); Bob Dawes (baritone saxophone); Roy Eldridge, Art House, Irving Berger, Joe Ferrante, Chuck Zimmerman, Al Killian, Jimmy Pupa, Lyman Vunk, George Seaberg (trumpet); Lawrence Brown, Russ Brown, Kahn Keene, Wally Baron, Bill Robertson, Eddie Bert, Ed Fromm, Spud Murphy, Bob Swift (trombone); Bill Miller, Sheldon Smith, Al Haig, Dodo Marmarosa (piano); Tommy Moore, Barney Kessel (guitar); Jack Jarvis, Bob Elden, Irv Lang (bass); Cliff Leeman, Harold Hahn (drums).
Recorded between 1942 and 1946. Includes liner notes by Loren Schoenberg.
Charlie Barnet's Orchestra was sometimes labeled the blackest white band on earth. Charlie Barnet's greatest legacy was probably that, more than any other '30s and '40s bandleader, he broke down racial barriers by consistently assembling mixed race bands. DROP ME OFF IN HARLEM proves that the Barnet Orchestra was also on par with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie big bands in terms of technical skill. It's still regarded by jazz musicians, aficionados, and scholars to be some of the best music to come out of the swing era.
Duke Ellington was Barnet's chief influence, and this CD includes elegant versions of "Oh Miss Jaxson," and the title track, "Drop Me Off in Harlem." On the former, Peanuts Holland contributes a very scratchy, Louis Armstrong-influenced vocal performance, while the band punches horn riffs in between the vocal phrases. This song also features some ingenious reed arrangements, led by Barnet himself on soprano saxophone. An exciting and varied set of music, DROP ME OFF IN HARLEM is a swing era keepsake.
Editorial Reviews
4 Stars - Very Good - ..This band is substantial in its own way..
Down Beat (09/01/1992)
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