The Benny Goodman Hits Collection Vol. 2 1939-53

Benny Goodman was a clarinettist and band leader, equally at home with small bands or fronting a large orchestra, whose music covered the spectrum of jazz and popular music in the four decades spanning WWII, and who earned the nickname of “The King Of Swing” as a pioneer of that style of jazz. He was so popular and successful that he racked up well over 150 hits in the quarter century or so from 1930 to the early ‘50s, so many indeed that we were present them in two volumes – this great-value 68-track 3-CD covers the second era from 1939-53, and the 3-CD set “The Benny Goodman Hits Collection Vol. 1 1931-38” (ACQCD7177) deals with the earlier years. This collection comprises all hits with his orchestra and small bands during these years on the Victor, Columbia, Okeh & Capitol labels. It features his No. 1 hits from these years “Darn That Dream”, “There’ll Be Some Changes Made”, “Somebody Else Is Taking My Place”, “Jersey Bounce” and “Taking A Chance On Love”, with performances by featured vocalists Louise Tobin, Mildred Bailey, Martha Tilton, Helen Forrest, Peggy Lee, Art Lund, Lou McGarrity, Dick Haymes, Jane Harvey, Dottie Reid, Peggy Mann, Liza Morrow, Eve Young, Matt Dennis, Lillian Lane, Al Hendrickson, Jimmy Ricks, Nancy Reed. Helen Ward and Benny Goodman. It’s a fascinating and enlightening showcase for one of the most influential musicians of his times.