Solid!

Desi Arnaz and Chico Marx

Big Bands of Hollywood

Laserlight

This collection of radio appearances by both Desi Arnaz and the Chico Marx Orchestra (yes, Chico Marx had an orchestra) is a very interesting piece of musical history. Desi's half of the CD showcases his orchestra performing some of the less well-known numbers in their repertoire. Desi takes it way south of the border for the opener, ''Chiu Chiu,'' and blends the beat right into a Latin-esque version of the Cole Porter standard ''Begin the Beguine.'' Two ballads follow next, ''Till We Meet Again" and ''Easy Street,'' the latter featuring Amanda Lane on vocals. In between, Desi takes on the Xavier Cugat rumba ''Cachita'' and afterwards gives a beguine treatment to ''Speak Low.'' ''Rico Pulpa'' finishes up in a Latin vein again.

When Chico Marx and his brothers took a break from their efforts as a comedy team in the early 1940s Chico decided to start his own orchestra and turned to legendary bandleader Ben Pollack for help. Pollack assembled a group for him. Featured was a very young Mel Torme (yes, Mel Torme once sang with Chico Marx). The outfit broke up after a little more than a year.

Chico's side of the CD begins with a bang as Mel Torme sings the unpolitically-correct Irving Berlin tune ''Abraham.'' Chico's other male vocalist, Skip Nelson, takes over on ''Velvet Moon,'' and then the whole orchestra swings on a jazz version of the opera composition ''Pagliacci'' and again on the tune ''Swing Stuff.'' Chico hams it up and shows off his flashy piano skills on the ''Beer Barrel Polka.'' Vocalist Kim Kimberly does an excellent job on the swinging ''Mr. Five by Five,'' and the band finishes with ''Chicago Strut.'' Between songs Chico cracks jokes with both the announcer and Kimberly.

The music quality of this CD is excellent, especially considering it was lifted from old radio recordings. The liner notes are spare but do a good job of explaining Chico's orchestra and compacting Desi's career. This is the only Chico Marx collection available and Desi Arnaz fans should be thrilled with some material other than the standard hits. That's enough to make this a recommended choice.

Track Listing

• Desi Arnaz
• 1. Chiu Chiu
• 2. Begin the Beguine
• 3. Easy Street
• 4. Cachita
• 5. Till We Meet Again
• 6. Speak Low
• 7. Rico Pulpa
• Chico Marx
• 8. Abraham
• 9. Velvet Moon
• 10. Pagliacci
• 11. Swing Stuff
• 12. Beer Barrel Polka
• 13. Mr. Five by Five
• 14. Chicago Strut

Read other Desi Arnaz reviews:

• Babalu
• Babalu Music: I Love Lucy's Greatest Hits
• The Best of Desi Arnaz the Mambo King