Solid!

Glenn Miller

The Lost Recordings

RCA Victor

In late 1944, while stationed in England, Glenn Miller's service orchestra was asked to participate in a series of broadcasts over the American Broadcasting Station in Europe. ABSIE, which was operated by the Overseas Branch of the Office of War Information, the civilian propaganda outlet for the U.S. government, was designed to broadcast news and American music to the peoples of Europe, to prepare them for their coming liberation, and to the German troops and people, urging them to surrender. Singing stars Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore had already participated in the broadcasts, introducing their songs by reading phonetic German scripts, and on October 20th Miller and his orchestra reported to Abbey Road studios to produce a half-hour broadcast, the first of six they would eventually make. The band recorded their last program on November 27th, less than three weeks before Miller's plane disappeared over the English Channel.

The Lost Recordings is a two-disc collection of those ABSIE programs. The original metal recordings were lost during the 1980s, hence the title, and what is heard here is a taped copy of those recordings made in the 1970s. The sound quality is still good, but the limitations of the technology are evident in places. Still, it should by no means discourage you from enjoying the CD set. Some of the songs offered here are new to Miller's repertoire, and the more familiar tunes benefit from the enhancements of an all-star line-up and a classical string section.

Included on the CDs are some of the introductions to songs in which Miller speaks English to host Ilse Weinberger's German. Miller, on occasion, tries his hand at German, much to the amusement of his peers. At one point he eggs on Johnny Desmond to introduce his next number in German. ''It's easy to say,'' chirps Miller, who then proceeds to stumble through the title himself. Many of the vocals during these programs were in German also. Johnny Desmond doing a nice job of pronouncing the language. It's interesting to hear many standards of the day sung in Deutsche. Although the decision to sing ''Mary's a Grand Old Name'' in German strikes me as a bit unusual.

Dedicated Miller fans must have The Lost Recordings in their collection. Others might find it a great opportunity to hear Miller's tunes in a different light. Excellent liner notes make this a recommended selection.

For more information on Glenn Miller's military orchestra, see The Secret Broadcasts

Track Listing

• Disc One
• 1. In the Mood
• 2. Stardust
• 3. Song of the Volga Boatmen
• 4. Long Ago and Far Away (in German)
• 5. Is You or Is You Ain't My Baby?
• 6. Great Day
• 7. American Patrol
• 8. Summertime
• 9. Tuxedo Junction
• 10. Begin the Beguine
• 11. Anvil Chorus
• 12. Major Glenn Miller and Ilse Weinberger
• 13. Here We Go Again
• 14. Major Glenn Miller, Sgt. Johnny Desmond and Ilse Weinberger
• 15. My Heart Tells Me (in German)
• 16. A String of Pearls
• 17. Stormy Weather
• 18. Major Glenn Miller and Ilse Weinberger
• 19. Poinciana
• 20. All the Things You Are (in German)
• See Full Track Listing

Read other Glenn Miller reviews:

• Candlelight Miller
• The Carnegie Hall Concert
• Chattanooga Choo Choo -- The #1 Hits
• The Secret Broadcasts