Glenn Miller:

The Original Recordings Bye Glenn Miller and His Orchestra:(1964)

Glenn Miller was a master. And he was popular music. I don't clean this record. Somehow it feels like the pops and clicks are supposed to be there. They have attached themselves to the molecules of the music, and sing in harmony, as though they were born for the part. It thickens the atmosphere. Perhaps each one is a musician's ghost come back to continually sit on his recorded human shoulder... In any case, it was a pleasure to wake up, and spin this record.

Spike Jones:

Dinner Music (for People Who Aren't Very Hungry): (1957)

Best of: (1975)

The first time I recall hearing Spike Jones' name as in the song, Up On Cripple Creek by the Band... "now me and my mate was back at the shack, we had Spike Jones on the box. She said, I can't take the way he sings, but I love to hear him talk." I truly can't think of anyone like Spike Jones, ok, maybe Weird Al comes close, but they're also miles apart. It's mind blowing to think that all of Jones musicians are having to come up with all these complex sound effects live in the moment, making his one of the tightest bands ever. And, come on, anybody that conducts their band with a starter pistol has to be cool.

Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra:

Cha Cha Cha:(1955)

Viva Cugat!:(1961)

As I've mentioned before, thrift store, junk store, garage sale shopping for records is what I love most. Diggin' in dusty moldy piles of old vinyl, not knowing what I'll find. Sometimes, I don't find anything I'm interested in, sometimes I find things I've been wanting, and other times I find things I never knew I wanted. And I'll take a chance on something I don't know about because its price is nominal. So was the case when I found my first Xavier Cugat record, Viva Cugat! This is some killer big band Latin Jazz.