50th Anniversary

• Artist: Paul Whiteman
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1956
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Although Paul Whiteman's first permanent band was organized in 1918, he had had his first musical job back in 1906, and he used the excuse to celebrate his 50th anniversary in 1956. Never mind that Whiteman had been living off his past successes since the early 1940s; the double LP (which contains an excellent booklet) came off quite well. A large orchestra (with only a few surviving Whiteman alumni like trumpeter Charlie Margulis) performs one of the livelier versions of "Rhapsody In Blue," featuring pianist Buddy Weed, plus four shorter numbers, including "When Day Is Done" and "Limehouse Blues," but surprisingly none of the famous Bill Challis charts. There are individual features for former Whiteman stars Joe Venuti, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey (his last recording), Hoagy Carmichael ("Washboard Blues") and a few for Jack Teagarden and Johnny Mercer. The very intriguing (if hard-to-find) twofer concludes with a radio broadcast saved by Whiteman from 1943 that features a reunion by the Rhythm Boys (Bing Crosby, Harry Barris and Al Rinker) during which they sing "Mississippi Mud" with plenty of spirit and humor. Other than a 1960 television show celebrating his 70th birthday (its soundtrack was released by the Sounds Great label), this twofer is Paul Whiteman's swan song, and an excellent way to go out. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
My Romance	Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart	Paul Whiteman
The Night Is Young and You're So Beautiful	Billy Rose, Dana Suesse, Irving Kahal	Paul Whiteman
You're So Beautiful		Paul Whiteman
It's the Dreamer in Me	James Van Heusen, Jimmy Dorsey	Paul Whiteman
Basin Street Blues	Spencer Williams	Paul Whiteman
Lover	Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers	Paul Whiteman
Lazy River	Hoagy Carmichael, Sidney Arodin	Paul Whiteman
Jeepers Creepers	Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer	Paul Whiteman
Christmas Night in Harlem		Paul Whiteman
How High the Moon	Nancy Hamilton, Morgan Lewis	Paul Whiteman
Autumn Leaves	Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert	Paul Whiteman
Washboard Blues	Irving Mills, Fred B. Callahan, Hoagy Carmichael	Paul Whiteman
Mississippi Mud	James Cavanaugh, Harry Barris	Paul Whiteman
Rhapsody in Blue	George Gershwin	Paul Whiteman
When Day Is Done		Paul Whiteman
Limehouse Blues	Douglas Furber, Philip Braham	Paul Whiteman
Ramona	L. Wolfe Gilbert, Mabel Wayne	Paul Whiteman
It Happened in Monterey	Billy Rose, Mabel Wayne	Paul Whiteman

Credits

Paul Whiteman (Conductor), Paul Whiteman (Violin), Enoch Light (Producer), Paul Whiteman (Bandleader)

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