Bands Music

Between the two of them, Circle and Hindsight have three CDs out on Harry "Tiny" Hill with a total of 66 selections - and not one of them contains any of the eleven hit singles he registered between 1939 and 1952 for Vocalion, Okeh, Decca and Mercury. Well, technically, there is one, but on that volume it's culled from a radio broadcast and so is not the original.

Ordinarily, for that I would dock each at least one star, maybe two, but since none of them lay claim to presenting his greatest hits I can't. Still, you have to wonder why they would go to all the trouble of putting together three CDs covering a relatively obscure "cornball" band and not include the selections that at least brought him some measure of fame.

This one, from the viewpoint of sound quality and information, is the best of the three so far, with a number of old standards performed in the unique comical style of this bandleader/vocalist, born in Illinois on July 19, 1906.

His earliest aggregation was a trio way back in 1931, followed by a group called The Five Jacks, and in 1933 he formed his first big band, before joining Byron Dunbar's orchestra as a drummer in about 1935. In the late 1930's he formed another band, got a Vocalion recording contract, and in September 1939 had a # 14 hit with the novelty tune Doodle Doo Doo. A month later, Angry went to # 13, and in June 1940 I Get A Kick Out Of Corn topped out at # 28.

Later that summer, after switching to Columbia's Okeh subsidiary, his version of Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue reached # 25, and in February 1941, The Guy At The End Of The Bar peaked at # 25. Three years later, in November 1944, How Many Hearts Have You Broken [With Those Great Big Beautiful Eyes?] reached # 14 on the Decca label.

By 1946 he had relocated to Mercury and in February had one of three hit versions of Sioux City Sue which, b/w I'll Keep On Loving You, reached # 3 on the Most Played Juke Box Folk Records [MPJBFR], a forerunner of the Country charts, placing just back of those by Zeke Manners and The Hoosier Hot Shots with Two-Ton Baker [both # 2]. Pop hits of the song were by Bing Crosby & The Jesters [# 3], Tony Pastor [# 10], and Kate Smith [# 14], and ALL were covers of the late 1945 smash version by Dick Thomas whose National recording reached # 1 Country/# 16 Pop.

Hill's next hit didn't come until almost exactly two years later when, billed as Tiny Hill And The Cactus Cutups, they had a # 5 Country with Never Trust A Woman b/w Behind The Eight Ball. Following that it would be three full years before his original version of Hot Rod Race, b/w Lovebug Itch, made it to # 7 Country in February 1951, as well as # 29 Pop. Covers by Arkie Shibley [# 5], Ramblin' Jimmy Dolan [# 7], and Red Foley [# 7] competed for air time and sales.

In March his own cover of the 1950 Moon Mullican hit I'll Sail My Ship Alone peaked at # 10 Country b/w the old pop standard Back In Your Own Backyard, and in January 1952 he closed out his chart career when his rendition of Slow Poke [there were seven charted versions that year] topped out at # 28 Pop.

More often than not, when someone is nicknamed Tiny it's because they are anything but, and that applies here in spades. He tipped the scales at 350 lbs, and that likely contributed to his death in 1972 at the relatively young age of 66.

A collection of his hit singles and their B-sides would be a nice welcome to the field, but until then this volume will give you a good sampling of the happy, fun-filled music of one of that era's unsung Country bands.

One has to wonder why America did not like Roy's band of this era. He has perhaps some of the best jazz put down on vinyl. Some of my personal favorites are the cuts that include Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, and others jamming on a world war two V-DISC. This is one of the "must have in your pick up" rating ten stars**********

Sonny Dunham sort of slips through the mainstream of big band swing music although he was a highly talented trumpeter/trombonist with a terrific range. I came across an LP of his some years ago in a London jazz record store and was amazed by the precision and power of what to me (then) an unknown band. Thi stunning CD confirms what great band this was - precision section work, some terrific Dunham solos, and nice arrangements of standard swing fair of the period. Little is written about the bands' history other than Dunham was an ex-Casa Loma featured player, and it flourished when the Petrillo recording ban was in place so commercial recordings are rare. The track "Little Did I Know" gives a taste of the overall sound of the band with a half-respectable vocal in addition to Dunham'd scorching trumpet introduction.

excellent recording of this not too well known big band musician. I wish that there were more available from this great band of the war years.

I guarantee, if your feeling down and you play Tiny Hill's music
you'll feel happy listening to him and his band. He's my favorite
of all the big bands.

The sound quality may not be perfect (it was recorded from radio) but this CD will be a nostalgic treat for those (like my mother) who remember when Tiny Hill played the big dance halls of the Midwest during World War II.

This 1943/44 Ina Ray Hutton outfit is a far cry from the earlier Melodears all-female outfit. By now, it was a regular swing band - still fronted by Ina Ray - but playing all out swing tunes and up to date arrangements. On first hearing, the sheer enthusiasm and musicianship hits you...the arrangements are pretty standard, but the section work is amazing and the drive and pace quite astonishing from what(even then) was not perhaps such a well-known outfit then as(say) the Dorseys or Harry James. If you want to show someone what swing music and audience response is all about, play this CD!

With "live remotes" from 5 army camps this CD will knock your socks off! This time around Ina has an all male band that swings like crazy! The trumpet of little known Roger Elich is reason enough to want to own this CD! Highlight..which are many include "Angry", "King Porter Stomp" and of course "Ring 'Dem Bells"!! Ina was known more for her good looks and her sultry baton waving really has reason to be proud with these group of boys. Also nice vocals by Ina and Stuart Foster (who later sang with Tommy Dorsey) and those everlovin' Kim Loo Sisters. All around good time and great music a real musical find.