50th Anniversary

Album 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 /TiVo