May I Borrow a Tune? 37

April 28, 2020 #1967


These days they're called cover recordings, when one performer introduces his or her version of a tune made famous by another. Back in the big band era there were four competing record companies in the US. There was RCA, which sold Victor and Bluebird records; Columbia, which also sold records under the Okeh label; Decca; and an upstart company which marketed under the Capitol label. When, say, a Glenn Miller recording on the Bluebird label sold well, Columbia might try to persuade Benny Goodman to release a new version to compete with the RCA one.


Playlist

Flying home
Lionel Hampton/Will Bradley
Frenesi
Artie Shaw/Benny Goodman
Green eyes
Jimmy Dorsey/Gene Krupa
I can’t get started
Bunny Berigan/Charlie Barnet
I’ve got a gal in Kalamazoo
Glenn Miller/Benny Goodman
In the mood
Glenn Miller/Al Donahue
Indian summer
Glenn Miller/Jan Savitt
Jersey bounce
Benny Goodman/Red Norvo
Let me off uptown
Gene Krupa/Larry Clinton
Loch Lomond
Benny Goodman/Woody Herman
Maria Elena
Jimmy Dorsey/Gene Krupa
Martha
Larry Clinton/Bob Crosby