Benny Goodman "Sing Sing Sing (With A Swing)" at Carnegie Hall, Jan. 16, 1938*

It was live in 1938, and was not intended to be heard after that night. But Anita Ward's husband wanted a recording of the show as a gift for her, so through a convoluted primitive process 75% of the concert was recorded and then because of the recording contracts of the various guests in the band it could not be released commercially. Benny's copies sat in a closet for years.

For all of the superstar players Gene Krupa drives the tune like he's playing with sledgehammers, slamming the back beat and inspiring generations of drummers.

The late Cub Koda called it rock and roll because it swung and was LOUD. I cannot argue with the Cubster(RIP).

Check out the band:
The Benny Goodman Orchestra

• Benny Goodman, clarinet, vocal, and leader
• Chris Griffin, Ziggy Elman, Harry James, trumpets
• Red Ballard, Vernon Brown, trombones
• George Koenig, Art Rollini, Babe Russin, Hymie Schertzer, reed instruments
• Jess Stacy, piano
• Allan Reuss, guitar
• Harry Goodman, bass
• Gene Krupa, drums
• Martha Tilton, vocal

Additional personnel

• Buck Clayton, trumpet
• Bobby Hackett, cornet
• Cootie Williams, trumpet
• Harry Carney, baritone saxophone
• Johnny Hodges, soprano and alto saxophones
• Lester Young, tenor saxophone
• Count Basie, piano
• Freddie Green, guitar
• Walter Page, bass

for more on the recording of the concert
http://www.jitterbuzz.com/carcon.html

 

Great. Thanks for posting.

 

Also notable for the introspective piano solo, unusual for jazz at the time, from Jess Stacy near the end.

 

I LOVE LOVE this album.. The cornerstone of my musical foundation.

 

It's always been fun to play this one for my rocker friends who profess to hate jazz, just to watch their reactions.

 

On two different occasions I had this playing in my Office when younger co-workers came in and asked what it was. They also then used the App on their iPhones that identifies music by matching a sample. Both subsequently purchased a copy.

Great music, stays great!

 

Swing and jump blues begat the boogie woogie of rock and roll. The Stones' "Rip This Joint" and Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" chug along much like "Sing Sing Sing".

 

That was aaawwwesoooome!

 

Chips Ahoy!

 

I believe I have a '50s pressing of this. That "Sing Sing Sing" medley is hot hot HOT!

 

Funny thing is, this concert was recorded with the CBS mics, even though the concert wasn't broadcast! The mics were still in place from the Philharmonic broadcast that afternoon.

 

How did the "primitive recording process" get such great sound?? What did they record on? Disks? Wire? Film?

 

I love this stuff. Gene Kruppa was a powerhouse. Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller were the Beatles and Stones of the era.

 

I left them off because they were only on the trio and quartet numbers.

 

I have a special place in my heart for this music. About a year before he died, I was driving around with my dad when he popped this into the CD player and said "You love music. You need to hear this. It's one of the best recordings ever made." I sat with my jaw hanging listening to Krupa pound away, Goodman make his clarinet sing and then that astonishing Jess Stacy solo. I never shared a lot of music with my did -- he was big band and I was punk -- so to be turned on to something so wonderful by him is something I treasure. I think of him whenever I hear it.

 

Check the link at the bottom of the OP.

 

On my radio show, I play this about twice a year, as a special treat for my listeners. I know when it's time to play it because folks start calling in for it. And I know whose never heard it before based on how the phones light up when it's over. This is music that touches everyone who hears it.

 

One of my top five pieces of music in the world!

 

Such an amazing piece of music! Love this so much. I have a great copy of the studio version on a 12" Victor 78 which is a blast to play, but this live version is otherworldly.

Dan c

 

Gene Krupa had two sets of drums on the stage at Carnegie Hall that night?

 

Is there a consensus as to the best release of this show? I think at one point I had this version, but my recollection was that it was terribly processed (lots of noise reduction). Are there any improved versions to be had?