BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1938, Vol. 2 | The Classics Chronological Series – 961 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Benny Goodman was busy during the three-and-a-half-month period covered by this CD, cutting 22 selections for Victor including "Margie," "Bumble Bee Stomp," "My Honey's Loving Arms," and "Farewell Blues" with his big band and excellent quartet renditions of "Opus 1/2," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "'S Wonderful," and (as a trio) "I Must Have That Man." Artie Shaw may have been surpassing in the popularity polls by late 1938, but Goodman's band (with Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Martha Tilton, Jess Stacy, and Bud Freeman, not to mention Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson) was still a mighty swing machine. Scott Yanow
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BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1938-1939 | The Classics Chronological Series – 990 (1998) FLAC (tracks), lossless

To a certain extent, Benny Goodman & His Orchestra were treading water during this period. Harry James and Teddy Wilson both departed to lead their own bands in early 1939 and Goodman's renditions of Fletcher Henderson arrangements, although still swinging, became more predictable than earlier. His band's music was excellent, but no longer leading the way. However, this CD still has many musical high points, including "Bach Goes to Town," "Undecided," "Blue Lou," and a Ziggy Elman/Martha Tilton hit in "And the Angels Sing." A rare quintet set on December 29, 1938 (with bassist John Kirby joining Goodman, Hampton, Wilson, and drummer Buddy Schutz), resulted in the two-part "Pick-a-Rib" and a classic rendition of "I Cried for You," and lyricist Johnny Mercer helps out with a couple vocals with the big band. Scott Yanow
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