The so-called Great Swing Band Era is generally considered to have started in 1935 when Benny Goodman, playing at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles on August 21 and tiring of what he described as 'mundane' dance music, moved his band into high gear and gave out with some Fletcher Henderson arrangements. Quoting saxophonist Hymie Schertzer, "The place exploded." and Goodman was proclaimed 'King of Swing'. But back in the Twenties there were great bands that played good swingy numbers, bands like those of Whiteman, Goldkette, Waring, Weems, Olsen and Lopez (to name but a few), although the 'swing' wasn't quite the same. The rhythm could often seem a little jerky and sometimes rather on the frantic side. Repertoires were laced with novelty tunes which were much in demand. But who cared? It was the 'Jazz Age', the 'Flapper Era' (take your pick) and everyone was hell-bent on having a good time, making whoopee.

Produced by Geoff Milne

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Disc One: 1929-1933
1. Let's Dance At The Make-Believe Ballroom - Charlie Barnet
2. Happy Days Are Here Again - Ben Selvin
3. Puttin' On The Ritz - Leo Reisman
4. Bye Bye Blues - Bert Lown
5. Lonesome Lover - Isham Jones
6. All I Want Is Just One Girl - Gus Arnheim
7. Little White Lies - Fred Waring
8. Aristocratic Stomp - Paul Tremaine
9. June Kisses - Henry Thies
10. What Is This Thing Called Love? - Leo Reisman
11. You're My Everything - Anson Weeks
12. Heartaches - Bert Lown
13. Ho Hum! - Gus Arnheim
14. I Keep Remembering - Isham Jones
15. My Love - Dick Himber
16. Happy-Go-Lucky You - Buddy Rogers
17. Yours - Xavier Cugat
18. Say It Isn't So - Anson Weeks
19. Honeymoon Hotel - Rudy Vallee
20. Black-Eyed Susan Brown - Phil Harris
21. Beautiful Girl - Freddie Martin
22. Sittin' On A Backyard Fence - Leon Belasco
23. The Gold Diggers' Song - Leo Reisman
24. My Dancing Lady - Rudy Vallee
25. Keep Young And Beautiful - Abe Lyman

Disc Two: 1933-1935
1. Young And Healthy - Fred Waring
2. You've Got Me Crying Again - Isham Jones
3. It Isn't Fair - Dick Himber
4. Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Love - Anson Weeks
5. Easter Parade - Leo Reisman
6. I Saw Stars - Joe Reichman
7. Fair And Warmer - Ted Fio Rito
8. You Oughta Be In Pictures - Rudy Vallee
9. Cocktails For Two - Nye Mayhew
10. Easy Come, Easy Go - Johnny Green
11. Let's Fall In Love - Gus Arnheim
12. The Object Of My Affection - Jimmie Grier
13. For All We Know - Isham Jones
14. I'll String Along With You - Ted Fio Rito
15. Stars Fell On Alabama - Freddie Martin
16. Blue Moon - Casa Loma Orchestra
17. You And The Night And The Music - Enric Madriguera
18. Did You Ever See A Dream Walking? - Gene Kardos
19. On The Good Ship Lollipop - Rudy Vallee
20. I Won't Dance - Eddy Duchin
21. I Wish I Were Aladdin - Will Osborne
22. Isn't This A Lovely Day? - Archie Bleyer
23. In The Dark - Freddie Martin
24. Top Hat, White Tie And Tails - Ray Noble
25. You Are My Lucky Star - Eddy Duchin

Disc Three: 1935-1937
1. Just One Of Those Things - Richard Himber
2. I'd Rather Listen To Your Eyes - Phil Harris
3. Lullaby Of Broadway - Little Jack Little
4. Now You've Got Me Doing It - Freddie Martin
5. I've Got A Feelin' You're Foolin' - Eddy Duchin
6. Take My Heart - Nat Brandwynne
7. The Glory Of Love - Rudy Vallee
8. Me And The Moon - Joe Reichman
9. When Did You Leave Heaven? - Charlie Barnet
10. I'll Sing You A Thousand Love Songs - Russ Morgan
11. In The Chapel In The Moonlight - Richard Himber
12. Us On A Bus - Shep Fields
13. Rainbow On The River - Ted Weems
14. I've Got My Fingers Crossed - Lud Gluskin
15. Bye Bye, Baby - Nat Brandwynne
16. You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming - Guy Lombardo
17. The Folks Who Live On The Hill - Ozzie Nelson
18. Wake Up And Live - Leon Belasco
19. You're A Sweetheart - Dolly Dawn
20. This Year's Kisses - Hal Kemp
21. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - Eddy Duchin
22. Little Old Lady - Glen Gray
23. True Confession - Larry Clinton
24. To You, Sweetheart, Aloha - Guy Lombardo
25. Toodle-Oo - Russ Morgan

Disc Four: 1937-1940
1. Rosalie - Leo Reisman
2. Head Over Heels - Lud Gluskin
3. Slumming On Park Avenue - Ray Noble
4. Boo-Hoo - Guy Lombardo
5. On A Little Dream Ranch - Russ Morgan
6. Change Partners - Larry Clinton
7. Don't Let That Moon Get Away - Dick Jurgens
8. I've Got A Pocketful Of Dreams - Hal Kemp
9. I'll Be Seeing You - Mitchell Ayres
10. Music, Maestro, Please - Kay Kyser
11. My Heart Is Taking Lessons - Dick Stabile
12. Says My Heart - Ozzie Nelson
13. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby - Russ Morgan
14. Love Is Here To Stay - Larry Clinton
15. This Can't Be Love - Horace Heidt
16. The Umbrella Man - Sammy Kaye
17. Goodnight, Angel - Hal Kemp
18. Jeepers Creepers - Larry Clinton
19. Here Comes The Night - Ray Herbeck
20. Scatterbrain - Frankie Masters
21. Sunrise Serenade - Glen Gray
22. Wishing (Will Make It So) - Orrin Tucker
23. We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me) - Bob Chester
24. Taking A Chance On Love - Sammy Kaye
25. You Say The Sweetest Things, Baby - Dick Jurgens
26. Au Revoir, Pleasant Dreams - Ben Bernie