Today is the birthday of a leap year baby; American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader, James Francis Dorsey, professionally known as Jimmy Dorsey and the older brother of Tommy Dorsey.
According to an article in 2004 by Christopher Popa (link below), Roc Hillman said Jimmy Dorsey had something which his brother Tommy didn't.
According to an article in 2004 by Christopher Popa (link below), Roc Hillman said Jimmy Dorsey had something which his brother Tommy didn't.
"I think it would be his tolerance and understanding of his musicians,"
photo by Styrous®
I remember when I first heard the title song from the album. I had been years into the big band sound of the forties and early fifties and thought to myself that sound had been updated and was blown away by it.
So Rare became a late-career hit in 1957 for Jimmy Dorsey, reaching #2 on Billboard magazine's pop charts, and #4 on the R&B singles chart. Recorded on 11 November 1956 and released on the Cincinnati label Fraternity, Jimmy Dorsey's version, which had a decidedly rhythm and blues feel unlike the earlier versions, became the highest charting song by a big band during the first decade of the rock and roll era. Credited on the label to "Jimmy Dorsey with Orchestra and Chorus", the vocals are by the Artie Malvin Singers. Billboard ranked this version as the No. 5 song for 1957.
detail photo by Styrous®
A couple of other great songs on this album are June Night and Jay-Dee's Boogie Woogie! Both are bouncy songs with Boogie Woogie being fast and furious.
There is a mind-blowing video of Dorsey just wailing away on his sax in the forties on YouTube (link below); it's truly amazing! In addition there is a film of his version of the song Tangerine which i have always loved; the vocal is by Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell.
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Following his brother Tommy’s death in November 1956, an ailing Jimmy Dorsey led their orchestra himself, struggling through a final tour of one-nighters and scoring the biggest hit of his career with “So Rare,” before succumbing to cancer in June 1957
detail photo by Styrous®
detail photo by Styrous®
Side 1:
A1 - Contrasts - 1:54
A2 - Jay-Dee's Boogie Woogie - 2:33
A3 - Mambo En Sax - 2:39
A4 - Maria Elena - 2:59
A5 - Speak Low - 4:19
A6 - It's The Dreamer In Me - 2:33
Side 2:
B1 - June Night - 1:59
B2 - Amapola - 3:20
B3 - Just Swingin' - 2:51
B4 - Sophisticated Swing - 2:37
B5 - No One Ever Lost More - 2:11
B6 - So Rare - 2:31
B7 - Contrasts - 1:01
Credits:
Bass – Bill Cronk
Drums – Tommy Widdicombe
Guitar – Steve Jordan (3)
Liner Notes – Earl Wilson
Piano – Joe Massamino
Saxophone – Danny Trimboli*, Skippy Galluccio
Saxophone [Alto] – Buzz Brauner*
Saxophone [Baritone] – George Perry (2)
Saxophone [Tenor] – Frank Maynes
Trombone – Earl Swope, Jack Rains*, Vinnie Forest, Will Bradley
Trumpet – Art Tancredi, Bill Spano, John Frosk, Lee Castle
Notes:
Shares catalog number with Jimmy Dorsey - So Rare but has different cover, similar to the stereo version Jimmy Dorsey - So Rare.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): M_55767_1 I ⋀1
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): M 55768-2 (2 stamped over crossed out 1) I ⋀1
Matrix / Runout (Side A label): M 55,767
Matrix / Runout (Side B label): M 55,768
Jimmy Dorsey – So Rare
Label: Dot Records – DLP 3437
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released:
Genre: Jazz, Pop
Style: Big Band
Viewfinder link:
Jimmy Dorsey
Net links:
Big Band Library ~ Roc Hillman on Jimmy Dorsey
biography.yourdictionary.com ~ Jimmy Dorsey Facts
Chicago Tribune ~ Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra works to sustain big band sound
Jimmy Dorsey website
Library of Congress ~ The Last Days of Jimmy Dorsey
YouTube links:
Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra 1940
Jimmy Dorsey ~
Amapola
Jay-Dee's Boogie Woogie
June Night
So Rare
Tangerine
Styrous® ~ Saturday, February 29, 2020
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