Solid Swing (Classic Recordings From The Big Band Era) - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra

Advantages: fantastically refreshing
Disadvantages: wrong track to end on

...AND HOLLYWOOD WILL LISTEN This is a nice start to the album, and it's a pleasant surprise to learn that Robbie co-wrote this with a guy called Guy Chambers. And it's about the plight of making it big and being famous. It's a really powerful piece, and was originally intended for one of Robbie's regular albums, but they definitely did a good move putting it in this album. It uses the London Session Orchestra, and they give a great feel so the song, adding a real sense of passion and personal feeling. A great start to this CD! MACK THE KNIFE Ahhhh what a classic! It's one of my favourite songs on this album, originally made famous by such greats such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. It's a really laid back piece, with lovely interjections from a rather stylish sounding swishy big band, adding a fantastic atmosphere and gives a new feel... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting, eclectic list of guests and collaborators
Disadvantages: A few so-so tracks

...Sting, George Harrison, Van Morrison, Paul Weller, Jamiroquai, David Gilmour, all on one record? What unites them? The common factor is that all have either appeared on ‘Later With Jools Holland’ on TV, or worked with the former Squeeze keyboard player turned bandleader on previous projects. Now he, his piano and 30ish-strong big band get to accompany a bunch of friends on songs old, new (seven co-written by the guest performer with JH himself), borrowed and blue(s) (and jazz). Sting’s ‘Seventh Son’, an old Willie Dixon standard which gave Georgie Fame (who was probably the Jools Holland of the 70s) a hit in 1969 gets things off to a full-blooded start. The ex-Policeman is too often a byword for dullness these days, but you’d hardly recognise him on this lively jazz workout. The same goes... Read review

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Advantages: It's a phenomenon, but which do you choose
Disadvantages: None

...cannot join in. “Tommy doesn’t know who Jesus was or what praying is”. It features the contrapuntal refrains “Tommy Can You Hear Me?” from the parents and the haunting “See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me” from Tommy. 8 Cousin Kevin Tommy suffers from the taunts and viciousness of his villainous cousin when he is left in Kevin’s charge. This song is from John Entwistle – composed in a menacing minor key and sung by the band together in harmony. 9 The Acid Queen The first of the attempts at finding cure, his mother takes Tommy to face the ministrations of a Gypsy. It is unclear whether the treatment involves sex or drugs or otherwise. Pete sings. 10 Underture A long (ten minutes) instrumental by any rock standard but remember this was 1969. The track develops slowly with repeated phrases (in classical terms compare... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful