When it comes to Woody Herman we’ve covered the full blooming of the First Herd (on Columbia), the Second Herd (on Columbia and Capitol) and the Third Herd also on Capitol. His magnificent Herd of the mid-1960s was the subject of a Mosaic Select. We continue the bands legacy this coming Spring with The Complete Woody Herman Decca, Mars and MGM Sessions (1943-1954) where we’ll explore the very beginnings of the First Herd and much of the Third.
Delving into the Decca vaults we’ve been able to uncover some previously unissued gems on Decca lacquers and some rarities that only were released for radio station play only on 16″ transcription discs – the well-known World Program Service recordings. Getting these 16 inchers in mint shape has had us pitch a far and wide net in the sea of collectors worldwide and I’m very happy with the results. In addition, there has been much in the way of correcting dates and personnel for these 1943-1944 sessions and with the assistance of those at the Library Of Congress (where the Decca masters are held) we are just about ready to transfer these sessions.
The famous 1946 Carnegie Hall concert has been re-issued many times but thanks to a tip from broadcaster and collector Patrick Goodhope, we may have a nugget in a set of Armed Forces Radio Service discs that may have superior sound from this concert. If this doesn’t prove fruitful, we are prepared to make the ’46 better sounding than ever.
With the very start of the 1951 New Year, Woody went to MGM records with his Third Herd and set out, as many bands did during the earliest 1950s, to bring back dancing to big bands. But this wasn’t only a watered down dance band playing standards. Much maligned through the years, the Third Herd (and later the New Third Herd) continued with some fine Ralph Burns arrangements peppered with those by Shorty Rogers, Gene Roland, Nat Pierce and others.
Thanks to the Universal Music archivists we have uncovered a number of tape sources including some session reels which might give us more unissued material. It’s a long, tedious process to get these reels, arrange for studio time and begin auditioning for the best sound. Thankfully many of these MGM sides and ones made for Woody’s label, Mars, have been issued on vinyl promotional copies and the sound is spectacular.
All of this material has been carefully researched and lovingly told by composer, arranger, author, historian Jeff Sultanof who has recently sent me a first draft of the notes. They do not disappoint and Jeff’s uncovering of who the arrangers are and of dissecting these arrangements are done with great detail. I am also finding some glorious images for the booklet from various collections including the Ray Avery archives. A handful of images come from the exact sessions as well.
They’ll be more to report after the holiday season but so far it looks like another “must have”.