Guy Lombardo - Enjoy Yourself: The Hits of Guy Lombardo

I never knew I'd enjoy Big Band so much

I purchased this CD with the intent to play Auld Lang Syne on New Year's Eve, but I had recognized a few of the other numbers such as Bell-Bottom Trousers and And The Band Played On, plus the title song, Enjoy Yourself. I found myself enjoying it so much I played it over and over again, day after day. When I did decided to put a different CD on, it did not take long for me to switch back to Guy Lombardo. The mix of instrumentals and vocals I thought was very appealing as well as the mostly upbeat tempo of the selections. I liked Dearie as it reminded me of my younger days, Penny Serenade and Harbor Lights. It encouraged me to buy a CD of Glenn Miller and also The Only Big Band CD You'll Ever Need which has various Big Band artists. My favorite will remain Guy Lombardo's Enjoy Yourself and would definitely encourage others who want to listen to something new give it a try.
August 15, 2008

If you are a Glen Miller or Lester B. fan you will love this

The sound quality is pretty good. I have no complaints. I especially enjoyed listening to "Bell Bottom Trousers" and "Seems Like Old Times" these are definite repeaters. It's also handy to have around the holidays as you get the traditional verison of Auld Lang Syne. A definite must for all you Glen Miller fans. May 28, 2008

Some Called Him "The King Of Corn" - Others Just The King

This is a band leader who, prior to the emergence of the national Billboard Pop charts in 1940, registered well over 140 hit singles on what then passed for such listing (such as the Record Buyers Guide), no less than 21 of them # 1 hits. Then, from 1940 to 1954 he added another 73, including three more # 1s. It is estimated that, in singles alone [78/45rpm] he has sold over 100,000,000, easily making his the most commercially successful big band of all time.

Critics back then loved to pan his music, calling him "The King Of Corn" but as Joseph F. Laredo [my favourite liner note writer] says in his seven pages "For each critic of the Lombardo band's approach, there must have been at least a thousand admirers of every description imaginable. Jazz purists and all hipsters who decry the Lombardo sound as terminally square will be tormented until the end of their days knowing that Louis Armstrong was an ardent Lombardo booster." He then goes on to quote Louis, who said in writing, "Guy Lombardo and his band has always been my favorite band ... [and that brother Lebert] has always been in my mind as my first chair man in my dream band if he ever leaves the Guy."

Obviously, any attempt to completely cover his hits would require a 10-disc box set, but this one, with excellent sound reproduction, offers up original renditions of some of his best from 1934 to 1950 and, in the insert, shows you recording dates and label details. Not one of the selections offered from tracks 1 to 16 finished lower than # 10 [that was track 1]. Number one hits are represented at tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11 and 15, while # 2 hits are at tracks 8 to 10. The others were: track 5 [# 6], track 12 [# 7], track 13 [# 5], and track 14 [# 8].

The disc then finishes with a 1947 recording of his signature broadcast close-off tune, Auld Lang Syne, this one recorded in 1947 and which features a chorus, and at track 17 you get a 45 second clip of the same song with Guy wishing you a Happy New Year.

Just beautifully done from every angle and highly recommended for any fan of the "sweetest music this side of Heaven" - a description of their music derived from a review in 1928 by renowned critic Ashton Stevens. He called them "the softest and sweetest jazzmen on any stage this side of Heaven." All this is contained in Mr. Laredo's wonderful notes. August 10, 2007

Guy Lombardo Hits

I purchased this CD for my 90 year mother. She is very pleased with the CD and plays it everyday. Thank you for making the CD available.
Mary Polansky July 23, 2007

Enjoy Yourself: Listen

When I was little, I remember hearing about Guy Lombardo but like every kid I was half listening. Growing up, I still heard my parents talk about his hits and I remember family song fests where some of these songs were sung..although probably not well (smile). Now as I have developed an appreciation for the music from that era (because I was doing some research on the music of that time period); I discovered why the adults of the Lombardo decades were so enthusiastic about his sound. The lyrics are fun and the songs make you think that nobody on their death bed ever worries that they hadn't spent enough time at the office. Folks like ourselves who are working non-stop could take a page from the Lombardo book because it truly is later than we think. So enjoy yourself and give this album a listen. It will be like taking a walk down the memory lane of your parents or grandparents who enjoyed these songs so much.

Bentley/2007 June 22, 2007

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