This is the first album
Don Neely's San Francisco-based
Royal Society Jazz Orchestra (founded in November 1975) cut for the Circle label. The play list is filled with gems that were heard during the halcyon days when radio was the major family entertainment. Part of that entertainment was the broadcast of the kinds of music heard on this album, either remotes from hotel ballrooms and restaurants or through regularly sponsored broadcasts. Using arrangements that are the same or similar to those used by the bands of the '20s, '30s, and '40s,
Neely's band has an air of authenticity about it that is unsurpassed by others playing nostalgia music. This album recreates the music of such popular figures of the times as
Fletcher Henderson ("Radio Rhythm"),
Benny Goodman and
Helen Ward ("Throwin' Stones at the Sun"), and
Libby Holman ("Moanin' Low"). To his credit,
Neely has avoided the temptation to stick with those tunes that have survived and become entries in the Great American Songbook. There are novelty tunes here that have not seen the light of day for quite a while. Listen to
Carla Normand do "Swing, Mister Charlie" (made popular by
Judy Garland with Bob Crosby & His Orchestra). The band is well-versed in the syncopated rhythms that were popular during those days.
Carla Normand does the bulk of the vocalizing with poise and assurance. Leader
Neely, in addition to playing all the reeds, chips in with 1930s-style warbling on tunes like "Honolulu Baby." This album is a lot of fun and is recommended.