On this album four of the top jazz big bands of 1940 are heard in radio airchecks.
Count Basie gets six songs (with solos from
Lester Young,
Harry "Sweets" Edison and
Vic Dickenson among others), the underrated
Louis Armstrong Orchestra has three (fellow trumpeter
Henry "Red" Allen gets a rare spot on "Keep the Rhythm Going"),
Andy Kirk's band is quite heated during their three numbers (with spots for pianist
Mary Lou Williams, Dick Wilson's tenor and trumpeter
Shorty Baker) and
Jimmy Lunceford wraps up the LP with two songs that feature his usual stars. All of the music was previously unissued before Everybodys came out with this record in 1985; the recording quality is quite good. It's highly recommended for swing fans and is well deserving of being reissued on CD. ~ Scott Yanow