The Jan Garber Orchestra – Melody From The Sky – Hits & Memories 1923-51 – 3CD

Jan Garber was a violinist and bandleader with his musical roots in the hot jazz-based dance band music of the 1920s. His orchestra evolved to become one of the many highly successful bands playing “sweet” music on radio and record during the 1930s and into post-war years.
Born in Indiana in 1894, he studied violin at Combs Conservatory in Philadelphia and formed his own band, The Garber-Davis Orchestra,  by the time he was 21. So popular was his jazz, played in the vein of contemporaries such as Guy Lombardo, he was known as “The Idol Of The Air Lanes”, a phrase which appeared for years on his record labels. His records were also consistently successful, to the extent that he had nearly 60 hits during his career.
This 73-track, 3-CD, set includes selected A- and B-sides from this era on the Victor, Columbia, Brunswick, Vocalion, Okeh, Hit, Black & White and Capitol labels. All but a couple of his 59 career hits appear, including the No.1s All I Do Is Dream Of You, A Beautiful Lady In Blue and A Melody From The Sky. As with many of the orchestras of this time, the titles featured here include the original commercial recordings of future Great American Songbook classics from Broadway, Hollywood or Tin Pan Alley, with his featured vocalists including Webb Hahne, Fritz Heilbron, Lee Bennett, Russell Brown, Liz Tilton, Bob Davis, Tommy Traynor and Tim Reardon.
He retired from performing in his seventies, continuing to lead ensembles until 1971, and passed away in 1977.
The collection provides a substantial insight into the most popular recordings among his prolific output and the progression of his music across the years, spanning four decades, and an evocative window onto the musical zeitgeist of the era.

Track Listing:

CD1:
1. Oh Gee, Oh Gosh, Oh Golly! I'm In Love -   2. You're In Kentucky Sure As You're Born -   3. I Want To Be Happy -   4. Don't Bring Lulu -   5. Mamie -   6. Baby Face -   7. Take In The Sun, Hang Out The Moon -   8. You Don't Like It - Not Much -   9. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate -   10. Was It A Dream? -   11. Sonny Boy -   12. Puttin' On The Ritz -   13. I'll Be Faithful -   14. You're Gonna Lose Your Gal -   15. You've Got Everything -   16. The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams -   17. On The Wrong Side Of The Fence -   18. All I Do Is Dream Of You -   19. Why Don't You Practise What You Preach -   20. My Dear I Love You Truly -   21. I'm Lonesome For You, Caroline -   22. Isn't It A Shame -   23. Blue In Love -   24. Rain -

CD2:
1. Blue Sky Avenue -   2. The Object Of My Affection -   3. Blame It On My Youth -   4. Love And A Dime -   5. In A Little Gypsy Tea Room -   6. I Feel Like A Feather In The Breeze -   7. I'm Shooting High -   8. A Beautiful Lady In Blue -   9. Moon Over Miami -   10. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket -   11. Misty Islands Of The Highlands -   12. Will I Ever Know -   13. If You Love Me -   14. Lost -   15. Melody From The Sky -   16. Small Town Girl -   17. Summer Holiday -   18. I'm Grateful To You -   19. A Rendezvous With A Dream -   20. Until The Real Thing Comes Along -   21. Shine On, Harvest Moon -   22. The Night Is Young And You're So Beautiful -   23. Serenade In The Night -   24. My Wild Irish Rose -

CD3:
1. That Old Feeling -   2. I've Hitched My Wagon To A Star -   3. Outside Of Paradise -   4. Love Walked In -   5. Ten Pretty Girls -   6. In A Little Dutch Kindergarten -   7. Bambina -   8. All Ashore -   9. It's Never Too Late -   10. Concert In The Park -   11. I Wonder What's Become Of Sally -   12. Bedelia -   13. Shoo - Shoo Baby -   14. My Heart Tells Me -   15. No Love, No Nothin' -   16. The Gypsy -   17. Bella, Bella Marie -   18. I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Any More -   19. You're Breaking My Heart -   20. Jealous Heart -   21. Old Piano Roll Blues -   22. I Love You Because -   23. If -   24. Morningside Of The Mountain -   25. The Song Is Ended -