Larry Clinton was a trumpeter, trombonist and clarinettist who, when in his twenties, became a successful arranger for Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Glen Gay’s Casa Loma Orchestra and Bunny Berigan during the mid-1930s before starting his own orchestra in 1937.

Playing a mixture of current pop in the “sweet” style, ambitious  jazz-styled instrumentals and swing arrangements of classical pieces, he had a string of nearly 40 hits through into the early '40s, and when he picked up the threads after service during WWII. Most of his hits featured the fine voice of his star vocalist Bea Wain, whose contributions were a key element of his success.

This 48-track set comprises all his 38 hits plus other selected releases on the Victor, Bluebird and Decca labels, many featuring Bea Wain. It features the No.1s Cry, Baby, Cry, Heart And Soul, My Reverie, and Deep Purple, along with 16other Top 10 hits, with many examples of the early commercial recordings of some of the landmark compositions of the Great American Songbook era. Along with Bea Wain, other featured vocalists are Dick Todd, Ford Leary, Mary Dugan, Helen Southern, Peggy Mann and Butch Stone.

The collection provides not only a thoroughly entertaining showcase for a top class orchestra about which not much is heard these days, as well as for the vocal talents of Bea Wain, but also an enlightening overview of some of the most popular music of those years.

REVIEWS

It's good to have this collection in the catalogue and as usual well presented with full discographical details. - Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 353)

The agile Acrobat has for some time been commendably bringing out the music of the so-called 'sweet' Swing bands from the classic period, now oftern overlooked especially by jazz fans. Guy Lombardo, Leo Reisman, Ray Noble, Horace Heidt, Eddie Duchin and several others were hugely popular in the late 1930s and ealry '40s and their work, long, unobtainable, is now happily available. No we come to Larry Clinton and most of the tracks are from the golden years when he racked up no fewer than 40 major Billboard hits... - Andrew Liddle (Just Jazz Issue 280)

Acrobat has become the home for second rank white American dance bands of the 1930s and 1940s. Now comes this double-CD of Larry Clinton, a former trumpeter, trombonist and clarinettist who became a skilled Dorsey, Casa Loma and Bunnt Berigan arranger before starting his own orchestra in 1937. His bands swing, the musicianship is excellent, and Paul Watt's lengthy booklet essay tells Clinton's story well. - Peter Vacher (Jazzwise Issue 266)

We are, indeed, indebted to Acrobat for their continued release of 'sweet' music od the swing period, now often neglected, especially by jazz fans. A splendid 2CD collection. - Andrew Liddle (Jazz Rag Issue 166)