Tony Pastor was a jazz and big band saxophonist, singer and bandleader who was with Artie Shaw’s orchestra during the 1930s before launching his own band.

He subsequently enjoyed a highly successful chart career through the 1940s with a distinctive style of upbeat and entertaining middle-of-the-road music.

In the later years of the decade, he provided an early career opportunity for Rosemary Clooney and her sister Betty, who recorded with Pastor through 1948-49, and who are featured on a dozen or more titles here.

This 72-track 3CD compilation includes all his 15 US chart entries, including the Top 10 hits Maria Elena, Dance With A Dolly, Bell Bottom Trousers, Sioux City Sue, Red Silk Stockings And Green Perfume and The Lady From Twenty-Nine Palms.

Along with Tony Pastor himself and The Clooney Sisters, featured vocalists include Johnny McAfee, Eugenie Baird, Dorsey Anderson, Kay Little, Elisse Cooper, Kay Foster, Rita McCullough and Virginia Maxey.

It’s a substantial showcase for the music of an artist who is not much talked about these days but who made a significant contribution to the popular music of this primary decade and more of his career.

REVIEWS

This is a three CD set with 72 tracks which offers a good selection of the output of one of those bands of the 40s that is sadly in danger of being all but forgotten. Issues like this are invaluable as a reminder of what a wealth of talent there was in that period in the world of big bands, their leaders, musicians and vocalists. - Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 351)

This three CD collection, from the ever-reliable Acrobat, includes 72 excellent tracks… Pastor may not be among the very biggest names of Swing band leaders, but he certainly put on a great show and, unlike the mercurial Artie Shaw, he knew a good billet when he'd found it. Wonderful stuff! - Andrew Liddle (Just Jazz Issue 279)