This four disc set continues Acrobat Music’s series of America’s Greatest Hits, with this one covering one of the last eras before Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry brought the world Rock and Roll. The last vestiges of The Swing Era are palpable throughout the entire set, as vocalists such as Helen O’Connell (“Slow Poke”), Doris Day (“A Guy Is A Guy”), Kay Starr (“Wheel of Fortune”) and Jo Stafford (“Keep It A Secret”), all holdovers from the Big Band Era, continue to deliver pop hits. A whole slew of guys trying to sound like various versions of Frank Sinatra made the airwaves in the form of Johnnie Ray with “Please Mr. Sun,” Al Martino for “Here In My Heart,” Vic Damone on “Here In My Heart” and Perry Como &/or Eddie Fisher during “Maybe.” Other crooners included a pop oriented Nat “King” Cole on “Walkin’ My Baby Back Home” while big and bold voices such as Frankie Lane filled the airwaves with bel canto pieces such as “High Noon.”
There were still big bands and small bands delivering polished sounds of swing. Hungo Winterhalter’s Orchestra produced “ A Kiss to Build a Dream On” and “Vanessa,” Ray Anthony’s trumpet solo’d on “As Time Goes By” and Gorden Jenkins teamed up with The Weavers for “Wimoweh.” True jazz sounds by Les Paul and Mary Ford delivered spellbinding sounds on a brand new concept of multitracking on pieces such as “Lady of Spain” “Tiger Rag” and “Smoke Rings.”
Big name artists of the era included Patti Page, vocals groups such as The Mills Brothers and The Four Aces and the aforementioned Eddie Fisher, who seemed to have a big hit every month. Even Spike Jones hit the airwaves with the legendary “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” As Jimmy Durante would say, “Everyone wants to get into the act!” Some of this is pure nostalgia, but a good hunk is worthy of showing the strength of pop singers of the era, creating a strong American Songbook.