In The Mood - Francis Bay

 

In The Mood

In The Mood

Memories of the Glenn Miller era

Francis Bay and His Orchestra

All Francis Bay Orchestra Recordings are produced for Omega Records by Peter Blum and David Hubert

Cover Design: Mike Johnson

Cover Photo: George Jerman / Photography 2

Omega Records OSL-18

From the back cover: FRANCIS BAY has been quietly perfecting his orchestra for more than five years, They play every week on programs of the Brussels Radio and during the past year they have burst forth throughout Europe as THE most talked about orchestra. Any jukebox in Belgium, France, or England is likely to include two or three records by the Bay Orchestra. His recording of "Eso Es El Amor" is the biggest hit of many latin-styled best sellers during the past few years. The Bay Orchestra recently won the highly coveted"Golden Gondol" trophy in a battle of the bands from all over the world held in Venice. The precision section work and fluid jazz improvisation of the soloists are a product of years of rehearsal and development shared by the same group of musicians with very few replacements in the ranks of the musicians. The result is an orchestra in which the musical rapport between musicians is amazing. All of the members of the Bay Orchestra have invested the greatest care in making a danceable, jazz-flavored, fresh group of recordings, but the driving force that makes the Bay Orchestra function as a musical unit is Francis Bay himself. He already has a large following of fans in Europe who know him affectionately as "Francis." Recently his fame has spread to Japan, Mexico, and Canada as well as the United States. People everywhere who have come to appreciate good music are enthusiastic in their praise of Francis Bay because of his most distinctive contribution to popular music... perfection.

Also from the back cover: Remember that day just before Christmas in 1944, when a small Army Air Force plane disappeared over the English Channel? That plane carried in addition to a pilot, a colonel and a major. Most people have forgotten the name of the colonel, but no one who has ever listened or danced to American music will ever forget the name of the major. With the death of Glenn Miller there came more than a sad feeling of loss. It marked the presumable end of one of the truly great eras of American dance band music.

But Glenn Miller has left us a legacy. It is the memory of a musical style that is as alive today as it was in the late Thirties and early Forties. What's more, the remarkable thing about that memory is the relatively short life of the Miller band. Glenn Miller was a civilian band leader for only five years, and the fabulously successful Miller band that we remember best was only in existence for three. But during that short space of time the Miller style and the legion of Miller-made hits caused such an important impression that it will be remembered as the most popular dance band ever put on wax.

There isn't anyone who has ever heard the Miller style who cannot recognize its familiar trademarks... the famous clarinet lead in the reed section, the crisp, controlled brass sound ... and most of all, the characteristic sweet swing.

There is a story of how the Miller style was discovered. It was almost by accident. Early in his career, when Miller was arranging for the Ray Noble band, he decided to experiment by voicing a high lead trumpet with four reeds. Years later, after Miller had failed as a leader twice and had disbanded two early bands, he suddenly hit upon the idea of building  success of Miller's music was never rivalled during his lifetime, since his death his influence has been felt strongly enough to create countless imitators. Many latter day popular bands have built enviable reputations by picking up the most recognizable hallmarks of the Miller sound and adding individual interpretations.

Today, when the countries of the world have gathered in one place to exhibit at the Brussels World's Fair, one of the most notable wares of each nation is its music. It was fitting that, as part of a salute to American dance bands, the Bay Big Band pay tribute to one of the most distinguished styles in "dancebandom" by playing Miller's music in its pure form.

Some of Miller's all-time smash hits were recorded at the Fair by the Bay Big Band with the same precision and vitality you heard in the originals.

Today, in realistic stereo, they'll take you back to an unforgettable night at the Glen Island Casino or the Meadowbrook in New Jersey, or perhaps to a memorable afternoon in a Hollywood radio station when you sat through an interminable film on the growing of tobacco just to hear fifteen minutes of the Miller sound as it was being broadcast coast to coast on radio.

With this salute to the Miller big band, Omega is proud to bring you once again some of the most listenable and danceable music ever written. – CY SCHNEIDER

Saint Louis Blues (March)

At Last

Sleepy Town Train

In The Mood

Yesterday's Gardenias

American Patrol

I Know Why

Tuxedo-Junction

Rhapsody In Blue

Adios