Tommy
Dorsey – Yes, Indeed!
1990 BMG Music (Originally released on Bluebird)
SQ Issue: Summer 2005, Volume 15, Issue 3
The Band:
Trumpets: Yank Lawson, Pee Wee Irwin, Andy Ferretti, Mickey
Bloom, Jimmy Blake; Trombones: Dave Jacobs,
Ward Silloway, Elmer Smithers, Tommy Dorsey; Saxes: Johnny
Mince, Fred Stulce, Skeets Herfurt, Dean Kincaide, Babe Russin, Hymie Schertzer; Piano: Howard Smith; Guitar: Carmen Mastren; Bass: Gene Traxler; Drums: Dave Tough, Charlie Carroll. (There
are some other replacements in certain songs that are not listed here due to limited space
in original publication of Strutters Quarterly).
Tommy Dorsey has always been one of
the bandleaders that has frustrated me as a CD buying dancer. He’s got some really good stuff but then a
lot of stuff that is better suited for slow dancing or listening. When I look for a CD, I like to maximize my dance
songs per CD ratio. I’ve found that hard
to do with TD. Until now.
Yes, Indeed! is a dancer’s
delight. With arrangements by the brilliant
Sy Oliver, this ranks as one of my favorite TD albums.
The band’s tempos range from 112 bpm to 318 bpm! With that kind of range, you are going to get your
exercise dancing to this one!
If you don’t recognize the
titles, you are sure to recognize the tunes of Opus One, Well, All Right, Easy
Does It, the title track and Swingin’ on Nothin’. These tunes are all very danceable at comfortable
tempos. And each one is done with precision
by a fantastic, swingin’ band. The band
is tight and swingin’ whether they are flyin’ high in the fastest of songs (So
What) or bringin’ ya back down with songs like Easy Does It.
The fast songs are just as fun. It really stretches the Lindy Hopper’s
endurance limits (at least this old Lindy Hopper!) or puts a huge smile on Balboa dancers
faces. The band truly is at it’s best
showing off their skills at such lightning speeds.
I think you can tell that I’m gonna tell you to buy this one. If you only get one TD album, this one should be it. With the brilliant Sy Oliver influence, TD was never better. The band was never better. Your dancing will never be better!
Bottom Line: To buy or not to buy….. BUY! Here’s how: