The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings


The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings is a 1997 compilation 3-CD set of sessions led by jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman, and recorded for the RCA Victor label between 1935 and 1939.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, reviewer Scott Yanow described this set: "Classic music with many exciting moments from the King of Swing and his famous sidemen". JazzTimes writer Jack Sohmer stated: "From a strictly musical point of view, the importance of these recordings cannot be overestimated. Goodman was then, as he is still now remembered, the prevailing master of swinging, inventive, hot clarinet and he had found ideal partners from the beginning". The Penguin Guide to Jazz identified the compilation as part of its suggested "Core Collection" of essential jazz albums.

Track listing

Disc One:
  1. "After You've Gone" – 2:45
  2. "After You've Gone" – 2:45
  3. "Body and Soul" – 3:28
  4. "Body and Soul" – 3:23
  5. "Who?" – 3:12
  6. "Someday, Sweetheart" – 2:47
  7. "China Boy" – 2:31
  8. "More Than You Know" – 3:13
  9. "All My Life" – 3:12
  10. "Oh, Lady Be Good" – 3:00
  11. "Nobody's Sweetheart" – 2:45
  12. "Too Good to Be True" – 3:28
  13. "Moonglow" – 3:23
  14. "Moonglow" – 3:11
  15. "Dinah" – 2:39
  16. "Exactly Like You" – 3:16
  17. "Vibraphone Blues" – 3:20
  18. "Sweet Sue, Just You" – 3:16
  19. "Sweet Sue, Just You" – 3:24
  20. "My Melancholy Baby" – 3:24
  21. "Tiger Rag" – 2:59
Disc Two:
  1. "Stompin' at the Savoy" – 3:17
  2. "Stompin' at the Savoy" – 2:47
  3. "Whispering" – 3:21
  4. "Tiger Rag" – 3:21
  5. "Tiger Rag" – 3:18
  6. "Ida! Sweet as Apple Cider" – 3:45
  7. "Tea for Two" – 3:05
  8. "Runnin' Wild" – 2:37
  9. "Avalon" – 2:50
  10. "Avalon" – 2:44
  11. "Handful of Keys" – 2:21
  12. "Handful of Keys" – 2:26
  13. "The Man I Love" – 3:26
  14. "Smiles" – 2:59
  15. "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)" – 3:23
  16. "Where or When" – 3:22
  17. "Silhouetted in the Moonlight" – 2:56
  18. "Vieni, Vieni, Vieni" – 2:51
  19. "Vieni, Vieni, Vieni" – 2:49
  20. "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy (From Dumas)" – 2:43
  21. "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy " – 2:40
  22. "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön, Part 1" – 3:21
  23. "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön, Part 1" – 3:25
  24. "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön, Part 2" – 3:23
Disc Three:
  1. "Sweet Lorraine" – 3:49
  2. "The Blues in Your Flat" – 2:32
  3. "The Blues in Your Flat" – 2:31
  4. "The Blues in My Flat" – 3:23
  5. "Sugar" – 3:48
  6. "Sugar" – 3:48
  7. "Dizzy Spells" – 3:16
  8. "Opus 1/2" – 3:22
  9. "I Must Have That Man!" – 3:23
  10. "Sweet Georgia Brown" – 3:04
  11. "'S Wonderful" – 3:23
  12. "'S Wonderful" – 3:26
  13. "Pick-A-Rib, Part 1" – 2:53
  14. "Pick-A-Rib, Part 2" – 2:55
  15. "Pick-A-Rib, Part 1" – 2:56
  16. "Pick-A-Rib, Part 2" – 2:06
  17. "I Cried for You" – 3:17
  18. "I Cried for You" – 3:21
  19. "I Know That You Know" – 3:01
  20. "I Know That You Know" – 3:02
  21. "Opus 3/4" – 2:53
  22. "Opus 3/4" – 2:58

Personnel