Caribbean Clipper

Last updated
"Caribbean Clipper"
Caribbeanclip.jpg
Song by the Glenn Miller Orchestra
A-side "Blue Rain"
PublishedMutual Music Society, Inc.
Released1943
RecordedJuly 14, 1942
Studio Victor Studios
Genre
Length2:45 [1]
Label Victor
Composer(s) Jerry Gray
Lyricist(s) Sammy Gallop

"Caribbean Clipper" is a big band and jump song recorded by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra in 1942. The song was composed by Jerry Gray with lyrics by Sammy Gallop. [1] Recorded in 1942, the song was released as a Victor 78 single by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in 1943 as the B side to "Blue Rain".

Contents

The title is a reference to the Pan American Airways Caribbean Clipper, which was one of the first commercial airliners to fly regularly scheduled transatlantic routes. Originally, a clipper was a fast ship.

The song was part of a number of songs—including "Sun Valley Jump", "Here We Go Again", "The Spirit Is Willing", "The Man in the Moon" and "A String of Pearls"—written by Gray, a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra as an arranger, specially for Glenn Miller, [2] who recorded it in 1942. [3] The music was copyrighted on July 10, 1942. The song was registered with the United States Copyright Office on October 23, 1942, by the Mutual Music Society. [4]

Recordings

Glenn Miller

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Caribbean Clipper" (1942 Glenn Miller Orchestra recording)
1942 "Chesterfield Broadcast" recording by The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Miller recorded a number of versions of the song, some of which were broadcast on radio programs such as his Chesterfield Broadcasts in 1942. [5] He recorded the studio version at Victor Studios, Chicago, Illinois, on July 14, 1942. [6] He released the song on Victor in 1943 as a 78 single as the B-side to "Blue Rain". [7] This recording featured Maurice Purtill on drums. Mel Powell played piano on performances with the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. [1] Billboard magazine ran an advert for the release that stated that "no hep nickel will miss this one!". [7] Miller made a recording for the Treasury Star Parade—syndicated by the United States Department of the Treasury [8] —on February 11, 1944. [9] This recording was included on Magic Records' compilation The Glenn Miller Service Orchestra in the USA and Europe (Volume II).

Miller also recorded a version of the song directly for broadcast on CBS Radio's I Sustain the Wings show. The recording was made at the war bond rally at the Chicago Theatre on April 15, 1944. [10]

Miller later recorded the song in Studio One [11] at Abbey Road Studios (then known as EMI Studios) on November 27, 1944, as part of a propaganda broadcast. Recorded under the name "The American Band of the Allied Expeditionary Force", the session became Miller's last recording session before his disappearance. [12] [13] The broadcast was later issued on a number of albums including The Lost Recordings. [14] [15]

Personnel

The personnel for Miller's 1944 Abbey Road recording were: [16]

A number of strings musicians were part of the ensemble, [16] but the song's orchestration did not require their performance.

Other versions

In August and September 1950, a band led by Jerry Gray—billed as the "Ex-Glenn Miller Men" and including musicians such as Willie Schwartz, Jimmy Priddy and Johnny Best—performed the song at the Hollywood Palladium; a recording of the concert was released through Jazz Hour Records. [17] The Modernaires recorded a version featuring the lyrics which was released as a United Artists single in 1962. The U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note recorded the song in 1993. The song was performed by the BBC Big Band as part of their Glenn Miller tribute concert at Birmingham Town Hall on November 14, 2011. [18] Other artists to record versions of the song include the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, [19] the New Glenn Miller Orchestra led by Ray McKinley, The Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Wil Salden, Jan Slottenäs Orchestra, the Herb Miller Orchestra, and Joe Loss. [20] The Mint Julep Jazz Band released a recording in 2022.

Album appearances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Miller</span> American big band musician (1904–1944)

Alton Glen "Glenn" Miller was an American big band conductor, arranger, composer, trombone player, and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the US Army Air Forces. His civilian band, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra were one of the most popular and successful bands of the 20th century and the big band era. His military group, the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra, was also popular and successful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Dorsey</span> American jazz musician and band leader (1904–1957)

James Francis Dorsey was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader. He recorded and composed the jazz and pop standards "I'm Glad There Is You " and "It's The Dreamer In Me". His other major recordings were "Tailspin", "John Silver", "So Many Times", "Amapola", "Brazil ", "Pennies from Heaven" with Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and Frances Langford, "Grand Central Getaway", and "So Rare". He played clarinet on the seminal jazz standards "Singin' the Blues" in 1927 and the original 1930 recording of "Georgia on My Mind", which were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Mood</span> Song popularized by Glenn Miller

"In the Mood" is a popular big band-era jazz standard recorded by American bandleader Glenn Miller. "In the Mood" is based on the composition "Tar Paper Stomp" by Wingy Manone. The first recording under the name "In the Mood" was released by Edgar Hayes & His Orchestra in 1938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chattanooga Choo Choo</span> 1941 song by Mack Gordon

"Chattanooga Choo Choo" is a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and composed by Harry Warren. It was originally recorded as a big band/swing tune by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra and featured in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade. It was the first song to receive a gold record, presented by RCA Victor in 1942, for sales of 1.2 million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Miller Orchestra</span> American swing dance band

Glenn Miller and His Orchestra were an American swing dance band formed by Glenn Miller in 1938. Arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody, and three other saxophones playing harmony, the band became the most popular and commercially successful dance orchestra of the swing era and one of the greatest singles charting acts of the 20th century. As of 2024, Ray Anthony is the last surviving member of the orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo</span> 1942 popular song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

"(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo" is a #1 popular song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in 1942. It was written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren and published in 1942. It was featured in the musical film Orchestra Wives and was recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, featuring Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton and The Modernaires, who released it as an A side 78 in 1942, 27934-A. The B side was "At Last".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Miller discography</span>

Between 1938 and 1944, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra released 266 singles on the monaural ten-inch shellac 78 rpm format. Their studio output comprised a variety of musical styles inside of the Swing genre, including ballads, band chants, dance instrumentals, novelty tracks, songs adapted from motion pictures, and, as the Second World War approached, patriotic music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunrise Serenade</span> 1939 single by Glenn Miller

"Sunrise Serenade" is a jazz song written by Frankie Carle with lyrics by Jack Lawrence. It was first recorded in 1939 by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra with Carle on piano as Decca 2321. It soon became Carle's signature piece. Glenn Miller released a famous recording of it a few months later, arranged by Bill Finnegan, with "Moonlight Serenade" on the backside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie's Cousin Fannie</span>

Annie's Cousin Fannie, which is sometimes listed as "Annie's Cousin Fanny", is a 1934 song composed by Glenn Miller and recorded by The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra for Brunswick and Decca Records. The Dorsey Brothers released two versions of the song in 1934 and 1935.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boom Shot</span>

Boom Shot is a 1942 song composed by Glenn Miller and Billy May for the 20th Century Fox movie Orchestra Wives starring George Montgomery and Ann Rutherford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A String of Pearls (song)</span>

"A String of Pearls" is a 1941 song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra on RCA Bluebird that November, becoming a #1 hit. It was composed by Jerry Gray with lyrics by Eddie DeLange. The song is a big band and jazz standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Headin' for California</span>

"I'm Headin' For California" is a 1944 song composed by Glenn Miller and Arthur Malvin and performed for radio broadcast. The song was released in 1946 as a 78 single by the Glenn Miller Orchestra led by Tex Beneke. The song was Glenn's last composition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Sustain the Wings</span>

"I Sustain the Wings" is a 1943 big band and jazz instrumental co-written by Glenn Miller. The instrumental was the theme for the eponymous radio program broadcast on CBS and NBC from 1943 to 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Must Be Jelly ('Cause Jam Don't Shake like That)</span> Song performed by Glenn Miller

"It Must Be Jelly ('Cause Jam Don't Shake Like That)" is a 1942 jazz and pop song recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. The song was released as an RCA 78 single by Glenn Miller in 1944. Woody Herman also released the song as a single and as a V-Disc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here We Go Again (Glenn Miller song)</span> 1944 single by Glenn Miller

"Here We Go Again" is a swing jazz instrumental recorded by Glenn Miller. The song was released as a 78 single. It was Glenn Miller's last Top 40 hit during his lifetime, peaking at #25.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmer's Tune</span> 1941 single by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra with Ray Eberle and The Modernaires

"Elmer's Tune" is a 1941 big band and jazz standard written by Elmer Albrecht, Dick Jurgens and Sammy Gallop. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra and Dick Jurgens and his Orchestra both charted with recordings of the composition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlem Chapel Chimes</span> 1935 jazz instrumental by Glenn Miller

"Harlem Chapel Chimes" is a 1935 jazz instrumental composed by Glenn Miller. The song was released as an A-side 78 single by the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra is a band formed after the loss of Glenn Miller, named in memory of him and the original Glenn Miller Orchestra.

<i>Pure Gold</i> (Glenn Miller album) 1975 compilation album by Glenn Miller

Pure Gold is a 1975 compilation album of 10 studio recordings by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra recorded between 1939 and 1942 by RCA Victor. The recordings were all originally issued as 78 RPM records on the RCA Bluebird and Victor labels and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The album was originally issued on LP and compact disc in reprocessed (fake) stereo sound; in 1988, RCA remastered the album in original monophonic sound for its second CD reissue. The album was also reissued on LP that year under a new catalog number (7648-1-R) and inexplicably omits two tracks, both of which appear on the reissued CD.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Caribbean Clipper". Lush Music. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  2. ↑ Simon, George T. (1974). Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. New York: Crowell. p. 455. ISBN   0690004702.
  3. ↑ "The Billboard". Billboard Magazine. 55 (29): 25. 17 July 1943. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  4. ↑ United States Copyright Office (1942). Catalog of copyright entries: Musical compositions, Part 3. Washington, DC: Library of Congress. p. 1547.
  5. ↑ "International Association of Jazz Record Collectors Journal". Google Books UK. International Association of Jazz Record Collectors. 1 January 1986. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Caribbean Clipper" by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra. Discogs. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  7. 1 2 "The Billboard". Billboard Magazine. 55 (29): 64. 17 July 1943. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  8. ↑ Haendiges, Jerry. "Series: "TREASURY STAR PARADE"". Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band In The U.S.A. 1943-1944". Lowell's Place. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  10. ↑ GLENN MILLER and his Army Air Force Orchestra—War Bond Rally Chicago Theatre, Jasmine Records
  11. ↑ Kendall, Ted. "Glenn Miller: The Lost Recordings". Tarcl. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Missing Chapters, Vol. 5: The Complete Abbey Road Recordings". AllMusic. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  13. ↑ Butcher, Geoffrey. "Glenn Miller: The Lost Recordings". Tarcl. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "The Lost Recordings [#1]". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "Glenn Miller The Lost Recordings". Parabrisas. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  16. 1 2 Palmer, Hugh. "Liner Notes: Personnel". Tarcl. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Ex-Glenn Miller Men: Live from the Hollywood Palladium (1950)". AllMusic. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Big Band Special". BBC. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  19. ↑ "Syd Lawrence Orchestra, The – Miller Magic". Discogs. 1970. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Joe Loss – Joe Loss In The Glenn Miller Mood". Discogs. 1973. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.