10 Favorite Benny Goodman Tracks

In 1938, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America. The concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City that year is described by critic Bruce Eder as “the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz’s ‘coming out’ party to the world of ‘respectable’ music”. It crowned Benny Goodman as the ‘King of Swing,’ and solidified his position in the annuls of history as one of the most important and influential musicians in history.

It is a recording from that concert, Swingtime In The Rockies, that is at the top of my 10 favorite Benny Goodman tracks of all time. But after the top spot, it gets pretty difficult to narrow down my next 9 favorite Benny Goodman tracks. So with a note of apprehention, I list out my 10 favorite songs from the King of Swing.

1. Swingtime In The Rockies – Live at Carnegie Hall 1938
2. St. Louis Blues – On The Air 37-38
3. Bugle Call Rag – Chronological Classics 1936 Vol. 2
4. Caprice Paganini XXIV – Chronological Classics 1941 Vol. 3
5. Moonglow – Chronological Classics 1936 Vol. 2
6. House Hop – Live at the Madhattan Room 1937
7. All The Cats Join In – All The Cats Join In  
8. Roll ‘Em – On The Air 37-38
9. Sweet Georgia Brown – The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings  
10. Mazel – Benny Goodman ’45 & ’47

What are some of your favorite Benny Goodman tracks?