All performers, no matter how great, are bound to make one real bad recording during their career, especially if it is a long career. For
Benny Goodman it's this strange 1964 album for the Capitol label. Despite heading a band chaired with outstanding West Coast musicians like
Ray Triscari,
Teddy Edwards,
Pete Jolly, and
Monty Budwig, playing charts by
Gerald Wilson,
Bill Holman, and
Tommy Newsom, the result is dull and listless. None of those involved seemed to be very interested in playing tunes like "People," "The Pink Panther Theme," or "Hello, Dolly," perhaps feeling that this music was not up to their standards. There are even some
Goodman fluffs on clarinet which
Goodman, or the producer, didn't bother to remove from the master. Given
Goodman's legendary attention to detail and professionalism, it is a surprise he let this album be released at all, much less with his playing below par. To be fair, the session is not a total loss. There are a couple of interesting cuts like "The Lamp Is Low" and a
Fletcher Henderson chart for "Them There Eyes," with some good solo work by
Pete Jolly and
Teddy Edwards, respectively. But over all, this is substandard
Goodman which should not be transferred to CD.