Gordon Jenkins

In effect, this is a greatest hits album covering Gordon Jenkins' decade at Decca Records, 1945-55. Though he is better known today as one of Frank Sinatra's conductor/arrangers, Jenkins had an extensive career as a songwriter, composer and recording artist as well, especially before he hooked up with Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole and other singers at Capitol Records in 1957. This set contains such Top Ten hits as "Maybe You'll Be There," "Again," "Don't Cry Joe (Let Her Go, Let Her Go, Let Her Go)" and "My Foolish Heart," all credited to Jenkins, as well as some of the popular recordings he made supporting such Decca artists as the Andrews Sisters ("I Can Dream, Can't I?"), Louis Armstrong, Dick Haymes and Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw, and the Weavers ("Goodnight, Irene"). Jenkins' affection for sweeping strings is everywhere apparent, and it works in some places better than it does in others. "Manhattan Tower," the featured selection, is a 17-minute musical valentine to New York City with a mock dramatic narration that attempts a hybrid of pop music and theater and ends up sounding like something from a B-movie. The original 1945 version of the piece, it is not to be confused with the LP-length "complete" version Jenkins recorded for Capitol in 1956 when it was done as a television special. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide