These recordings are taken from the first generation of stereo re-creations, a program undertaken by in the late '50s that continued into the early '60s. The purpose was to provide accurate renderings of favorites of the 1930s and 1940s in stereo sound. Some original bandleaders, such as and , were recruited to re-create their own hits, but most of the work was done by two leaders, . provided the hotter music for , whereas recorded the more conservative and nostalgic fare. This CD combines a generous selection of 21 tracks from 's recordings, transferred in excellent sound from the original three-track stereo masters. It includes re-creations of hits ranging from two of 's own ( ) to those of , , and even one by . One may wonder why this would even be desirable, as the mono originals of these things are widely available on various packages. Listen and you'll figure it out -- these are just simply outstanding re-creations. They are far from stale imitations of the "real thing," and how much accuracy do you need for pieces like 's or by ? Even potentially difficult re-creations, such as that for are pulled off with an amazing resemblance to the original and a good degree of flair. These recordings were made by top Hollywood studio musicians of the era. In general, is a highly enjoyable collection of favorites and highly recommended to those who have a taste for dance music on the sweet and gentle side. ~ Uncle Dave Lewis