During World War II a strike by the Musicians Union kept professional players off records for a long period. To fill the gap, a special "V-Disc" program was instituted to provide new music for military personnel serving overseas. This attractive four-CD box set from Time-Life contains 79 performances by a wide variety of artists from the period. Most of the music is jazz but there are some numbers from pop performers; such notables as Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, San Kenton, Lionel Hampton, Glenn Miller, the Nat King Cole Trio, Muggsy Spanier, Hoagy Carmicahel, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Eldridge, Paul Robeson, Hot Lips Page, Marian Anderson, Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong, Bunk Johnson, Les Paul and even Ethel Merman make strong appearances. There is a lot of valuable music on this well-conceived reissue.
CD1 (01:13:53)
01. The Andrews Sisters - Victory Polka
02. Benny Goodman & His Orchestra - After You've Gone
03. Perry Como & The V-Disc All Star Orchestra - Goodbye Sue
04. Louis Prima & His Orchestra - Just A Gigolo
05. Woody Herman & His Orchestra - Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe
06. Three Suns - Twilight Time
07. Peggy Lee - I Get The Blues When It Rains
08. Andre Kostelanetz & His Orchestra - I Love You
09. Stan Kenton & His Orchestra - Ride On
10. Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra - Screamin' Boogie
11. Louis Armstrong & Jack Teagarden & The V-Disc All Stars - Jack Armstrong Blues
12. Martha Tilton & Her V-Disc Playfellows - Beyond The Blue Horizon
13. Capt. Glenn Miller & The 418th AAFTC Orchestra - Stormy Weather
14. The Nat 'King' Cole Trio - Candy
15. The Gene Krupa Orchestra - Ooh, Hot Dawg
16. Mills Brothers - Till Then
17. Muggsy Spanier & His V-Disc All Stars - Pee Wee Speaks
18. Louis Jordan & The Tympani Five - I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
19. Hoagy Carmichael - Billy-a-Dick
20. Count Basie & His Orchestra - High Tide (I Ain't Mad At You)
CD2 (01:14:37)
01. Kay Starr with Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra - Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
02. The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra - For Dancers Only
03. Cpl. Buddy Clark & The 344th ASF Band - How Little We Know
04. Ella Fitzgerald & Her V-Disc Special Servers - I'll Always Be In Love With You
05. Roy Eldridge & His Orchestra - I've Found A New Baby
06. Paul Robeson - I'm Goin' To Tell God My Troubles
07. Eddie Heywood Sextette - Just You, Just Me
08. The Slim Gaillard Trio - Fried Chicken O'routee
09. Lt. Bob Crosby (USMC) & His V-Disc Bob Cats - When I Grow Too Old To Dream
10. The Dorsey Brothers Combined Orchestras - Brotherly Jump
11. 'Hot Lips' Page & The V-Disc All Stars - The Sheik Of Araby
12. Sam Donahue (MU1, USN) & The Band Of The U.S. Navy Liberation Forces - My Melancholy Baby
13. Trummy Young & The Guys From V-Discs - Four Or Five Times
14. Red Norvo & His Orchestra - Flying Home
15. Josh White - Waltzing Matilda
16. Technical Sergeant Jack Leonard & His V-Disc Friends - Sleepy Time Gal
17. Bea Wain with Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra - My Reverie
18. Bob Eberly & The 344th ASF Band - I Understand
19. Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing).
CD3 (01:15:27)
01. Capt. Glenn Miller & The 418th AAFTC Orchestra - Tail End Charlie
02. Jo Stafford & Her V-Disc Play Boys - Blue Moon
03. Elliot Lawrence & His Orchestra - Willie
04. Tony Pastor & His Orchestra - Makin' Whoopie
05. The Loumell Morgan Trio - Take Me Out To The Ball Game
06. Marie Greene & Her V-Disc Merry Men with Joe Dosh - It's Easy To Remember
07. Jimmy Rushing with Count Basie's Orchestra - Harvard Blues
08. Connee Boswell & Her V-Disc Music Men - Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
09. Paul Nero - The Hot Canary
10. Stan Kenton & His Orchestra - Southern Scandal
11. Marian Anderson - Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
12. Jack Teagarden & The V-Disc All-Stars - If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight
13. Sam Donahue (MU1, USN) & The Band Of The U.S. Navy Liberation Forces - Dinah
14. Lena Horne with Charlie Spivak's Orchestra - I Can't Give You Anything But Love
15. Johnny Long & His Orchestra - In a Shanty In Old Shantytown
16. Bunk Johnson & His Band - I Can't Escape From You
17. Three Jesters - The Martins And The Coys
18. The Les Paul Trio - How High The Moon
19. Russ Morgan & His Orchestra - So Tired
20. Buddy Rich & His Speed Demons - That's Rich
CD4 (01:11:40)
01. The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra - Paramount On Parade
02. Kay Starr with Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra - Share Croppin' Blues
03. Randy Brooks - Stompin' At The Savoy
04. Herb Jeffries with The Eddie Beal Quartet - Body And Soul
05. Original Dixieland Jazz Band - Tiger Rag
06. Harry James & His Orchestra - Rose Room
07. Phil Brito - Come Back To Sorrento
08. Don Redman & His Band - Pistol Packin' Mama
09. Ethel Merman - Why Do They Call A Private A Private
10. Woody Herman & His Orchestra - Apple Honey
11. Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra - Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'
12. Mildred Bailey - Downhearted Blues
13. Pvt. Vicente Gomez (U.S. Army) - Minuet, Mazurka
14. Hazel Scott - Honeysuckle Rose
15. Freddy Martin & His Orchestra - Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1
16. Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra - Cuddle Up A Little Closer
17. Hal McIntyre & His Orchestra - Singin' In The Rain
18. Korn Kobblers - Let's All Sing Like The Birdies Sing
19. V-Disc Jumpers - Love Is Just Around The Corner
20. Kay Kyser & His Orchestra - Victory Polka
