AMG Review of This Is Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra, Vol. 1

John Bush
All Music Guide

The first of two volumes (both double LPs) in a 1971 series from RCA Victor, This Is Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra, Vol. 1 provided a response to the many big-band recreations making the rounds during the late '60s and early '70s. The album presented proof of the Dorsey band's superiority simply by reissuing 20 of Dorsey's most famous recordings -- "I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You," "Boogie Woogie," "Stardust," "Song of India," "Opus One," and "Music, Maestro, Please" among them. Reissued on CD by Collectables in 2001, the set lost none of its luster, and is one of the best ways for a beginner to hear the best war-era swing. Seven of the later tracks are features for Frank Sinatra, including "East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)," "Whispering," and "Street of Dreams."