The 1940s Shorts

ARTIST(S):   Gene Krupa
PRICE:    $15.00
MEDIA:   Video

You may have seen bits and pieces of these elsewhere, but these are four complete film featurettes of Gene and the big band from 1940, 1947, 1948 and 1949. Fron 1940, it's "America's Ace Drummer Man" playing "Hamtramck," "Perfidia," "Call of the Canyon" and "Jungle Madness." The 1947 feature includes "Lover," "Boogie Blues," "Stompin' At The Savoy" (trio) and "Leave Us Leap." The 1948 film is hosted by disc jockey Fred Robbins, and the band plays "Starburst," "Bop Boogie," "Sabre Dance" and "Disc Jockey Jump." Finally, the 1949 band plays "Starburst," "Lemon Drop," "Deep Purple," "Bop Boogie," a wild acrobatic number (with Gene participating!!!) and "Melody in F." Quality varies but the music does not. Indeed, it's the "greatest jive alive."