Bunny Berigan (1908-1942): I Can't Get Started

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Detailed Information

  • Label: Definitive, 1937-39
  • Order number: 7033025
  • Release date: 18.8.2008
  1. 1 I can't get started Start
  2. 2 The prisoner's song Start
  3. 3 Honeysuckle Rose Start
  4. 4 Blues Start
  5. 5 Song Of India Start
  6. 6 Marie Start
  7. 7 Liebestraum Start
  8. 8 Mendelssohn's Spring Song Start
  9. 9 Blue lou Start
  10. 10 Trees Start
  11. 11 Russian lullaby Start
  12. 12 Can't Help Lovin' That Man Start
  13. 13 Piano tuner man Start
  14. 14 Heigh-ho (The dwarfs' marching song) Start
  15. 15 A serenade to the stars Start
  16. 16 Outside of paradise Start
  17. 17 Candlelights Start
  18. 18 In the dark Start
  19. 19 Walkin' the dog Start
  20. 20 Jazz me blues Start
  21. 21 There'll be some changes made Start
  22. 22 Peg O' My Heart Start
  23. 23 Ain't she sweet Start
+ Benny Goodman, Georgie Auld, Tommy Dorsey u.a.

Product Information

One of the many talented jazzmen who died before his time, trumpeter Bunny Berigan was adored by his public and highly respected by his fellow musicians. Louis Armstrong even refused to record “I Can’t Get Started” because in his words, “it belongs to my boy Bunny Berigan”.

Born Rowland Bernard Berigan in Hilbert, Wisconsin on November 2, 1908, Bunny came from a musical family and his grandfather was well-known as a bandleader outside of his home state. Berigan learned to play the violin as a child but later felt more attracted to the trumpet and began taking lessons. He moved to New York in 1928, where he began playing dance music with Hal Kemp (with whom he toured Europe). He also worked for Paul Whiteman, who had been the boss of the also short-lived trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke. Although Bunny became relatively popular during the Swing Era, his virtuosity and influence were considerably reduced by a losing battle with alcoholism that ended in his early death.

The title of his greatest hit, “I Can’t Get Started”, almost seems an irony when taking his life into account, for he was at the edge of fame on several occasions but was never able to solidly establish himself.

This compilation reunites some of Bunny Berigan’s best recordings (1937-1939) including his celebrated rendition of “Marie” with Tommy Dorsey and a spectacular version of his hit song “I Can’t Get Started” (composed by Vernon Duke with lyrics by George Gershwin’s brother Ira), on which Bunny also sings. (freshsoundrecords. com)

EUR 24.99*

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