Retrospective celebrates the centenary of “Mad Mab” – the saxophonist bandleader Charlie Barnet (1913-1991) – with a superb double CD selection of his great band in full flight during its finest years. He led one of the very best big bands of the 40s. A millionaire playboy, he lived riotously and married, it is said, 11 times. But musically he would not compromise - he always got his way, as in his pioneering employment of black musicians in a 1930s white band.

'The Right Idea' gives 50 examples of the band in its heyday, led off by his famous theme tune Cherokee. All his best-known tracks are here, such as the big hit Billy May showcase Pompton Turnpike, his No.1 chart success Where Was I? (with Mary Ann McCall’s vocal), and of course the famous 1944 instrumental Skyliner.

Barnet employed a host of the very best swing musicians, many of them featured here. As well as Billy May, his trumpeters included Roy Eldridge and Maynard Ferguson. There was trombonist Tommy Pederson, clarinetist Buddy de Franco, pianist Dodo Marmarosa, and guitarist Barney Kessel among many, many others.

Notable among Charlie’s vocalists were such top stars as Lena Horne (You’re My Thrill) and Kay Starr (You Always Hurt The One You Love).

Track Listing:
CD 1 (1939-1940)
1. Cherokee
2. The Gal From Joe’s
3. Echoes Of Harlem
4. Midweek Function
5. Lament For A Lost Love
6. The Duke’s Idea
7. The Count’s Idea
8. The Right Idea
9. Clap Hands, Here Comes Charley!
10. Southland Shuffle
11. Comanche War Dance
12. Where Was I? (With Mary Ann Mccall)
13. Leapin’ At The Lincoln
14. Afternoon Of A Moax
15. Flying Home
16. Rockin’ In Rhythm
17. Pompton Turnpike
18. The Sergeant Was Shy
19. Ring Dem Bells
20. Wild Man Of The Fish Pond
21. Wings Over Manhattan
22. Southern Fried
23. I Hear A Rhapsody (With Bob Carroll)
24. Redskin Rhumba

CD 2 (1941-1949)
1. Skyliner
2. Good-For-Nothin’ Joe (With Lena Horne)
3. Blue Juice
4. You’re My Thrill (With Lena Horne)
5. Charleston Alley
6. All I Desire (With Lena Horne)
7. Merry-Go-Round
8. Spanish Kick
9. Harlem Speaks
10. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
11. Washington Whirligig
12. Pow-Wow
13. The Moose
14. Gulf Coast Blues
15. Flat-Top Flips His Lid
16. Drop Me Off In Harlem
17. You Always Hurt The One You Love (With Kay Starr)
18. Blue Lou
19. Lonely Street
20. Portrait Of Edward Kennedy Ellington
21. Easy Living (With Trudy Richards)
22. Pan Americana
23. Over The Rainbow
24. Claude Reigns
25. All The Things You Are
26. Really?