Solo Hop
Encyclopedia
Solo Hop is a 1935 instrumental composed by Glenn Miller
and released as a Columbia 78 single. The recording was part of Glenn Miller's earliest sessions as a leader recording under his own name.
Solo Hop was a Top Ten hit from the summer of 1935 according to the official Glenn Miller Orchestra webpage. Glenn Miller composed the instrumental for a pick-up band when he started recording for Columbia Records
. "Solo Hop" featured an all-star line-up led by Bunny Berigan
on trumpet, future bandleader Claude Thornhill
on piano and future bandleader Charlie Spivak
on trumpet.
The song was recorded on April 25, 1935 in New York City. It was released by Columbia as a 78 single backed with "In a Little Spanish Town", label number CO-3058-D, Matrix number 17382-1. According to the tsort.info website data base, based on the research of Billboard chart analyst Joel Whitburn
, "Solo Hop" reached number seven on the Billboard chart in 1935, staying on the charts for five weeks. George Thomas Simon, a biographer and friend of Glenn Miller's, however, contradicts sources that say it was a top ten hit and says it was barely noticed by record buyers.
The recording was reissued by Biltmore Records
as a 78, 1045, in the 1949-1951 period. The record was also released as Columbia 35881, Columbia FB-1150, Columbia SEG 8709, Columbia 33 SX 1462, and Columbia 33 SX 1491 in the UK, Columbia C 83404 in Germany, Epic EG-7005, Epic LN-3236, Epic LG-3109, Epic LA 16002, Epic LA 16006, Philips
P-23588-H in Argentina, and as Philips BBR 8092 and BBL 7086 in the UK.
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
and released as a Columbia 78 single. The recording was part of Glenn Miller's earliest sessions as a leader recording under his own name.
Solo Hop was a Top Ten hit from the summer of 1935 according to the official Glenn Miller Orchestra webpage. Glenn Miller composed the instrumental for a pick-up band when he started recording for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. "Solo Hop" featured an all-star line-up led by Bunny Berigan
Bunny Berigan
Rowland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan was an American jazz trumpeter who rose to fame during the swing era, but whose virtuosity and influence were shortened by a losing battle with alcoholism that ended in his early death at age 33. He composed the jazz instrumentals "Chicken and Waffles" and "Blues"...
on trumpet, future bandleader Claude Thornhill
Claude Thornhill
Claude Thornhill was an American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader...
on piano and future bandleader Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak was an American trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s.-Biography:...
on trumpet.
The song was recorded on April 25, 1935 in New York City. It was released by Columbia as a 78 single backed with "In a Little Spanish Town", label number CO-3058-D, Matrix number 17382-1. According to the tsort.info website data base, based on the research of Billboard chart analyst Joel Whitburn
Joel Whitburn
Joel Carver Whitburn is an American author and music historian.Whitburn founded Record Research Inc. in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, in 1970, and put together a team of researchers to examine in detail all of Billboards music and video charts...
, "Solo Hop" reached number seven on the Billboard chart in 1935, staying on the charts for five weeks. George Thomas Simon, a biographer and friend of Glenn Miller's, however, contradicts sources that say it was a top ten hit and says it was barely noticed by record buyers.
The recording was reissued by Biltmore Records
Biltmore Records
Biltmore Records was a United States based record label active from 1949 through 1951. The label was headquartered in New York City. Biltmore Records were often reissues of recordings no longer in the catalogues of other labels. Pressings were done by RCA Victor...
as a 78, 1045, in the 1949-1951 period. The record was also released as Columbia 35881, Columbia FB-1150, Columbia SEG 8709, Columbia 33 SX 1462, and Columbia 33 SX 1491 in the UK, Columbia C 83404 in Germany, Epic EG-7005, Epic LN-3236, Epic LG-3109, Epic LA 16002, Epic LA 16006, Philips
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
P-23588-H in Argentina, and as Philips BBR 8092 and BBL 7086 in the UK.
Personnel
The personnel on the "Solo Hop" session were Glenn Miller on trombone, Bunny Berigan and Charlie Spivak on trumpets, Claude Thornhill on piano, Eddie Miller on tenor saxophone, Johnny Mince on clarinet and alto saxophone, Larry Hall on guitar, Delmar Kaplan on bass, and Ray Bauduc on drums. "Solo Hop" was arranged by Glenn Miller.Appearances on Compilations
"Solo Hop" has appeared on the following compilation albums:- The Glenn Miller Story, Vols. 1-2, Avid Entertainment, 2004.
- Glenn Miller and His Orchestra: 1935-1938, Classics, 2004.
- The Best of the Big Bands, Sony Special Products, 1997.
- The Complete Early Recordings, Opus Kura, 2004.
- Collector's Choice/Vintage Glenn Miller, Columbia, 1990.
- Radio Days, Vol. 2, WNTS, 2008.
Sources
- Simon, George Thomas. Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. NY: Crowell, 1974.
- Flower, John. Moonlight Serenade: A Bio-discography of the Glenn Miller Civilian Band. New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House, 1972.