Sauter-Finegan's First LP

My recent repost of the Rolf Liebermann Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra led to a request for more music by the band that played on that record, the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra.

So here is the first LP by that hyphenated ensemble, in its original 10-inch format (cover above), with the bonus of the four songs added on in 1956 to make the 12-inch album (cover below).

The group was named for Eddie Sauter and Bill Finegan, two leading arrangers of the big band era. Sauter worked for many of the top ensembles, starting with Red Norvo and most notably for Benny Goodman. Finegan was on Glenn Miller's staff, and then wrote for Tommy Dorsey.

The two came together in 1952, aiming to program only original compositions. They were, however, talked out of that idea by their management, who were concerned that the results would not be palatable to a broad public. And finding an audience did turn out to be a problem for the pair - the band only stayed together for five years. Their music was not danceable for the most part and was not hip enough to appeal to Kentonites. Despite the association with contemporary classical music implied by the Liebermann piece - and the promise of "New Directions in Music" on the LP cover - this was not a high-brow group, nor did it include much jazz improvisation.

First Billboard ad, 1952

What it was, was an outgrowth of the big swing bands led by two skillful arrangers who produced delightful light music. It was mainly influential with other arrangers who scored television shows, produced pop instrumentals or backed singers. (A good example can be found in the work Sid Bass did on the Florence Henderson record I posted recently.)

Although the popularity of the band didn't last, it did start off life with a promising record called "Doodletown Fifers," an arrangement of a Civil War tune that became the band's theme. This LP contains that song along with other pieces that are among Sauter-Finegan's best-remembered numbers - "Moonlight on the Ganges," "April in Paris," a fine arrangement of "Azure-Te," and their version of the Troika from Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kije Suite, called "Midnight Sleighride" here.

The bandleaders appeared on the Camel Caravan radio show in 1953

For me, the highlight of the four songs added on to the 12-inch version of the LP was Joe Mooney's vocal on his own "It's Mutual." Not a great song, but Mooney does a persuasive Billie Holiday impression that makes it enjoyable. He and the band were to go on to have a semi-hit with the great "Nina Never Knew." (This cut is on their second album, which also will appear here.) Less successful are the vocals by Florence Fogelson and Andy Roberts, who toured with the band.

In making this transfer, I worked from the 10-inch LP because it seemed to have less added reverb than the later record. I appended the four songs that were added to the 12-incher. The sound is good, with some slight noise on a few of the 10-inch cuts. The download includes a good thesis on Sauter by Alex Chilowicz that contains a useful discography.

Note (August 2024): This material has now been remastered in ambient stereo. The sound is excellent.

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