Music Pick: Tommy Dorsey's Clambake 7

During the Swing Era, many of the top Big Bands had a 'little band within a band', a small unit that could depart from the more formal big band style and swing out with some hot jazz featuring the band's top soloists. Harry James had the James Gang. Bob Crosby had the Bobcats, Benny Goodman had BG's Sextet and the feature, Tommy Dorsey (1905-1956) had his Clambake 7. The song 'At the Codfish Ball', is a radio transcription that starts with band singer Edythe Wright introducing the unit's newest soloist, fabulous tenor man Bud Freeman. Her shout out to 'Davey' to kick off the festivities refers to Chicago native Davey Tough, the doomed but revered drummer who played in most of the top big bands of the era. Dorsey was the most successful of the Swing Era greats, lasting from 1935 till his untimely death at 51 in 1956, during which he racked up 286 Billboard chart hits, including 17 at No. 1.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_FyzSR1-KI