4 LPs on 3 CDs.

Personnel includes: Glenn Miller (leader, trombone); Tex Benecke (vocals, tenor saxophone); Ray Eberle, Marion Hutton, Paula Kelly, Dorothy Claire, Skip Nelson, The Modernaires (vocals); Wilbur Schwartz (alto saxophone, clarinet); Hal McIntyre, Ernie Caceres (alto saxophone); Bob Price (trumpet); Al Mastren (trombone); Chummy McGregor (piano); Allan Reuss, Bobby Hackett (guitar); Rowland Bundock (bass); Maurice Purtill (drums).

Personnel: Glenn Miller (trombone); Tex Beneke (vocals, tenor saxophone); Marion Hutton, Paula Kelly , Ray Eberle, Skip Nelson, The Modernaires (vocals); Bill Conway, Richard Fisher , Jack Lathrop, Arthur Ens, Allan Reuss, Bobby Hackett (guitar); Wilbur Schwartz (clarinet, alto saxophone); Stanley Aronson (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Harold Tennyson, Gabe Gellnas, Jimmy Abato (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Ernie Caceres, Hal McIntyre, Skip Martin , Bill Stegmeyer (alto saxophone); Babe Russin, Al Klink (tenor saxophone); Alec FILA, Clyde Hurley, John McGhee , John Best , Steve Lipkins, Charles Frankhauser, Johnny Austin, Bob Price, Dale McMickle, Lee Knowles, Ray Anthony, Billy May, Zeke Zarchy, Bob Peck (trumpet); Warren Smith , Frank d'Annolfo, Al Mastren, Paul Tanner, Tom Mack, Jimmy Priddy (trombone); Chummy MacGregor (piano); Moe Purtill, Bob Spangler, Frank Carlson (drums).

Liner Note Authors: Mort Goode; John Snyder.

Recording information: Chicago, IL (09/27/1938-07/15/1942); Hollywood, CA (09/27/1938-07/15/1942); New York, NY (09/27/1938-07/15/1942).

Arrangers: Eddie Durham; Joe Lipman; Glenn Miller; Jerry Gray; Benny Carter ; Bill Finegan; Charlie Dixon.

At the time of its initial appearance in 1989, this three-CD set was a significant improvement over any of the compact disc editions of Glenn Miller's music to have made it out before. Not only did its 60 songs offer the proper scope and range to allow one to fully appreciate the depth of Miller's popularity and talent, but this was also part of the CD era's second wave of compilations and remasterings -- in contrast to the boomtown recklessness and corporate ineptitude that had characterized CD reissues in the mid-'80s, producers were now aware that there were gradations in the sound quality of digital masters and room for improvement in the technology. The late Joe Lopes engineered this set to last in the ears of the listener, and producer John Snyder oversaw what was, at the time, one of the finest and most comprehensive CD reissues ever accorded a big-band leader. The brass has bite and the horns and reeds have body, and the entire band is in sharp relief as they hadn't been heard since the early '40s and their last civilian concerts. It has since been supplanted, itself, by other, more recent remastered editions utilizing still better technology, including The Essential Glenn Miller (1995), Platinum Glenn Miller (2003), and The Centennial Collection (2004) -- reducing the noise in the masters even further, among other differences -- but holds up as perhaps the best authorized, large-scale survey of Miller's work other than the 13-disc complete set from BMG. These 60 songs represent a compromise between that set's completeness and the superficiality of 1988's Pure Gold, with its ten songs and minimal annotation. ~ Bruce Eder & William Ruhlmann

During World War II you couldn't possibly avoid the music of Glenn Miller. "In the Mood," "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition," and others dominated the dance halls, the nightclubs, and the Armed Forces' airwaves. Miller's untimely death in 1944, at the height of his popularity, cut short what would have been a great career. But when Miller died in the line of duty (he was an officer in the Air Force), he left behind an incredible body of work, totaling hundreds of recordings, that continued to move and entertain a generation of Americans.

Compiling 60 great songs, THE POPULAR RECORDINGS bears witness to his genius. All the favorites are here, including "Danny Boy," "Rhapsody in Blue," and the unforgettable "Moonlight Serenade." Of course, no Glenn Miller collection would be complete without "In the Mood" and "Star Dust," both included here.