The song is autobiographical in nature. Glenn Miller lived in California during the filming of Sun Valley Serenade in 1941. Glenn and his wife Helen bought a 55-acre ranch east of Los Angeles in Monrovia, Rancho Duarte, which had citrus groves. California was where Glenn Miller planned to live and raise his family after the war.
"i'm Headin' For California" is a great find. This song is much superior to the A side "Swing Low Sweet Chariot". Another lost classic is "I'm Glad There Is You", a jazz standard composed by Jimmy Dorsey. That record is also nowehere to be found anywhere, not in the original recording. Jimmy Dorsey recorded it twice on Decca as a 78, in 1942 as a B side with Bob Eberle on vocals and in 1946 as an A side with Dee Parker on vocals. These are very rare and very difficult to find.
This song is very rare and hard to find anywhere. I have not been able to determine if the two Amazon albums contain the same song or recording. One is a Glenn Miller album the other is a Tex Beneke album. It is possible that a recording of "I'm Headin' For California" exists with Glenn Miller leading the band on the Glenn's Travels album. It may be from a radio broadcast or a live recording. Miller performed extensively in concert and for radio in 1944 while in the UK.
@kingoma61 Just checked - the "Glenn's Travels" album sounds like an aircheck, while the Tex Tribute album is this very version.
So far, this looks like the first & only studio recording made of Glenn's last composition! Had this 78 since 1986 & just last year, with my posting of the flip "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", found out about the rarity of this one in GM lore.
@SwingMan1937 Are you familiar with "Room 1411", a Brunswick 78 by "Bennie Goodman's Boys" from 1928? That was Glenn Miller's first composition. "Room 1411" is on Youtube and is easy to find. There were two versions recorded in 1928 and they were both released, one being an alternate take. But that is another one that almost no one knew about. Everyone said and wrote that Glenn Miller's first composition was "Moonlight Serenade" in 1935. So that is quite a find.
@kingoma61 Not an original release, but I do indeed have "Room 1411" on 78 - a Brunswick re-issue from the mid-1940's. Whole album set (4-records) by "Bennie Goodman's Boys".
I am trying to piece the information for this song. It was published in September, 1944 when Glenn Miller was in England. There were no V Disc or studio releases of this song as far as I can determine. The Glenn Miller Archives website at the University of Colorado noted that Ray McKinley sang the song in 1944. It was performed most likely for radio broadcast or in concert in 1944. Amazon has two albums that contain the song: Glenn's Travels and A Tribute to Tex Beneke. The latter is the 78.
"i'm Headin' For California" was composed by Glenn Miller and Artie Malvin in 1944 and published by Mutual Music. The song was first performed by the U.S. Army Air Force dance band in 1944 when Glenn Miller was in England with the orchestra. The song was then sung by Ray McKinley, who was a drummer in the band.
The RCA recording was reviewed in the March 30, 1946 Billboard Data and Reviews section: "An infectious rhythm ditty fashioned along the same lines as 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' and cut in crisp manner by the ex-G.I. gang now led by Tex Beneke, who is joined by the harmonies of the Crew Chiefs, a mixed crew, for this lively chant....It's spry syncopating with the throaty singing of Tex Beneke assisted by the finely blended voices of the Crew Chiefs." In the UK, the song was released as an HMV 78.
The Billboard issue of March 30, 1946 described the 1946 RCA 78 release, 20-1834, b/w "Swing Low Sweet Cariot": "Mated is a pleasant plattering of 'I'm Headin' for California,' a rhythmic ditty with Arthur Malvin, the band's romantic voice, and the late maestro authored after the fashion of 'Chattanooga Choo Choo.'"
Glenn Miller composed "I'm Headin' For California" in 1944 with Artie Malvin of The Crew Chiefs. The A side of the 78 single was "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" attributed to Stephen Foster on the record label. In The Big Bands Go to War, "I'm Headin' For California" is described as Glenn Miller's last composition. Glenn Miller also wrote "705" and "Flaming Sword of Liberation" in 1944. He may have performed the song in concert or for radio broadcast. The 1946 RCA 78 was reviewed in Billboard.
@kennyrocksable Why hell yes - I'll be doing a mess of re-posts. Already got "I Left My Baby", Rug Cutter's Swing", "My Blue Heaven", "OOPAPADA", "OW!" and "Long Tall Mama" re-transfered for re-posts, for starters. ;)
Same table + new cartridge/stylus - crap Hi-8 camera + direct to PC = this. ;) I FINALLY had enough of the crap his & extremely low headroom I had to put up with in having to run a line into the low level mic input - so, I counsulted with feloow record collector/engineer "shaunsstuff79", downloaded Audacity & the rest it the history you're hearing here. :)
@SwingMan1937 hehe, sweet. I would not call the "old" old sound bad, it was the opposite from bad, but now it is chrystal clear. what is your cartridge called? I have an AT-78 but now I play a lot with my Phillips 604, in which I recently adjusted the speed with a strobe, and made som line out adapters with a few components.
The song is autobiographical in nature. Glenn Miller lived in California during the filming of Sun Valley Serenade in 1941. Glenn and his wife Helen bought a 55-acre ranch east of Los Angeles in Monrovia, Rancho Duarte, which had citrus groves. California was where Glenn Miller planned to live and raise his family after the war.
kingoma61 7 months ago
Oh my gosh, I wish musicians these days still made music like that. This is gold.
TheSickestKid724 7 months ago
"i'm Headin' For California" is a great find. This song is much superior to the A side "Swing Low Sweet Chariot". Another lost classic is "I'm Glad There Is You", a jazz standard composed by Jimmy Dorsey. That record is also nowehere to be found anywhere, not in the original recording. Jimmy Dorsey recorded it twice on Decca as a 78, in 1942 as a B side with Bob Eberle on vocals and in 1946 as an A side with Dee Parker on vocals. These are very rare and very difficult to find.
kingoma61 9 months ago
This song is very rare and hard to find anywhere. I have not been able to determine if the two Amazon albums contain the same song or recording. One is a Glenn Miller album the other is a Tex Beneke album. It is possible that a recording of "I'm Headin' For California" exists with Glenn Miller leading the band on the Glenn's Travels album. It may be from a radio broadcast or a live recording. Miller performed extensively in concert and for radio in 1944 while in the UK.
kingoma61 9 months ago
@kingoma61 Just checked - the "Glenn's Travels" album sounds like an aircheck, while the Tex Tribute album is this very version.
So far, this looks like the first & only studio recording made of Glenn's last composition! Had this 78 since 1986 & just last year, with my posting of the flip "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", found out about the rarity of this one in GM lore.
SwingMan1937 9 months ago
@SwingMan1937 Are you familiar with "Room 1411", a Brunswick 78 by "Bennie Goodman's Boys" from 1928? That was Glenn Miller's first composition. "Room 1411" is on Youtube and is easy to find. There were two versions recorded in 1928 and they were both released, one being an alternate take. But that is another one that almost no one knew about. Everyone said and wrote that Glenn Miller's first composition was "Moonlight Serenade" in 1935. So that is quite a find.
kingoma61 9 months ago
@kingoma61 Not an original release, but I do indeed have "Room 1411" on 78 - a Brunswick re-issue from the mid-1940's. Whole album set (4-records) by "Bennie Goodman's Boys".
SwingMan1937 9 months ago
I am trying to piece the information for this song. It was published in September, 1944 when Glenn Miller was in England. There were no V Disc or studio releases of this song as far as I can determine. The Glenn Miller Archives website at the University of Colorado noted that Ray McKinley sang the song in 1944. It was performed most likely for radio broadcast or in concert in 1944. Amazon has two albums that contain the song: Glenn's Travels and A Tribute to Tex Beneke. The latter is the 78.
kingoma61 9 months ago
"i'm Headin' For California" was composed by Glenn Miller and Artie Malvin in 1944 and published by Mutual Music. The song was first performed by the U.S. Army Air Force dance band in 1944 when Glenn Miller was in England with the orchestra. The song was then sung by Ray McKinley, who was a drummer in the band.
kingoma61 9 months ago
@kingoma61 Was this the first time it was put to record, or was it recorded for V-Disc or studio transcription sometime prior?
SwingMan1937 9 months ago
The RCA recording was reviewed in the March 30, 1946 Billboard Data and Reviews section: "An infectious rhythm ditty fashioned along the same lines as 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' and cut in crisp manner by the ex-G.I. gang now led by Tex Beneke, who is joined by the harmonies of the Crew Chiefs, a mixed crew, for this lively chant....It's spry syncopating with the throaty singing of Tex Beneke assisted by the finely blended voices of the Crew Chiefs." In the UK, the song was released as an HMV 78.
kingoma61 9 months ago
The Billboard issue of March 30, 1946 described the 1946 RCA 78 release, 20-1834, b/w "Swing Low Sweet Cariot": "Mated is a pleasant plattering of 'I'm Headin' for California,' a rhythmic ditty with Arthur Malvin, the band's romantic voice, and the late maestro authored after the fashion of 'Chattanooga Choo Choo.'"
kingoma61 9 months ago
Glenn Miller composed "I'm Headin' For California" in 1944 with Artie Malvin of The Crew Chiefs. The A side of the 78 single was "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" attributed to Stephen Foster on the record label. In The Big Bands Go to War, "I'm Headin' For California" is described as Glenn Miller's last composition. Glenn Miller also wrote "705" and "Flaming Sword of Liberation" in 1944. He may have performed the song in concert or for radio broadcast. The 1946 RCA 78 was reviewed in Billboard.
kingoma61 9 months ago
@kennyrocksable Keep reminding me periodically, guy - got lots to do on that front.
A cleaned up - NOT filtered, but gently EQed - post of "Rug Cutter's Swing" coming in the wee hours. :)
SwingMan1937 10 months ago
@kennyrocksable Why hell yes - I'll be doing a mess of re-posts. Already got "I Left My Baby", Rug Cutter's Swing", "My Blue Heaven", "OOPAPADA", "OW!" and "Long Tall Mama" re-transfered for re-posts, for starters. ;)
SwingMan1937 10 months ago
Awesome and crisp sound! Love it! THanks for posting this!
transformingArt 10 months ago
nice song thanks man sounds very good also :)
wickedmountain 10 months ago
I enjoyed the music and video!
---------Ellen
Shabannie 10 months ago
Wow! Great sound!
fansinatra 10 months ago
Tex sounded a lot like Johnny Mercer. Sad that the GM era was ending around this time.
bostonblakie 10 months ago
I love Glenn Miller and Beneke is such a great singer, THIS is swinginggg, i enjoyed this post to the max!!!
gfks11 10 months ago
did you upgrade the Garrard. or did I get something wrong. the sound is much better.
Falkis1984 10 months ago
@Falkis1984 Nope.
Same table + new cartridge/stylus - crap Hi-8 camera + direct to PC = this. ;) I FINALLY had enough of the crap his & extremely low headroom I had to put up with in having to run a line into the low level mic input - so, I counsulted with feloow record collector/engineer "shaunsstuff79", downloaded Audacity & the rest it the history you're hearing here. :)
SwingMan1937 10 months ago
@SwingMan1937 hehe, sweet. I would not call the "old" old sound bad, it was the opposite from bad, but now it is chrystal clear. what is your cartridge called? I have an AT-78 but now I play a lot with my Phillips 604, in which I recently adjusted the speed with a strobe, and made som line out adapters with a few components.
Falkis1984 10 months ago
Awesome!!
sideshowtink 10 months ago
@sideshowtink Yeah, I'll gladly do without the table vids for this. ;)
SwingMan1937 10 months ago
proud to say i helped to achieve this lol great sound mark keep em coming !!
shaunsstuff79 10 months ago