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Introduction: Alan Dell

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I started collecting Glenn Miller's recordings when I was a schoolboy - my first 78 of Slow Freight is still treasured. I can remember acquiring my first Miller V-Disc and later a complete set of his Office of War Information 16-inch transcriptions. Over the years these have been added to with broadcasts by both the Civilian and Allied Expeditionary Force Orchestras. Among them were snippets of the ABSIE Wehrmacht programmes mainly of inferior quality.

I have a vague recollection that it was the finding of one matrix number that led to the discovery of these infinitely superior recordings of the six programmes which became one of my prized possessions.

Factually but unbelievably because the music is as potent today as ever, we're marking the fiftieth anniversary of Major Glenn Miller's loss over the English Channel in 1944. Within less than six months, he'd brought his magnificent swinging and symphonic AEF Orchestra to Britain, fulfilled a punishing schedule of BBC broadcasts, personal appearances and these recordings among others.

As custodian of these tapes I thought this would be the time to make them available for the interest and enjoyment of a wider public.

My sincere thanks to Glenn Miller historian, Geoffrey Butcher, for detailing so admirably the facts surrounding the recordings.

Thanks also to Hugh Palmer, to Engineer Ted Kendall who has brought considerable time and expertise to achieving the very best sound from a number of difficult items and to Conifer Records who have been unstinting in helping him do so.

Historically this is an important release which adds another chapter to the Glenn Miller Story and his wonderful and never-to-be-repeated Allied Expeditionary Force Orchestra.

Alan Dell, Executive Producer

A long-time BBC Presenter of 'Dance Band Days'; 'Big Band Era' and 'Sounds Easy' and Vice President Glenn Miller Society, Alan Dell sadly died last year.

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