Pianist Russ Carlson led a series of fine dance-band recordings for the budget Crown label during 1929-1933. The soloists (who probably include trumpeter Mannie Klein, trombonist Miff Mole, clarinetist Tony Parenti, and tenor saxophonist Larry Binyon) mostly played melodically, with the emphasis being on the straightforward arrangements and the cheerful vocals of Harold Van Emburgh, Dick Robertson, and Elmer Feldkamp. The 24 selections on this CD (from the 1931-1933 period) have rarely if ever been reissued and they give listeners a good idea what the dance bands of the early Depression/pre-swing years sounded like. Pleasing dance music with bits of jazz and novelty vocals used as spices.