Lemon Drop

I was at my grandparents' house in about 1970 when I first discovered the Woody Herman version of George Wallington's Lemon Drop. A screaming big band arrangement by Shorty Rogers, it immediately became my all-time favorite record - and it still is. I have it on 12" LP, 10" LP, 45, 78 bw/ Early Autumn and 78 bw/ I Ain't Gettin' Any Younger.

I have a few other versions also - Gene Krupa, Phil Woods and a couple of other Woody Herman recordings (one featuring Charlie Parker). Too much, I know...

The Woody Herman version is the best, of course. Shorty Rogers wrote a wild, brassy arrangement for the band that features a novelty bop vocal by Woody, Terry Gibbs and Chubby Jackson. There are also solos by Woody, Terry, Red Rodney, Earl Swope and my favorite of course, Serge Chaloff. And it's all packed into a frantic 3 minutes! This record rivals the best of Dizzy Gillespie.

I knew the sheet music was out there, but the only place I've found it is ebay.

I'd love to get a copy of Shorty Rogers' arrangement, if anyone has it available - email me.

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