Word Association Wednesday: Gettin’ Sentimental

 

Spinning off Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” for this week’s Word Association, my mind jumps straight to Tommy Dorsey - The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing - and his classic theme, I’m Gettin’ Sentimental Over You.

Let’s trace Tommy’s long relationship with the tune, starting at the very beginning.

The 1932 Seed - The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (Brunswick)

Tommy first recorded the song in 1932 with brother Jimmy on Brunswick:

This early version, with Jean Bowes on vocal, is a gem. What fascinates me is how much of Tommy’s later signature arrangement is already here - the cold open, the first chorus, the general shape of the thing. The first minute is like hearing the blueprint before the mansion gets built.

At this point, Tommy and Jimmy were still top‑tier studio musicians, and the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra existed only as a studio group. The full‑time band wouldn’t come until 1934.

The 1935 Revisit - The Dorsey Brothers on Decca

With the new working band, the brothers took another swing at the tune, this time with Bob Crosby on vocal. No familiar cold‑open trombone here - instead, Jimmy’s alto sneaks in first.

No familiar cold‑open trombone here - instead, Jimmy’s alto sneaks in first.

Young Bob Crosby is clearly leaning toward his brother Bing’s phrasing, but he’d soon grow into his own sound once he began leading his own band.

Not long after this session, the famous Dorsey blow‑up happened: Tommy walked off the bandstand, Jimmy kept the group, and Tommy struck out on his own.

The 1936 Breakthrough - Tommy Dorsey’s Victor Classic

And here it is - the version that became the theme. Tommy’s 1936 Victor recording is one of those sides that practically defines the era. The tone, the phrasing, the poise… it’s the sound of a bandleader stepping into his identity.

The 1947  Version - Slower, Longer... and a Little Mysterious

Tommy recorded a slightly revised version of the song for RCA Victor in 1947:

This one has some intrigue. It’s played slower, stretching past four minutes - too long for a standard 10‑inch 78. It seems the first release was an edited version tucked into the 1951 Theme Songs album set.

The full performance didn’t surface widely until the 1960s, on the Reader’s Digest box The Great Band Era. A legendary set!

The 1953 Decca Update — A New Coat of Paint

By the early ’50s, Tommy was back at Decca and cut a refreshed take on his theme.

I wouldn’t claim this equals the 1936 version - few things do - but it’s charming in its own right, especially with the added chorus and the more modern sheen.

A Constant Through Every Version

Across all five recordings, one thing never wavers: Tommy’s trombone. For my dough, no other musician - on any instrument - could make something feel so intimate, so direct, so... sentimental. It’s a masterclass in emotional clarity.

Bonus: Spike Crashes the Party (1948)

Before we leave the tune, we have to check out Spike Jones’s 1948 parody for RCA Victor:

Listeners in ’48 would’ve instantly recognized Tommy’s theme, which makes the little TD imitation gone wrong all the funnier. Spike always knew exactly where to place his barbs.

And after all that… yeah, I’m gettin’ sentimental too.