Billy Vaughn - Billy Vaughn Plays The Million Sellers (1959/2021)

On Billy Vaughn Plays the Million Sellers, the hits he plays are not his own. The album surveys a few popular instrumentals from the previous several years, including "Canadian Sunset" and "Moonglow," but also offers instrumental arrangements of hit songs such as "So Rare" and "Fascination." Vaughn dips further back into the past with an update of Glenn Miller's signature tune, "In the Mood," and closes the album with a slightly out-of-place rendition of "High Noon." Vaughn's arrangements are full orchestrations with horns, strings, piano, a chorus, and on some cuts prominent percussion. The harmonica on "Ruby" creates a moment of interest, but Vaughn's plain and muted approach throughout is less compelling than the orchestrations of some of his competitors. Nonetheless, Billy Vaughn Plays the Million Sellers, with its collection of famous tunes in one convenient package, was a popular album.