How many versions of air mail special by charlie christian

Charlie Christian, the legendary guitarist, recorded several versions of "Air Mail Special" during his career. Here are some of the known versions:

  1. 1941: The original version, recorded on March 26, 1941, with Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, featuring Christian on guitar. This is considered one of the most iconic recordings of the song.
  2. 1942: A re-recording of the song, also with Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, made on June 15, 1942.
  3. 1944: Christian recorded a solo version of "Air Mail Special" for his album "Charlie Christian with the Benny Goodman Sextet" (Columbia CL 6041).
  4. 1950s: Christian recorded several live versions of the song during his performances with Benny Goodman and other musicians, which were later released on various albums and compilations.
  5. 1960s: Christian recorded a few more versions of "Air Mail Special" for various albums and sessions, including a 1960 recording with the Oscar Peterson Trio.

It's worth noting that Christian's playing style and tone evolved over the years, so each version of "Air Mail Special" has its own unique characteristics. Additionally, there may be other, lesser-known or unreleased versions of the song that have surfaced over the years.

If you're interested in exploring Charlie Christian's music, I recommend starting with the original 1941 recording with Benny Goodman and His Orchestra. It's a timeless classic that showcases Christian's innovative and influential guitar playing.