A promotional tool and photo op for Johnny Long. This was fresh on the heels of the success of Glenn Miller’s original million selling record of Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Miller’s rendering of the song Chattanooga Choo-Choo was the World’s Biggest Record at the time.
“The World’s Biggest Record?” Scan Original Text:
New York – Dig that platter of Chattanooga Choo-Choo. It’s said to be the largest phono disc ever made, and above, is used as a table top. Left to right are Bob Houston, Miss Dixie Waller, Johnny Long, Helen Young and Lewis C. Pennebaker. He and Miss Waller recently served as special emissaries of Mayor Bass of Chattanooga who ap-pointed Long an honorary member of the town as a result of Longs’ Decca discing of the tune. Glenn Miller also was honored similarly and so was Dinah Shore. Long and band are now on tour.
More On “The World’s Biggest Record?” Scan:
The idea for this table may have gotten more plays than the actual Johnny Long version of the song did.
Johnny Long and the “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” Table
The World’s Biggest Record shown here was a clever promotional prop. However, the original record it celebrated, as recorded by Glenn Miller, was a legitimate phenomenon. As later recorded by Johnny Long and his Orchestra for Decca, their version of “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” sought to capture the same magic as the famous Glenn Miller recording. Long’s band was known for their energetic collegiate swing style. This massive “disc” table was used to generate buzz during their 1942 tour.
A Promotional Masterstroke in 1942
This March 1942 Downbeat Magazine scan captures a peak era of novelty promotion. The “record” table wasn’t just a prop; it represented the civic pride of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Indeed, as the text notes, Mayor Bass even appointed Johnny Long as an honorary member of the town. This kind of “stunt” photography was a staple for music magazines of the era, helping to humanize the big band leaders for their growing fan bases.
Legacy of the Chattanooga Choo Choo
The “Chattanooga Choo Choo” was the first song in history to be awarded a gold record. While Glenn Miller received that first physical award, versions by Johnny Long and Dinah Shore kept the tune at the top of the charts throughout the early 1940s. Today, this scan serves as a charming reminder of the era’s creative marketing—even if the “world’s biggest record” was actually just a cardboard cover on a piece of furniture.
Hear a special long version of Glenn Miller’s Chattanooga Choo-Choo, from the film Orchestra Wives, rotating on our live big band radio stream and explore more scans in our Swing Era Magazine Scan Archive.