Spreadin' Rhythm Around

Here's one that I've been meaning to get to for some time. I was reminded of this recently after I was outbid on a McKenzie's Candy Kids 78. One of these days I'll get one! From Scott Yanow at Allmusic.com comes the following description: The Mound City Blue Blowers originally made history with a dozen high-quality novelty recordings during 1924-25 that featured the trio of Red McKenzie's comb, Dick Slevin's kazoo and banjoist Jack Bland; guitarist Eddie Lang solidified the rhythm on their later six numbers. However, other than McKenzie's participation, those dates had little to do with the 25 recordings on this Classics CD, the last issued under the Mound City Blue Blowers' name. In fact, other than taking four vocals on the first date, McKenzie makes only cameo appearances on kazoo during the remainder of the program, although he had clearly organized the bands. The six sessions feature overlapping personnel with some hot playing from either Bunny Berigan (on four of the dates) or Yank Lawson on trumpet and Eddie Miller or Forrest Crawford on tenor and clarinet. In addition to McKenzie, guitarist Nappy Lamare has eight vocals; there are also five from Billy Wilson, four from Spooky Dickenson and two by a vocal group. Only "High Society" and "Muskrat Ramble" are instrumentals, although there are strong solos on nearly every number. The music falls between Dixieland and small-group swing and is most notable for the playing of Berigan. Enjoy. +
Tracks

1 What's the Reason (I'm Not Pleasing You?)
2 She's a Latin from Manhattan
3 You've Been Takin' Lessons
4 (Back Home Again In) Indiana
5 Red Sails in the Sunset
6 I'm Sittin' High on a Hill Top
7 On Treasure Island
8 Thanks a Million
9 Eeny Meeny Meiny Mo
10 A Little Bit Independent
11 I'm Shooting High
12 I've Got My Fingers Crossed
13 High Society
14 Muskrat Ramble
15 The Broken Record
16 The Music Goes 'Round and Around
17 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter)
18 Mama Don't Allow It
19 (If I Had) Rhythm in My Nursery Rhymes
20 I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music
21 You Hit the Spot
22 Spreadin' Rhythm Around
23 Saddle Your Blues to a Wild Mustang
24 Wah-Hoo!
25 I'm Gonna Clap My Hands

The Sun Has Got His Hat On

Here's the next in the series of Hits from ASV, another good mix of artists from both sides of the pond. I hadn't heard many of these until I picked up this cd a few years ago. That was before the era of streaming internet radio, so my exposure was limited and this was the first time I had heard Al Bowlly. Shocking, I know. Others have covered the tune, but can anyone top his version of Love Is The Sweetest Thing? And though I'm no Rudy fan by any great measure, he doesn't do too bad on the last track. Unfortunately I do not have the Hits of '33, so the next post in this series will cover 1934. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. As Time Goes By - Binnie Hale with the Savoy Orpheans, Carroll Gibbons - piano
2. Sun Has Got His Hat On - Ambrose & His Orchestra, Sam Browne - vocal
3. Clouds Will Soon Roll By - Ambrose & His Orchestra, Elsie Carlisle - vocal
4. Please - Bing Crosby, Anson Weeks & His Orchestra
5. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - Ivie Anderson, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
6. Love Is the Sweetest Thing - Al Bowlly, Ray Noble & His New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, Harry Jacobson - piano
7. Goodbye Blues - The Mills Brothers
8. I'll Never Be the Same - Carroll Gibbons & His Boy Friends, Anne Lenner - vocal, Matty Malneck - violin
9. Mad Dogs and Englishmen - Noël Coward, Ray Noble & His New Mayfair Dance Orchestra,
10. Mad About the Boy - Gertrude Lawrence with the Chenil Studio Orchestra
11. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You - Gene Austin, The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
12. Happy Go Lucky You (And Broken Hearted Me) - Syd Lipton & His Grosvenor House Band, Sam Browne - vocal
13. Underneath the Arches - Flanagan & Allen with Henry Hall & BBC Dance Orchestra
14. By the Fireside - Al Bowlly, Ray Noble & His Orchestra
15. Gipsy Moon - Ray Noble & His New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, Richard Crooks - vocal
16. Isn't It Romantic? (Love Me Tonight) - Jeanette MacDonald with Nat Finston & Paramount Studio Orchestra
17. Song Is You - Lawrence Tibbett with Nat Shilkret & His Orchestra
18. I've Told Ev'ry Little Star - Mary Ellis with His Majesty's Theatre Chorus & Orchestra, conducted by Hyam Greenbaum
19. When We Are Alone (Penthouse Serenade) - Al Bowlly, Ray Fox & His Band
20. Say It Isn't So - Greta Keller with Victor Young and His Orchestra
21. Paradise - Bing Crosby with Victor Young & His Orchestra
22. When It's Sleepy Time Down South - Paul Robeson with Ray Noble & His New Mayfair Dance Orchestra
23. Auf Wiederseh'n, My Dear - Layton & Johnstone
24. Let's Put Out the Lights (And Go to Sleep) - Rudy Vallée and His Connecticut Yankees

I'm Playing With Fire

At last, another set of Chick Bullock sides. This time I offer up 20 tunes from 1933, skipping 1932 because I've already packed all my records and seem to have not recorded several of them from '32. This is also the reason for the image at left (from 1938) because I don't have access to take photos. "So Little Time" seems appropriate these days. Anyway, with the exception of four tunes these are all from my 78s. I've added the session info in the tags. The track listings below indicate the name of the performer as printed on the 78 label, but are not necessarily the name of the band playing (e.g., Victor Young and His Orch are listed on the same song on Melotone and Perfect labels as Phil Romano, yet as Ed Loyd on Imperial). Lastly, these are not listed chronologically though they are all from 1933. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Now We're On Our Second Honeymoon - Bob Causer and His Cornellians
2. I'm Playing With Fire - Bob Causer and His Cornellians
3. Ain'tcha Glad - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers
4. Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Art Kahn's Orchestra
5. Delta Bound - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers
6. Did You Ever See A Dream Walking - Gene Kardos and His Orchestra
7. Have You Ever Been Lonely? - Chick Bullock
8. Isn't this A Night For Love - Chick Bullock
9. Stormy Weather - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers
10. Thanks - Chick Bullock
11. We'll Make Hay While The Sun Shines - Chick Bullock
12. Blue Prelude - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers
13. I Just Couldn't Take It Baby - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers
14. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers
15. There's A Cabin In The Pines - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers
16. Keep On Doin' What You're Doin' - Earl Harlan and His Orchestra (McKinney's Cotton Pickers)
17. Tired Of It All - Earl Harlan and His Orchestra (McKinney's Cotton Pickers)
18. You're Such A Comfort To Me - Gene Kardos and His Orchestra
19. Hold Me - Phil Romano and His De Witt Hotel Orchestra
20. You'll Never Get To Heaven That Way - Phil Romano and His De Witt Hotel Orchestra