I'd Rather Be A Beggar With You

As the liner notes suggest, Supper Time (by Irving Berlin) from the satirical revue 'As Thousands Cheer' might  be taken for a deserted woman's lament", but it was performed by Ethel Waters wearing rags with newspaper headlines declaring onstage: "Unknown negro lynched by a mob!" Not only was the poverty and the depression hurting people, but the show gave a "glimpse of ugliness behind the ornate safety curtain of theatrical make-believe" that was very real for many in the South. Track 2 here is from Russ Carlson, and is one of my favorite tunes of the era. Be sure to check out the fantastic TOM cds of Crown Records recordings. Banks were fair game, and so was Hoover. A Shanty In Old Shanty Town was recorded by several artists, including Chick Bullock (on another post). Chick steps up with a fine version of I'd Rather Be A Beggar With You. Guarded optimism marks the next few titles including Rome Wasn't Built In A Day, and If I Ever Get A Job Again. Ben Selvin suggests that good times are indeed on the way, although his entry here was recorded on March 8, 1932 when the country was anywhere but headed for recovery. Six of these tracks were recorded in 1932, three in 1934 and the rest in 1933. After the havoc of 1932 things were looking up, right? Ben Bernie, Ted Lewis, Ruth Etting and another Chick Bullock tune promise that the Grass Is Getting Greener (the latter with Bunny Berigan with the Victor Young Orchestra). The theme continues with the Boswells and We're In The Money. Yes, I believe! For all the effort to cheer up and convince people that it really was just a matter of 'confidence', but then Emil Coleman brings us down to earth with Let 'Em Eat Cake. And with that, we're back to a one-room flat. Enjoy! +

Tracks

01 - Leo Reisman & His Orchestra - Super Time
02 - Russ Carlson High Steppers - Banking On The Weather
03 - Gene Kardos Orchestra - A Shanty In Old Shantytown
04 - Joe Morrison - (Here We Are) Rolling In Love
05 - Chick Bullock's Levee Loungers - I'd Rather Be A Beggar With Love
06 - Freddy Martin Orchestra - Here You Come With Love
07 - Bing Crosby - Let's Put Out The Lights And Go To Sleep
08 - Graham Prince Orchestra - The Clouds Will Soon Roll By
09 - Abe Lyman Orchestra - Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
10 - Gene Kardos Orchestra - If I Ever Get A Job Again
11 - Ben Selvin & His Orchestra - Them Good Old Times Are Coming Back Again
12 - Ben Bernie Orchestra - Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?
13 - Ted Lewis Orchestra - There's A New Day Coming
14 - Ted Lewis Orchestra - Buy American!
15 - Ruth Etting - Hey! Young Fella
16 - Victor Young Orchestra - The Grass Is Getting Greener
17 - Ted Fio Rito Orchestra - (I Went Hunting) And The Big Bad Wolf Was Dead
18 - Ramona With The Park Avenue Boys - We're Out Of The Red
19 - The Boswell Sisters - We're In The Money
20 - Dick Powell - The Road Is Open Again
21 - Emil Coleman's Riviera Orchestra - Let 'Em Eat Cake
22 - Freddy Martin Orchestra - In A One Room Flat

Here It Is Monday And I've Still Got A Dollar

It's 1931 and Tin Pan Alley is working overtime trying to psyche America out of the Great Depression, but there were rebuttals. There's No Depression In Love and Now's The Time To Fall In Love were countered with I'm An Unemployed Sweetheart and Last Dollar. Unlike the current Depression, in the 1930s America wore its heart on its sleeve. I think the people who chose the tunes for this set must have had fun - following Lee Morse's contribution, the next four tracks feature the elusive 'Dollar' before giving in to the fatalistic resignation of Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams, followed by darkness and ultimately Alone Together (sans sous, people tended to stay home more). Coinciding with Hoover's attempts at injecting optimism as a panacea, not even Ted Lewis was convincing enough as Let's Have Another Cup Of Coffee slams the remedy with biting satire followed by Sittin' On A Rubbish Can and Underneath The Arches (a roof was a luxury, no doubt). Two desperate pleas follow before ending with It Must Be Swell To Be Laying Out Dead - and this was popular music! According to the book (again, pick up a copy of this set), an "RCA Victor executive heard the tune and ordered its immediate withdrawal from the market, and all existing copies and masters were destroyed. Even the blue file cards at the company's archives in Manhattan have no listing of the song." The record was re-released with another song in its place. As if denying reality could change it! Not all of the sides here are listed chronologically, but the playlist tells an interesting tale nonetheless. Not to be overlooked, of course, is the fantastic music. Enjoy! +


Tracks

01 - Vincent Rose Orchestra - There's No Depression In Love
02 - Victor Young Orchestra - Now's The Time To Fall In Love
03 - Lee Morse - I'm An Unemployed Sweetheart
04 - Emil Coleman's Orchestra - I Got Five Dollars
05 - Paul Specht Orchestra - I Found A Million Dollar Baby
06 - Eddie Droesch Orchestra - Last Dollar
07 - Chick Bullock's Levee Loungers - Here It Is Monday And I've Still Got A Dollar
08 - Mildred Bailey - Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
09 - Sam Lanin's Orchestra - Whistling In The Dark
10 - Ben Selvin & His Orchestra - Dancing In The Dark
11 - Victor Young Orchestra - Alone Together
12 - The Mills Brothers, The Boswells, Bing Crosby - Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
13 - The Boswell Sisters - (We've Got To) Put That Sun Back In The Sky
14 - Ambrose Orchestra - Shoo The Hoodoo Away
15 - Ben Selvin & His Orchestra - Whistle And Blow Your Blues Away
16 - Ted Lewis Orchestra - Headin' For Better Times
17 - Enric Madriguera's Hotel Biltmore Orchestra - Let's Have Another Cup Of Coffee
18 - Julia Gerity - Sittin' On A Rubbish Can
19 - Henry Hall & The BBC Dance Orchestra - Underneath The Arches
20 - Bing Crosby - Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
21 - Freddy Martin Orchestra - Remember My Forgotten Man
22 - Alex Bartha's Hotel Traymore Orchestra - It Must Be Swell To Be Laying Out Dead

Crazy People

Back to the roots of this blog, at long last another selection completely dedicated to Chick Bullock. At one point I had skipped 1932 entirely due to a move, so that is where this and the next two posts (covering at least another fifty tunes) will focus. To get things in chrono(lo)gical order, the first track is from Bullock's final recording session of 1931, on December 24. From there we go to January 12, with a song recorded more than three weeks prior to the Boswell Sisters' version. The girls make an appearance on one track, so listen closely. Most of these tracks were released as Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers, with some exceptions that are noted in the tags, along with the record labels and number. Recording dates are below (which covers what I have through April 19, 1932). Most of these are from my own 78s, but a handful are courtesy of other collectors who have generously shared their collections with me. I've given each of these a listen, compared my original rips with post-restoration versions, and opted to back down on the editing on the theory that perhaps my ears aren't the best judge. On one track I noticed that the cleaned version had obscured some of the instrumentation, so hiss & static is back. Enjoy! +

Tracks

24 December 1931
01. She Didn't Say Yes

12 January 1932
1.   Was That The Human Thing To Do?
2.   How Long Will It Last

13 January
3.   Can't We Talk It Over

14 January
4.   You're My Everything
5.   Of Thee I Sing
6.   Who Cares?

5 February
7.   Kiss Me Goodnight

24 February
8.   Sing A New Song
9.   Stop The Sun, Stop The Moon
10. Soft Lights And Sweet Music
11. Let's Have Another Cup Of Coffee

29 February
12. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
13. I Know You're Lying, But I Love It

8 March
14. Somebody Loves You
15. You're Dancing On My Heart
16. Everything Must Have An Ending

14 March
17. You're The One
18. If It Ain't Love

15 March
19. I Can't Believe That It's You
20. Lawd, You Made The Night Too Long

26 March
21. California Medley, Part 2

31 March
22. My Gal Sal
23. Darktown Strutters Ball

4 April
24. I'd Rather Be A Beggar With You
25. My Extraordinary Girl
26. When The Lights Are Soft And Low
27. I'm So Alone With The Crowd

19 April
28. Crazy People

Turn On The Heat

Turn on the heat for the hemisphere in winter! The team of Buddy De Sylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson had a huge string of hits during their 1925-1930 collaboration, beginning with the George White's Scandals Of 1925. While most of these songs will be familiar to many people, this set includes several versions by popular British performers. One internet critic complains about not including this song or that, or passing over Annette Hanshaw for the British versions. However, I think it's good to hear other interpretations, and in any case it is very easy to find plenty of Hanshaw's material for those who are sticklers. From Answers.com, "The songs by the trio of De Sylva, Brown, and Henderson were characterized by jazz‐inspired rhythms and simple, upbeat lyrics. The shows, all hits, included George White's Scandals of 1925, 1926, and 1928 (introducing “Birth of the Blues,” “Black Bottom,” and “Lucky Day”), Good News! (1927), Manhattan Mary (1927), Hold Everything (1928), Follow Thru (1929), and Flying High (1930). After the team split, Henderson and Brown wrote George White's Scandals of 1931, Hot‐Cha! (1932), and Strike Me Pink (1933). Henderson had little luck on his own, but Brown found some success with Calling All Stars (1934) and Yokel Boy (1939) with other composers. De Sylva had the most fruitful career, producing and/or co‐writing such shows as Take a Chance (1932), Du Barry Was a Lady (1939), Louisiana Purchase (1940), and Panama Hattie (1940). One historian has described the work of De Sylva, Brown, and Henderson as possessing a “distinctive vernacular touch - lowdown in rhythm, piquant in love.” Enjoy. +

Tracks

01. Black Bottom - Bert Firman's Dance Orchestra
02. Good News - George Olsen and His Music
03. Varsity Drag - Zelma O'Neal
04. You're The Cream In My Coffee - Jack Hylton and His Orchestra
05. I'm On The Crest Of A Wave - Harry Richman
06. Sonny Boy - Al Jolson
07. It All Depends On You - Phyllis Dare with The Gaiety Theatre Orchestra
08. Button Up Your Overcoat - Jack Hylton and His Orchestra (v. Sam Browne)
09. I Want To Be Bad - Helen Kane
10. You Wouldn't Fool Me Would You? - Annette Hanshaw
11. I'm A Dreamer, Aren't We All? - Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra
12. If I Had A Talking Picture Of You - Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell
13. Turn On The Heat - Lloyd Keating and His Music (v. Sammy Fain)
14. Little Pal - Al Jolson
15. Never Swat A Fly - The Blue Jays (Harry Hudson's Orchestra)
16. Don't Tell Her What Happened To Me - Boswell Sisters
17. If You Haven't Got Love - Gloria Swanson
18. You Try Somebody Else - Russ Columbo
19. One More Time - Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra

Shadows on the Swanee

Once again, kudos to the folks at Columbia for their packaging. The Art Deco series has yet to disappoint me. This two-disc set is the companion piece to The Crooners (posted January 2009, get it while Rapid$hare lasts if you haven't already). I'm sure there are other notable singers who might have been included here, such as June Richmond, Victoria Spivey or Ella Fitzgerald. But to omit Anita O'Day? I also think they should have included Ethel Waters' version of Shine On Harvest Moon, which in my opinion is one of the finest. ...(suddenly a feeling of déjà vu, but a check on the blog tells me I didn't post this already) ... Back to reality, this is probably one of the best collections on two cds that I've ever found, and I'm glad to be able to share it with everyone. An added bonus, some time ago I had scanned the entire booklet and all, which is included as high-res.tif files in the first folder.. I'll stop writing so you can start listening. Enjoy. + +

Tracks
Ruth Etting
1. Ten Cents a Dance
2. I'm Good for Nothing But Love
3. A Needle in a Haystack

Helen Morgan
4. (I've Got) Sand in My Shoes
5. I See Two Lovers (w/Jimmy Grier and His Orchestra)

Greta Keller
6. He's My Secret Passion
7. Willow Weep for Me

Annette Hanshaw
8. Big City Blues
9. Daddy, Won't You Please Come Home
10. Moanin' Low
11. The Way I Feel Today
12. Love Me Tonight
13. Moon Song

Ethel Waters
14. I Just Couldn't Take It, Baby
15. Shadows on the Swanee

Connie Boswell
16. Lullaby of the Leaves
17. Under a Blanket of Blue
18. I Cover the Waterfront
19. Say It
20. A New Moon Is Over My Shoulder

The Boswell Sisters
21. Doggone, I've Done It (I've Fallen in Love)
22. Mood Indigo
23. Sophisticated Lady
24. I Hate Myself
25. Rock & Roll

Disc Two

Frances Langford
1. Stormy Weather
2. You're Hi-Di-Hi-Ing Me
3. Nasty Man
4. Then You've Never Been Blue

Alice Faye
5. My Future Star [From "365 Nights in Hollywood"]
6. Oh, I Didn't Know

Lee Wiley
7. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues [Alternate Take][#]
8. You've Got Me Crying Again
9. Let's Call It a Day [Alternate Take][#] (with Victor Young and His Orchestra)
10. Easy Come, Easy Go (with Johnny Green and His Orchestra)
11. A Hundred Years from Today (with the Casa Loma Orchestra)

Helen Ward (with Ed Loyd and His Orchestra)
12. Let's Put Two and Two Together

Ella Logan
13. Night Wind
14. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown

Maxine Sullivan
15. I Wish I Were Twins
16. Loch Lomond
17. The Hour of Parting

Mildred Bailey and Her Orchestra
18. Mad About the Boy [Alternate Take][#]
19. I See Your Face Before Me [Alternate Take][#]
20. Love's a Necessary Thing

Nan Wynn with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra
21. The Lamp Is Low
22. You Go to My Head

Ginny Simms and Her Orchestra
23. I Can't Face the Music
24. Sweet and Slow
25. I'm Out of Style

Coffee In The Morning

Who needs caffeine to get the joint jumping when you've got the Boswell Sisters? Here's another out-of-print cd from the L'Art Vocal series, this one featuring some of the Boswell's most popular tunes from 1930 to 1936. Hi-res scans are included in the file. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Heebie Jeebies
2. When I Take My Sugar To Tea
3. Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On
4. Shout, Sister, Shout
5. I Found A Million Dollar Baby
6. It's The Girl
7. I Can't Write The Words
8. An Ev'ning In Caroline
9. Was That The Human Thing To Do?
10. Stop The Sun, Stop The Moon
11. Everybody Loves My Baby
12. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
13. Coffee In The Morning
14. You Oughta Be In Pictures
15. Alexander's Ragtime Band
16. Don't Let Your Love Go Wrong
17. Rock And Roll
18. The Object Of My Affection
19. Dinah
20. St.Louis Blues
21. Cheek To Cheek
22. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter

Louisiana Hayride

Another nice collection in the Art Deco series. For a cool site dedicated to the Boswell Sisters, check out www.bozzies.com. Cover and booklet info here. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Rock and Roll
2. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
3. Louisiana Hayride
4. Shuffle Off to Buffalo
5. Sophisticated Lady
6. Song of Surrender
7. Sleep, Come on and Take Me
8. That's How Rhythm Was Born
9. Sentimental Gentleman From Georgia, The
10. Coffee in the Morning and Kisses in the Night
11. Forty-Second Street
12. Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day
13. Darktown Strutter's Ball, The
14. If I Had a Million Dollars
15. It's Written All Over Your Face
16. Charlie Two-Step
17. Trav'lin All Alone
18. St. Louis Blues
19. Dinah
20. Object of My Affection, The

It's The Girls

There have been sister vocal groups before and after, but none have ever equaled the impact on popular music that the Boswell Sisters brought to the scene. Though they made their first recording for Victor in 1925, it was the Brunswick years 1931-1935 that they made their most popular recordings which they made along with the best in the business - the Dorseys, Joe Venuti among others. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. It's the Girl
2. That's What I Like About You
3. Heebie Jeebies
4. Concentratin' (on You)
5. Wha'd Ja Do to Me?
6. I'm All Dressed up With a Broken Heart
7. When I Take My Sugar to Tea
8. Don't Tell Him What Happened to Me
9. Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On
10. I'm Gonna Cry (Cryin' Blues)
11. This Is the Missus/Ladies and Gentleman/That's Love/Life Is Just a Bowl Of Cherries
12. My Future Just Passed
13. What Is It?
14. Shine on Harvest Moon
15. Gee, But I'd Like to Make You Happy
16. We're on the Highway to Heaven
17. Time on My Hands
18. Nights When I'm Lonely
19. Shout, Sister, Shout
20. It's You