Hello Gorgeous

Time flies, only it hasn't been fun putting in 60-70 hours/week. Well, here at last is some more Chick Bullock with Volume 2 of 1932. I've got several of these on 78s, and the Waring tunes appear elsewhere, however for expediency I've opted to pull all of these from mp3s that I've acquired from other sources. I think my hard drive with my Bullock rips is stored away at the moment, and these are all I have access to at the moment, and it's been too long since I've posted more tunes from my favorite artist of the era. Some of these tunes are rather mundane with bland arrangements, but then there are some really nice gems. It would be hard to equal the versions by the Mills Brothers', but both Shine and I Heard are very nice. Dixie and Business in F are nice and jumpy, as they should be, backed by Gene Kardos and His Orchestra. A different Kardos version of the latter is available elsewhere in the blog. Oh, Monah features Dick Robertson backed by a chorus that includes Chick Bullock, which may be the only time he sang back-up (he did trade verses with Cab Calloway on one tune). Another tune, If You Were Only Mine, has a melody that I swear is used in another Bullock recording. I think it may be Crying Myself To Sleep, but I could be mistaken. So much of the music from this era blurred the lines between originality and plagiarism, if not wipe them out altogether. It's amazing that it wasn't known as the Litigious Age. Another enjoyable side is Is I In Love, I Is, backed again by the Kardos orchestra. Listeners may be more familiar with the Dick Robertson version, as he also recorded many of the same tunes presented here. Well, enough of my drivel. On to the music, and let's hope the next installment isn't so far off. *Note: I suggest deleting the image in the download in favor the one above. Enjoy! +

Tracks

21 April 1932 Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers

01 - Hello Gorgeous
02 - Dixie

21 April 1932 Gene Kardos and His Orchestra

03 - Business In F
04 - Oh, Monah (with Dick Robertson)

13 May 1932 Lou Gold and His Orchestra

05 - Hummin' To Myself

13 May 1932 Gene Kardos and His Orchestra

06 - Is I In Love  I Is!
07 - Why Don't You Get Lost

13 May 1932 Carolina Club Orchestra

08 - Goofus
09 - I Beg You Pardon Mademoiselle

2 June 1932 Studio Orchestra

10 - When You Are Getting Along with Your Gal
11 - Who Besides Me Sits Beside You
12 - When We Ride On The Merry-Go-Round

22 June 1932 Ted Black and His Orchestra

13 - In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town

25 June 1932 Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers
Mannie Klein-t/Jimmy Dorsey-cl/Matty Malneck-vn/Joe Meresco-p/Carl Kress-g/Artie Bernstein-sb/Stan King-d

14 - Shine
15 - I Heard
16 - The Night When Love Was Born
17 - If You Were Only Mine

27 June 1932 Waring's Pennsylvanians

18 - Holding My Honey's Hand
19 - Old Man Of The Mountain

1 July 1932 Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers

20 - Rain, Rain, Go Away

Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Here's the last cd of this set. What Have We Got To Lose? Stringing Along On A Shoestring, When My Ship Comes In and If I Had A Million Dollars all echo what a lot of people were thinking.  Our Penthouse On Third Avenue features one of my favorite singers, who to my ear just seems to sing perfectly. Almost as good as the Bea Wain vocal on Our Penthouse On Third Avenue is the photo of her (sorry, no scan). The editors chose Ramona's version of Raising The Rent because it includes the verse lyrics. Roy Bargy (p), Benny Bonacio (cl) and Bunny Berigan (tr) accompany here. Ramona also sings Now I'm A Lady, which is a tune Mae West sang in a film but never recorded. Gotta Go To Work Again from Ted Wallace is a tune that was used as instrumental background music in the film My Man Godfrey. This version features an unknown male vocal. Chick Bullock makes his appearance on the 3rd of 4 of these cds, so obviously the editors have good taste. Are You Making Any Money? (is all I want to know) was written by Herman Hupfield, of As Time Goes By fame. Even without Chick singing, it's a great tune and is the first song of his I'd ever heard (on another Depression collection found early in this blog). I'm not a big Disney fan, but Artie Shaw really made Whistle While You Work swing. Closing out the decade, the Mills Brothers and Louis Armstrong recorded WPA in 1940, and to close out the entire set is the extremely pollyanish, premature and rather insulting tune (considering it was recorded on February 3, 1930 just 3 months after Black Thursday) Happy Days Are Here Again. According to the liner notes, the song was taken to George Olsen, who was playing the Hotel Pennsylvania, who told his band to "play it to the corpses". It took a few choruses for the audience to warm to the tune. This version is by Ben Selvin and an all but anonymous studio orchestra. The book to this box set features a lot of great pictures of artists, sheet music, magazines, record sleeves, etc. It also has a selected bibliography for reading about the Great Depression, and an even bigger filmography. All in all, this set deserves its place as a resource for any study of the era. Very well done. Enjoy! +

Tracks

01 - Phil Harris Coconut Grove Orchestra - What Have We Got To Lose?
02 - Henry 'Red' Allen - Stringin' Along On A Shoe String
03 - Eddie Cantor - When My Ship Comes In
04 - The Boswell Sisters - If I Had A Million Dollars
05 - Gene Kardos Orchestra - Our Penthouse On Third Avenue
06 - Ramona & Roy Bargy - Raising The Rent
07 - Chick Bullock's Levee Loungers - Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore
08 - Connie Boswell - The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
09 - Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra - Now I'm A Lady
10 - Adrian Rollini & Orchestra - I Gotta Get Up And Go To Work
11 - Ted Wallace Orchestra - Gotta Go To Work Again
12 - Chick Bullock's Levee Loungers - Are You Making Any Money?
13 - Ozzie Nelson Orchestra - Got The Jitters
14 - Don Bestor Orchestra - Rain
15 - The Ink Spots - With Plenty Of Money And You
16 - Teddy Hill - I'm Feeling Like A Million
17 - Red Norvo Orchestra - Slummin' On Park Avenue
18 - Artie Shaw New Music - Whistle While You Work
19 - Louis-Mills Armstrong Brothers - WPA
20 - Kay Kyser & His Orchestra - Hey Pop! I Don't Wanna Go To Work
21 - Horace Heidt & Orchestra - Dawn Of A New Day
22 - Ben Selvin & His Orchestra - Happy Days Are Here Again

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

Let Yourself Go

Closing out the month with a bang! For all the excellent work that Classics did in compiling this great music, there were sometimes complaints about missing and erroneous tracks. I can't speak to the former, but the Bunny Berigan 1935-36 disc was issued with the unforgivable sin of deleting Chick Bullock's vocals. They were why I had bought the cd in the first place! Thanks to a fellow collector, I'm able to share this. All is well now, as Classics made up for the inclusion of those tracks (which I believe had come from a 1960s Berigan LP - so beware should you be record browsing and contemplate purchasing it). The Berigan / Bullock combination on Let Yourself Go is alone worth picking up the entire 3-cd set, in my opinion. Both are in fine form. ... The set starts off with a couple of Chick Webb instrumentals, the last before Ella Fitzgerald joined the band. In addition to these, there are some really interesting and / or alternative tracks here from many of the artists familiar to listeners of this series. Band title of the set goes to Louis Armstrong and Buster Bailey for their Red Onion Jazz Babies. Enjoy! + + +

Tracks

Disc 1
01 - Who Ya Hunchin'
02 - In The Groove At The Grove
03 - Night Wind
04 - If The Moon Turns Green
05 - Devil In The Moon
06 - Louisiana Fairy Tale
07 - Boats
08 - Fish For Supper
09 - 'Ats In There
10 - Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
11 - Rain, Rain, Go Away
12 - Summertime
13 - Pistol Packin' Mama
14 - Redman Blues
15 - Great Day In The Morning
16 - Midnite Mood
17 - Dark Glasses
18 - Mickey Finn
19 - Carrie Mae Blues
20 - Clementine
21 - I've Found A New Baby
22 - After Hour Creep
23 - Garbage Man Blues
24 - Chickasaw Stomp
25 - Memphis Rag

Disc 2
01 - I Got Rhythm
02 - St. Louis Blues
03 - Lazy Bones
04 - Dinah
05 - King Porter Stomp
06 - Moten Swing
07 - Minor Riff
08 - Satchel Mouth Baby
09 - Close Your Eyes
10 - This Is Everything I Prayed For
11 - Again
12 - Ain't I Losing You
13 - Of All The Wrongs You Done To Me
14 - Terrible Blues
15 - Santa Claus Blues
16 - Cake Walking Babies From Home
17 - Lucy Long
18 - I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle
19 - If You Can't Hold The Man You Love
20 - Blue Devil Blues
21 - Squabblin'
22 - Smoke-House Blues
23 - Beau-Koo Jack
24 - Exactly Like You
25 - Froglegs And Bourbon

Disc 3
01 - I Would Do Anything For You
02 - Tiger Rag
03 - Bugs Parade
04 - Wall Street Wail
05 - Poor Lil' Me
06 - Are You Hep To The Jive
07 - All The Time
08 - On The Sentimental Side
09 - Pete's Lonesome Blues
10 - Mr. Drums Meets Mr. Piano
11 - Mutiny In The Doghouse
12 - Mr. Clarinet Knocks Twice
13 - Ben Rides Out
14 - Page Mr. Trumpet
15 - J.C. From K.C.
16 - Pete's Housewarming Blues
17 - It's Been So Long
18 - I'd Rather Lead A Band
19 - Let Yourself Go
20 - A Melody From The Sky
21 - Rhythm Saved The World
22 - I Nearly Let Love Go Slipping Thru' My Fingers
23 - But Definitely
24 - If I Had My Way

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

Let's Swing It

On the second of four discs in this box set, Condon performs on some pretty good tunes. The first six tunes are with Billy Banks and Jack Bland (see the post for their Classics cd), but best of all. the vocalist on track 5 is none other than Chick Bullock. Thus proving that ... they both did a lot of session work. Also in these first April. October 1932 sessions, we can hear Henry "Red" Allen, Gene Krupa, Fats Waller, Tommy Dorsey and Pee Wee Russell among others. Tracks 7-10 and 11-12 are by Eddie Condon and His Orchestra, recorded October 21 and November 17, 1933, respectively. Check out Russell, Bud Freeman and Max Kaminsky take turns on The Eel (both takes), while Condon and the others keep things shuffling and swinging along. Madame Dynamite is another good one. Murder in The Moonlight starts off five tracks recorded with Condon's buddy Red McKenzie, who proves that even a pocket comb is a jazz instrument when used right. Next up brings in Bunny Berigan, and his signature tune I Can't Get Started. Filling out the disc are tunes performed with the bands of Jonah Jones, Putney Dandridge, Sharkey Bonano and Joe Marsala. This set covers April, 1932 thru April, 1937. See the scans for the complete information. In the meantime... Enjoy! +

Tracks

01. Bugle Call Rag
02. Oh! Peter
03. Yes Suh!
04. Who Stole The Lock
05. A Shine On Your Shoes
06. Somebody Stole Gabriel's Horn
07. The Eel
08. Tennessee Twilight
09. Madame Dynamite
10. Home Cooking
11. The Eel
12. Home Cooking
13. Murder In The Moonlight
14. Let's Swing It
15. Double Trouble
16. That's What You Think
17. Every Now And Then
18. What Is There To Say
19. Keep Smilin' At Trouble
20. I Can't Get Started
21. Sweet Thing
22. Easy To Love
23. Old Fashioned Swing
24. Wolverine Blues
25. Jazz Me Blues

Them There Eyes

Here's a combination of two of my favorites, Duke and Chick Bullock. In this addition to the large Ellington chronological series, Bullock handles the vocals on no less than six tracks (11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20). I can't recall if I read it, or heard it somewhere, but apparently Ellington was a bit skeptical of Bullock's ability but liked the first session (Jan. 10, 1931) so much that he requested him for the next week's session (Jan 16). The Ellington/Bullock version of Rockin' Chair is a classic, and Bullock really belts it out on Sam and Delilah as well. Since my cd booklet is buried in a box somewhere, I can only provide info for the two Bullock sessions. These included Arthur Whetsol, Freddie Jenkins, Cootie Williams (t), Joe Nanton (tb)/Juan Tizol (v.tb), Johnny Hodges (cl, as, sop.sx), Harry Carney (cl, as, bar), Barney Bigard (cl, ts), Duke Ellington (p, ldr, arr), Fred Guy (b), Wellman Braud (sb), and Sonny Greer (d). Bigard is not on the second Bullock session. Enjoy - and Happy Carnival! +

Tracks

01. The Harlem Footwarmers - I'm So In Love With You
02. The Harlem Footwarmers - Rockin' In Rhythm
03. The Harlem Footwarmers - Nine Little Miles From Ten-Ten-Tennesse
04. Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra - I'm So In Love With You
05. Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra - What Good Am I Without You?
06. Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra - Blue Again
07. Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra - When A Black Man's Blue
08. Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra - What Good Am I Without You?
09. Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra - When A Black Man's Blue
10. Duke Ellington And His Cotton Club Orchestra - Mood Indigo
11. The Whoopee Makers - Them There Eyes
12. The Whoopee Makers - Rockin' Chair
13. The Whoopee Makers - I'm So In Love With You
14. The Jungle Band - Rockin' Chair
15. The Jungle Band - Rockin' In Rhythm
16. The Jungle Band - Twelfth Street Rag
17. Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Rockin' In Rhythm
18. Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - The River And Me
19. Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Keep A Song In Your Soul
20. Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Sam And Delliah
21. Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - The Peanut Vendor
22. Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Creole Rhapsody (Part 1)
23. Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Creole Rhapsody (Part 2)

Page Mr. Volstead

In honor of Repeal Day, here is a re-post of a previous offering. On this day in 1933, the state of Utah (of all places!) ratified the 21st Amendment, thus forming the three-fourths majority necessary to amend the US Constitution. More about Repeal Day here.

Page Mr. Volstead is the name of this blog, taken from Bob Miller's 1930 recording on Champion 16024-B. Other than Chick Bullock, I often scan auctions for interesting titles. This one leaped out, and I was lucky enough to win it at a low price. I've yet to find another copy since, though I keep looking for one. You can read more about Miller and pick up a cd here). Though I favor jazz from the 1920s and 1930s, it was more often country music that gave voice to the common man. Miller had a string of hits doing just that. Mr. Volstead, of course, was the [ahem] brave Senator who introduced the bill - while over 4 million servicemen were conveniently at war in Europe - that became the18the Amendment (don't get me started on his modern-day counterparts). As we all know, Prohibition was a colossal failure on many levels, and though.alcohol may have been illegal, to say that everybody was doing it was not far off the mark (see Miller's lyrics after the track listings). The rest of this selection all revolve around the theme of drinking, or going out to drink, more or less based on the song title and even the band name, if nothing else. Most of the artists should be familiar to everyone, with the bulk of songs coming from my own 78s. I am still struggling to find the "optimal" point of audio restoration, in between doing too little and doing too much, neither of which is pleasurable listening. Please give feedback about the sound quality, it will greatly help future efforts. Big thanks to Radiola for help with audio tips and the use of a couple of transcriptions, and to Big Harlan Taylor and his posse for help with the graphics. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Billy Murray - The Alcoholic Blues (Columbia A2702) 1919
2. Clarence Williams - Speakeasy
3. All Star Collegians - Do You Think A Little Drink'll Do Us Any Harm (v.Tom Brown) Perfect 15509-B (1931)
4. Duke Ellington - Cocktails For Two (take 1)
5. Cab Calloway and His Orchestra - Hot Toddy (1932)
6. Miff Mole's Molers - A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight (1927)
7. Bob Haring and His Orchestra - Madeira (Cameo 691) 1925
8. Bar Harbor Society Orchestra - Vamp Me (Vocalion B 14448) 1922
9. Halfway House Orchestra - Barataria (Okeh 40318 B)
10. High Hatters - Medley of Drinking Songs Part 1(Victor 24299) 1933
11. All Star Trio and Their Orchestra - I'm Laughing All The Time (Victor 18835-B) 1921
12. Bob Haring and His Orchestra - Doing The Town (Cameo 683) 1924
13. Ted Lewis and His Band - Tiger Rag (Columbia 36301) 1926
14. Earl Shirkey and Roy Harper - When The Roses Bloom for the Bootlegger Col 15326-D (1928)
15. Frank Crumit - I Married the Bootlegger's Daughter (1925) 19739-A
16. King Oliver - Speakeasy Blues
17. Stuff Smith - Old Joe's Hittin' The Jug
18. Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang - In the Bottle Blues
19. Louis Armstrong and Savoy Ballroom Five - Tight Like This
20. Luis Russell and His Orchestra - It's Tight Like That
21. Bob Miller - Five Cent Glass Of Beer (Champion 16024-A) 1930
22. Troubadours - After Every Party (Victor 19011-A) 1923
23. Wingy Manone and His Orchestra - Weary Blues (Decca 7415-B) 1930
24. Gene Austin - St. James Infirmary (Victor 22299-A) 1930
25. Chick Bullock - Alcoholic Ward Blues B09374A 1930 Oriole 1903
26. Pine Top Smith - I'm Sober Now (Brunswick 80009) 1929
27. Bob Miller - Page Mr Volstead (Champion 16024-B) 1930


Page Mr. Volstead
by Bob Miller

This country was a desert long ago
And early settlers died of thirst they say
Some think it's drying up again, you know
I wonder how they get that way

Page Mr. Volstead, Page Mr. Volstead
Here comes Father with another load of gin
Brother Willie broke the rules
And he staggered home from school
Sister Susie totes a flask, ain't that sin?

Now they all take it
Know how to make it
As a cocktail mixer, Grandma is a wow!
Baby smiles and says "goo-goo"
For a bottle of home brew
And Grandpa is hijacking, Page Mr. Volstead now!

Mr. Volstead, Oh, Mr. Volstead
Uncle Henry is a Congressman, you know
He drinks his stuff on the sly
When he's sober he goes dry
Cousin Joe's a snooper, he makes lots of dough!

And brother Andy
Is making brandy
One drink makes you see more than three stars, I vow!
Lots of folks were deaf and dumb
'Til they started drinkin' rum
And now they all "speakeasy"
Page Mr. Volstead now!

Oh, Mr. Volstead - now, Mr. Volstead
You say Prohibition is dear to your heart
You think that law is okay
You say it will work, some way
But I wish you'd tell me when it's gonna start

The butcher, baker and undertaker
Everybody's selling it today, and how!
All sing 'Coming through the Rye'
That bootlegger's lullaby
Oh, keep the home-still burning
Page Mr. Volstead now!

I'm Crazy About My Baby

There aren't many, if any, surprises in this Columbia series but the selection is still good nonetheless. Midge Williams and the Spirits of Rhythm are two artists who don't usually make the final cut for compilations. In any case, they saw fit to include a Chick Bullock tune, which was recorded with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band in 1932. This series was originally released on LP, and at some point I will post an LP-rip of the 1940s singers disc. Enjoy. +

Tracks

01. (What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue - Ethel Waters
02. Blue Again - Louis Armstrong Orchestra
03. (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You - Jack Teagarden And His Orchestra
04. I'm Crazy 'bout My Baby - Fats Waller With Ted Lewis & His Orchestra
05. Dinah - Bing Crosby & The Mills Brothers
06. Old Yazoo - The Boswell Sisters
07. The River's Taking Care Of Me - Connie Boswell with Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
08. All My Life - Ella Fitzgerald with Teddy Wilson And His Orchestra
09. Doin' What I Please - Don Redman & His Orchestra
10. My Old Man - The Spirits Of Rhythm
11. Frankie And Johnny - Chick Bullock & His Levee Loungers
12. Chasin' Shadows - Louis Prima & His New Orleans Gang
13. Out Where The Blue Begins - Henry 'Red' Allen And His Orchestra
14. Lover Come Back To Me - Mildred Bailey & Her Orchestra
15. Rose Of The Rio Grande - Ivie Anderson with Duke Ellington And His Orchestra
16. Mean To Me - Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
17. Mama's Gone -- Goodbye - Midge Williams And Her Jazz Jesters

I'm Hummin', I'm Whistlin', I'm Singin'

September 16th is the 102nd birthday of Chick Bullock (thanks to Drizzz for the reminder). The actual birth date is in question, but we'll run with it anyway. I've been so busy that I haven't had much time to even look at this blog, much less upload new posts. But being the special day that it is, I hurriedly put together some songs for the occasion. This set only includes 16 tunes that I transferred from my 78s, and there are a couple of neat tunes here. For instance, you'll hear the likes of Jack Teagarden (Wagon Wheel), Joe Venuti, James P. Johnson, Clarence Williams, Russ Morgan, and the Dorsey Brothers among others. The version of Swaller-Tail Coat is the lesser-known version recorded with Todd Rollins and his Orchestra (the Clarence Williams version is in a CW post elsewhere here). My copy of this 78 is near-mint, so it should sound pretty good. There are cleaner versions of Out In The Cold Again and Old Street Sweeper on one of the Crooners and Clarence Williams cds (respectively), but I decided to include the transfers anyway. On Accounta I Love You is recorded with the Dorsey Brothers, but is credited to Smith Ballew on every pressing even though he had nothing to do with the session. Ya gotta love record companies! Well, happy birthday to Mr. Chick Bullock! And thanks to Drizzz, I was encouraged to get this post up today. Session information is included in the tags for each song. Enjoy! +

Tracks

1. All I Do Is Dream Of You
2. On Accounta I Love You
3. Out In The Cold Again
4. Sleepy Head
5. Stars Fell On Alabama
6. Blue Moon
7. Haunting Me
8. Swaller-Tail Coat
9. Wagon Wheels
10. Old Street Sweeper
11. May I?
12. I'm Hummin', I'm Whistlin', I'm Singin'
13. Lost In A Fog
14. Two Cigarettes In The Dark
15. Ha-Cha-Cha
16. Have A Little Dream On Me

Bunny Berigan

The selections here feature Bunny Berigan as a sideman while he was in New York City, the time interspersed by tours with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and the Boswell Sisters. Recordings under Berigan's own name are found on cds elsewhere. From the liner notes: Much of his time between 1931-36 was spent in the recording studios and radio. Though there were short stints with various bands, for the most part during this period, Bunny could be found doing stuido work in one form or another. Berigan was one of a small clique of musicians that included the likes of the Dorseys, Benny Goodman, Dick McDonough, Carl Kress, Eddie Lang, Stan King, Chauncey Morehouse, Mannie Klien and others, whose wages were an astronomical several hundred dollars a week during the depression. He worked on call on radio, theater and hotel jobs and record dates. Most of this work featured very commercial music with an occasional jazz solo. ... During this period, Berigan recorded sides with Mildred Bailey, the Boswell Sisters, Lee Wiley, Bing Crosby, Ramona as well as Paul Whiteman. As the liner notes (much more in depth) go on to suggest, the recordings from this time are valued less for the vocal or ensemble work, but rather for the solos. Berigan was recording in an era of stock arrangements and stock singers, where the song was the most important thing, yet he still managed to add something of his own. Track 23 is Take 1 which was never issued in the US due to Berigan's "goof," and Smith Ballew had nothing to do with Track 20. Oh, and there are seven Chick Bullock vocals. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Ev'rything That's Nice Belongs To You - Freddie Rich and the CBS Studio Orchestra (as Maurice Sherman and His College Inn Orchestra) 21 February 1931
2. Under Your Window Tonight (Yoo-Hoo, I'll Call To You) - Owen Fallon and his Californians
3. In The Merry Month of Maybe - Freddie Rich and the CBS Studio Orch (as Ralph Bennett and his Seven Aces (All Eleven of 'Em) 4 June 1931
4. Too Many Tears - Eddie Kirkeby and His Orchestra (as Ed Lloyd and His Orchestra) 24 February 1932 (am)
5. Stop The Sun, Stop The Moon (My Gal's Gone) - ARC House Orchestra, 24 February 1932 (pm)
6. What Would You Do? - Bob Causer and His Cornellians, 1 March 1932
7. What Would You Do? - ARC House Orchestra (as Ed Lloyd and His Orcestra) 1 March 1932
8. Sing A New Song - Bennie Krueger and His Orchestra
9. I'm So In Love - ARC House Band directed by Bennie Krueger (as Bennie Kreuger and His Orchestra) 9 March 1932
10. Stop The Sun, Stop The Moon - ARC House Band (as Imperial Dance Orchestra) March 1932
11. Gosh Darn - ARC House Band (as Bennie Kreuger and His Orchestra) 6 April 1932
12. If I Had My Way 'Bout My Sweetie - ARC House Band (as Vic Irwin and His Orchestra) 8 April 1932
13. How Do You Do It? - Victor Young and House Orchestra, 17 September 1932
14. Underneath The Harlem Moon - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers, 26 September 1932
15. Mighty River - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers, 26 September 1932
16. All American Girl - ARC House Unit (as All Star Collegians) 1932
17. What Would Happen To Me (If Something Happened To You) - ARC House Orchestra (as Ed Lloyd and His Orchestra) 27 September 1932
18. Please - ARC House Orchestra (as Will Osborned and His Orchestra) 6 October 1932
19. You'll Get By (With A Twinkle In Your Eye) - ARC House Orchestra (as Will Osborned and His Orchestra) 27 October 1932
20. On Accounta I Love You - Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (as Smith Ballew and His Orchestra) 21 May 1934
21. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter - Studio Orchestra (as Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers) 18 January 1936
22. And Still No Luck With You - Chick Bullock and His Levee Loungers, 8 May 1936
23. I'm An Old Cowhand - Chick Bullock and His Orchestra, 8 May 1936
24. When Is A Kiss Not A Kiss - Studio Orchestra (as Bob Causer and His Cornellians) 22/23 September 1936

Berigan plays all the trumpet solos except as noted: Track 2, Berigan plays the mute solo after the vocal. The trumpet prior to the vocal is not Berigan; Tracks 9, 10 include unknown trumpet; Track 11, possibly Mannie Klein (trumpet); Track 12, possibly Bobby Effros (trumpet); Track 13 includes unknown trumpet; Tracks 14-19 possibly include unknown trumpet. Note: Other than those listed, ARC trumpeters during the 1932-34 period would also include Frank Guarette, Mannie Weinstock, Mickey Bloom, and Tommy Thunen in non-feature roles; Track 20, possibly Charlie Spivak trumpet; Tracks 22, 23 possibly other trumpets. Track 24 is possibly Bunny Berigan, possibly 2nd trumpet. The liner notes go into more detail, these are only the trumpet notes.

Chick Bullock vocals: Tracks 5, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23.

Won't You Come Over And Say "Hello"

(new link!)

Need I say it? I really like the Chick Bullock vocals here because I think he paired very well with Clarence Williams' style. I'm gonna rig myself up, in a swaller-tail coat ... Although Williams has been called a "decent pianist and a likable but limited vocalist," he was quite capable of putting together some of the best recording sessions. Many of the sides here include James P. Johnson, Roy Smeck, and Louis Jordan among others, and there is a lot of good music to be heard here. One of the criticisms of the Classics series is that it isn't always all-inclusive. Although recorded in the same recording session as track 20, this cd omits "Sashay, Oh Boy!" which also features Little Buddy Farrior on vocal. That said, if you haven't heard it yet, Williams' subsequent chronological entry set can be found elsewhere in this blog. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Swaller-Tail Coat (Miller)
2. Looka-There, Ain't She Pretty (Todd)
3. St. Louis Blues (Handy)
4. How Can I Get It? (Williams)
5. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (McHugh-Fields)
6. Won't You Come Over And Say "Hello" (Barnett-Williams)
7. Old Street Sweeper (Sullivan-Gray)
8. I'm Gonna Wash My Sins Away (Williams-Brevard)
9. Jimmy Had A Nickel (Siglar-Goodhart-Hoffman)
10. He's A Colonel From Kentucky (Tobias-Scholl-Mencher-Baer)
11. Pretty Baby, Is It Yes Or No? (Williams-Brevad)
12. Mister, Will You Serenade? (Williams-Hill-Robinson)
13. I Got Horses And Got Numbers On My Mind (Bernard-Wirges-Bibo)
14. New Orleans Hop Scop Blues (Thomas)
15. Let's Have A Showdown (Pinkard-Page)
16. I Can't Dance, I Got Ants In My Pants (Gaines-Williams)
17. Christmas Night In Harlem (Parish-Scott)
18. Ill Wind (You're Blowing Me No Good) (Koehler-Arlen)
19. As Long As I Live (Arlen-Koehler)
20. Tell The Truth (Scott-O'Frye)
21. I Can't Beat You Doin' What You're Doin' Me (Piron-Williams)
22. Trouble (Rofkin-Walman-Blank)

I'm An Old Cowhand

Hardly the "essential," as many of these tracks are included in other collections, and it doesn't come close to sampling his 10 year career, but it is the only commercially-produced cd that is dedicated expressly to the vocals of Chick Bullock. Some of these show up in the Frank Newton collection, others in the Classics set of Bill Coleman, and there are others from a Bunny Berigan set that I've uploaded and hope to post this month. Despite that, there are a couple of alternate takes and tunes that don't show up elsewhere such as as Going! Going! Gone!, and No-One Loves Me Like That Dallas Man. I find the latter odd, because where normally the gender is switched to match the singer, Bullock sings it from the woman's point of view. I encourage people to buy a copy of the cd because there are some good liner notes and information on the life of Chick Bullock, including a rare picture of him in his later years, plus a younger picture of his wife. Overall, a worthy set of recordings and the quality is good. But an "essential" collection has to include some of his earlier and jazzier material, as well as some of his more romantic crooning from 1930-1931. Seriously, Amapola in an "essential" collection? Incidentally, There'll Be Some Changes Made was recorded during Chick's final recording session on February 12, 1941 Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Underneath The Harlem Moon
2. Mighty River    2:51
3. (When It's) Darkness On The Delta
4. Any Time, Any Day, Anywhere
5. Going!Going!!Gone!!!
6. Low Down Upon The Harlem River
7. No-One Loves Me Like That Dallas Man
8. Extra (All About That Gal Of Mine)
9. Frankie And Johnnie
10. I Can't Dance (I've Got Ants In My Pants)
11. Somebody Loves Me
12. I'm An Old Cowhand
13. Smiles
14. It Had To Be You
15. My Melancholy Baby
16. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
17. Dolores
18. Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)
19. Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning
20. There'll Be Some Changes Made
21. It Had To Be You
22. My Melancholy Baby
23. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
24. Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning
25. My Melancholy Baby

Cuban Belle

When Don Azpiazu and his Havana Casino Orchestra recorded their version of El Manicero (known to gringos like me as The Peanut Vendor), they lit a Latin American-influenced fuse that became an enormous fad in the 1930s. You can find that song (as well as Green Eyes featuring my favorite vocalist) in the Don Azpiazu post elsewhere in this site. This cd is quite simply a fantastic collection of music, full of energy that makes me want to rumba (and if I had to dance for my supper, I'd starve). The band featured here is lead by Don Antobal, the brother of Azpiazu. The vocalist on 12 - count them, 12 - songs, is non other than Chiquito Bullo. No, really. That's the pseudonym they came up with, no doubt laughing about it every time.

Eusebio Santiago Azpiazu took the stage name of Don Mario Antobal (for unknown reasons, according to the liner notes, but surely it must have been to avoid confusion/coattail riding with his brother's band?). Azpiazu's band broke up in Paris in 1933, with some of the musicians finding their way into Antobal's unit for some of the later recordings, though the session info seems to be sparse. Track # 1 is the only to feature Azpiazu vocalist Antonio Machín. Most of the tunes here were written by Marion Sunshine or Moïses Simons (or both), the latter having written El Manicero. Well, there is a lot more info in the 9 pages of liner notes, so I will stop writing and recommend picking up a copy of the cd. Great music, including twelve Chick Bullock vocals! Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. La Mulata Rumbera
2. Los Tres Golpes
3. Para Vigo Me Voy (Say "Si Si")
4. Marianna
5. Hot Tamales
6. Mammy Bong
7. Spic And Spanish
8. Songo Songo
9. A Gozar (Let's Be Gay)
10. La Conga (Havana's Calling Me)
11. The Moon Over Cuba Was High And So Was I
12. My Margarita
13. Virgen (In A Cuban Garden)
14. El Trapero (Old Clothes)
15. The All Look Alike To Pancho
16. El Maraquero
17. The Night The Lady Said "No"
18. Tierra Tropical (The Cuban In Me)
19. No Se Puede (Said The Monkey)
20. Vienne La Conga
21. Cachita
22. Conga Karabalicero (Conga Drums)
23. Blue Bayou
24. Cuban Belle
25. Onile Bó (Whoa, Nellie, Whoa)

All recorded in New York:

29 December  1932    01, 02
4 May 1936                03, 04
18 May 1936              05
7 January 1937           06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 16
21 January 1937         11
2 July 1937                 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19
16 December 1937     21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Vocalists:

Antonio Machín           01
Panchito Risét              03, 13, 19, 20
Johnny Rodriguez         06, 08, 09, 16
Alfredo Valdés             22, 25
Chiquito Bullo              04, 05, 06, 07, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 21, 23, 24
(Chick Bullock)

Hello Montreal!

This is one of my favorite cd finds because it includes so much fun music. One of the best things about Chick Bullock's music is that he recorded with so many different people, so that if you're someone who enjoys following the tangents whether or not they are relevant, the paths often lead to all sorts of discoveries (such as learning that the Waring Blender was developed by Fred). I can't recall this particular path, but I think it was a result of Glorianna and not the Bullock vocals. Poley McClintock's vocals are unmistakable, and he's been credited as one of the inspirations for the voice of Popeye.This collection includes sides recorded between March 1928 and November 1932, while Waring's Pennsylvanians were at their hottest. I wish they had included Any Ice Today, Lady? but the exclusion just means I have to find it elsewhere. Fred Waring himself is also heard on several vocals, showing that he could hold his own. I also have a cd included in the Waring biography by his daughter, which I'll post in the future. Look below the track listings for the personnel. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Farewell Blues (a) (v. Fred Waring & the band)
2. Bolshevik (a) (v. Poley McClintock & the band)
3. Hello Montreal! (a) (v. Fred Waring & the band)
4. Stack O'Lee Blues (b)
5. What A Night For Spooning (c) (v. Clare Hanlon)
6. Glorianna (c) (v. Clare Hanlon)
7. Navy Blues (d) (v. Clare Hanlon & quartet including P. McClintock)
8. Hello Baby (d) (v. William Morgan)
9. Good For You, Bad For Me (d) (v. Fred Waring)
10. Red Hot Chicago (d) (v. Fred Waring)
11. How'm I Doin'? (e)  (v. Poley McClintock & the band)
12. I Heard (f) (vocal scat by Scat Davis, Frank Zullo & Poley McClintock)
13. Old Yazoo (g) (v. Frank Zullo & the band)
14. Holding My Honey's Hand (g) (v. Chick Bullock & Poley McClintock)
15. The Old Man Of The Mountain (g) (v. Chick Bullock & Poley McClintock)
16. You'll Get By (h)
17. Fit As A Fiddle (h) (v. male quartet)
18. Young And Healthy (h) (v. Tom Waring)
19. Dance Selections (h)
20. Flying Colors (h)

Waring's Pennsylvanians: Fred Waring directing: (a) Nelson Keller, George Culley and an unknown (t); Jim Gaillard and an unknown (tb); Fred Campbell (cl, as, bars, f); Will Morgan (cl, as); Earl Gardner (as); Elton Cockerill (cl, ts); Bill Townsend, Francis Foster, Scott Bates (vn); Tom Waring (p); Paul Mertz (p, arr); Fred Buck (bj, arr); Ed Rabel (bbs); Poley McClintock (d); vocals as indicated. (b) Fourth trumpted added. (c) Both unknown trumpets omitted; Clare Hanlon replaces the unknown trombone; Frank W. Hower (p) replaces Tom Waring. Two pianos used on #5. (d) add Wade Schegel, aka Dake Wade (t), Stuart Churchill (t, as, x) replaces Culley; one violin omitted; Charles Henderson (p) replaces Mertz. (e) Add Johnny "Scat" Davis (t); Gene Conklin (tb) replaces Gardener, strings omitted; Lou Bonnies (g) replaces Buck (bj); arrangements by Leo Vauchant. (f) Frank Zullo (t) replaces Schlegel; add unknown reed. (g) Davis Conklin and unknown fifth sax player omitted, Spencer Clark (bass) replaces Rabel (bbs). (h) Eddie Radel added on string bass. Note: the typos are as in the liner notes (i.e., the spelling of Schegel & Gardner).

Scene Changes

Today I offer the second volume of Dick McDonough and His Orchestra, which I picked up solely for the Chick Bullock vocals. As the sole reviewer at Amazon noted (here), the collection is a disappointment and doesn't really highlight the artist. McDonough was a fine guitarist, but it isn't easy to hear that from these recordings as the music is essentially standard arrangements. On top of that, the transcription from 78 rpm to CD wasn't the best and there is sometimes more than a little surface noise and even clicks. Other reviewers warn about consistent sloppiness by the producer, but given my own amateur restorations, I am not one to complain. Besides, I was able to hear several Chick Bullock recordings that I still haven't found on 78. The last few tracks are Gene Gifford and His Orchestra. Alas, no liner notes with the CD to show who plays what, or when. I also have Volume 1, but will get to that later. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Take My Heart - Chick Bullock, Dick McDonough
2. Stars in My Eyes - Dick McDonough
3. Scene Changes - Chick Bullock, Dick McDonough
4. When the Moon Hangs High - Buddy Clark, Buddy Clark, Dick McDonough
5. South Sea Island Magic - Buddy Clark, Buddy Clark, Dick McDonough
6. Afterglow - Buddy Clark, Buddy Clark, Dick McDonough
7. I'm One Step Ahead of My Shadow - Chick Bullock, Dick McDonough
8. Now or Never - Chick Bullock, Dick McDonough
9. Love, What Are You Doing to My Heart - Dick McDonough, Larry Stewart, Larry Stewart
10. You're Giving Me a Song and a Dance - Dick McDonough, Larry Stewart, Larry Stewart
11. Girl on the Police Gazette - Chick Bullock, Dick McDonough
12. Mood That I'm In - Dick McDonough, Barry McKinley
13. I've Got Beginner's Luck - Dick McDonough, Barry McKinley
14. Shall We Dance - Dick McDonough, Barry McKinley
15. Two Hearts Are Dancing - Dick McDonough, Barry McKinley
16. And Then They Call It Love - Dick McDonough, Barry McKinley
17. You're Looking for Romance - Dick McDonough, Barry McKinley
18. My Cabin of Dreams - Dick McDonough, Barry McKinley
19. You and I Know - Dick McDonough, Howard Phillips
20. Old Flame Never Dies - Dick McDonough, Howard Phillips    
21. That Old Feeling - Dick McDonough, Howard Phillips
22. Nothin' But the Blues - Gene Gifford, Wingy Manone
23. New Orleans Twist - Gene Gifford
24. Squareface - Gene Gifford, Wingy Manone
25. Dizzy Glide - Gene Gifford, Wingy Manone

Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer

This is one of the few cds I managed to upload before the move. This is a 2-cd set from Jasmine which I picked up because it came up in the search criteria for Chick Bullock. From the notes: "Frank Newton had a special sound… he always believed in giving the people something different," the trombonist Dicky Wells once observed. Jazz historian Al Rose described Newton as "... an exciting, inventive trumpet player." Despite such acclaim, the career of one of jazz trumpet's most individualistic, dynamic stylists has been consigned largely to the footnotes and margins of the music's history. During his relatively short life (he died aged 48 in 1954) in a chequered career dogged by frequent bouts of ill health, Frank Newton still managed to record some 150 titles. ... At various times he is to be heard performing alongside soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet; alto saxophonist Pete Brown; tenor saxophonists Don Byas and Bud Freeman; trombonists J.C. Higginbotham and Dicky Wells; pianists James P. Johnson, Willie "The Lion" Smith and Teddy Wilson; plus the singers Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and Maxine Sullivan." And, of course, Chick Bullock, who handles the vocals on tracks 5-8 with Art Karle & His Boys. Although these four tracks are also available in the Mezz Mezzrow post, it is well worth hearing a third of Newton's recorded career. Enjoy. + +

Track List

Disc One:

Cecil Scott's Bright Boys
1. Bright Boy Blues
2. Springfield Stomp

Bessie Smith
3. Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer
4. Take Me For a Buggy Ride

Art Karle & His Boys
5. Moon Over Miami
6. I Feel Like a Feather in the Breeze
7. Susannah
8. Lights Out

Mezz Mezzrow Swing Band
9. Lost
10. Mutiny in the Parlour
11. The Panic is On

Teddy Hill Orchestra
12. At the Rug Cutter's Ball
13. Blue Rhythm Fantasy
14. Passionette

Frank Newton Uptown Serenaders
15. You Showed Me the Way
16. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
17. Who's Sorry Now? take 1
18. Who's Sorry Now? take 2

Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra
19. Big Boy Blue

Frank Newton Uptown Serenaders
20. I Found a New Baby
21. The Brittwood Stomp
22. 'cause My Baby Says It's So
23. The Onyx Hop

Charlie Barnet Orchestra
24. Emperor Jones

Maxine Sullivan
25. Blue Skies

Willie "The Lion" Smith
26. I've Got To Think It Over

Midge Williams Jazz Jesters
27. The Lady Is A Tramp

Disc Two

Buster Bailey Rhythm Busters
1. Chained To a Dream

Frank Newton Orchestra
2. Rosetta
3. Minor Jive
4. The World is Waiting for the Sunrise
5. Who?
6. The Blues My Baby Gave To Me
7. Rompin'

Frank Newton Quintet
8. Daybreak Blues

Port Of Harlem Jazzmen
9. Port of Harlem Blues
10. Mighty Blues
11. Rocking the Blues

Frank Newton Café Society Orchestra
12. Jitters
13. Frankie's Jump
14. Jam Fever # A
15. Jam Fever # B

Billie Holiday
16. Strange Fruit

Port Of Harlem Jazzmen
17. Blues for Tommy

Frank Newton Quintet
18. After Hours Blues

Frank Newton Café Society Orchestra
19. Vamp
20. Parallel Fifths

Buck Ram All Stars
21. Twilight in Teheran
22. Morning Mist
23. Swing Street

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

Learn To Croon

Another collection with some really nice tunes. How can you go wrong with Gene Austin, Chick Bullock and Al Bowlly? The most interesting track here may be Bing Crosby's "Boo Boo Boo" in which he pokes fun at the phrase identified with his singing, despite his never having recorded the song to disc. This tune is from a film soundtrack. And some humor by the editors of the disc, they position "Learn to Croon" in the lineup just ahead of Crosby. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Blue Kentucky Moon - Gene Austin
2. You Brought a New Kiind of Love to Me - Smith Ballew
3. Love Is the Sweetest Thing - Al Bowlly, New Mayfair Orchestra, Ray Noble
4. Cocktails for Two - Carl Brisson
5. Out in the Cold Again - Chick Bullock
6. Evening - Buddy Clark
7. Goodnight, Sweetheart - Russ Columbo
8. Learn to Croon - Sam Coslow
9. Boo Boo Boo - Bing Crosby
10. Singing a Song to the Stars - Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards
11. Don't Tell Her What Happened to Me - Sammy Fain
12. Confessin' That I Love You - Art Gillham
13. Hold Me - Little Jack Little
14. Hello! Beautiful! - Nick Lucas
15. You're My Everything - Jack Miller
16. Try a Little Tenderness - Charlie Palloy
17. Happiness Ahead - Dick Powell
18. I Love to See the Evenin' Sun Go Down - Conrad Thibault
19. It's Only A Paper Moon - Conrad Thibault
20. Without That Certain Thing - Rudy Vallée