But The Fair Señorita Doesn't Seem To Care

As I attempt to bring the monthly post count back up to a respectable consistency, I offer up some Allan Jones for the discerning ear. Even though I'm a huge fan of classic films, I only first heard the infectious Donkey Serenade a few years ago in an RCA collection of 1930s music (which is in the queue to be posted soon). I don't really go much for the more operatic style in general, but sometimes one cannot help it. Jones had a terrific voice, and could act well enough to get the lead in Showboat opposite Irene Dunne. Comedy fans might recognize him opposite the Marx Brothers in A Night At The Opera and A Day At The Races. As irrelevant tangents sometimes lead, future posts will include the soundtracks from the Marx Brothers films, as well as a Jerome Kern tribute that includes some vocals by Irene Dunne. Someday. Anyway, this post was supposed to be about Jones, whose immense talent reportedly caused Nelson Eddy to get most of the former's footage cut from the Eddy/MacDonald film Rose Marie in 1936. If true, I wish he had not succeeded, but at least we can still listen to Jones' music. I have no Nelson Eddy in my collection though. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody [From the Great Ziegfeld]
2. Everything's Been Done Before [From Reckless]
3. Alone [From a Night at the Opera] - Kitty Carlisle Hart, Allan Jones
4. Cosi Cosa [From a Night at the Opera]
5. Make Believe [From Show Boat] - Irene Dunne, Allan Jones
6. I Have the Room Above Her [From Show Boat] - Irene Dunne, Allan Jones
7. You Are Love [From Show Boat] - Irene Dunne, Allan Jones
8. Blue Venetian Waters [From a Day at the Races]
9. Tomorrow Is Another Day [From a Day at the Races]
10. Woman's Kiss [From the Firefly] - Allan Jones, Jeanette MacDonald
11. Donkey Serenade [From the Firefly]
12. Giannina Mia [From the Firefly]
13. Sympathy [From the Firefly] - Allan Jones, Jeanette MacDonald
14. Donkey Serenade/Giannina Mia (Reprise) [From the Firefly] - Allan Jones, Jeanette MacDonald
15. First Thing in the Morning [From Everybody Sing]
16. Down on Melody Farm/Quartet from Rigoletto [From Everybody Sing] - Judy Garland, Allan Jones
17. One I Love [From Everybody Sing]
18. Show Must Go On [From Everybody Sing]
19. Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life [From the Great Victor Herbert] - Allan Jones, Mary Martin
20. There Once Was an Owl [From the Great Victor Herbert] - Allan Jones, Mary Martin
21. Thine Alone [From the Great Victor Herbert] - Allan Jones, Mary Martin
22. Wonderful Dreams/All for You [From the Great Victor Herbert] - Allan Jones, Mary Martin
23. Someday [From the Great Victor Herbert]
24. I'm Falling in Love With Someone [From Naughty Marietta]
25. Falling in Love With Love [From the Boys from Syracuse]
26. Who Are You? [From the Boys from Syracuse]
27. Sweethearts [From Sweethearts]

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)

The Dixieland Band

I know that everyone out there bought lots of vinyl/shellac on Record Store Day a week ago or so, right? Although I didn't acquire this item recently, I found it in a shop (now closed, alas) along with several others from this label. Unfortunately I do not have the entire run of Bob Crosby, but I'll share what I can. This first set in chronological order goes from June 1, 1935 to November 8, 1935. Looking through Rust's info, there are some titles that they missed, but only about three or four, I think. Bob Crosby had a long career that included several bands, films, and even taking over from Phil Harris as bandleader on the Jack Benny Program for the program's final years. And compared to his more famous brother, Bob could certainly hold his own in the vocals department. The back cover image (included in the file) has further track information. Enjoy. +

Tracks

Side One

A1 Flowers For Madame
A2 The Dixieland Band
A3 In A Little Gypsy Tea Room
A4 Beale Street Blues
A5 I’m In The Mood For Love
A6 East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)
A7 Two Together

Side Two

B1 And Then Some
B2 Tender Is The Night
B3 Roll Along, Prairie Moon
B4 Treasure Island
B5 At Your Service, Madame
B6 Here’s To Romance
B7 I Found A Dream

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).

There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder

I've fallen behind in my posting, so by request, here is an extended post of old Al Jolson from his glory days. Since I had to do some research on this anyway, this post marks a brief change in that I decided to include two additional collections which I had downloaded via a pay site. As for the label of the first CD, or lack thereof, I no longer have the booklet of this out-of-print disk (formerly an LP) that was issued by an Italian company and was unable to find one on the internet. The set also included records by Marlene Deitrich (I'm missing that booklet, too) and Cab Calloway (which I didn't get because his music is covered on Classics Chronological. If you have an invitation to Reci's Oldies blog, you can see the Calloway cover there. They were identical except for the photo and number of tracks of the featured artist.

Ok, on to the music! The first half of the cd includes recordings from the 1920s, while the latter half are re-recorded versions from late in Jolson's career (1940s). For some unfortunate reason, these latter recordings used a process that makes them sound as if they were overdubbed in an echo chamber, not to mention string sections taking the place of some fine jazz of the originals. From what I can tell by listening to Jolson in other media (e.g, old radio shows such as Eddie Cantor, Bing Crosby), he still had the pipes to sound good without using such a crutch.

The additional sets are listed below, and are nearly entirely transfers from original 78s. Surely there are better copies of Jolson discs in circulation that they could have used? Not even at Columbia? Oh well, at least we get to listen to him in his prime, even if these are simple transfers of low-fidelity recordings made with the use of a horn. Jolie sure could give a performance, that's for sure. As usual, Columbia's Art Deco series does not fail to satisfy, and includes sides from 1913 to 1925, when Jolson was in his prime. The other set, Black and White, has a mere 12 tracks, yet includes tunes likewise not heard on most Jolson collections. Disclaimer: the bitrates range from 96 to 192, and though I didn't hear any issues with the files, they are what they are and I cannot re-rip them should there be any problems. IFinally, I was initially going to add my own Jolson 78s, but most are covered in the additional collections which probably sound cleaner anyway. I am sure that I had several more sides, but apparently I may have sold them before recording them. Never be in a hurry to get rid of vintage records! Enjoy.  + + +

Tracks

Al Jolson: 25 Phonographic Memories

1. California, Here I Come - March 1924
2. The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else) - March 1924
3. I'm Sittin' On Top Of the World - December 1925
4. Miami - December 1925
5. Tonight's My Night With Baby - May 1926
6. Golden Gate - December 1927
7. My Mammy - 1927
8. There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder - August 1928
9. Why Can't You - April 1929
10. Liza (All The Clouds Will Roll Away) - August 1929
11. When The Little Red Roses (Get The Blues For You) - 1930
12. Swanee
13. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
14. Sonny Boy
15. You Made Me Love You
16. For Me And My Gal
17. Let Me Swing And I'm Happy
18. Give My Regards To Broadway
19. Alabamy Bound
20. When The Red Red Robin Goes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along
21. Toot Toot Tootsie (Goodbye)
22. Carolina In The Morning
23. April Showers
24. Ma Blushin' Rosie (Ma Posie Sweet)
25. Easter Parade

You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet: Jolie's Finest Columbia Recordings (Columbia 1994) Art Deco Series

1. That Little German Band
2. Everybody Snap Your Fingers With Me
3. Back to the Carolina You Love
4. Revival Day     Berlin
5. Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers
6. Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula
7. Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go (With Friday on Saturday Night)?
8. Down Where the Swanee River Flows
9. I Sent My Wife to the Thousand Isles
10. Tell That to the Marines
11. I'll Say She Does
12. On the Road to Calais
13. Swanee
14. In Sweet September
15. Avalon
16. O-Hi-O (O-My-O)
17. April Showers
18. Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye
19. Morning Will Come
20. Stella
21. Waitin' for the Evening Mail
22. Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
23. You Are Too Beautiful
24. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody

Black and White (Magnum Collections, 2001)

1. Snap Your Fingers (And Away We Go)
2. The Spaniard That Blighted My Life
3. My Yellow Jacket Girl
4. A Sleep in the Deep
5. That Lovin' Traumerei
6. Brass Band Ephraham Jones
7. That Haunting Melody
8. Rum Tum Tiddle
9. The Pullman Porter's Parade
10. You Made Me Love You
11. Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers
12. When the Grown Up Ladies Act Like Babies

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