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

Hittin' The Ceiling

I've wanted to post this for a long time, and now it's been a full 15 years since it was first released and this blog is nearly 5 years old. It feels like a good time. Not enough can be said about this box set, in my view. And that's not merely for the several Chick Bullock sides, though that surely only boosts the overall value. The track and artist selection is exceptional, the sides are very clean, and the book is very informative as well as pure eye candy for audiophiles of this era. I heartily recommend picking up a copy for yourself, you won't be disappointed. "Bear Family Records presents an 88-track anthology of what are now termed Depression Era phonograph recordings cut between May 31, 1929, and April 10, 1940. This stretch of time takes in the last few months of the U.S.A.'s already flawed and disintegrating prosperity, the devastating Wall Street crash of October 29, 1929, and the nation's agonizingly gradual economic recovery throughout the 1930s. Musically, this massive compilation maps the mainstream mingling of real jazz with the predominant dance band and pop vocal aesthetic of the decade. Even months before the day when, as visiting Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca put it, the New York Stock Exchange "...lost various billions of dollars, a rabble of dead money that slid off into the sea," Tin Pan Alley composers were already fixating upon what was to become the ever more elusive pursuit of happiness by penning an almost alarming number of "happy" songs, such as "Get Happy" and "Happy Days Are Here Again." As the social fabric of a nation came apart at the seams and swiftly began to unravel, a subgenre of melodies with conspicuously comforting and persistently optimistic lyrics filled the air with phrases like "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams," "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries," and "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee." Sobering responses to the disparity between harsh realities and sugary reassurances included "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?," "Remember My Forgotten Man," "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum," "Cheer Up! Smile! Nertz!" (almost angrily delivered by an exasperated Eddie Cantor), and a remarkably cynical opus entitled "It Must Be Swell to Be Laying Out Dead." With the inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933 and the implementation of his New Deal programs (see Louis Armstrong's "W.P.A."), a series of frustratingly slow-paced improvements inspired monetarily motivated ditties with giddy titles like "We're in the Money," "We're Out of the Red," "What Have We Got to Lose?," "Buy America!," and the quaintly romantic "With Plenty of Money and You," sung to perfection near the end of this collection by the Ink Spots. The Great Depression has inspired a number of fascinating musicological retrospectives; this one belongs among the best of the lot." (Allmusic.com). Enjoy! +

Tracks

01 - Smith Ballew Orchestra - Hittin' The Ceiling
02 - Ambrose Orchestra - I'm In The Market For You
03 - Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra - Happy Days Are Here Again
04 - Marion Hardy Alabamians - Song Of The Bayou
05 - Eddie Cantor - Eddie Cantor's Tips On The Stock Market
06 - Hotel Pennsylvania Music - A Cottage For Sale
07 - Ted Wallace & His Campus Boys - Get Happy
08 - Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra - Sweeping The Clouds Away
09 - McKinney's Cotton Pickers - Laughing At Life
10 - Sam Lanin's Orchestra - It's A Great Life (If You Don't Weaken)
11 - Hotel Pennsylvania Music - Cheer Up Good Times Are Coming!
12 - Eddie Cantor With Phil Spitalny's Music - Cheer Up!
13 - Ted Lewis Orchestra - Singing A Vagabond Song
14 - Jack Teagarden Orchestra - Son Of The Son
15 - Al Jolson - Hallelujah! Im A Bum
16 - Annette Hanshaw - Big City Blues
17 - Blue Steele Orchestra - There's A Tear For Every Smile In Hollywood
18 - Ruth Etting - Ten Cents A Dance
19 - Ruth Etting - Cigarettes Cigars
20 - Johnny Marvin - Just A Gigolo
21 - Libby Holman - Love For Sale
22 - Smith Ballew Orchestra - We Can Live On Love

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

Wah-Dee-Dah

In the quest to make up for lost ground, here is some jazz by several bands, showing that Spike Jones was not the only one with a sense of humor. Some of these aren't really that funny, but the bands ad a lighter side to the recording. Barnacle Bill the Sailor should be well-known, and In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town has even been covered by Chick Bullock. But Red Allen's version is anything but crooning. Track 8, For Musicians Only, might sound familiar to fans of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. This cd sounds like several of the tracks were transferred without much noise reduction, and it makes me want to reach for a good dust cloth before playing. Oh, well. In any case the music shows that bands could have some fun as well as being top-notch musicians. Enjoy! +

Tracks

01. Laughing In Rhythm - Sidney Bechet & His New Orleans Footwarmers
02. Barnacle Bill The Sailor - Hoagy Carmichael And His Orchestra
03. Maybe Not At All - Ethel Waters & Her Ebony Four
04. It's A Great World After All - Don Redman & His Orchestra
05. The Mosquito Song (Where Do The Mosquitos Go In The Winter Time?) - Wingy Manone & His Orchestra
06. In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town - Red Allen And His Orchestra
07. The Latest Thing In Hot Jazz - Eight Squares And A Critic
08. For Musicians Only - Bud Freeman And His V-Disc Jumpers
09. Kidney Stew - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
10. Chicken (Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird) - George Lewis Band
11. The Duck's Yas Yas Yas - Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks
12. Pussy (My Girl's Pussy) - Harry Roy And His Bat Club Boys
13. Beedle-Um-Bum - McKinney's Cotton Pickers
14. Wah-Dee-Dah - Three Keys
15. Cement Mixer - The Slim Gaillard Trio
16. Keep Smiling, Keep Laughing - John Kirby & His Orchestra
17. You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey When You Get Old - Clarence Williams' Novelty Band
18. Goofus - Red Nichols & His Five Pennies
19. Ikey And Mikey - The Washboard Rhythm Kings
20. Laughing Boy Blues - Woody Herman & His Orchestra
21. You Run Your Mouth (I'll Run My Business) - Fats Waller & His Rhythm
22. Home On The Range - Ted Weems & His Orchestra with Gary Moore (announcer)
23. It's The Tune That Counts - Leo Watson & His Orchestra
24. Laughin' Louis - Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra

The Joint Is Jumping

This is a rather pedestrian collection of swing tunes, with the exception being that it does jump. Although suffering from commonitis (e.g., Woodchopper's Ball, In The Mood) it is saved by Stuff Smith, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans and Lucky Millinder. And though Drum Boogie shows up in several collections, I never get tired of hearing it. Cab Calloway shows that he, too, succumbed to the vocal chorus fever (reminding me of Tommy Dorsey's sides with the Pipers et al), but then there's Count Basie with a good one, as well as Harlan Leonard and His Rockets. Imo, the weakest tunes are Cleo Brown and Slim & Slam (I don't see how they are swing tunes), but that's just my two cents. All in all, a good listen. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Stompin' At The Savoy - Chick Webb and His Orchestra (1934)
2. Walking And Singing - Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy (1936)
3. Breakin' In A New Pair Of Shoes - Cleo Brown (1935)
4. Don't Be That Way - Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (1938)
5. T'ain't What You Do (It's The Way You Do It) Jimmy Lunceford and His Orchestra (1939)
6. The Joint Is Jumping - Fats Waller and His Rhythm (1937)
7. In The Mood - Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (1939)
8. At The Woodchopper's Ball - Woody Herman and His Orchestra (1939)
9. The Flat Foot Floogie - Slim and Slam (1938)
10. Tuxedo Junction - Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra (1939)
11. Back Bay Shuffle - Artie Shaw and His Orchestra (1938)
12. After You've Gone - Stuff Smith and His Onyx Club Boys (1936)
13. Hairy Joe Jump - Harlan Leonard and His Rockets (1940)
14. Jumpin' At The Woodside - Count Basie and His Orchestra (1938)
15. Woo Woo - Harry James and The Boogie Woogie Trio (1938)
16. Drum Boogie - Gene Krupa and His Orchestra (1941)
17. Oh Boy, I'm In The Groove - Horace Henderson and His Orchestra (1940)
18. Just You, Just Me - Lester Young Quartet (1943)
19. Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam) - Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra (1939)
20. Flying Home - Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra (1942)
21. Second Balcony Jump - Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans (1941)
22. Little John Special - Lucky Millinder and His orchestra (1942)
23. I Want To Rock - Cab Calloway and His Orchestra (1942)
24. Walk 'Em - Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra (1946)

Life Goes To A Party

This is one of those collections that inspired me to seek out more of the same music. It's tough to cram an entire decade of popular music into 20 songs, but I think this Volume 1 set shows a terrific effort (unlike Volume 2). One of my next acquisitions was the Art Deco set of Fred Astaire, Dorsey's Clambake Seven, as well as some Larry Clinton. Are there many songs that match Bea Wain's energy on Martha, or Edythe Wright on Tommy Dorsey's The Music Goes 'Round And Round? ... From Allmusic.com, "The 1930s were a tumultuous decade, and the record business almost went under after the stock market crash of 1929 and the Depression that gripped the nation. But in adverse times America still wanted to be entertained, and Victor provided much of the soundscape for that decade. This first of two volumes features escapist fare like Bing Crosby's "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams," Leo Reisman's optimistic "Happy Days Are Here Again," Fred Astaire's "We're in the Money," Cole Porter's "You're the Top," Tommy Dorsey's "The Music Goes 'Round and Around," and Kate Smith's patriotic flag-waver "God Bless America." But it was also the beginning of jazz taking the nation by storm, with tracks like Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose," Benny Goodman's "Life Goes to a Party," Meade "Lux" Lewis' "Honky Tonk Train Blues," Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade," and Bunny Berigan's "I Can't Get Started with You" counted in the mix. And great torch songs like Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" and Mae West's (with Duke Ellington) "My Old Flame," along with infectious novelties like Wayne King's "Josephine" and Maurice Chevalier's "Mimi," help to give the big picture of the decade in this marvelous collection. Transfers are still a bit grainy, as these recordings were still a good decade and a half away from the invention of magnetic tape, but nothing sounds like a battered 78 on here either." I would suggest that sometimes a battered 78 can still sound good. Scans of the covers included. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Happy Days Are Here Again
2. Cooking Breakfast For The One I Love
3. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
4. Mimi
5. Stardust
6. We're In The Money
7. Jitter Bug
8. My Old Flame
9. You're The Top
10. The Music Goes 'Round And 'Round
11. Honky Tonk Train Blues
12. Josephine
13. Honeysuckle Rose
14. I Can't Get Started
15. Life Goes To A Party
16. The Donkey Serenade
17. Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
18. Martha
19. Moonlight Serenade
20. God Bless America

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

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!

Salt Water Cowboy

Here is one that I promised a while back. This is another collection of popular tunes from the World War II era, this time including 'Salt Water Cowboy' which had caught my ear when I first heard it sung by Connie Haines on the Abbott & Costello radio program. It is typical for the period, and like much of the content may not be "politically correct." Included are Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Doris Day, Kate Smith, Harry James, Cab Calloway, and many more. Enjoy. +



Tracks

1. We Did It Before (And We Can Do It Again) - Clyde Lucas And His Orchestra
2. Miss Vivian Blane Introduces "The Air Battle" - Vivian Blane
3. Hip Hip Hooray - Nat King Cole Trio
4. There Won't Be a Shortage of Love - Dolly Dawn and Her Dawn Patrol
5. We Must Be Vigilant (American Patrol) - Chico Marx And His Orchestra
6. Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition! - Kate Smith
7. In My Arms - Eddie Cantor
8. Uncle Sam Blues - Eddie Condon and His Jazz Concert All-Stars, Hot Lips Page
9. Ev'rybody Ev'ry Payday - Barry Wood
10. You Can't Get That No More - Louis Jordan
11. Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer - Bea Wain
12. Rosie the Riveter - Allen Miller and His Orchestra
13. Johnny Zero - Marion Hutton and The Modernaires#
14. A Fellow on a Furlough - Glenn Miller and His Army Air Force Band
15. Johnson's G.I. Blues - Private Frankie Johnson
16. Why Do They Call a Private a Private? - Ethel Merman
17. Lili Marlene - March Of The Orchestra And Chorus
18. The Fuehrer's Got the Jitters - Cab Calloway & His Orchestra
19. Salt Water Cowboy - Doris Day with Les Brown and His Orchestra
20. Banzai Bugle Bit - Bob Hope with Harry James
21. Buy, Buy, Buy Bonds - Bing Crosby with Harry James and His Musicmakers
22. The Quicker I Gets to Where I'm Goin' (The Sooner He'll Be Seein' Me) - Pearl Bailey
23. Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag (And Smile, Smile, Smile) - Bob Crosby and His V-Disc Bob Cats
24. I Was Here When You Left Me - Louis Prima and His Orchestra
25. They're Either Too Young or Too Old - Joan Edwards
26. Buy a Piece of the Peace - Frank Sinatra
27. I Don't Want to Change the Subject (Victory Bond Song) - Georgia Gibbs

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

Scrap Your Fat

Many years ago I had a double-LP set of Abbott & Costello radio shows that I listened to until I knew every line, laugh, song, etc. One of those shows featured Connie Haines singing "Salt Water Cowboy" and it was apparently the public debut of the song. One day the LP grew legs and disappeared (along with the rest of my collection) so for years I kept an eye open for a replacement. However, later copies of the LP had the song cut out! Enter, the digital age. I thought I had ripped the correct disc to share that song, but apparently got the wrong one. Now I have to go through everything and make sure I still have the right one! Regardless, although several of the songs here are familiar, this set includes versions by other artists and is still worth a listen. Click on the cover image for a high-res scan. Enjoy +

Tracks

1. Rosie The Riveter - The Sportsman Quartet
2. I'm A Hillbilly Yankeee Doodle Boy - Texas Jim Lewis with the Hoosier Hot Shots
3. The Guns In The Sky - Glenn Miller
4. If It's Gonna Help Win The War - The Hoosier Hot Shots
5. The G.I. Jive - Johnny Mercer
6. Praise the Lord and Pass The Amunition - Jimmy Carrol, David Broekman and His Orchestra
7. Off We Go Into The Wild Blue Yonder - Glenn Miller
8. I'd Like To Give My Dog To Uncle Sam - Ozzie Waters
9. D-Day - Nat King Cole
10. Scrap Your Fat' - Mildred Bailey
11. Keep The Home Fires Burning - Charlie Barnet
12. A Rodeo Down in Tokyo - Ozzie Waters
13. There'll Be A Jubilee - The Andrews Sisters
14. I'm Getting Corns For My Country - Cass Daley
15. There Ain't No Wings on a Foxhole - Meredith Wilson
16. The Tommy Gun Boogie - Slim Rodgers
17. This Is The Army - John Conte
18. 4-F Ferdinand - Harry "The Hipster" Gibson
19. Hillbilly Soldier Joe - The Johnson Sisters
20. Comin' In On A Wing and a Prayer - Anita Ellis
21. Here Comes The British - Johnny Mercer
22. Smoke On The Water - Wesley Tuttle
23. The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B - The Andrews Sisters.

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

Let's Misbehave

Apologies for the lack of new posts, but work has been picking up of late. Good for the pockets, bad for the blog. On the other hand, I've been working on cleaning up more Chick Bullock tunes, and ripping some LPs which should be available soon as well ... As is normal for me, I go backwards in my musical exploration. I first picked up the 30s Volume 1, which I really enjoyed (and will post). So why not try the 20s? (even though there's no apostrophe!) I have loved My Blue Heaven since the first time I heard it, and have several versions of the tune. Gene Austin is still the best. With only 20 tracks, it's hard to select the best of an entire decade, especially from the Roaring Twenties. But the producers did very well here, I think. If nothing else, this cd stoked my curiosity and propelled me to pick up many records from the era. It's all good. (oh, and Rapidshare seems to have smoothed things out for the time being, so until my subscription ends I'll be using that) Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Let's Misbehave - Irving Aaronson & His Commanders
2. My Blue Heaven - Gene Austin
3. Collegiate - Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians
4. Alice Blue Gown - Edith Day
5. Little Orphan Annie - The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks
6. Lucky Lindy - Nat Shilkret & His Orchestra
7. Varsity Drag - George Olsen & His Music
8. Do Do Do - Gertrude Lawrence
9. Whispering - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
10. I Wanna Be Loved by You - Helen Kane
11. Black Bottom - Johnny Hamp
12. Makin' Whoopee - Eddie Cantor
13. Charleston - Paul Whiteman Orchestra
14. Prisoner's Song - Vernon Dalhart
15. My Pretty Girl - Jean Goldkette & His Orchestra
16. My Man - Fanny Brice
17. Black and Tan Fantasy - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
18. Louise - Maurice Chevalier
19. If I Had a Talking Picture of You - Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders
20. Rhapsody in Blue - George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman Orchestra

Sloppy Drunk Blues

Good grief, another month gone by. Here's another one of those tangents, though not irrelevant once you give a listen. During my search for Chick Bullock, in the days prior to having discographies available, I stumbled across some Clarence Williams' cds featuring the singer. Even better than adding a paltry four or five vocals to my Bullock collection, I now had yet another disc of cool music. Which means of course, another chance to share with everyone. The years covered here range from 1926 to 1939, and include Johnny Dodds, Clarence Williams, Louis Armstrong and others. Wine pairing recommendation: none. Open up a bottle of good beer. Repeat as needed. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Little Bits - Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1926
2. Idle Hour Special - Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1926
3. 47th Street Stomp - Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1926
4. Cushion Foot Stomp - Clarence Williams Washboard Band 1927
5. PDQ Blues - Clarence Williams Washboard Band 1927
6. I'm Goin' Hunting - Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards (featuring Louis Armstrong) 1927
7. Forty And Tight - Beale Street Washboard Band (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1929
8. Piggly Wiggly - Beale Street Washboard Band (featuring Johnny Dodds) 1929
9. Pigmeat Stomp - Alabama Washboard Stompers (featuring Teddy Bunn) 1930/1932
10. Wild Man Stomp - Chicago Stompers (featuring Jimmy Blythe) 1931
11. Stomp Your Stuff - Chicago Stompers (featuring Jimmy Blythe) 1931
12. Pepper Steak - Alabama Washboard Stompers (featuring Teddy Bunn) 1930/1932
13. Sloppy Drunk Blues - Washboard Rhythm Kings 1932
14. Fire - Washboard Rhythm Kings 1932
15. Warehouse Blues - Washboard Sam & His Washboard Band 1938/1939
16. Booker T. Blues - Washboard Sam & His Washboard Band 1938/1939
17. This Time Is My Time - Washboard Sam & His Washboard Band 1938/1939
18. Block And Tackle - Washboard Sam & His Washboard Band 1938/1939

Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue

The reviewer at Allmusic.com bemoans the fact that ASV opts to include less popular versions (or British) vs. the hit versions, specifically Gene Austin's version of today's post title. I think he misses the point - that the collection is about the songwriter, not the performer. Relying on the hit versions would be too easy. Besides, Austin is represented here and now we get to hear the California Rambers (at least one of their lineups) and widen our exposure to the great music of the 20s and 30s. On another note, I can't imagine how Paul Robeson must have felt when he was given Henderson's tune to record. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Best Things in Life Are Free - Jack Hylton Orchestra
2. I'm Sitting on Top of the World - Frank Crumit
3. Don't Bring Lulu - Nathan Glantz & His Orchestra
4. Lucky Day - Howard Lanin & His Orchestra
5. Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue (Has Anybody Seen My Girl) - California Ramblers
6. (Here I Am) Brokenhearted - Gene Austin
7. Black Bottom Stomp - Annette Hanshaw
8. Bye Bye Blackbird - Layton & Johnstone
9. Magnolia - Johnny Marvin
10. Varsity Drag - Zelma O'Neal
11. Sonny Boy - Al Jolson
12. You're the Cream in My Coffee - Ruth Etting
13. If I Had a Talking Picture of You - Sam Browne with the Jack Hylton Orchestra
14. I'm a Dreamer, Aren't We All? - Frank Luther
15. Sunny Side Up - Joe Cassidy
16. Button up Your Overcoat - Ruth Etting
17. My Song - Rudy Vallée
18. That's Why Darkies Were Born - Paul Robeson
19. Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries - Hutch
20. Thrill Is Gone - Rudy Vallée
21. My Dog Loves Your Dog - Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards
22. Animal Crackers in My Soup - Shirley Temple
23. Birth of the Blues - Bing Crosby, Jack Teagarden Orchestra
24. Together - Helen Forrest, Dick Haymes
25. Let's Call It a Day - Hutch

Whatchya Gonna Swing Tonight?

 I love a good melody, and there's a load of tunes here to keep you whistling for a while. Or at least until my next post. :-) I think they could have done without two consecutive Crosby solo tunes but will forgive the duet with Connee Boswell because it's Connee Boswell. I never tire of Tommy Dorsey's Marie, and somewhere I have a live version featuring Sinatra that I'll try to locate if and when all of our things arrive via container. Which reminds me, at some point thereafter I plan to post the four cds of complete Dorsey/Sinatra recordings (the sampler cd was posted some time back). In any case, I'm pretty sure this is the last 'Hits of' disc in my collection. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Bei Mir Bist Du Schon - Andrews Sisters
2. On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Louis Armstrong
3. Rockin' Chair - Mildred Bailey
4. That Old Feeling - Connee Boswell
5. Will You Remember - Sam Costa
6. Bob White - Bing Crosby & Connie Boswell
7. Moon Got In My Eyes - Bing Crosby
8. Sweet Leilani - Bing Crosby
9. I've Got You Under My Skin - Frances Day
10. Marie - Tommy Dorsey
11. Moon At Sea - Shep Fields
12. Leaning On A Lamp Post - George Formby
13. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm - Judy Garland
14. To Mary With Love - Geraldo
15. Oh They're Tough Mighty Tough In The West - Nat Gonella
16. Pennies From Heaven - Nat Gonella
17. Nice Work If You Can Get It - Billie Holiday
18. Slap That Bass - Ink Spots
19. Was It Rain - Frances Langford
20. Greatest Mistake Of My Life - Jimmy Mesene
21. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Dick Powell
22. Broken Hearted Clown - Harry Roy
23. Can I Forget You - Jean Sablon
24. September In The Rain - Arthur Tracy
25. Where Is The Sun - Valaida

East Of The Sun

For whatever reason, I seem to have not uploaded 1934 yet. So we skip ahead to 1935, which should not disappoint. Two fantastic Astaire tunes open this year's set, recorded (respectively) with the Johnny Green and Leo Reisman Orchestras followed up by Ethel Merman, a couple of Fats Wallers, and even an Arthur Tracy version of a tune that Old Blue Eyes famously delivered with Tommy Dorsey. Wrap it up with my favorite version of Lullaby of Broadway, and there you have it. Tracks 3,4, and 21 were actually recorded in 1934 (albeit November or December), but interestingly Track 7 is from 1936 and Track 14 from 1939. Say what? Turns out that the latter was published in '35, recorded later that year and introduced later by Langford in a film. I think Track 7 was originally recorded by someone else in '35, but enough quibbling. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Top Hat, White Tie and Tails - Fred Astaire
2. Cheek to Cheek - Fred Astaire
3. Cucaracha - Harry Roy    
4. Anything Goes - Jeanne Aubert & The Four Admirals
5. I Get a Kick Out of You - Ethel Merman
6. Easter Parade - Henry Hall & The BBC Orchestra
7. Everything Stops for Tea - Jack Buchanan
8. Lovely to Look At - Irene Dunne
9. What a Diff'rence a Day Made - Denny Dennis, Roy Fox & His Band
10. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter - Fats Waller & His Rhythm
11. Alone - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
12. From the Top of Your Head - Bing Crosby, The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
13. Your Feet's Too Big - The Ink Spots
14. I'm in the Mood for Love - Frances Langford
15. Canoe Song - Paul Robeson
16. Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Lawrence Tibbett
17. My Very Good Friend the Milkman - Fats Waller & His Rhythm
18. Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup - Carroll Gibbons, Hildegarde
19. East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) - Arthur Tracy
20. Red Sails in the Sunset - Gracie Fields
21. Blue Moon - Frankie Trumbauer
22. I Wished on the Moon - Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson
23. Lullaby of Broadway - Dick Powell

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

How Can You Have The Blues?

Here's another fine collection from the good folks at Yazoo. It's an interesting set with some familiar names, and some not. Seven Foot Dilly & His Dill Pickles? And who could forget the T.C.I. Section Crew? At least I've heard of Pine Top Smith and Memphis Minnie! Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. If I Had My Way I'd Tear the Building Down - Blind Willie Johnson
2. Cocaine Blues - Luke Jordan
3. Bow Wow Blues - Allen Brothers
4. Jive Man Blues - Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
5. Jonah in the Wilderness - Henry Thomas
6. South Carolina Rag - Willie Walker
7. Whitewash Station - Memphis Jug Band
8. Automobile Ride Through Alabama - Red Henderson
9. Dirty Dozen No. 2 - Speckled Red
10. Tain't None O' Your Business - Butterbeans & Susie
11. It's a Good Thing - The Beale Street Sheiks
12. She's a Hum Dum Dinger (From Dingersville) - Jimmie Davis
13. Papa's on the Housetop - Leroy Carr
14. Let That Liar Alone - Rev. Edward W. Clayborn
15. Back in My Home Town - Frank Hutchison
16. Track Linin - T.C.I. Section Crew
17. Atlanta Strut - Blind Willie McTell
18. Arkansas Hard Luck Blues - Lonnie Glosson
19. How Can You Have the Blues? - Kansas City Kitty & Georgia Tom
20. Pickin' off Peanuts - Seven Foot Dilly & His Dill Pickles
21. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out - Pinetop Smith
22. When I Stopped Running I Was at Home - The Dixieland Jug Blowers
23. Frankie Jean (That Trottin' Fool) - Memphis Minnie

Dancing In The Dark

I always like the ASV collections with their song selections. Where else are you going to get Arthur Tracy? And the Revelers were hugely popular but virtually unheard of these days. Plus you get Lawrence Tibbett for a taste of "culture." Good stuff, that's for sure. Look for more of this series soon. Enjoy. +

Tracks

1. Stardust - Bing Crosby, Victor Young & His Orchestra
2. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone - Gene Austin
3. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - Cab Calloway & His Orchestra
4. Rockin' Chair - Ray Noble & His Orchestra, Paul Robeson
5. Peanut Vendor - Bert Ambrose & His Orchestra
6. Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You) - Ruth Etting
7. Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries - Hutch
8. When I Take My Sugar to Tea - The Boswell Sisters, The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
9. Cuban Love Song - Lawrence Tibbett
10. Just One More Chance - Bing Crosby, Victor Young & His Orchestra
11. Lady of Spain - Tino Folgar
12. Marta - Arthur Tracy
13. Walkin' My Baby Back Home - Maurice Chevalier
14. Would You Like to Take a Walk? - Annette Hanshaw
15. I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) - Layton & Johnstone
16. Prisoner of Love - Russ Columbo, Nat Shilkret & His Orchestra
17. Dancing in the Dark - The Revelers
18. Sweet and Lovely - Al Bowlly
19. Lazy River - Louis Armstrong
20. River, Stay 'Way from My Door - Paul Robeson
21. Sally - Gracie Fields
22. Dream a Little Dream of Me - Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra
23. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away) - Gus Arnheim & His Orchestra, Bing Crosby
24. Goodnight Sweetheart - Bud Noble