Tag: 1931

From the Record Shelves #295 - I’d Rather Be a Beggar with YouFrom the Record Shelves #295 – I’d Rather Be a Beggar with You – I have a weakness for sentimental songs, under the condition that they are delivered with a reasonably high grade of honesty. Fortunately, there were a handful of singers that could do that in the (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #230 - Basin Street BluesFrom the Record Shelves #230 – Basin Street Blues – I continue to listen to early Jack Teagarden today. This 1931 record starts immediately with his voice, which is proper for this tune that was to become something of his signature. Many trombone players have started the tune by (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #211 - Dip Your Brush in the SunshineFrom the Record Shelves #211 – Dip Your Brush in the Sunshine – Ted Lewis (1892–1971) had a long career in the entertainment business, with his top hat and clarinet combined with great charm. In this period, at the beginning of the 1930s, he takes on the task of trying to (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #178 - MeFrom the Record Shelves #178 – Me – It’s rewarding for me to listen to American dance bands from the 20s and beginning of the 30s. We often get good melodies and fine inventive arrangements well played by the best musicians around, and then if (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #165 - Moonlight Saving TimeFrom the Record Shelves #165 – Moonlight Saving Time – When I listen to Ruth Etting I try not to think about her personal life, and I don’t either want to think about the motion picture Love Me or Leave Me starring Doris Day that is based on said tragic life. No, I prefer to (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #155 - The Basement BluesFrom the Record Shelves #155 – The Basement Blues – While listening to this LP, I reflected about the magnificent photo on the cover. It’s said to have been taken in Paris 1929, but that doesn’t fit since I recognize Tommy Ladnier playing his trumpet there, and he was not (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #145 - Little ButtercupFrom the Record Shelves #145 – Little Buttercup. Frank Signorelli wrote the tune and recorded it three years earlier with Eddie Lang under its usual name, I’ll Never Be the Same. Later versions with touching lyrics were made by among others Billie Holiday (…) read more and listenread more and listen

From the Record Shelves #139 - Creole RhapsodyFrom the Record Shelves #139 – Creole Rhapsody. This classic LP is from an Ellington period 1929-1931 when the trumpet player Bubber Miley, one of the most important members of the band during the Cotton Club era, had left. His replacement Cootie Williams (…) read more and listenread more and listen