June 2003

June 19, 2003
 

 

Down Argentine Way
Shep Fields and his Rippling Rhythm
Sunny Washburn, vocal                          1940
(Bluebird B-10886-B)

As a rule, I am not a big fan of the "Rippling Rhythm" which referred to Shep Fields' sound effects gimmick of blowing a straw through a glass of water placed near a microphone.  He actually did this quite frequently on his records and radio broadcasts - and, for whatever reason, his band actually achieved a certain degree of popularity as a result.   This week's selection is a recording that, happily, does not feature the effect - and without it, the band actually had a pretty nice sound.   The song is from the  1940 film  Down Argentine Way in which it was performed by Betty Grable.
 
 

Extra

The following is part of my slow but ongoing effort to update the audio files on the older portions of this website with ones that take advantage of my audio restoration software.  All such updates will be featured here in the Hit of the Week section the same week they are added to the site.
 
 

My Baby Knows How
California Ramblers
Frank Harris, vocal                                          1926
(Columbia 800-D mx 142871)
(Originally posted August 1999)
 

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June 12, 2003
 

 
I Love My Baby
Isham Jones Orchestra                        1925
(Brunswick 3015-B)

Isham Jones was one of the more popular bandleaders of the early 1920s.  This early electric recording was made three days after Christmas in 1925 and released in early 1926.   The band remained popular through the early 1930s.  It broke up in 1936 when Jones went into retirement.  In the 1940s, Jones put together another band but it was not as successful.  His most lasting contribution to popular music was as a composer with around 200 songs to his credit including such classics as "It Had To Be You," "Swinging Down The Lane, "I'll See You In My Dreams," and "You've Got Me Crying Again."
 
 

Extra

The following are part of my slow but ongoing effort to update the audio files on the older portions of this website with ones that take advantage of my audio restoration software.  All such updates will be featured here in the Hit of the Week section the same week they are added to the site.

Lucille
Wilbur Sweatman's Original Jazz Band                  1919
(Columbia A2752 mx 78373)
(Originally posted August 1999)

Out Of The Dawn
Nat Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra                    1928
(Victor 21572-B mx 46322)
(Originally posted August 1999)
 

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June 5, 2003
 
 

 

The Sheik
Rudy Wiedoeft's Californians                    1921
(Brunswick 2175-A)
 

Bagdad
Ray Miller and His Orchestra                    1924
(Brunswick 2681-A)

Due to the enormous popularity of the Rudolph Valentino silent picture The Sheik,  early 1920s American popular culture experienced a craze for all things Middle Eastern  - or at least the public's romanticized notion of the Middle East.  Suddenly clothing and furniture that had a Middle Eastern look to it became very fashionable.  The craze extended to popular music as well and most of the major dance bands during the early '20s made recordings with a Middle Eastern theme.

This week's first selection was composed by Ted Snyder,  the very successful songwriter and music publisher who, back in 1909, gave Irving Berlin his first big professional break.  While the song was inspired by the Valentino film,  Valentino himself supposedly disliked it.  Sometimes known as "The Sheik of Araby," the song has been recorded by a number of artists through the years.  My favorite versions are two different ones that the Red Nichols Orchestra recorded during the late 1920s - one of which is currently featured in the playlist of my Internet radio station.

"Bagdad," composed by Milton Ager with lyrics by Jack Yellen, is my favorite of this week's two selections.   The song writing team of Ager and Yellen was very successful and productive during the 1920s and 1930s.  Among their big hits were "Ain't She Sweet" and "Happy Days Are Here Again" - the song that has come to be associated with the hard times brought about by the Great Depression.