If there was only one album I could take to a desert island I would be torn between this and something by Nat King Cole.
For an album (originally two records) released in the 1950s, Songs for Young Lovers/Swing Easy! sounds quite modern. It was the first in a series of concept albums by Sinatra assisted by the ever talented Nelson Riddle.
Sinatra’s voice of the 1950s is deeper than the Sinatra of the 1940s Columbia era, it was his best period.We also love the third album of the Sinatra-Riddle Swing series; A Swingin’ Affair 1957.
Songs for Young Lovers consists of a satisfying set of ballads that formed the nucleus of a Sinatra catalogue and showed up in concert through the 1960s and later.
Swing Easy, originally the second side of the Capitol LP (when the two albums were married and released). Put simply, there is nothing retro-sounding about this set, except that it was recorded in mono because hey it was the 1950s. But magnetic tape mus have been used because the sound quality is amazing. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, later popularised by Dean Martin, is timeless.
Published November 1st, 2006
in big band, swing and uncategorized.
The name of the day was Louis Prima. The format was big band, the year 1939. From September 21st (that is just 20 days after Germany invaded Poland, which is said to have started World War II)
Fortunately someone recorded an entire day on US radio, and that included a full hour of pop music. While we think of 1939 as very long ago the music is still fresh. So listen now to number 19 of Complete Broadcast Day Series, it includes half an hour of a young Louis Prima. (Copyright expired)
Do you want more “Old Time Radio”, leave a comment.
Published April 5th, 2006
in big band, swing, music and uncategorized.
During WW2 the German authorities sponsored a band known as “Charlie and His Orchestra”, they covered the popular english language hits of the day, but changed replaced the original lyrics with anti-alled propaganda.
The altered songs were sung in English, albeit with a german accent, and were clearly aimed at demoralising allied civilians. While one cannot condone the activities of the Nazi party in any way, the songs are well performed.
Lets Put Out The Lights:
No more money in the banks, the russians get our guns and tanks… [chorus] the food gets dearer every day, and the shops are closing, mr gloom is on his way, and the russians losing
WSMF has the MP3s here and more here
German Submarines (sung to the tune of Elmer’s Tune)
what takes the pork from the beans, german submarines
Continue reading ‘Charlie and His Orchestra’
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