Today being April Fools day, I've decided to serve up a few silly songs from the Big Band era. No Spike Jones today, but lots of other good stuff. Got your whoopee cushions ready? Then off we go ...
The
Internet doesn't contain a lot of information about British Music Hall
star Cyril Smith. He appeared on both sides of this 1937 recording by
Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees. "The Old Sow Song" is
an amusing collection of rude noises rolled up into an effective comedy
routine built around an old English song. Vallee announces the record,
and playfully gives the song's title as "I Heard Three Birds" in
reference to the three blasts that punctuate the song. This record
became a runaway hit and old-timers say that it was one of the first
records to really sell well as the Great Depression began to slightly
ease.
Barely
a week after "The Old Sow Song" was recorded, Tommy Dorsey headed to
the studio with a hand-picked group of musicians from his band and
recorded the classic parody record "Are All My Favorite Bands Playing Or Am I Dreaming."
The record was based on a current pop tune of the time, "Am I
Dreaming," which Dorsey himself also recorded. But on this version --
originally released anonymously -- his musicians ham it up to produce
one of the most hilariously over-the-top parodies of "sweet" or
"society" bands eve recorded. If you're familiar with sweet bands like
Guy Lombardo or Shep Fields and his Rippling Rhythm (whom they really
go after) then you will appreciate the damage done here. The vocalist
is tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman, whose phony pretentious British
accent adds the final icing on the cake.
Download Are all My Favorite Bands Playing Or Am I Dreaming.mp3
The Teddy Powell Orchestra is largely forgotten today, but from 1939 until 1942 they were an extremely popular attraction in New York City and on the CBS Radio Network. In 1941 they waxed this classic ode to the Bronx Cheer, "Serenade To A Maid,"
written by John Jacob Loeb. In the process of saturating RCA Victor's
microphones with spittle, they also manage to take a good shot at the
Sammy Kaye and Blue Barron bands, whose leaders liked to introduce
their singers in the middle of songs.
Download Serenade To A Maid.mp3
Our final bit of nonsense comes from the late 1940's, when Benny Goodman signed an exclusive contract with Capitol records. "The Happy Blues"
by "The Hollywood Hucksters" features a bit of good-natured ribbing
between Goodman (still "The King Of Swing") and Capitol's top
bandleader at the time, the progressive Stan Kenton. And along the way
you'll hear some great jazz solos by Benny Carter on alto, Benny
Goodman on clarinet, and Charlie Shavers on trumpet.
