So here I sit, the girl who can discuss pretty much anything else about the 1930s, '40s or '50s (except the war-stuff; I’ve never made a study of WWII as a military operation, just its societal impact)… and I have no idea what comes of the music of the era. I turn to the Teeming Millions for aid.
I’ve got me some neo-swing CDs (think Brian Setzer and his ilk). I’ve got me some Louis Prima. I’ve got one of those introductions-to-classic-swing albums featuring “In The Mood” and “Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing)” (also known as “Hey!! That’s the CHIPS AHOY song!!!”). But what else should I be listenin’ to? Tell me the songs I ought to recognize at first listen, and the songs that will be new to me despite their age. Tell me who’s who and why I should hear them. Help me out here!
Instrumentals with lots of drum, like “Sing, Sing, Sing,” would be much appreciated. They make good driving music. There was a song like that playing in the background of the only scene I saw of the movie “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” but they didn’t have it subtitled with the name of the song, damn them.
Also, y’know how in the Chips Ahoy version of “Sing, Sing, Sing” the guys holler “A THOUSAND CHIPS DELICIOUS”? Guys hollering stuff with the music seems to be a given but I’ve yet to actually hear it in a song (as opposed to a parody or something that copies the type).
I’m pretty much completely unschooled here, so lay it on me thick.
Basically, the only white artists you really need to listen to are Goodman and Miller from the big band era. Especially Goodman. Tommy Dorsey, I suppose gets you extra credit.
But if you really want to know about the music pick up Basie, Ellington, Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and for good measure Billie Holiday because I love the woman.
Just grab as many CDs by them as you can and listen and you will know everything you need to know.
Goodman, Miller and Dorsey I have on a cheapy 3-CD set I picked up at Walmart called “Stars of the Big Band Era.” The neo-swing stuff doesn’t enter into this discussion, because it’s not really like the old stuff… but I have it. Any particular songs by the folks you mentioned that I should look into first? (I recognize all the names, but wouldn’t know where to begin with a listen.)
In pop music, you might want to check out the Jitterbug music that was big during the war.
Artists of the era that were popular include the Ink Spots, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Peggy Lee, the Mills Brothers, the Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Spike Jones, Dinah Shore, Lena Horne, Kate Smith, Count Basie, and Harry James.
Ellington has so many…“Sophisticated Lady,” “Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing,” “Caravan,” and many many more. Any Ellington standards CD will be fine at first.
Same with Fitzgerald or Basie or anyone else. If you want to just download songs (thief! thief!) go to CDNOW or someplace and just look for CD’s claiming to have their classic hits or standards or whatever.
And for a real, honest-to-goodness treat grab First Time! The Count Meets the Duke. Good times.
Rather late 50’s, but I’d like to recommend “Time Out” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Hearing how they cleverly interact with each other is quite an experience, even from listening to it on record pressed about 42 years ago. He also has some other albums more toward the 40s; perhaps someone else knows more about them.
You need some Fats Waller. I like Louis Jordan as well.
Oh, and in a pinch you can grab Ken Burns’ Jazz. It was an excellent 19 hours of TV on PBS, and may be in video stores. There are plenty of CDs available under that name.
I’m not sure whether the question is about pop music from the 30s to the 50s in general–which is a huge, huge topic–or about swing music in particular.
If it’s swing music you’re interested in, check out:
Fletcher Henderson
Duke Ellington (arguably the most important American musician of the 20th century)
Count Basie
Ella Fitzgerald
Lester Young
Billie Holiday
Benny Goodman
There are “Ken Burns’ Jazz” compilation CDs for all these artists, and they’re generally well-chosen, easily available, and cheap. (You may want to skip the actual documentary for the moment, though. It’s rather drab and dull compared to the music.)
Other swing-era artists to consider: Artie Shaw, Gene Krupa (lots o’ drums), Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra (lots o’ sweet crooning), and Louis Jordan (lots o’ guys shouting.) Or, for a change of pace, Raymond Scott or Spike Jones.
There was a set put out about a decade or so ago that was wonderful. The ten cassettes (that was pre-CDs for me) literally took you through the evolution of jazz.
The one artist who has gotten left out in the discussion above is Chick Hern. He shouldn’t be. He was something else. But mostly he is just remembered for discovering Ella. He did a lot more and generally the big band types all claimed he was the best in battle of the bands he and his band were known to beat Goodman and Ellington alike.
Swing in particular. The rest of the music of the era doesn’t speak to me as swing does.
You know who I know and like? Raymond Scott. The guy who did the music that ended up in Looney Tunes. He made it as real music, not cartoon soundtracks, but every song tells a story (usually an amusing one).
I think TV time may have meant to type Chick Webb…
racinchikki–If you like Raymond Scott, you should try tracking down John Kirby. He had a great little Scott-like combo (featuring Charlie Shavers and Russell Procope, names that will be familiar to jazz fans.)
You’re all naming the people that I really should know. Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Ella Fitzgerald and everybody else. But the stuff by them that I find in Walmart seem to be … I don’t know, not very swingy. I want loud and bouncy! I want more stuff just like “Sing Sing Sing!” I’m obviously listening to the wrong recordings. I know this stuff exists, but when all the CDs I find seem to feature songs that are slower than I’m looking for, I’m at a loss. I guess I’m looking more for “hot” than “sweet,” then?