Back to School!

Hey, today's the first day of classes for most of the schools in my area!

Back in my day, we really would've squawked if we had to go back before Labor Day!

But, in keeping with the situation, here's Gary (U.S.) Bonds with his 1961 hit "School Is In" on the LeGrand label:

It always sound like they're having a party in the studio!

Here's the lunch box I had in first grade (well, the same model!):

"I'll Sing You a Thousand Love Songs" (1936) - Part 2!

For a fascinating contrast, we go from Henry King to Tempo King with another version of “I’ll Sing You a Thousand Love Songs” from 1936’s “Cain and Mabel.”

So, here’s Tempo King and his Kings of Tempo on Bluebird Records:

                            

It’s somewhat unclear as to whether Tempo King was a real person (pianist Queenie Ada Rubin too for that matter), but whatever the case, we can enjoy some awesome Fats Waller-inspired records under the Tempo King name!

"I'll Sing You a Thousand Love Songs" (1936)

Back to 1936, we come across “I’ll Sing You a Thousand Love Songs” from the Warner Brothers release "Cain and Mabel" starring Marion Davies and Clark Gable.

The movie is a lot of fun, with the two leads well-cast and tons of snappy Warner Brothers dialogue!

It’s also the rare movie of the period where Mr. Gable (on loan to WB from MGM) does not sport his trademark moustache. I’ve heard that’s because it hadn’t grown back yet from when he shaved it off for 1935’s “Mutiny on the Bounty,” but I think it’s more likely that the moustache just didn’t fit his role as a prizefighter!

As for the Dubin & Warren song “I’ll Sing You a Thousand Love Songs,” it gets a huge production number in the movie with Robert Paige (under his prior stage name of David Carlyle) singing the song.

Here’s a nice version on Decca Records from pianist Henry King and his Orchestra with violinist Joseph Sudy on the vocal:

I think Henry King’s band has such an elegant sound and Joe Sudy’s vocals fit just right!

 

"June in January" (1934) - Part 2!

Naturally Bing Crosby recorded the song “June in January” from his 1934 Paramount picture “Here is My Heart.” So, here is his Decca recording, backed by Georgie Stoll:

 

All these years later you can still understand how Bing took the entertainment industry by storm!

"June in January" (1934)

Another song published by Famous Music and featured in a Paramount picture is Robin & Rainger’s “June in January” from 1934’s “Here is My Heart” starring Bing Crosby and young Kitty Carlisle, in one of a handful of movies he appeared in, years before her long run as a delightful panelist on TV's "To Tell the Truth." Here’s a really nice version of the song by Richard Himber and his Ritz-Carlton Orchestra with vocalist Joey Nash on Victor:

 

Richard Himber has the 1930s hotel band sound nailed!

The back cover of the “June in January” sheet music features a puffy write-up on the movie, which is fun, but it also has a picture of songwriters Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger:

"Alibi Baby" (1937)

I noticed that the first title listed as a current song on the Famous Music house ad we were looking at yesterday was “Alibi Baby” and I thought, hey, I know that song! 

As seems so often the case, I mainly know it due to the version by Tommy Dorsey and his Clambake Seven! So, here are TD and the boys with Edythe Wright on Victor Records:

“Alibi Baby” is interesting in that it’s a rare song published by Famous Music that isn’t from a Paramount Picture!

"Whispers in the Dark" (1937)

The last movie we landed upon, “Artists and Models Abroad” from 1938, was a follow-up to the previous year’s “Artist and Models,” but it really just borrows the name, as Jack Benny plays different roles in each.

Jack made way more movies in the 1930s than in any other decade of his long career and I enjoy him in those movies, but it always seems kind of odd in that he’s not playing a version of his popular radio persona.

In any event, 1937’s Paramount picture “Artist and Models” featured the hit song “Whispers in the Dark,” which gets a nice treatment from Bob Crosby’s band with vocalist Kay Weber on this Decca record:

 

The Bob Crosby band’s most fondly remembered records have long been their great instrumentals, usually with a Dixieland feel, but the band could play pop sings with vocals quite well too!

Worth mentioning is that the back of the sheet music for “Whispers in the Dark” has this snazzy house ad for Famous Music:

Those songs really are… Famous!

"What Have You Got That Gets Me" (1938) - Part 2!

For another version of "What Have You Got That Gets Me" from the 1938 Paramount picture “Artist and Models Abroad,” we have the great singer Mildred Bailey on the Conqueror label:

                                  

Although the record is billed as by Mildred Bailey and her Orchestra, the orchestra is really that of Mildred’s then-husband, xylophonist Red Norvo.

Mildred cut a number of excellent records with Red's band under Red's name, but it's fun to hear her on her "own" records as well!

"What Have You Got That Gets Me" (1938)

We last heard “You’ve Got What Gets Me” from 1932’s “Girl Crazy,” but the 1938 Paramount picture “Artists and Models Abroad” flips that around with the song “You’ve Got What Gets Me” by the ace songwriting team of Robin and Rainger!

Let’s hear this version by Kay Kyser and his Orchestra with lovely vocalist Ginny Simms on Brunswick Records:

That sounds exactly how you would expect a 1938 Kay Kyser record to sound!

 

"(I Scream - You Scream - We All Scream for) Ice Cream" (1927) - Part 2

When there’s a wacky 1920s novelty song, you know Harry Reser and Tom Stacks must be nearby! So, hear they are with their version of "(I Scream - You Scream - We All Scream for) Ice Cream" on Columbia Records:

 

So fun!

 

"(I Scream - You Scream - We All Scream for) Ice Cream" (1927)

Hey, we made it to August!

Kind of a crazy Summer so far, as it’s either been raining or 90-plus degrees – or both!

So, I say we deserve some ice cream!

With that in mind here’s Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians with a recording of the fun 1927 novelty song "(I Scream - You Scream - We All Scream for) Ice Cream" on Victor Records:

                                   

Fred Waring made some pretty wacky records in the 1920s before he stopped recording for a decade or so while he turned more and more square!

Always fun to hear drummer Poley McClintock with his primeval Popeye-type voice!