Thursday, April 14, 2011

VINYL-PALOOZA #4: Hollywood Stomp - Los Angeles in Song 1920s - 1940s


While still sticking to my plan of only posting records this whole month (nothing taken from digital sources) I admit I got things a little wrong - today's post comes from 78s, and they're made out of shellac, not vinyl. Oh, whatever, this is all utterly wonderful music no matter what it's made out of, all from the first half of the history of audio recordings. And all the songs are about Los Angeles, in some way. Interesting that the name "Los Angeles" is almost never used - "Hollywood" and "California" were the magic words, apparently.
There's a real warm, uplifting, and, dare I say, glamorous feel to these tunes, some of which are also very funny and/or a bit odd. Click on the artist name for info on them, if any.





Al Jolson - California, Here I Come

Freddie Quintette Simmons - Hollywood Bound (this and Spivey's tune are some low-down bluesy jazz)

Victoria Spivey - Hollywood Stomp
Spike Jones - It Never Rains In Sunny California (Spike's novelties were so imaginative, they were practically avant-garde.)

Felix Figueroa & His Orchestra - Pico and Sepulveda (Yep, the classic that Dr Demento played on his show for years is still the most perfectly strange and fun
ny record one could hope to hear.)

Joe Raymond and His Orchestra - Hollywood
Robert Clarey - Hollywood Bowl (This Frenchman survived the Nazis, and went on to star in "Hogan's Heroes"!)
Russ Morgan - California Orange Blossom
Cleo Brown - When Hollywood Goes Black and Tan

Slim Gaillard - Santa Monica Jump

Kay Kyser - When Veronica Plays the Harmonica ("...on the pier at Santa Monica..." Some of the most ludicrously silly hep-cat lyrics EVER h
ere; oh, and Kyser was the male band leader - the female singer is Gloria Wood)

Earl Burtnett & His Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra - If I Had A Talking Picture Of You (The Biltmore Hotel still stands in the heart of Downtown LA, and is quite the ornate, opulant pleasure palace.)

Collins and Harlan - Those Charlie Chaplin Feet
Roy Rogers - San Fernando Valley (this singing cowboy really d
id live in the Valley, not far from where I grew up)

Hoosier Hot Shots - Avalon (These guys were almost as screwy as Spike Jones)

Modernaires - Santa Catalina (Island of Romance) (This vocal group is backed by Glen Miller's big band.)

Deanna Durbin & Robert Paige - Californ-I-Ay (lyrics as nutty as it gets)
(artist unknown) - HollyWood Polka

Dorothy Shay (The "Park Avenue Hillbilly") - I've Been To Hollywood

Benny Goodman Orch. - Hooray For Hollywood (You know the tune, but check out the rather sardonic lyrics HERE.)



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gloria Wood did "The Rock and The Roll" on Diamond, which is mid-'50s whitepeople maltshop hideous. If you want a copy (mine is thoroughly beat to s***) ridiculously overpriced, here it is on OyVey:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fem-Vocal-45-GLORIA-WOOD-Rock-And-Roll-NM-/380329672534?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item588d6a3f56

Windbag

Mr Fab said...

I can't justify spending $16 on that single, but ya gotta love Gloria Woods - she did the classic "Hey! Bellboy!" that's on one of those "Ultra Lounge" comps.

Boris T. said...

On the subject of 78's, I've got a great record called "Caviar Comes From A Virgin Sturgeon" b/w "She went to See A Man About A Dog", as well as "Hole in One" b/w "Shaking His Bandolero". In case you're interested, I can record them for you.

Mr Fab said...

Those sound great Boris, yeah, I'd love to hear 'em! Check "About Me" for my email & po box #.

Boris T. said...

Ok, but you're going to have to give me a week or two, I'm kinda busy currently.

Mr Fab said...

Hey, take your time Boris, Ive got plenty of stuff lined up.

Adam Bosarge said...

The link doesn't work anymore, and after losing my hard drive I lost it and really want it again... if you could re-upload I'd give many thanks!

Mr Fab said...

Thanks for the heads-up Adam, I put it up on a new hosting site (fie on Mediafire).