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Here’s what stuck me as I put this mix together: In late 1944 the disconnect between music and everything happening in the world is, from different perspectives, both narrower and wider than it has been before. Narrower because the wartime spirit is no longer enough of a novelty to even be notable – almost nobody is writing music about the war, it has just become a background presence in the way any change in culture does. American troops are in Europe now, and that’s already just a fact of life. Wider because, in the earlier days of the war, there was a real, visceral sense of the horrors of the conflict, of an existential threat. This dread hasn’t just faded into the background as the allies start to look like victory is inevitable, the dread is missing entirely. They know they can’t celebrate just yet, but they are keen to start.
In terms of music, we are jammed in the middle of two eras. The big bands are clearly on their way out, broken by the war, the strike, the inability to tour due to fuel rationing – but also because there are much more interesting sounds out there. The individual musicians in these bands have mostly moved on too, to rhythm & blues, to be bop, or to both. Still at this point they probably have a day job playing big band music, but it’s already a heritage industry.
The birth of be bop has been underway for a little while already, we can make a case for it existing as early as 1941, but it’s only really now that we can feel it emerging into the record. Next year it will fully emerge, to the extent of being recorded in studios, so best leave it until then.
Rhythm & blues is at full levels of excitement this year – unsurprisingly it sounds like people wanted to have a party. Louis Jordan in particular is producing so many absolute classics that it’s a wonder he doesn’t get more credit for anything more than being a progenitor of rock & roll – a genre only subtley different to Jordan’s “jump blues” but one which he nonetheless had no time for. Just imagine dancing at a live performance by Jodan, Lucky Millinder or Cootie Williams, really who needs rock & roll to happen?
One other aspect I’ve noticed here is the groove – whether it’s Arsenio RodrÃguez, J.J. Johnson, Boyd Raeburn, Lester Young or Orquesta Casino De La Playa, there is more music than ever before spreading out and allowing itself to build up slowly. We are still a good few years away from the introduction of the LP, so expect only more of this to come.
Finally, let’s not forget that we are still in the early days of the Allied invasion of Europe, and consequently there are many journalists on the continent producing a vast amount of interesting content. I’ve included plenty of this, while trying not to let it interfere too much with the music. If the news footage isn’t much to your taste, please be assured that there will be much less in the post-war year mixes. If that’s what you’re mainly here for then, well, you’re in for a treat today.
Introduction
0:00:00 Victor Young – Excerpt from Ministry of Fear
(Clip from A Canterbury Tale)
(Clip from Tokyo Rose broadcast)
0:00:30 MGM Studio Orchestra – The Most Horrible One
(Clip from WOR Year In Review)
(Clip from Abbott & Costello Show – Special Guest Alan Ladd)
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
0:01:14 Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five – Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby
(Clips from NBC at Democratic National Convention)
(Clip from Arsenic & Old Lace)
0:05:11 Boyd Raeburn – Little Boyd Blue (Blows His Top)
(Clip from “Cross Country Reaction to D-Day”)
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
(Clip from NBC at Democratic National Convention)
0:07:55 Artists Unknown – Jitterbug Instructional Film
(Clip from CBC Radio Canada)
July
(Clip of CAN – Herbert on the bombing of Caen)
0:15:22 Dinah Washington – Homeward Bound
(Clips from BBC – Frank Gillard & Chester reports from near Caen)
0:19:24 Wally Bastiansz – Suranganaviye
(Clip from MBS – Frank Singiser and The News)
(Clip from Mutual War News)
0:23:01 J.J. Johnson, Illinois Jacquet, Jack Mcvea, Nat King Cole, Les Paul, Johnny Miller, Lee Young – Blues
(Clip from Abbott & Costello Show – Special Guest Harold Peary)
(Clips from NBC at Democratic National Convention)
0:30:12 Stan Kenton & His Orchestra – Artistry In Rhythm
(Clips from NBC at Democratic National Convention)
0:35:41 Phil Harris – That’s What I Like About The South
(Clips from NBC at Democratic National Convention)
0:39:59 Arsenio RodrÃguez & Su Conjunto – Yo ‘Ta Namora
(Clips from NBC at Democratic National Convention)
0:44:05 Woody Guthrie – This Land Is Your Land
(Clip from Fibber McGee & Molly – D-Day Broadcast)
0:46:26 Tino Rossi – Mon Ile d’ Amour
(Clip from RL Radio Paris – Attentat Contre Hitler)
(Clip from RRG Adolf Hitler – On July 20th Assassination Attempt)
0:49:10 Sergei Provokiev – Except from Ivan The Terrible, Part I
August
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
0:52:03 Duke Ellington – Transblucency (A Blue Fog That You Can Almost See Through)
(Clips from Memphis Belle)
0:58:18 Mary Lou Williams – St. Louis Blues
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
(Clip from MBS News – 1944 in Review)
(Clip from Judge Roland Freisler Shouts At Coup Defendant Ervin von Witzleben)
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
(Clip from RRG Heinrich Himmler – Vor Offizieren Von Volksgrenadier)
1:02:06 Lead Belly – Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
(Clips from NHK The Zero Hour Hosted By Orphan Anne Iva Toguri)
(clip from Ministry of Fear)
(Clip of Tokyo Rose)
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
1:05:05 Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra & Wynonie Harris – Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well?
(Clip from BBC Ed Murrow Counts Parachutes in Holland)
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
1:09:35 Cecil Gant – I Wonder (Alternate Take 4)
(Clips from BBC Richard Wessel On The Liberation Of Paris)
(Clip from CAN The Liberation Of Paris)
(Clip from RL Radio Paris – Le G)
1:14:13 Coleman Hawkins – Woody’n You
(Clips from BBC Robert Reid On DeGaulle Assassination Attempt)
(Clip from CBC Matthew Halton The Liberation Of Paris)
1:19:03 Tampa Red – Lula Mae
(Clips from CBC Matthew Halton The Liberation Of Paris)
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
1:23:09 Charles Wolcott And His Orchestra (Nestor Amaral, Vocal) – Os Quindins De Yayá
September
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
(Clip from BBC Chester Wilmot On Road Outside Brussels)
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
1:27:36 Bing Crosby – Swinging On A Star
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
1:30:33 Nat ‘King’ Cole – Straighten Up & Fly Right
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
1:33:30 Walter Houston – September Song
(Clip from I’ll Be Seeing You)
(Clip from CBC Kate Aitken – Homefront Fashion Tips)
1:36:47 Mary Lou And Her Chosen Five – Yesterday’s Kisses
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
(Clips from Private SNAFU in Censored)
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
(Clip from NHK The Zero Hour Hosted By Orphan Anne Iva Toguri)
1:40:51 Artie Shaw & His Orchestra – Summit Ridge Drive
(Clip from BBC Montgomery Addresses His Troops)
(Clip from BBC John Snagge Invasion of Holland)
(Clip from CBS Edward Murrow Counts Parachutes In Holland)
1:45:09 Louis Jordan & his Tympany Five – G.I. Jive
(Clips from BBC Stanley Maxted Cut Off With Airborn)
(Clip from CAN Stanley Maxted Reports As Supplies Drop Over Hartenstein)
(Clip from BBC Robert Robbertson Reports On Arnhem)
1:50:49 Spike Jones – Cocktails For Two
(Clips from FDR Teamsters Union Address)
1:54:28 Julia Lee – Come On Over To My House
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
1:58:45 Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters – A Hot Time In The Town Of Berlin
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
(Clip from BBC Montgomery Addresses His Troops)
October
2:02:35 Rev Utah Smith – God’s Mighty Hand
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
2:07:02 Duke Elligton and his Orchestra – I’m Beginning to See the Light
(Clip from Inner Sanctum – Death Is A Joker)
(Clip from Murder, My Sweet)
(Clip from Laura)
(Clip from Arsenic & Old Lace)
2:10:09 Harry James and His Orchestra – I’m Beginning to See the Light
(Clip from Arsenic & Old Lace)
(Clip from Gaslight)
2:13:00 Josh White – John Henry
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
(Clip from MBS News – 1944 in Review)
2:17:26 Ernest Tubb – Tomorrow Never Comes
(Clip from MBS News – 1944 in Review)
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
2:21:26 Sarah Vaughan with Dizzy Gillespie and his Orchestra – East of the Sun
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
2:24:15 Edmond Hall – Tishomingo Blues
(Clip from To Have and To Have Not)
(Clip from Hail The Conquering Hero)
2:28:59 Carmen Miranda – I Like To Be Loved By You
November
(Clip from BBC Winston Churchill – The Fruits Of 1944)
(Clip from BBC Audrey Russell Interviews Bomb Victim)
2:33:11 Ink Spots with Ella Fitzgerald – Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
2:36:20 Judy Garland & Chorus – You Gotta Get Out and Vote
(Clips from CBS Democratic National Committee Program)
(Clip from MBS News – 1944 in Review)
(Clips from NBC FDR Returns To Washington)
2:44:11 Meade Lux Lewis – Chicago Flyer
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
(Clip from NBC FDR Returns To Washington)
2:48:20 Andrews Sisters – Rum And Coca Cola
(Clips from It’s That Man Again)
2:51:44 Zohrabai Ambalewali And Chorus – Rum Jhum Barse Baadarwa
(Clips from AFRS Thanksgiving Show – Lionel Barrymore – Dinah Shore)
(Clips from BBC Winston Churchill – Americas Thanksgiving Day)
2:57:35 Sons Of The Pioneers – What Are We Gonna Do Then?
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
3:00:55 Wee Bea Booze – So Good
December
(Clips from CBS World News Today)
(Clip from A Canterbury Tale)
3:05:20 Kansas City Five – Lester Leaps Again
(Clips from Life Of Riley – The Christmas Present)
3:08:03 Cootie Williams – Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
(Clip from Columbia Workshop Theatre – Orson Welles – The Plot To Overthrow Christmas)
(Clip from EIAR Benito Mussolini – Discorso)
(Clip from Jitterbug Instructional Film)
3:12:35 Mary Lou Williams And Her Orchestra – Man O’ Mine
(Clip from BBC Robert Barr Ardennes Withdrawal)
(Clips from Columbia Workshop Theatre – Orson Welles – The Plot To Overthrow Christmas)
3:17:45 Judy Garland – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(Clip from Fibber McGee and Molly – Early Christmas Gifts)
(Clip from Duffy’s Tavern – Christmas Program With Monty Woolley)
(Clip from Fibber McGee and Molly – Early Christmas Gifts)
3:20:14 Orquesta Casino De La Playa – ParampampÃn
(Clip from Jimmy Durante – Christmas Show)
(Clip from Amos And Andy – Christmas Show With Andy As Santa)
(Clip from GI Journal – Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour)
(Clips from Jimmy Durante – Christmas Show)
3:25:41 Glenn Miller – Song Of The Volga Boatmen
(Clip from NBC News From Around The World)
(Clips from Amos And Andy – Christmas Show With Andy As Santa)
3:28:43 Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter & his Orchestra – I’ll Be Seeing You
(Clips from Life of Riley – Roswell’s a Guest for Christmas)
(Clip from Vick’s Matinee Theatre – A Stable in Bethlehem Pennsylvania)
(Clip from BBC Lord Mountbatten – We Are Not The Forgotton Front)
3:34:30 Frank Sinatra – Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night In The Week)
(Clip from Amos And Andy – Christmas Show With Andy As Santa)
(Clip from New World a Comin’ – Christmas Program)
3:39:16 Billie Holiday – Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
(Clip from CBS World News Today)
3:43:10 Ãngel D’Agostino – Ãngel Vargas – Palais De Glace
(Clip from RRG Adolf Hitler – Silvesteransprache)
(Clip from A Guy Named Joe)
(Clip from GI Journal – Kay Kyser, Connie Haines)
3:45:20 The Nat ‘King’ Cole Trio – Embraceable You
(Clip from Amos And Andy – Christmas Show With Andy As Santa)
(Clip from MBS News – 1944 in Review)
(Clip from O.T.R – Tokyo Rose)
(Clip from Double Indemnity)