I’m
Sorry I Made You Blue
Mills Blue Rhyhm Boys
1931
(Brunswick 6229)
Savage
Rhythm
Mills Blue Rhyhm Boys
1931
(Brunswick 6229)
This week I take pleasure in presenting
two tunes by Mills Blue Rhythm Band.
Although Mills Blue Rhythm Band
formed in 1930, it began to be noticed in 1931 when Irving Mills took over
management. Irving Mills also managed the bands of Duke Ellington and Cab
Calloway and initially used this band as a filler when Ellington or Calloway
were absent. Mills Blue Rhythm Band recorded over 150 sides under a variety
of names such as Blue Ribbon Boys, Blue Rhythm Boys, Blue Rhythm Band,
Mills Blue Rhythm Band, King Carter and his Royal Orchestra, Baron Lee
and his Blue Rhythm Band, and others. They recorded under a huge array
of labels such as Brunswick, Columbia, Victor, Oriole, Melotone and others.
While they had a distinct style, they never made a huge name for themselves
because they switched leaders quickly and were forced to take a back seat
to Ellington and Calloway by Mills. They did, however have an excellent
style that remains fresh and enjoyable to this day.
The first tune you heard, "I'm Sorry
I Made You Cry," is a slow and melodic number. It is full of beautiful
harmonies and slow, jazzy solo work. One could almost call this piece
atmospheric. This is one of Mills Blue Rhythm Band's best and should be
known by many more people.
Next Mills Blue Rhythm Band brings
us "Savage Rhythm" which is a red hot jazzy tune. You can just see the
people dancing wildly to this one !
- Matt From College Station
EXTRA
This section will present
78 rpm recordings that do not fall within the range of the vintage pop
and jazz fare that I usually present. Here I will feature
recordings from a wide variety of eras, musical genres and nationalities
as well as occasional spoken word recordings.
I
Was Saying To The Moon
George Hamilton directing The Veloz And Yolanda
Dancing Music
Lee Norton, vocal
1936
(Victor 25449-A)
Under
Your Spell
George Hamilton directing The Veloz And Yolanda
Dancing Music
Lee Norton, vocal
1936
(Victor 25449-B)
The music presented here by George
Hamiltion directing a band called The Veloz And Yolanda Dancing Music is
of a decidedly sweet flavor, but with Latin accents. A unique feature of
this band is that all tunes (at least those that I have heard) open up
with the same introduction. Accordion and percussion are featured heavily
in these recordings.
Due to the title of the band, I
must assume that it was formed to accompany the famed ballroom dancing
pair of Frank
Veloz and Yolanda Casazza. Veloz and Yolanda performed their dancing
act at ballrooms and nightclubs on both the East and West coasts and even
appeared in the occasional film.
I can't begin to speculate where
this orchestra played live, but I would guess that they might have played
at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel Empire Room, a nightclub in which Veloz
and Yolanda frequently performed.
- Matt From College Station
