Al Donahue and his orchestra 1939 - 1942
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:08 am
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/mus ... hestra.htm
Here's an interesting CD by a band now largely forgotten, but popular in its day. Not a headliner and not even second tier, but perhaps that.
Star sidemen? Star arrangers? None that I am aware of. Star vocalists? Paula Kelly is all. She went on to join Miller, then Artie Shaw and then the Modernaires vocal group.
The interesting thing about this band and CD is that it accurately illustrates the musical level of a professional, but uninspired orchestra.
There's nothing 'wrong' with any of these tracks, but there's nothing much that stands out about them, either. It says a lot for the standards of the era that a band of this professional caliber is, at its worst, bland. Not inept or unmusical or amateur, just very middle of the road, unadventurous and fairly unmemorable. If they came to your town, you'd likely go and have a good time....and that would be about it.
Sometimes there's a reason that these once popular bands with hundreds of recordings to their name are quite forgotten. They had no hits (though his version of JEEPERS CREEPERS went to #1 on the Billboard magazine chart for a while), they had no particular style and their arrangements are competent but unimaginative.
I played the CD in the car maybe three times through. Allegedly, there is a version of TUXEDO JUNCTION on there. I don't remember it.
There are a few tunes on here worthy of your attention and there are a few that I played several times...mostly b/c I like the song.
The CD is a mixture of pop tunes of the day - novelties, ballads and bouncy numbers. None of the tunes display much sense of Jazz or Swing. They simply hav some rhythm and pep to them.
None of the performances are embarrassing. The band plays well and some of the vocalists are fine.
This was the standard of the era. If you couldn't meet it, then you likely wouldn't be recording much if at all.
Here are my mini reviews:
Spring Is Here - weakest recording on the CD. Skip it.
Stop Beatin' Round the Mullberry Bush -Novelty from the old nursery rhyme. Forget it.
...
Jeepers Creepers - Nice, bouncing number worth hearing.
...
Alexander's Swingin' - I think this was good, but I've forgotten already
...
Stairway to the Stars - Pretty ballad sung by Paula Kelly, IIRC.
...
South American Way - Lively number/good song from some 20th Century Fox musical. Gotta love a song that can rhyme "duel", "jewel" and "mule" all in the same line.
...
Moon Love - Very pretty with Paula exploring the song nicely.
...
Basket Weaver - Mama Mia! Simple. catchy faux Italian novelty. Glenn Miller did this, too and RCA sat on it for 3 - 4 years until they ran out of GM sides to issue.
...
Bumble Bee Stomp - This is a stiff, an instrumental version of "Flight of the Bumble Bee".
...
My Prayer - Pretty balled.
...
Poor Old Joe - this is awful. Worst song on here.
...
In the Mood - Interesting with a vocal by Paula Kelly
...
Darn That Dream - Weak rendition of a ballad tune.
...
Tuxedo Junction - I dont remember this being on there.
...
You Can't Brush Me Off - Clever novelty and not much more.
...
Fifth Avenue - Great little tune, decent performance.
...
Ohio Breakaway - I think this was OK...dont remember.
...
The Wise Old Owl - Catchy novelty and decent arrangement
...
With a Twist of the Wrist - same as above
...
Java Jive - same as above
...
Why Don't We Do This More Often? - same as above
...
The Waiter and the Porter and the Upstairs Maid - I've never liked this song and this performance didnt change my mind.
...
I Wish I Had a Sweetheart (Like That Old Sweetheart of Mine) - Very old fashioned sounding tune.
...
Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag - a resurrected WW1 tune. Not too good here.
...
Goodbye, Good Luck and God Bless You - another un-sterling performance.
Listen to the samples and see what you think
Here's an interesting CD by a band now largely forgotten, but popular in its day. Not a headliner and not even second tier, but perhaps that.
Star sidemen? Star arrangers? None that I am aware of. Star vocalists? Paula Kelly is all. She went on to join Miller, then Artie Shaw and then the Modernaires vocal group.
The interesting thing about this band and CD is that it accurately illustrates the musical level of a professional, but uninspired orchestra.
There's nothing 'wrong' with any of these tracks, but there's nothing much that stands out about them, either. It says a lot for the standards of the era that a band of this professional caliber is, at its worst, bland. Not inept or unmusical or amateur, just very middle of the road, unadventurous and fairly unmemorable. If they came to your town, you'd likely go and have a good time....and that would be about it.
Sometimes there's a reason that these once popular bands with hundreds of recordings to their name are quite forgotten. They had no hits (though his version of JEEPERS CREEPERS went to #1 on the Billboard magazine chart for a while), they had no particular style and their arrangements are competent but unimaginative.
I played the CD in the car maybe three times through. Allegedly, there is a version of TUXEDO JUNCTION on there. I don't remember it.
There are a few tunes on here worthy of your attention and there are a few that I played several times...mostly b/c I like the song.
The CD is a mixture of pop tunes of the day - novelties, ballads and bouncy numbers. None of the tunes display much sense of Jazz or Swing. They simply hav some rhythm and pep to them.
None of the performances are embarrassing. The band plays well and some of the vocalists are fine.
This was the standard of the era. If you couldn't meet it, then you likely wouldn't be recording much if at all.
Here are my mini reviews:
Spring Is Here - weakest recording on the CD. Skip it.
Stop Beatin' Round the Mullberry Bush -Novelty from the old nursery rhyme. Forget it.
...
Jeepers Creepers - Nice, bouncing number worth hearing.
...
Alexander's Swingin' - I think this was good, but I've forgotten already
...
Stairway to the Stars - Pretty ballad sung by Paula Kelly, IIRC.
...
South American Way - Lively number/good song from some 20th Century Fox musical. Gotta love a song that can rhyme "duel", "jewel" and "mule" all in the same line.
...
Moon Love - Very pretty with Paula exploring the song nicely.
...
Basket Weaver - Mama Mia! Simple. catchy faux Italian novelty. Glenn Miller did this, too and RCA sat on it for 3 - 4 years until they ran out of GM sides to issue.
...
Bumble Bee Stomp - This is a stiff, an instrumental version of "Flight of the Bumble Bee".
...
My Prayer - Pretty balled.
...
Poor Old Joe - this is awful. Worst song on here.
...
In the Mood - Interesting with a vocal by Paula Kelly
...
Darn That Dream - Weak rendition of a ballad tune.
...
Tuxedo Junction - I dont remember this being on there.
...
You Can't Brush Me Off - Clever novelty and not much more.
...
Fifth Avenue - Great little tune, decent performance.
...
Ohio Breakaway - I think this was OK...dont remember.
...
The Wise Old Owl - Catchy novelty and decent arrangement
...
With a Twist of the Wrist - same as above
...
Java Jive - same as above
...
Why Don't We Do This More Often? - same as above
...
The Waiter and the Porter and the Upstairs Maid - I've never liked this song and this performance didnt change my mind.
...
I Wish I Had a Sweetheart (Like That Old Sweetheart of Mine) - Very old fashioned sounding tune.
...
Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag - a resurrected WW1 tune. Not too good here.
...
Goodbye, Good Luck and God Bless You - another un-sterling performance.
Listen to the samples and see what you think
