Page 1 of 1

Songs with whistling

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:45 pm
by Millennial_Falcon
Hello everyone,

I am trying to compile a list of songs that have whistling as a part of the song. So far, I have

Whistle while you work - Artie Shaw; Louis Armstrong
Candy and cake - Mindy Carson
I love to whistle - Fats Waller
The whistling song - Lindy Hop Heaven (although it's quite difficult for me to get hold of this one!)

I'm curious to hear about other such songs.

Thanks

Re: Songs with whistling

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 11:47 pm
by lipi
For the Lindy Hop Heaven CD, send Jesse (JesseMiner) a PM, and I think he can get you in touch with Peter Davis.

As for whistling: Brother Bones' "Sweet Georgia Brown" is a classic.

Do the short riffs in Louis Prima's recording of "Whistle Stop" count? That was a super popular tune in the early 2000s.

Meade Lux Lewis whistled some. If you like boogie woogie, "Blues Whistle" and "Honky Tonk Train Blues," maybe?

Ray McKinley whistled a bit in "Down the Road Apiece," the small group thing he did with Freddie Slack, Will Bradley, and Doc Goldberg in 1940. There was at least one remake, in 1955. Again, boogie woogie. Bonus: the 1955 recording was issued with "Hoodle Addle" on the flip side, which has gotten some play at local lindy dances lately (no whistling in that one).

Other than that, I'm kind of blanking. Bob Haggart & Ray Bauduc's "Big Noise from Winnetka" comes to mind, but it's only borderline danceable (and certainly not DJ'able at a social dance around here!). I know Bob Haggart also whistled on some of Muggsy Spanier's V-Discs, but I don't recall which ones and whether they were danceable.

Similarly borderline, Cripple Clarence Lofton whistles some sides with Big Bill Broonzy. "Brown Skin Gal" is one.

Even more removed from what we usually dance to: Professor Longhair. I can't think of anything of his I'd DJ, but, hey, he whistles.

Toots Thielemans is also known for whistling, but, again, no danceable recordings that I know of.

Some current trad bands include some whistling. I know John Reynolds of the Reynolds Brothers whistles on some recordings. A lot of their stuff is danceable.

Re: Songs with whistling

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 7:03 am
by Millennial_Falcon
Thank you. Will check them out