2SER Supporter Drive 2018 – Week 1 Phantom Dancer

SUPPORT

This is the first week of the annual 2SER Supporter Drive.

The Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week. It’s been on 2SER since 1985, thanks to your financial support in 33 subscriber drives.

And over those years, Greg Poppleton and The Phantom Dancer have inspired musicians, painters, film, TV and theatre creatives.

On-air Tuesdays 12:04-2:00pm AEST (+11 GMT) and online

COMMUNITY

2SER is community radio with a wide range of specialist music, like The Phantom Dancer, plus independent news and current affairs unavailable on any other station.

2SER runs on your financial support. Give any amount you want this year and you’ll be in the running for some great prizes in the daily prize draw.

Standard annual subscriptions are:
$40 concession
$80 standard
$160 passionate
$600 life member

Support 2SER now.
Any money amount enters you into the daily prize draw.

FAVOURITE

Over the next fortnight, I’ll be sharing with you some of my favourite 2ser Phantom Dancer musical moments mixed from shows recorded ten years ago.

I’ve got some of my kids on-air moments to share with you, moments from when they were aged 4 and 6. And I’ve got some of your great listener stories to share with you, too!

Check out more 2SER listener stories on the 2SER home page, or read quotes from our listeners on this page.

You can hear lots of past Phantom Dancers, too, at 2ser.com.

LOVE

At 2SER, we’re really lucky to air such a wide range of specialist music shows, in depth news programs, and plenty of local and alternative stories from our community every day.

Listeners like yourself truly shape that content, sending us comments, letting us know about your events and businesses, and giving us all feedback too. And of course, being able to send all this into your earlobes wouldn’t be possible without your support!

STORIES

“I love your radio show! ” Harri
“Will keep listening for sure. I really love your show” Michelle, Melbourne
“Love your program. We tape it each week” Trish
“Your program is wonderful,” Tim
“Loving it! ” Nathan
“Knocked out by your show. We’ll be regular listeners from now on” Trevor & Betty
“Your show rocks!” Sonja
“Love your show” Tara

GIVE

Support 2SER now
You can also call in your support 61 2 9514 9500

VIDEO

Inside the Phantom Dancer 2SER study filmed just last month…

16 OCTOBER PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #337
107.3 2SER Tuesday 16 October 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 24 other stations.
Set 1	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Swing That Music	Louis Armstrong (voc) Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra	Comm Rec Los Angeles Aug 1936
You Old Son of a Gun	Rosemary Clooney (voc) Buddy Cole Music	‘Stars for Defense’ Radio Transcription Nov 1959
Sherlock Holmes & Wine Ad	Nigel Bruce	‘Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ KHJ Mutual LA Sep 1945
Wabash Blues	Jerry Thomas Quintet	Comm Rec Zurich, Switzerland 1942
Set 2	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 95000
Open + Bridegroom Special	Yiddish Swing Orchestra	‘Yiddish Melodies in Swing’ WHN NY 1940
China Boy	Sidney Bechet (sop sax)	‘Eddie Condon Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue Network NYC Feb 1945
Stage Coach	Wally Portingale Orchestra	‘Army on Parade’ 2CH AWA Sydney Oct 1943
That’s Love	Phil Harris Orchestra (voc) The Three Ambassadors	‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933
Set 3	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Unidentified	Jan Garber Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca AFRS Re-broadcast Mar 1945
Easter Parade	Martha Mears	’10-2-4 Time’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles Mar 1948
Don’t Blame Me	Dinah Shore	‘Guest Star’ Radio Transcription New York City Dec 1948
Set 4	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Isn’t It Romantic?	Chet Baker Quartet	Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 16 Mar 1954
Good Evening (theme) + April Showers	Del Courtney Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Rose Room Palace Hotel San Francisco AFRS Re-broadcast 7 Jan 1948
Drifting and Dreaming (theme) + Cheek to Cheek	Orrin Tucker Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Cocoanut Grove Wiltshire Centre Los Angeles AFRS Re-broadcast 1955
Pretending + Hold My Hand + Theme	Griff Williams Orchestra	Empire Room Palmer House WGN Chicago 5 Mar 1947
Set 5	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Love, Nuts and Noodles	Phil Harris Orchestra (voc) Jack Smith	‘Cocoanut Grove’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1933
I’d Rather Lead A Band + Farewell Blues + Theme	Bob Crosby Orchestra (voc) Bob Crosby and The Four Freshman	‘Ford V-8 Revue’ Radio Transcription 1936
Arabian Lover	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Comm Rec New York City 3 May 1929
These Foolish Things	Count Basie Nonet	Boston 7 Sep 1954
Set 6	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
Levee Blues	Jimmy Dorsey’s Dorseyland Band (voc) Charlie Teagarden	Radio Transcription Hollywood 1950
Till The End of Time	Woody Herman Orchestra (voc) Frances Wayne	‘Woody Herman Show’ ABC 1 Dec 1946
Margie	Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights	‘Trianon Time’ Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca KECA ABC LA 1945
I’ve Got Five Dollars (theme) + Ooh! That Kiss!	Freddy Rich Orchestra	‘Friendly Five Footnotes’ Radio Transcription 1932
You Can’t Have Your Cake And Eat It	Harry James Orchestra	Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca KECA ABC LA Dec 1945
Section A + Theme	Raymond Scott Orchestra	‘Raymond Scott Show’ AFRS Re-broadcast
Set 7	Subscribe to 2SER Call 9514 9500
When My Dreamboat Comes Home	Jimmy Rushing (voc) Count Basie Orchestra	Aircheck Savoy Ballroom New York City 30 Jun 1937
The Glider	Artie Shaw Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ Santa Barbara Ca 10 Oct 1945
Artistry in Rhythm (theme) + Eager Beaver	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 28 Nov 1944
Savoy Blues	George Lewis	‘Dixieland Jamboree’ WDSU ABC New Orleans 7 Oct 1950
Get Out Of Town	Leah Matthews (voc) Woody Herman’s Third Herd	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Peony Park WOW NBC Omaha 1954
Tangerine	Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberle (voc) Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra	Aircheck
Chicago	Benny Goodman	NBC TV 1967

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love – Phantom Dancer 9 Oct 2018

‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’ was a 1928 hit for composer Jimmy McHugh and lyricist Dorothy Fields. This week’s Phantom Dancer, presented by authentic 1920s-30s singer Greg Poppleton, features an ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’-a-thon.

SHOW

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1929 – 65 radio.

Mixed live-to-air by 1920s – 1930s singer and actor, Greg Poppleton, on radio 2SER 107.3 Sydney since 1985, The Phantom Dancer is re-broadcast on 23 radio stations of the Community Radio Network and online at 2ser.com.

You can hear lots of past Phantom Dancers, too, at 2ser.com.

PLAYLIST

A countdown of Australian Jazz from recordings made in 1930, 1940, 1950 and 1960, the ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’ feature feature and a whole mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-50s radio. Read the full play list below.

And remember the ALL VINYL FINYL HOUR.

Lyricist Dorothy Fields

I

‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’is now a jazz standard. Music by Jimmy McHugh, lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Introduced in Januray 1928 by Adelaide Hall at Les Ambassadeurs Club in New York for Lew Leslie’s Blackbird Revue.

CAN’T

The revue opened later in 1928 on Broadway and was a hit with 518 performances.

GIVE

‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby’ is 24th in the 100-most recorded songs from 1890 to 1954.

YOU

Producer Lew Leslie wanted a hit tune for his Blackbirds revue. McHugh and Fields had already written the revue’s score. They were scratching their heads about coming up with a hit song.

ANYTHING

The story goes that Fields and McHugh were strolling along Fifth Avenue in New York City when they saw a young couple window-shopping at Tiffany’s. They heard the man say to his girlfriend, “Gee, honey I’d like to get you a sparkler like that, but right now, I can’t give you nothin’ but love!”

BUT

On hearing this, Fields and McHugh, came up with lyrics and music for Lew Leslie’s requested hit within an hour while as they sat on a train.

LOVE

Fats Waller’s son reported that his composer, piano playing father would always angrily switch off the song when he heard it on the radio. Waller believed that he had sold the melody to McHugh in 1926.

SONG

Here’s a link to my own version of the song from the album ‘Sweet Sue’ on Bandcamp, CDBaby and iTunes https://gregpoppleton.bandcamp.com/track/i-cant-give-you-anything-but-love

Sweet Sue digital download album, including ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, at Bandcamp

9 OCTOBER PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #336
107.3 2SER Tuesday 9 October 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 24 other stations.
Set 1	Spotlight Bands 1945-46 Radio
Open + Cool Breeze	Buddy Rich Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ Phoenixville PA AFRS Re-broadcast 24 Dec 1945
I’ll Never Be The Same	Charlie Venyura (ts) Gene Krupa Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ Palladium Ballroom Hollywood AFRS Re-broadcast 1946
Dark Eyes + Close	George Olsen Music (voc) Judith Blair, Sherman Hayes and Chorus	‘Spotlight Bands’ Waukegan, Ill. Blue Network 17 Mar 1945
Set 2	Your Hit Parade
Open + So Long As You’re Not In Love With Anyone Else + Brazil	Mark Warnow Orchestra (voc) Barry Woods and The Hit Paraders	‘Your Hit Parade’ AFRS Re-broadcast 23 Jan 1943
I’m Gonna Love That Guy	Mark Warnow Orchestra (voc) The Hit Paraders	‘Your Hit Parade’ AFRS Re-broadcast 29 Sep 1945
I’ve Got a Pocketful of Dreams + Close	Al Goodman Orchestra	‘Your Hit Parade’ WABC CBS NY 22 Oct 1938
Set 3	Stan Kenton 1952 Radio
Artistry in Rhythm + Francesca	Stan Kenton Orchestra	‘Concert in Miniature’ CBC Canada / NBC Palace Pier Toronto ON 3 Jun 1952
Opus in Pastels	Stan Kenton Orchestra	‘Concert in Miniature’ Devine’s Million Dollar Ballroom WTMJ NBC Milwaukee WI 10 Jun 1952
Jump For Joe + Close	Stan Kenton Orchestra	‘Concert in Miniature’ Club Harlem KYW NBC Philadelphia 30 May 1952
Set 4	Miles Davis 1950s Radio
Move	Miles Davis	Birdland WJZ ABC NY 16 May 1953
Deep Sea Blues	Herbie Fields & Miles Davis	Comm Rec New York City 24 Apr 1945
Nature Boys + Anthropology	Miles Davis	‘ABC Dancing Party’ Birdland WABC ABC NY 30 Oct 1957
Set 5	Australian Jazz Through the Decades
I’m Sailing on a Sunbeam	Des Tooley (voc) Frank Coughlan (tb) Beryl Newell (piano)	Comm Rec Sydney Mar 1930
Cuckoo in the Clock	Trocadero Dance Orchestra (voc) Olive Lester	Comm Rec Sydney 10 Jan 1940
Katzenjammers Ball	Jack Allen’s Original Katzenjammerd	Comm Rec Sydney 23 Feb 1950
Dream Lover	Graeme Bell (voc) Kerrie Neilson	Comm Rec Sylvania Hotel Sydneu Jan 1960
Set 6	I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love	Joe Turner (voc) Joe Sullivan and his Cafe Society Orchestra	Comm Rec New York City 9 Feb 1940
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love + Close	Louis Armstrong Orchestra (voc) LA	‘Jubilee’ AFRS NYC 1943
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love	POrt Jackson Jazz Band (voc) Marie Harriot	Comm Rec Sydney 25 Jun 1947
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love	Claude Thornhill Orchestra (voc) Gene Williams	‘One Night Stand’ Steel Pier Atlantic City NJ AFRS Re-broadcast 24 Aug 1956
Set 7	1940s Radio ‘Jubilee’ Swing Bands
Jeep Rhythm	Fletcher Henderson Orchestra	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1944
Vine Street Boogie	Jay McShann Orchestra	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1944
Benny’s Original	Benny Carter Orchestra	‘Jubilee’ AFRS NYC 1943
Cuban Jam	Charlie Barnet Orchestra	‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1945
Set 8	1940s-1950s Mod Radio
C-Jam Blues/div>	Stan Hasselgard	AFRS Hollywood 1948
Koko + Hot House	Barry Ulanov’s All-Stars	‘Bands for Bonds’ WOR Mutual NY 9 Mar 1947
Bebop Boogie	Lester Young	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Royal roost WMCA NY 4 Dec 1948

‘Behind the Scenes’ 20s Clip: The Phantom Dancer Live

How The Phantom Dancer looks in the studio.

Filmed for Radio 2SER. I’m introducing the 18 September Phantom Dancer feature set of Lester Young from live 1940s-50s radio.

Hear the full 18 September show and a whole year of past Phantom Dancers, presented by me, Greg Poppleton, since 1985. Australia’s longest-running swing DJ show.

Hear The Mother of Modern Pop Singing – Phantom Dancer Radio 7 August 2018

When you hear a woman pop singer in any genre singing ‘naturally’ today, blame 1930s big band singer, Helen Ward. She blazed the trail.

You’ll hear a Helen Ward set of live 1930s-40s broadcasts on this week’s Phantom Dancer with Greg Poppleton.

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mixtape of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio, recorded live-to-air at 107.3 2SER Sydney, Tuesdays 12:04 – 2pm, and presented by Greg Poppleton since 1985.

It is heard on 22 radio stations of the Community Radio Network and online.

If you can’t catch this week’s Phantom Dancer mix live on 107.3 2SER, you can hear it immediately after 2ser.com online.

That’s the place where you’ll also find lots of past Phantom Dancer swing jazz mix tapes.

THIS WEEK’S PHANTOM DANCER MIX

– visits the Cocoanut Grove 1932-34, dives in Hank Williams on 1952 Hillbilly radio, listens to some of Duke Ellington’s extended works on his ‘Date with the Duke’ 1945 radio series and then there’s the Helen Ward feature. See the play list below….

HELEN WARD

Helen Ward was one of the first swing band ‘girl singers’, as they were known whatever their age, to become a ‘name’.

She was crucial in establishing the natural, untrained voice style of female pop singing that continues to this day with Gaga, Beyoncemore.

Ward came to commercial prominence in 1934 as the singer with Benny Goodman’s Orchestra when it made its breakthough broadcasts on the NBC ‘Let’s Dance’ radio show.

She stayed with the Benny Goodman Orchestra until 1936, just before it became hugely popular.

The ‘girl singer’ who took Helen Ward’s place in the Goodman Orchestra, Martha Tilton, borrowed heavily from the Ward style.

Despite the fact that the Goodman Orchestra had a long and distinguished career into the 1970s, and had female singers like Martha Tilton, Patti Page, Peggy Lee and even Ella Fitzgerald, Ward remained the singer synonymous with the Benny Goodman Band.

THE MOTHER OF MODERN POP SINGING

This is important to note because the Ward style also became the basis of female pop singing that continues to this day.

Her style, which was significant in the Goodman band’s 1934 success is unaffected and untrained. It’s technical waeknesses were overcome by an assured style, creating the illusion of a ‘natural’ voice.

And like so many ‘natural’ singers today, who play ‘natural’ guitar accompanying themselves on ‘natural’ songs about their ‘natural’ lives, Ward, too, learnt an instrument as a child. In her case it was the piano, taught to her by her father, naturally.

She took up singing as a teenager as half of a duo with songwriter and pianist, Burton Lane. That exposure with such a high-profile pop writer brought her to the notice of a number of New York band leaders, with whom she sang over the radio.

Between 1934 and 1936, Ward waxed several records with Goodman. Her version of ‘These Foolish Things’ sold over a million copies and cemented her professional reputation.

She left Goodman in 1936 for both personal and professional reasons. She was engaged to marry Goodman, but after a few months he back out. She also had had enough of the gruelling band road trips.

After singing with Goodman and touring, she stuck to the studios. She recorded for Goodman alumni Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson (standing in for Billie Holiday), Joe Sullivan and Harry James.

On this week’s Phantom Dancer you’ll also hear her on the radio with Bob Crosby in 1939 and Peanuts Hucko.

For a short while in 1943, she returned to performing with a band led by Hal McIntyre.

She went into semi-retirement from singing to be a radio producer in 1946-7 for station WMGM, New York.

From then on, she swapped long periods away from bands with recording and touring including returns to Benny Goodman in 1953, 57 and 58.

Around 1960 she retired from the public eye, but returned in 1979 following the hoopla surrounding the 40th anniversary of the 1938 Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall concert, which she was instrumental in having recorded.

She launched into a string of club gigs in New York City and in 1981 released the album, ‘The Helen Ward Song Book’. Now hear her on The Phantom Dancer.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Helen Ward sings ‘Oh, Sweet Susannah!’ with the Benny Goodman in a 1936 broadcast from the Congress Hotel, Chicago, over NBC. Happy Listening!

7 AUGUST  PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #326
107.3 2SER Tuesday 7 August 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 23 other stations.
Set 1	1930s Radio Dance Bands
Open + Rockin’ the Town	Hal Kemp Orchestra	‘Chesterfield Show’ KNX CBS LA 25 Dec 1937
Dancing in the Dark	Bob Chester Orchestra	Mayfair Room Hotel van Cleve Dayton OH CBS 21 Sep 1939
St Louis Blues + Cavernism (close)	Earl Hines Orchestra	Grand Terrace WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 3 Aug 1938
Set 2	Jazz Moderne on the Wireless
All of Me	Miles Davis	Birdland WCBS CBS NY 17 Oct 1957
Ornitholgy + Fifty-Second Street Theme	Charlie Parker	Hi-Hat Club WCOP Boston 1954
Set 3	Radio Variety
Al Jolson Story	Al Jolson	‘Rinso Show’ KNX CBS LA 6 Apr 1937
Open + Change Partners	Bob Hope + Skinnay Ennis Orchestra	‘Bob Hope Show’ KNX CBS LA 27 Sep 1938 18 Feb 1945
Abdiction News + Love Marches On + Close	Eddie Cantor	‘Texaco Town’ WABC CBS NY 6 Dec 1936
Set 4	Coconut Grove Radio 1932-34
Theme + Too Beautiful For Words	Jack, Mae and Dee Howard (voc) Vincent Valsanti Orch	Radio Transcription Cocoanut Grove Los Angeles 1934
How’s About It?	Phil Harris and Leah Ray (voc) Phil Harris Orchestra	Radio Transcription Cocoanut Grove Los Angeles 1933
Gooby Gear + Music in the Moonlight (close)	Jimmy Grier Orchestra (voc) Donald Novis	Radio Transcription Cocoanut Grove Los Angeles 1932
Set 5	Helen Ward Feature
Anything Goes	Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Helen Ward	WJZ Blue Network NY 27 Mar 1935
It’s Funny To Everyone But Me	Bob Crosby Orchestra (voc) Helen Ward	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 18 Jul 1939
I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans	Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Helen Ward	‘Let’s Dance’ WEAF NBC Red NY 26 Jan 1935
My Funny Valentine	Peanuts Hucko (voc) Helen Ward	‘Eddie Condon’s Floorshow’ WNBT TV NYC 26 Mar 1949
Set 6	Benny Goodman 1940-46 Radio
Let’s Dance + Big John Special	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Peacock Court Hotel Mark Hopkins KFRC Don Lee-Mutual San Francisco 28 May 1940
Swing Angel	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Meadowbrook Gardens Culver City CA KNX CBS LA 26 Jan 1946
Idaho	Benny Goodman Orchestra	‘Bond Wagon Radio Show’ Chicago Theatre Chicago 10 aug 1942
Benny Rides Again	Benny Goodman Orchestra	Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WABC CBS NY 20 Sep 1941
Set 7	Hillbilly Radio
Various	Hank Williams and Miss Audrey	‘Health and Happiness Show’ Radio Transcription 1952
Set 8	Duke Ellington’s Extended Works 1945 Radio
Frankie and Johnny	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘Date with the Duke’ Regal Theatre ABC Chicago 19 May 1945
Diminuendo in Blue / Rocks in My Bed/ Crescendo in Blue	Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Joya Sherrill	‘Date with the Duke’ ABC Toledo OH 9 June 1945

Herbie Fields Child Prodigy – Phantom Dancer 29 May Radio Swing Jazz Mix

Herbie Fields is a musician I’ve long wanted to play a set of. Now the time has come.

I’m Greg Poppleton, 1920s-30s singer and your Phantom Dancer.

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV.

On air every Tuesday, live from 107.3 2SER Sydney from 12:04-2pm, the Phantom Dancer is recorded for re-broadcast over 23 radio stations of the Community Radio Network and online at 2ser.com.

THIS WEEK’S PHANTOM DANCER MIX
– opens with a set of dance bands live on the 1940s ‘One Night Stand’ radio series,
– hear a set of Sarah Vaughan from live 1950s radio,
– a set of early radio dance bands from rare 1920s-30s radio,
– a set of the daddies of boogie woogie pianists from live 1930s radio,
– a set of today’s feature artist, Herbie Fields, including Miles Davis’s recording debut. See the full play list below for more…

HERBIE FIELDS
Herbie Fields was a child prodigy clarinet and sax player whose meteoric career in the mid-1940s faltered in the 1950s, making him increasing disgruntled until he couldn’t take it any more.

A student at the famous Juilliard School of Music, he began recording and broadcasting in 1944 after a two year stint in the U.S Army.

On this week’s Phantom Dancer we’ll hear his first orchestra live from 1944 radio on its own national network band remote. It was coveted radio exposure mostly given to more seasoned bands. We’ll also hear a song from his first recording session made for the prestigious Savoy record label.

The 1945 Savoy record we’ll hear on today’s show features singer Rubberlegs Williams. Rubberlegs, sounding very Fats Waller, calls out Herbie Fields by name on the record – more evidence of the meteoric rise of Herbie Field as a swing name.

This was also the first recording by teenage Miles Davis on trumpet. Miles sounds like Miles even then, though some players on the session complained that the teenager wasn’t good enough – another story for another Phantom Dancer.

Herbie Fields and his 3 year old daughter, Sandra

 

UP-AND-COMING
His star rising in just twelve short months, Fields also won Esquire magazine’s New Star Award on alto sax in 1945.

In 1946, RCA Victor signed Fields as leader of his own big band. Despite including musicians of the calibre of Neal Hefti, Bill Evans, Marty Napoleon and Serge Chaloff, the band was a commercial failure. Big bands were out of fashion.

He went from big band to septet in 1949. We’ll hear that septet on this week’s Phantom Dancer in a 1951 radio broadcast.

In the septet was Frank Rosolino trombone, Jimmy Nottingham trumpet, Jim Aton double bass, Bill Evans piano and Tiny Kahn drums. The group backed Billie Holiday on a successful U.S east coat tour. You’ll hear in this septet broadcast how Fields could play in swing, bop and r’n’b styles all on the one song (‘How High The Moon’).

R’N’B
In the 1950s, Fields moved into rhythm and blues. He became a sax ‘honker’.

You’ll hear him mix honk with bop and swing on ‘How High the Moon’ with his septet on what the 1951 announcer calls a ‘rock’n’roll’ number.

But his decreasing popularity after such a promising career start in 1944 made him increasing disgruntled.

Bill Evans said of Field’s r’n’b style, “In some ways he had been a forerunner of rock ‘n’ roll. He was wiggling, jerking. Rock ‘n’ roll came, brought millions of dollars, but nothing for Herbie Fields.”

Field’s recorded sporadically as an r’n’b artist, bop player and big band leader.

He was leading a trio in his own Miami restaurant in 1958 when is suddenly had enough at age 39.

PHANTOM DANCER VIDEO OF THE WEEK
It’s Herbie Fields on clarinet with the Lionel Hampton sextet on a Decca recording of ‘Ribs and Hot Sauce’.

29 MAY PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #318
107.3 2SER Tuesday 29 May 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations.
Set 1	Swing Bands on ‘One Night Stand’
Theme + Kentucky	Gay Claridge Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Chez Paree, Chicago AFRS Re-broadcast 21 Aug 1945
You’re Driving Me Crazy	Jan Savitt Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Palladium Ballroom Hollywood AFRS Re-broadcast 20 Sep 1945
9:20 Special + Pavanne (close)	Sonny Dunham Orchestra	‘One Night Stand’ Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania NYC AFRS Re-broadcast 14 Apr 1944
Set 2	Sarah Vaughan Sings Jazz on 1953-56 Radio
Tenderly	Sarah Vaughan	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 31 Mar 1953
I Get a Kick Out of You	Sarah Vaughan	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 31 Mar 1953
Linger Awhile + ‘S Wonderful + Tenderly	Sarah Vaughan	‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Zardi’s KFI NBC LA 21 May 1956
Set 3	Herbie Fields Feature
That’s The Stuff You Got To Watch	Herbie Fields, Miles Davis’s first recording, Rubberlegs Williams (voc)	WOR Studios New York City 25 Apr 1945
Theme + Don’t Take Your Love From Me	Herbie Fields Orchestra (voc) Carol Kaye	Glen Island Casinu New Rochelle NY WOR MBS NY 9 Aug 1944
How High The Moon + Close	Herbie Fields Septet	‘Stars on Parade’ Radio Transcription 1951
Set 4	1920s-30s Radio Bands
I’m Just A Vagabond Lover	Eskimo Pie Orchestra	Radio Transcription 1929
I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me	Jimmy Grier Orchestra (voc) Gogo Delys	Radio Transcription 1932
I Following You + Coca Cola Waltz	Leonard Joy Coca-Cola Orchestra	‘Coca-Cola Top Notchers’ WEAF NBC Red NY 19 Mar 1930
Set 5	Duke Ellington on 1950s Radio
Open + Tulip or Turnip	Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Ray Nance	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 13 Aug 1952
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WNBC NBC NY 11 Jun 1951
The Hawk Talks	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 30 Jul 1952
Great Times	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Radio Transcription New York 11 Feb 1951
Set 6	Eddie Condon
Open + At The Jazz Band Ball	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 30 Sep 1944
I’m a Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 16 Jul 1944
Easter Parade	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 23 Sep 1944
Ensemble Blues	Eddie Condon Group	‘Eddie Condon Town Hall Jazz Concert’ WJZ Blue NY 29 Jul 1944
Set 7	Boogie Woogie
Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie	Pine Tops Smith	Comm Rec Chicago 29 Dec 1928
Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie	Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis (voc) Johnny Mercer	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 11 Apr 1939
Honky Tonk Train Blues	Meade Lux Lewis	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 3 Jan 1939
Roll ‘Em	Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 3 Jan 1939
Set 8	Farewell
Boompsie	Chubby Jackson Orchestra	‘Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NY 5 Mar 1949

Women Jazz Stars On Live 1940s-50s Radio – 15 May Phantom Dancer

Women instrumentalists in jazz from live 1940s-50s radio feature in a set on this week’s Phantom Dancer.

Every Tuesday The Phantom Dancer non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio is brought to you by authentic jazz deco singer and actor, Greg Poppleton

The Phantom Dancer is recorded live-to-air at 107.3 2SER Sydney, Tuesdays 12:04 – 2pm. It’s re-broadcast on 22 radio stations of the Community Radio Network and online.

You can hear this week’s Phantom Dancer online at 2ser.com from 15 May. And that’s where you’ll find lots of past Phantom Dancer swing jazz mixes.

THIS WEEK’S PHANTOM DANCER MIX

– has a set of Benny Goodman small groups from live 1943 radio, a set of Dave Brubeck from 1950s radio by request, and a set of jazz and swing from the Armed Forces Radio Service ‘Jubilee’ series, including an aircheck by Gerald Wilson, Kay Starr and The International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

WOMEN IN JAZZ

In fact, this week’s Phantom Dancer has a set of women jazz instrumentalists on live 1940s-50s radio. You’ll hear:

MARJORIE HYAMS

Jazz vibraphonist, pianist and arranger. She played in Woody Herman’s Orchestra (1944 – 1945), the Hip Chicks (1945), Mary Lou Williams (1946), Charlie Ventura (1946), George Shearing (1949 – 1950), and led her own groups.

MELBA LISTON

Jazz trombonist, musical arranger and composer. She was the first woman trombonist to play in big bands. She was a star writer and arranger.

VIVIEN GARRY

Jazz double bassist and band leader

GINGER SMOCK

Jazz violinist, band leader and TV personality

INTERNATIONAL SWEETHEARTS OF RHYTHM

The first integrated all women band in the US featuring some of the top female talent of the early-mid 1940s.

Phantom Dancer Vid of the Week?

It’s the Vivien Garry Quintet playing bop on disc in ’46, ‘Operation Mop’ (nothing to with floors, mop-mop was a jazz style). In the quintet: Arvin Garrison (her husband) guitarist, Wini Beatty, piano, Ginger Smock on violin and Dody Jeshke, drums.

15 MAY PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #316 107.3 2SER Tuesday 15 May 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 Louis Prima on 1939-45 Radio Theme + Robin Hood Louis Prima Orchestra (voc) Louis Prima ‘One Night Stand’ Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ AFRS Re-broadcast 23 Dec 1944 St Louis Blues Louis Prima Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ AFRS Re-broadcast 28 Sep 1945 Should I + Close Louis Prima Orchestra Hickory House via WJSV CBS Washington 23 Sep 1939 Set 2 1945-48Jubilee Radio Series Theme + Cruisin´ With Cab Gerald Wilson ‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood Apr 1946 Tuxedo Junction International Sweethearts of Rhythm ‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 17 Jul 1945 Blues + One O’Clock Jump (theme) Kay Starr ‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1 May 1948 Set 3 Louis Armstrong on Radio I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo Louis Armstrong ‘Downbeat’ AFRS Hollywood 1943 Mahoganny Hall Stomp Louis Armstrong Aircheck 1949? S’Wonderful + Close Louis Armstrong ‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Basin Street WRCA NBC NY 8 May 1955 Set 4 Women Jazz Instrumentalists Open + A Woman’s Place Is In The Groove Vivien Garry ‘Jazz Club USA’ Voice of America Washington DC 1951 Stella By Starlight Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra (tb) Melba Liston Birdland WCBS CBS NY mid-1956 Northwest Passage + Blue Flame Theme Woody Herman Orchestra (vibes) Marjorie Hyams Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WABC CBS NY 18 Sep 1944 Set 5 Music From The Movies Melody For Two + September in the Rain Louis Levy and the Gaumont British Symphony Comm Rec London 1937 Carranga Ray Noble Orchestra Coty Hour WEAF NBC Red NY 13 Mar 1935 Over The Rainbow Judy Garland ‘The Gulf Screen Guild Show’ KNX CBS LA 8 Jan 1939 Midnight + On The Good Ship Lollipop Joe Haymes Orchestra (voc) Cliff Weston Grill Room Hotel McAlpen WABC CBS NY 29 Jan 1935 Set 6 The Benny Goodman Small Groups Oh Baby Benny Goodman Sextet Meadowbrook Gardens Culver City Ca Aircheck 26 Jan 1946 Three Little Words Benny Goodman Quintet ‘Spotlight Bands’ Cornell University, Ithaca NY Blue Network 25 Sep 1943 Sweet Lorraine Benny Goodman Trio Meadowbrook Gardens Culver City Ca Aircheck 26 Jan 1946 Sweet Georgia Brown Benny Goodman Quintet ‘Spotlight Bands’ Springfield, Mass Blue Network 29 Sep 1943 Set 7 Dave Brubeck Jeepers Creepers Dave Brubeck ‘Symphony Sid Show’ WJZ ABC NY Dec 1953 The Duke Dave Brubeck Basin Street WCBS CBS NY Feb 1956 I’ll Remember April Dave Brubeck Aircheck Jan 1954 The Trolley Song Dave Brubeck Basin Street WCBS CBS NY Feb 1956 Set 8 1940s Big Band Radio Blue ‘n’ Boogie (theme) + Airmail Special Billy Eckstine Orchestra ‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood Mar 1945 Swanee River Lionel Hampton Orchestra ‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 26 Nov 1945 Artistry in Rhythm (theme) + Artistry Jumps Stan Kenton Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ Palladium Ballroom LA AFRS Hollywood 27 Nov 1945 Bommpsie Chubby Jackson Orchestra ‘Symphony Sid Show’ Royal Roost WMCA NY 5 mar 1949

8 May 2018 Phantom Dancer – He Knew He Wanted To Be A Professional Musician By Age 16

Tenor sax man Charlie Barnet knew what he wanted from a very early age. In fact, he was playing professionally by the age of 16. Then at 18 he went to New York to talk the CBS Artist Bureau into booking him as an orchestra leader. We hear some of this determined teenager’s orchestras from 1930s-40s airchecks on this week’s Phantom Dancer.

The Phantom Dancer is produced and presented every Tuesday by authentic 1920s-30s-style singer and actor, Greg Poppleton .

It’s your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV. On air since 1985!

The Phantom Dancer is recorded live-to-air at 107.3 2SER Sydney, Tuesdays 12:04 – 2pm. It’s re-broadcast on 22 radio stations of the Community Radio Network and online.

Online, this week’s Phantom Dancer will be available for your listening pleasure after the 2SER broadcast, Tuesday 8 May. Go to 2ser.com to listen.

You’ll also find plenty of past Phantom Dancers to enjoy online, too.

THIS WEEK’S PHANTOM DANCER MIX

– includes two Australian dance bands – Jim Davidson and his New Palais Royal Orchestra and Frank Coughlan’s Trocadero Orchestra .There are also sets by Lee Konitz in 1954 from WHDH Boston, live jazz from 1962 radio on WNEW NY and WBBM Chicago, a set of trad from WMGM New York’s 1950-51 ‘Doctor Jazz’ series (after being asked for a version of Doctor Jazz during last week’s show) and, of course, the Charle Barnet set. See the full play list below.

CHARLIE BARNET

Born Charles Daly Barnet, Charlie Barnet was a U.S orchestra leader, sax player and composer. Important to his overall ‘fun’ band leading attitude was that he was a person of means. He was heir to his grandfather’s fortune, the New York Central Railway vice-president and banker, Charles Frederick Daly. His family wanted him to be a lawyer. He chose music.

Barnet had worked for one of the many franchise bands of the Jean Goldkette Orchestra, on of the most famous U.S bands of the late 1920s by the age of 16. He then left for New York to play tenor sax in Frank Winegar’s Pennsylvania Boys before trying his luck as an extra in Hollywood films.

Late in 1932 at the age of 18 he returned to New York City and talked a contact at the CBS artist’s bureau to book him as an orchestra leader.

INFATUATION

His 1930s orchestras were numerous and short-lived. But they were also musically interesting as you can hear in the 1934 recording below, ‘Infatuation’, which is your Phantom Dancer Video of the Week.

Barnet got his first recording contract in 1933 during an engagement at New York’s Park Central Hotel.

He was always into ‘hot music’ and he was an early adapter of Swing.

RAN OUT OF TOWN

While playing swing at New Orlean’s Roosevelt Hotel in 1935, he earned the ire of conservative governor Huey Long who hated the new sound. Long set up a sting, luring the band to a brothel then having it raided so the band could be ‘run out of town’.

Barnet got a number of his now unemployed band members into Joe Haymes Orchestra (soon to be taken over by Tommy Dorsey) and then headed off for a jaunt in Havana escorting a well off, older woman.

His 1936 orchestra included the new vocal harmony quartet, ‘The Modernaires’ though that band soon shut up shop, too. ‘The Modernaires’ were later and famously associated with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. At this time, Charlie Barnet was one of the first to integrate his band.

He was a big fan of Duke Ellington and Count Basie. He championed Duke Ellington tunes in his orchestra and Ellington recorded Barnet’s ‘In A Mizz’.

GO TO BLAZES

When Charlie Barnet lost all his band charts in the 1938 Los Angeles Palomar Ballroom fire, Count Basie lent him charts.

His 1939 band was catapaulted into the big time with the release of his recording of the Ray Noble song (from his Indian Suite), Cherokee.

He had a second big hit on 1944 with ‘Skyliner’. ‘Skyliner’ was used as the theme music for the late 1940s US Armed Forces Network program ‘Midnight In Munich’ broadcast from AFN Munich.

Other major recordings include ‘Scotch and Soda’, ‘In a Mizz’, ‘The Right Idea’, ‘The Wrong Idea’ and Southland Shuffle’.

STARS

Barnet switched from Swing to Bop in 1947. Barnet’s swing band included such names as Buddy DeFranco, Roy Eldridge, Billy May, Neal Hefti, Lena Horne, Barney Kessel, Dodo Marmorosa and Oscar Pettiford.

His later bands had Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen and Clark Terry.

He ‘retired’ in 1949, claiming to have lost interest in music, though he continued to lead an orchestra and was broadcast on radio into the 1960s.

Charlie Barnet was married 11 times. His last marriage lasted 33 years.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

As your Phantom Dancer Video of the Week, an early Charlie Barney record from his short-lived 1934 band, the weird ‘Infatuation’

8 MAY PLAY LIST

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #316 107.3 2SER Tuesday 8 May 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 Swing Bands on ‘One Night Stand’ Theme + Murder at Peyton Hall Charlie Barnet Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ Casino Gardens Ocean Park Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 3 Jan 1947 Tea For Two (voc) Carolyn Gray Gene Krupa Orchestra (voc) Carolyn Gray ‘One Night Stand’ Meadowbrook Gardens Culver City Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 31 Mar 1946 9:20 Special + Minnie the Moocher (theme) Cab Calloway Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ New Zanzibar NYC AFRS Re-broadcast Jul 1945 Set 2 Jazz on Live 1962 Radio Algiers Bounce + Lady Be Good Henry ‘Red’ Allen London House WBBM CBS Chicago 30 Mar 1962 Cuckoo + Two O’Clock Jump Harry James Orchestra Moon Bowl Freedomland WNEW NY Mar 1962 The Price Is Right Henry ‘Red’ Allen London House WBBM CBS Chicago 30 Mar 1962 Set 3 1937 Theme + Hey, Hey Your Cares Away Kay Kyser Orchestra (voc) Sully Mason Trianon Ballroom MBS Chicago 25 Mar 1937 Jamboree Frank Coughlan Trocadero Orchestra (voc) Frank Coughlan Featuradio Transcription Sydney June 1937 Time Out For Love Joe Sanders Orchestra (voc) Joe Sanders Blackhawk Restaurant MBS Chicago 25 Mar 1937 Set 4 Doctor Jazz Struttin’ With Some Barbeque Hot Lips Page ‘Doctor Jazz’ Stuyvesant Casino WMGM NY 1951 Sheik of Araby Eddie Condon Group ‘Doctor Jazz’ Eddie Condon’s WMGM NY 1951 Ride, Red, Ride Red Allen ‘Dixielanders’ ‘Doctor Jazz’ Stuyvesant Casino WMGM NY 1951 Set 5 1940 Mickey Mouse Band Radio Transcriptions Let There Be Love Shep Fields and his Rippling Rhythm Orchestra (voc) Hal Derwin Radio Transcription New York City 1940 These Things You Left Me Chuck Foster Orchestra (voc) Dorothy Brandon Radio Transcription Hollywood 1940 At Long Last Love Blue Barron Orchestra (voc) Charlie Fisher Radio Transcription New York City 1940 Pinch Me Sterling Young Orchestra (voc) Bobbie Ennis Radio Transcription Hollywood 1940 Set 6 Charlie Barnet Orchestra Ya Got Me Charlie Barnet Orchestra Comm Rec New York City oct 1938 Theme + Back In Your Own Backyard Charlie Barnet Orchestra ‘Spotlight Bands’ Fort Devon Mass Mutual Network 15 Oct 1945 The Victory Walk Charlie Barnet Orchestra Aircheck New York City 1942 In There Charlie Barnet Orchestra ‘Downbeat’ AFRS Hollywood Feb 1944 Set 7 Early 1930s dance Bands Forty-Second Street Jim Davidson New Palais Orchestra Comm Rec Sydney 6 Jun 1933 Theme + is That Religion? Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (voc) Bob Crosby Riviera Fort Lee NJ WEAF NBC Red NY 20 Sep 1934 Dancing With Tears In My Eyes Ruth Etting (voc) Ben Selvin Orchestra ‘Columbia Tele-Focal Show’ Radio Transcription New York City 1930 Somebody Loves You + Close Ben Selvin Orchestra ‘Davis Musical Moments Show’ Radio Transcription New York City 1932 Set 8 Lee Konitz 1954 Radio Open + Hi Beck Lee Konitz Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 5 Jan 1954 Subconscious Lee Lee Konitz Storyville Copley Square Hotel WHDH Boston 5 Jan 1954

3 April 2018 Phantom Dancer. Helen Keller On How The Deaf Heard Radio Music In The 1920s

There’re some rare, rare early jazz radio broadcasts for your listening pleasure on this week’s Phantom Dancer. And below, read an insight from Helen Keller about how radio brought music to the deaf in the 1920s.

The Phantom Dancer is produced and presented by Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s-style singer and band leader, Greg Poppleton.

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV. It’s made in the studios of 2SER in Sydney. The Phantom Dancer is heard across Australia on stations of the Community Radio Network.

Hear this week’s Phantom Dancer (and past Phantom Dancers online) at radio 2ser.com

Greg Poppleton music website.

In this week’s mix, you’ll hear sets of radio broadcasts by Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman over three days in October 1937 and The Andrew Sisters. There’s also a set of WW2 European dance bands from Prague, Moscow and Hilversum. The Prague recording features Andrew Sisters soundalikes, The Allan Sisters (Allanovy Sestry).

But the rare, rare radio comes from January 1929. Four ‘Sunny Meadows Washing Machine Programs’ featuring the Ray Miller Orchestra. These were recorded on five minute 78 rpm discs – six discs to a 30 minute show.

1920s radio set

And that got me thinking about 1920s radio and how it was perceived. That’s when I found two letters from 1924 and 1926 quoted by Timmy D. Taylor in his paper, ‘Music and the Rise of Radio in 1920s
America: technological imperialism, socialization, and the transformation of intimacy’, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol. 22, No. 4, 2002.

The two letters come from the very early years of radio as a mass entertainment medium. They both describe how deaf people could ‘hear’ music on the radio.

 

HELEN KELLER REPORTS…

Helen Keller

The first letter is from the famous deaf and blind social activist, Helen Keller, in 1924.

It is a letter to the Symphony Society of New York and describes her joy at hearing a symphonic concert on WEAF Radio, New York City.

“I have the joy of being able to tell you that, though deaf and blind, I spent a glorious hour last night listening over the radio to Beethoven’s ‘Ninth Symphony.’

I do not mean to say that I ‘heard’ the music in the sense that other people heard it; and I do not know whether I can make you understand how it was possible for me to derive pleasure from the symphony. It was a great
surprise to myself. I had been reading in my magazine for the blind of the happiness that the radio was bringing to the sightless everywhere. I was delighted to know that the blind had gained a new source of enjoyment; but
I did not dream that I could have any part in the joy.

Last night, when the family was listening to your wonderful rendering of the immortal symphony some one suggested that I put my hand on the receiver and see if I could get any of the vibrations. He unscrewed the top, and I lightly touched the sensitive diaphragm. What was my amazement to discover that I could feel, not only the vibrations, but also the impassioned rhythm, the throb and the urge of the music. The intertwined and intermingling vibrations from different instruments enchanted me. I could actually distinguish the cornets, the roll of the drums, deep-toned violas and violins singing in exquisite unison. How the lovely speech of the violins flowed and flowed over the deepest tones of the other instruments! When the human voices leaped up thrilling from the surge of harmony, I recognized them instantly as voices. I felt the chorus grow more exultant, more ecstatic, upcurving swift and flame-like, until my heart almost stood still. The women’s voices seemed an embodiment of all the angelic voices rushing in a harmonious flood of beautiful and inspiring sound. The great chorus throbbed against my Žfingers with poignant pause and flow. Then all the instruments and voices together burst forth—an ocean of heavenly vibration—and died away like winds with the atom is spent, ending in a delicate shower of sweet notes.

Of course, this was not hearing, but I do know that the tones and harmonies conveyed to me moods of great beauty and majesty. I also sensed, or thought I did, the tender sounds of nature that sing into my hand—swaying reeds and
winds and the murmur of streams. I have never been so enraptured before by a multitude of tone-vibrations. As I listened, with darkness and melody, shadow and sound filling all the room, I could not help remembering that the great composer who poured forth such a flood of sweetness into the world was deaf like myself. I marveled
at the power of his quenchless spirit by which out of his pain he wrought such joy for others—and there I sat, feeling with my hand the magniŽficent symphony which broke like a sea upon the silent shores of his soul and mine.

Let me thank you warmly for all the delight which your beautiful music has brought to my household and to me. I want also to thank Station WEAF for the joy they are broadcasting in the world.”

 

JAZZING THE DEAF

The second report about the deaf ‘hearing’ radio in the 1920s comes from ‘Jazzing the deaf by radio’, Popular Radio, March 1926, p. 296.

“This information has been conveyed to Paul Ash, orchestra leader and radio star of KYW in letters from several women who explain that these are the only sounds they have been able to hear and that they enjoy the jazz music although otherwise deaf.

A famous ear specialist of Chicago has become interested in the subject, it is reported, and is conducting a series of tests to determine the possibilities of utilizing this means of ‘bone conduction’ of sound so that those
who have lost normal hearing may through radio have the pleasures of music.

When the unique investigation has been completed the renowned specialist promises the issuance of a report and a test program over the air is to be given with deaf persons asked to ‘listen in’ and to report what they ‘hear’.”

 

VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

Your Phantom Dancer Videos of the Week feature Helen Keller herself.

In the first video, the teacher who taught her to speak, Anne Sullivan (who was blind herself), explains with Helen demonstrating, how Helen learnt to talk after hitherto being dumb as well as deaf and blind. Her first word was ‘it’. Her first sentence, “I am not dumb now.” Be amazed…

And here is a 1919 dramatisation of her childhood. The film is called ‘Deliverance’…

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #309 107.3 2SER Tuesday 3 April 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 Russ Morgan his Wah-Wah Trombone and his Orchestra Does Your Heart Beat For Me? Russ Morgan Orchestra Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1937 Sheik of Araby Russ Morgan Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ AFRS Re-broadcast 28 Apr 1944 Open Up That Door and Let Me In + So Long (Close) Russ Morgan Orchestra (voc) Al Jennings ‘One Night Stand’ Garden Room Hotel Claremont Berkeley Ca AFRS Re-broadcast 28 Jun 1945 Set 2 Andrew Sisters on Radio Open + Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe Andrew Sisters with Raymond Paige Orchestra ‘Kraft Music Hall’ KFI NBC LA 6 Sep 1945 Begin the Beguine Andrew Sisters with Glenn Miller Orchestra ‘Chesterfield Show’ WABC CBS NY 31 Jan 1940 White Christmas + Jingle Bells Nash Ad + Apple Blossom Time (Close) Andrew Sisters with Curt Massey and Vic Schoen Orchestra ‘Nash – Kelvinator Show’ KNX CBS Los Angeles 19 Dec 1945 Set 3 Swing from WWII Europe Poznate lehce nas rytmus Allanovy Sestry Comm Rec Prague 17 Dec 1942 Baron von der Pschek (Bel Mir Bist Du Schoen) Leonid Utesov Comm Rec Moscow 1943 Ja De Ramblers (voc) Ferry Barendse and Band Comm Rec Hilversum 2 Mar 1944 Set 4 Benny Goodman – 3 Days in October 1937 Stardust on the Moon + Dear Old Southland Benny Goodman Orchestra Manhattan Room Hotel Pennsylvania WABC CBS NY 20 Oct 1937 Where or When + Someday Sweetheart Benny Goodman Trio and Orchestra Manhattan Room Hotel Pennsylvania WABC CBS NY 20 Oct 1937 Dixieland Band + Goodbye Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Martha Tilton Manhattan Room Hotel Pennsylvania WOR Mutual NY 23 Oct 1937 Set 5 Duke Ellington on 1951-53 Radio VIP’s Boogie Duke Ellington Orchestra Aircheck Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 4 Oct 1953 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be Duke Ellington Orchestra Meadowbrook Ballroom Cedar Grove NJ WNBC NBC New York 11 Jun 1951 Great Times Duke Ellington Orchestra Radio Transcription New York City 11 Feb 1951 Just a Sit-in’ and a Rockin’ + Mood Indigo Duke Ellington Orchestra Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 13 Aug 1952 Set 6 Ray Miller on 1929 Radio Open + Angry Ray Miller Orchestra ‘Sunny Meadows Program’ Radio Transcription Chicago 18 Jan 1929 I’ll Never Ask For More Ray Miller Orchestra ‘Sunny Meadows Program’ Radio Transcription Chicago 18 Jan 1929 I Ain’t Got Nobody Ray Miller Orchestra (voc) Mary Williams ‘Sunny Meadows Program’ Radio Transcription Chicago 18 Jan 1929 Tell Me Who + There’s No Place Like Home (theme) Ray Miller Orchestra (voc) Bob Nolan ‘Sunny Meadows Program’ Radio Transcription Chicago 25 Jan 1929 Set 7 Bob Crosby 1939 Radio South Rampart Street Parade Bob Crosby Orchestra ‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS New York City 27 Jun 1939 Little Rock Getaway Bob Crosby Orchestra (piano) Joe Sullivan ‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS New York City 4 Jul 1939 O, You Crazy Moon Bob Crosby Orchestra (voc) Helen Ward ‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS New York City 11 Jul 1939 Diga Diga Doo Bob Crosby Orchestra ‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS New York City 18 Jul 1939 Set 8 Buddy Rich Radio Rain on the Riff (theme) + Cool Breeze Buddy Rich Orchestra ‘Spotlight Bands’ Phoenixville PA Mutual 24 Dec 1945 Nellie’s Nightmare Buddy Rich Orchestra Aircheck New York City 1947 In a Prescribed Manner Buddy Rich Quintet Birdland WABC ABC NY 7 Nov 1958

13 February Phantom Dancer – Pioneer African-American Singer And Stand-up

Pioneer African-American stand-up comedian, Timmie Rogers, is the focus of this week’s, The Phantom Dancer.

The Phantom Dancer is your non-stop two hour mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s – 1960s radio and TV.

It’s been presented by 1920s-1930s singer and band leader, Greg Poppleton, since 1985.

Hear this show online for the next 4 weeks after the 13 Feb broadcast at radio 2ser.com

On this week’s Phantom Dancer we hear the stars of jazz on Eddie Condon’s 1948 TV ‘Floorshow’. There’s a set of Benny Goodman from 1934-36 radio. And we visit ‘The Supper Club’, an NBC radio show, in 1944-45. The Birdland audience sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Billy Eckstine live on 1953 radio.

Plus, as mentioned, we hear Timmie Rogers, in live 1945-49 radio appearances. And there’s a bonus live Nat King Cole treatment of a Timmie Rogers song, broadcast from The Trocadero in Hollywood in 1945.

 

TIMMIE ROGERS

US comedian, band leader, singer, composer and actor, Timmie Rogers, was one of the first black comedians who directly addressed a white audience when he worked.

Before Rogers, African-American comedians had to either work in pairs or groups, talking only to each other while playing characters – think Mr Gallagher  and Mr Sheen.

In fact, Timmie Rogers began in vaudeville in 1932 with a partner, Freddie, doing a dance act.

 

STAND-UP PIONEER

He went his own way in 1944 and was an immediate success on radio. Today’s Phantom Dancer features some of Timmie Rogers early radio solo work.

Rogers had been dancing since age 8. He ran away from home at 12 working as a dishwasher. He learnt the languages he heard in the kitchens. He eventually could speak nine languages. He sang in French and German.

While working cleaning ashtrays in a ballroom, absorbed which what was happening on stage, he was invited to dance between acts. That was the beginning of his career in entertainment. First he was a dancer and singer. Then his main focus became stand-up, specialising in the topical and political.

FIRST TV SHOW 1949

In 1949, Rogers starred in the first black prime-time show on US TV (CBS), Uptown Jubilee.

 

OH, YEAH!

Rogers was known as the Unknown Pioneer of (Black) Comedy. His catchphrase was “Oh Yeah!”, which you’ll hear plenty of times in today’s Phantom dancer Timmie Rogers set and in The Phantom dancer Video of the Week below.

He was a recurring guest star on The Jackie Gleason Show for over 12 years. He ended up working with Gleason thirty years.

Rogers also a composer and lyricist. You’ll hear his song, ‘If You Can’t Smile and Say Yes’, sung by Nat King Cole in a live 1945 radio broadcast. He wrote songs for Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan. His hits included ‘Back to School Again’ and ‘I Love Ya, I Love Ya, I Love Ya’.

 

1961 TV APPEARANCE

On your Phantom Dancer Video of the Week, enjoy Timmie Rogers as he wins over the studio audience on a 1961 TV Variety Show,

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #303 107.3 2SER Tuesday 13 February 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 Benny Goodman 1934-36 Music Hall Rag Benny Goodman Orchestra Comm Rec New York City 1934 Dixieland Band Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Helen Ward ‘Let’s Dance’ WEAF NBC Red NY 4 May 1935 King Porter Stomp + Goodbye (theme) Benny Goodman Orchestra Joseph Urban Room Congress Hotel NBC Chicago 3 February 1936 Set 2 Exotica on the Wireless Theme + Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum Sauter and Finegan ‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 12 Sep 1953 Goodnight For A Murder George Barnes ‘The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY via Chicago 8 Sep 1941 Mocambo Mambo Martin Denny Orchestra London House WBBM CBS Chicago 1959 Set 3 NBC Supper Club I May Be Wrong Jo Stafford ’Supper Club’ NBC/AFRS 10 Apr 1946 On The Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe The Satisfiers ’Supper Club’ NBC/AFRS 1945 The Brave Volunteer + Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Jo Stafford ’Supper Club’ NBC/AFRS 1950 Set 4 Progressive Jazz Singers I Didn’t Sleep A Wink Last Night Arthur Prysock ‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 9 Sep 1952 Ain’t Misbehavin’ Anita O’Day (voc) Nat King Cole Trio ‘King Cole Court’ Radio Transcription Hollywood 1959 Happy Birthday + Send My Baby Back To Me Billy Eckstine ‘All-Star Parade of Bands’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 8 Jul 1953 Set 5 Jazz on 1948-49 TV with Eddie Condon Fascinating Rhythm / I Got a Crush On You / ‘S Wonderful / They Can’t Take That Away From Me / The Man I Love / Embraceable You / I Got Rhythm Eddie Condon Group ‘Eddie Condon Floor Show’ WNBT TV NY 9 Jul 1949 I Cover The Waterfront Sarah Vaughan ‘Eddie Condon Floor Show’ WPIX TV NY 13 Dec 1948 Look At Me Now June Christy ‘Eddie Condon Floor Show’ WNBT TV NY 23 Jul 1949 Blues Eddie Condon Group ‘Eddie Condon Floor Show’ WPIX TV NY 13 Dec 1948 Set 6 1930s Small Groups Sweet Heartache Valaida Snow Comm Rec London 9 Jul 1937 Deep Purple Benny Goodman Quartet ‘Camel Caravan’ WCAU CBS Philadelphia 14 Feb 1939 Theme + Hold My Hand Fats Waller WEAF NBC Red NY 16 Jul 1938 Gin Mill Blues + Close Bob Crosby ‘Swing Concert’ Congress Hotel WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 18 May 1937 Set 7 Timmie Rogers Comedian Good Deal Timmie Rogers ‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1946 Stand-Up Timmie Rogers Apollo Theatre New York City 17 Aug 1950 Daddy-O Timmie Rogers ‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1946 The Trouble With Me Is You Nat King Cole (composed by Timmie Rogers) Trocadero KHJ Mutual LA 26 Apr 1945 Set 8 1940s-50s ‘Modern Jazz’ Twilight in Teheran Buck Ram All-Stars Comm Rec New York City 18 Sep 1944 Intro + I’m In A Dancing Mood Dave Brubeck Quartet Basin Street WCBS CBS NY Mar 1957 Ain’t You A Mess Stan Getz Red Hill Inn Pennsauken WCBS CBS NY 18 May 1957 Dizzy’s Business Dizzy Gillespie Birdland WCBS CBS NY Jun 1956

Phantom Dancer Subscriber Drive 18 October – Professor Coleslaw and his Toy Piano Swing

The Tuesday October 18 Phantom Dancer is in the second and final week of the annual 2SER Subscriber Drive.

Thank you to everyone who subscribed and donated, by phone on 02 9514 9500, or online at http://2ser.com/donate/

The Phantom Dancer, which I’ve presented since 1985 on 2SER, is your non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s – 1960s radio and TV.

On-air and online, 107.3 2SER Sydney after the 12 noon news. Hear the show any time online at the 2SER website http://2ser.com.

On this Subscriber Drive, 18 October Phantom Dancer show, you’ll hear some of my favourite, and I hope your favourite, swing, jazz and bop songs from live 1930s-50s radio.

I hope, too, that these songs will inspire you to support the Phantom Dancer with your $$$ so The Phantom Dancer can continue on community radio 107.3 2SER Sydney and online around the world.

SUBSCRIBE OR DONATE

Donations are tax deductible. Subscriptions cost as little as a coffee a month and now can be direct debited monthly.

Call the Phantom Dancer during the 2SER Subscriber Drive, 02 9514 9500 or online to give your financial support. In return, you’ll get the good feeling of giving and more Phantom Dancers.

WHY SUPPORT THE PHANTOM DANCER?

2SER is a grassroots, community-funded Sydney station and we couldn’t deliver to you the stories, ideas and music that we do each and every day, seven days a week, year-round without the support of listeners just like you. 2SER has supported The Phantom Dancer since December 1985.

‘Supporter Drive’ is 2SER’s annual fundraiser.

In order for 2SER to remain independent, once a year we go on air and ask our listeners to dig deep and financially support the station. 2SER gets no funding from the government, we are limited in the amount of sponsorship we can take, and the rest of funds come from a variety of projects and grants.

The revenue raised through Supporter Drive is vital for the survival of 2SER

Each year, we ask our listeners for money to help us keep making great radio. We ask them to become a supporter or make a tax deductible donation.

The financial support from our listeners helps pay for our equipment and maintenance, and is an important part of our budget. It helps to ensure that we are free of commercial influences and it also gives our listeners a sense of ownership of the station; which is a great thing because without them we wouldn’t have a station.

There’s no prizes, no gimmicks, but we need your support to keep 2SER 107.3 on air in Sydney. If you’d like to help then head to 2ser.com/donate. Give what you can.

PROGRAM NOTE: PROFESSOR COLESLAW

Otherwise known as pianist Paul Kuhlthau, Professor Coleslaw plays ‘Toy Piano Jump’ on an actual toy piano. The performance is from a 1939 radio transcription by the Johnny Messner Orchestra and it’s on today’s Subscriber Drive Phantom Dancer.

‘Popular Mechanics’ magazine, in a September 1940 article titled ‘Cashing In On Hobbies’ explained that, “Paul Kuhlthau, of Milltown, N.J., ‘Professor Coleslaw’ on the radio, was just another good pianist until he took up the hobby of finding toy pianos on department store counters which were accurate (sic.) in tune, sometimes testing 300 to select one. One day he played one of his ninety-eight cent toys over the air and it was a hit.”

Paul Kuhlthau composed ‘The Toy Piano Jump’ in 1939. He then went on to write ‘The Boogie Woogie Bride’ and ‘Toy Piano Minuet’ in 1941. He played with the Vincent Lopez into the early 1960s, writing pop songs and rock’n’roll novelties including ‘The Ol’ Piano Roll Rock’.

Here’s Professor Coleslaw and his Toy Piano Jump in the exact 1939 radio transcription, you’ll hear on today’s Phantom Dancer. Enjoy and subscribe!

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #283 107.3 2SER Tuesday 18 October 2017 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+11 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 22 other stations. Set 1 Dance Bands on 1944-1950 Radio Beethoven Wrote It, But It Swings Dolly Dawn and her Dawn Patrol (voc) Dolly Dawn Comm Rec New York City 15 Feb 1939 We’re Off To See The Wizard Jim Davidson ABC Dance Orchestra (voc) Band Comm Rec Sydney 21 Nov 1939 Behind The Swinging Doors Jim Davidson ABC Dance Orchestra (voc) Alice Smith, Dave Cranburn, Gordon Rawlinson and Jim Gussey Comm Rec Sydney 2 Nov 1938 Set 2 Modern Sounds in Swing Do The Hucklebuck Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Band Vocal ’Band Remote’ Surf Beach Club Virginia Beach Va. NBC 27 Aug 1949 Boyd Meets Girl Boyd Raeburn Orchestra Rose Room Palace Hotel KQW CBS San Francisco 19 Jun 1945 Northwest Passage Kauko Viitamaki Quintet Comm Rec Helsinki 7 Apr 1949 Set 3 Subscribe Now: Phone 02 9514 9500 Cosa Farai Di Me? E.I.A.R Orchestra Moderna (voc) Vittorio Belleli Comm Rec Rome 1940 Swamp Fire Frankie Masters Orchestra ’Rhythm and Romance’ WJSV CBS Washington DC 21 Sep 1939 Solveig’s Song + Close Bert Shefta (of modernistic piano fame) ’Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street’ WJZ NBC Blue NY 23 Jun 1941 Set 4 Out There Orchestrations Powerhouse Raymond Scott Quintet ‘Saturday Night Swing Club’ WABC CBS NY 12 Jun 1937 Sound of Music Felicia Saunders ’Guest Star’ Radio Transcription 3 Apr 1960 Ads + Sugar Loaf Mambo Bernard ‘Whitey’ Berquist and the NBC Chicago Symphony ’Monitor’ WRCA NBC NY 19 Jun 1955 Set 5 1930s Novelty Songs Toy Piano Jump Johnny Messner Orchestra (toy piano) Prof. Coleslaw Radio Transcription New York City 1939 Somebody Claude Hopkins Orchestra (voc) Fred Norman Comm Rec New York City 18 Oct 1935 The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down Dick Jurgens Orchestra (voc) Eddy Howard and Band Radio Transcription Hollywood 1938 Penny Serenade Hal Kemp Orchestra (voc) Saxie Dowell and Audience Aircheck 1939 Set 6 Swinging Fast & Slow Let’s Have One For The Road George Trevare Orchestra (voc) unknown Comm Rec Sydney 1945 Baby Boogie Eliot Lawrence Orchestra (voc) Rosalind Patton Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 5 Dec 1947 Loose Wig Lionel Hampton Orchestra ’Jubilee’ Hollywood 26 Nov 1945 Square Face Turk Murphy San Francisco Jazz Band Club Hangover KCBS CBS San Francisco 7 Nov 1958 Set 7 Swing Era Toe-Tappers Pretty Little Petticoat (theme) + Huckleberry Duck Raymond Scott Orchestra Radio Transcription WMAQ NBC Chicago 1940 I’m Looking For A Guy Who Plays Alto and Baritone Doubles on a Clarinet and Wears a Size 37 Suit Ozzie Nelson Orchestra (voc) Rose Ann Stevens Blackhawk Restaurant WGN Mutual Chicago 30 Mar 1940 Honeydripper Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra (voc) Trio ’Spotlight Bands’ Jefferson Barracks, Missouri Blue Network 23 Nov 1945 Solid Geometry For Squares Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra (voc) Trio Band Remote Log Cabin New York 23 Oct 1942 Set 8 Bop and Cool Broadway Charlie Parker Birdland WJZ NYC 9 May 1953 I Want a Little Girl Charlie Shavers Quartet London House WBBM CBS Chicago May 1962 I Remember Clifford Oscar Pettiford Orchestra Birdland WCBS CBS NY Jun 1957 Koko + Anthropology (theme) Barry Ulanov All Star Metronome Jazzmen WOR Mutual NY 8 Nov 1947