Playlist For November 29, 2017

The playlist for the November 29, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

We here at the SSS wish you all a very happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving!  I'll be taking my annual leave for a week or so, but I'll be back in December. 

Playlist For November 22, 2017

The playlist for the November 22, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Sunrise Serenade: Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!" by the Andrews Sisters.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Finds: 1940s RCA VIctrola Wireless Record Player

I'm adding a new series to the blog:  Finds.  Occasionally, I get the chance to hit the odd antique store, estate sale or flea market.  Whether I buy anything or not, I often see some pretty interesting items from the Swing Era, and I often learn something new when I do.  Case in point:  this 1940 RCA Victrola Wireless Record Player I found last month at the Nashville Flea Market.  Yes, you read that correctly - "Wireless" record player.  This unit has no speakers, and other than a power cord, no cables or cords to connect it to any other device.  How do you hear the music?  This device sends the audio from the record, via its own internal radio transmitter, to any nearby AM radio tuned to that frequency.  Yes, well before Bluetooth and Mr. Microphone, folks could hear their music transmitted wirelessly from one device to another.  Prior to finding this item, I had no clue that such things existed.  Apparently they were manufactured by several companies from 1939 to 1942.  

 

P.S. - If you're wondering what happened to it, I bought it on behalf of a friend of mine who restores antique radios.  Of course, he knew exactly what it was, and it has found a good home. 

Sunrise Serenade: Let That Be A Lesson To You

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Let That Be A Lesson To You" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra from the 1937 film Hollywood Hotel.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Sunrise Serenade: And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine" by Stan Kenton and His Orchestra with Anita O'Day on vocal.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: Opus No. 1

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Opus No. 1" by the Gene Krupa Orchestra with Anita O'Day on vocals.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: Ta-hu-wa-hu-wai

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Ta-hu-wa-hu-wai" by the Merry Macs.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Playlist For November 15, 2017 - Fall Pledge Drive Special: Recurring Themes

The playlist for the November 15, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle - Fall Pledge Drive Special:  "Recurring Themes" - has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

WEVL Fall Pledge Drive Speical Tonight: Recurring Themes

Tune into the Swing Shift Shuffle tonight for our WEVL Fall Pledge Drive Special entitled "Recurring Themes."  In modern popular music, it would be very unusual for one top recording artist to release a song, and then have another top artist release the same song within a relatively short period of time.  Such an occurrence was not unusual in the 1930s-1940s, however, as many different artists would record the same song, usually with different arrangements, and sometimes even writing lyrics to transform an instrumental hit into a vocal.  Tonight, I'll be playing popular songs from the Swing Era recorded by various artists in different styles, often not the performers most associated with the song today.  Tune in, swing out and make a pledge to WEVL for our Fall Pledge Drive.  As an appetizer, here is Artie Shaw and His Orchestra performing "In The Mood," a song primarily associated with Glenn Miller. 

Sunrise Serenade: Saint Louis Blues March

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Saint Louis Blues March" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Sunrise Serenade: Pennsylvania 6-5000

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Pennsylvania 6-5000" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: Till Then

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Till Then" by the Mills Brothers.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Sunrise Serenade: Pell Mell

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Pell Mell" by Les Brown and His Orchestra.  Nothing says "swing" like a bass clarinet!  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Playlist For November 8, 2017

The playlist for the November 8, 2017 broadcast of the Swing Shift Shuffle has now been added to the playlist filing cabinet.  

Rhodes Swing Night November 16

Well, the poster says it all, which is what a poster should do.  Don't miss the Rhodes College Swing Dance Night, next Thursday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the McCallum Ballroom of the Bryan Campus Life Center.  Free lessons with the Red Hot Lindy Hop at 7:00 p.m.

Sunrise Serenade: Victory Polka

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Victory Polka" by the Andrews Sisters.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Sunrise Serenade: The Jumping Jive

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "The Jumping Jive" by the Andrews Sisters.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.

Bonneville Salt Flats

Posted on Rivet Head, this Kodachrome photo gives us a nice color look at some Bonneville Salt Flats racers in the late 1940s.  The featured racer is a classic "belly tank" car, made from a war surplus auxiliary aircraft fuel tank.

Sunrise Serenade: Lazy River

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Lazy River" by the Mills Brothers.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line. 

Hector's Hectic Life

This cartoon is another variation on a standard theme from the era.  The family pet is on its last chance.  Any more noise, messes, trouble, etc., and out it goes.  Then a cute little animal, or trio of animals in this case, show up to cause havoc.  The family pet struggles to protect the newcomer, while taking the blame for its damage.  Warner Bros did it.  MGM did it.  Here, from the Internet Archive, is Famous Studios' version:  Hector's Hectic Life.

Sunrise Serenade: Death Ray Boogie

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Death Ray Boogie" by Pete Johnson.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Sunrise Serenade: Sweet Georgia Brown

Today's Sunrise Serenade was "Sweet Georgia Brown" by Johnny Mercer.  Enjoy the video from YouTube.

Last Weekly Lindy Hop Of 2017 This Friday

The last Red Hot Lindy Hop lesson and session at the Rumba Room in 2017 will be this Friday, November 3.  Free beginner lesson at 7:00 p.m.  Free admission before 7:00 p.m. and $5 thereafter.   

Beginning in 2018, the regular RHLH dances will be monthly rather than weekly.  Find out more here. 

Rumba Room

303 South Main

Memphis, TN 38103

Sunrise Serenade: Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree

This morning's Sunrise Serenade was "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree" by the Andrews Sisters.  Click on the song title to listen courtesy of Jazz On Line.