Tag: Cab Calloway and His Orchestra

Ok, so not all holiday songs are about Christmas. Here we find a wonderful deep-depression cut from Cab Calloway extolling the “Harlem Holiday” a hopeful vision of good times during the Great Depression.

Written by songwriters Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen, the song features an infectious trombone riff that will worm its way into your ear for hours.

Lyrics
There’ll be bands everywhere – going to town
There’ll be flames in the air – flying all around
The browns’ll be there – laying ’em down
Every day will be a Harlem Holiday

No more work, only play – sleep when you choose
you get paid anyway – now tell me – ain’t that news?
Every song will be gay – no where we blue
Every day will be a Harlem Holiday

When the whole world’s down
and the times look blue
You’ll be high up on Lennox Avenue

There’ll be gals on the make – gin will be free
If you don’t get a break – don’t blame me
Every spot that you got will be hotter than hot
Every day will be a Harlem Holiday

Recorded in New York City on November 9, 1932.
Released as Brunswick 6424.

Credits:
Cab Calloway – vocals, director
Edwin Swayzee, Lammar Wright, Doc Cheatham – trumpet
De Priest Wheeler, Harry White – trombone
Arville Harris – clarinet, alto sax
Andrew Brown – bass clarinet, tenor sax
Walter Thomas – alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax
Eddie Barefield – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Bennie Payne – piano
Morris White – banjo
Al Morgan – string bass
Leroy Maxey – drums

Can’t recall where but I recently overheard two jazz collectors discuss this as being their favorite Cab Calloway record. After posting “Some of these Days” by the Fletcher Henderson band yesterday, I decided to dig this one out to give it a fresh listen.

And wow! This one is a rompin’ stompin’ good time! The hot insistent playing, driving beat, and feverish vocal performance by Calloway all make for a very hot side! Excellent solos, ensemble playing, and inspired vocal by Mr. Calloway.

This disc actually looked pretty beat – almost as though someone had put it through a cement mixer with a bag of sand. I was expecting the surface to sound grainy and noisy and wasn’t planning on trying to make a transfer from it. But somehow the grooves were still pretty solid and the transfer came out WAY better than I thought it might. Good ol’ Brunswick shellac for the win!

Recorded in New York City on December 23, 1930.
Released as Brunswick 6020.

Credits:
Cab Calloway – director, vocals
R. Q. Dickerson, Lammar Wright, Reuben Reeves – trumpet
De Priest Wheeler (and Harry White?) – trombone
William Thornton Blue – clarinet, alto sax
Andrew Brown – bass clarinet, tenor sax
Walter Thomas – alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, flute
Earres Prince – piano
Morris White – banjo
Jimmy Smith – tuba
Leroy Maxey – drums

Image of Cab Calloway circa 1931
Courtesy of the National Museum of American History – Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection.
https://edan.si.edu/slideshow/viewer/?eadrefid=NMAH.AC.1323_ref1976

The Cotton Club Parade of 1932 saw Cab Calloway and his Orchestra performing a sunny tune by Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen called “I’ve Got The World On A String” at Harlem’s famous Cotton Club. Calloway recorded it for Brunswick that fall and it became a hit record for the band.

While Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong both recorded the tune the following year, the tune got a big break when Frank Sinatra revived it in 1953 with his successful version for Capitol records.

Calloway’s version begins with Cab belting it out primarily accompanied by piano, bass, and rhythm guitar. A lone trumpet takes over the melodic chores at 1:20 followed by a second trumpet at 1:55. Later, Cab scats a chorus and takes us to the outro.

Songwriter Arlen later wrote the songs in the 1939 blockbuster film production of “Wizard of Oz”, including the iconic Judy Garland standard “Over The Rainbow”.

Recorded in New York City on November 9, 1932.
Released as Brunswick 6424.

Credits:
Cab Calloway – director, vocals
Edwin Swayzee, Lammar Wright, Doc Cheatham – trumpet
De Priest Wheeler, Harry White – trombone
Arville Harris. Eddie Barefield – clarinet, alto sax
Andrew Brown – bass clarinet, tenor sax
Walter Thomas – alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, flute
Bennie Payne – piano
Morris White – guitar
Al Morgan – string bass
Leroy Maxey – drums