HISTORICAL CONTEXT
It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - Duke Ellington and Irving Mills
February 2, 1932
By 1932 the Great Depression was proving to be devistating. The unemployment rate in Harlem in 1932 was 50 percent. Perhaps because of the Great Depression, Harlem thrived as a center of jazz. In fact, Duke Ellington performed in Jazz clubs all over Harlem. Duke Ellington actually cristened the name "Swing" when he wrote It Dont Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) ("Swing Jazz."). This song marks the beginning of the Swing Era.
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Airmail Special - Benny Goodman, James R. Mundy and Charles Christian
1941
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The first American airplane to deliver mail took flight on September 23, 1911, from Long Island, New York. Pilot Earle Ovington flew to Mineola a few miles away where he pushed the bag of mail overboard. The bag was then retrieved by the local postmaster ("The Early Years of Air Transportation."). By 1920 regular airmail service was in full swing. By 1924 airmail was even able to deliver at night, due to lighted airways. Piloting one of these planes was a dangerous job ("The Early Years of Air Transportation."). Hollywood took advantage of this drama in the movie Air Mail, released November 3, 1932 ("Air Mail (1932).")
Jersey Bounce - Benny Goodman, James R. Mundy and Charles Christian
1942
One of the biggest dance songs of its time, the Jersey Bounce was made famous by Benny Goodman and his orchestra ("The Jersey Bounce."). It was also a popular source of aircraft nicknames during World War II. One such airplane is pictured to the right (42-40609 'Jersey Bounce').
Opus One - Don George, Johnny Hodges and Harry James
1943
Opus One was originally recorded for use in the 1944 film Broadway Rhythm. 1943 is a significant year in US history because the Great Depression officially ends in December 1943 ("The Great Depression").
Jumpin at the Woodside - Count Basie
1938
Jumpin at the Woodside refers to the Woodside hotel in New York City where Basie's band rehearsed in 1937. Throughout his career Basie regularly stayed at the Wooside when he was in New York (Berg Oram).
In 1938, when this song was written, minimum wage was established in the US, providing some amount of security to the working class.
Bounce Me Brother (with a Solid Four) - Don Raye and Hughie Prince
1941
Bounce Me Brother was made famous by the Andrews Sisters in the movie Buck Privates, a musical military comedy that brought Bud Abbott and Lou Costello to fame.
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Two and Four - Ann Hampton Callaway
1999
Two and Four was originally written for Swing!
Hit Me with a Hot Note - Don George and Duke Ellington
1945
Appears in the musical Sophisticated Ladies, a musical review based on Duke Ellington's hits.
World War II came to an end in September 1945, starting the post-war period in the U.S. The United States found itself in the best economic condition of any country involved in the war. After the war radio and broadway remained popular but television really took off ("Postwar United States.").
Rhythm - Casey MacGill
1999
Rhythm was originally written for Swing!
Throw That Girl Around - Everett Bradley, Ilene Reid and Michael Heitzman
1999
Throw That Girl Around was originally written for Swing!
Show Me What You've Got - Jonathan Smith and Everett Bradley
1999
Show Me What You've Got was originally written for Swing!
Latin/West Coast Swing
This song was written for the show to showcase the Latin and West Coast Swing style of dance that formed during the swing era. See "DANCE" for more information.
Bli Blip - Sid Kuller and Duke Ellington
1941
Originally composed for the musical show entitled Jump for Joy, Bli Blip was made famous by Duke Ellington and his orchestra featuring Ella Fitzgerald. The title refers to the popping character of the rhythms played the saxophones and brass sections ("Bli-Blip.").
Skylark - Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael
1941
Skylark is particularly well known for its lyrics, which Johnny Mercer worked for a year to perfect. First made famous by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, Skylark hit the popcharts four seperate times (Lobosco).
Harlem Nocturne - Earle Hagen and Dick Rogers
1939
Harlem Nocturne is one of the timeless songs from the swing era. This song has been made famous time and time again. It's most noticable return was in the 1980 TV series Mike Hammer. Hagen orignaly wrote this piece as a tribute to Johnny Hodges, feature saxophonist in Duke Ellington's Band. Eventually virtually every notable saxophonist in the R&B genre released a recording of Harlem Nocturne (Doyle).
Kitchen Mechanic - Jonathan Smith, Paul Kelly, Lynne Taylor-Corbett and Casey MacGill
1999
Kitchen Mechanic was originally written for Swing!
Shout and Feel It - Count Basie
1937
There is very little information on the history of Shout and Feel It, but in 1937, when this song was written several notable events occured in the United States. The Memorial Day Massacre in Chicago when police shot and killed ten union demonstraters protesting the treatment of steel mill workers. 1937 also brings with it the disapearance of Amelia Earhart during her flight over the Pacific Ocean. Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected for a second term and Disney releases Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ("The Year 1937 News, Events, Prices, Technology and Popular Culture".
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Don Raye and Hughie Prince
1941
This song was published in 1941, the same year as the attack on pearl harbor, after which the United States entered World War II. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy actually became the theme song of World War II. Made famous by the Andrews Sisters in the movie Buck Privates, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song (Zebrowski).
GI Jive - Johnny Mercer
1944
GI Jive became popular because it dealt with the day to day lives of American soldiers. GI Jive was made famous by Johnny Mercer but was later also recorded by Louis Jordan and even made an appearance on Diana Martin's 2013 album, Destination Moon (G.I. Jive).
I Got A Gal In Kalamazoo - Mack Gordon and Harry Warren
1942
I Got A Gal In Kalamazoo, recorded by the Glenn Miller orchestra, was originally released as part of the 1942 film, Orchestra Wives. It only took eight days for this song to hit No. 1 on the charts. The song became so popular that the students of Kalamazoo College elected a "Gal in Kalamazoo," Sara Woolley, in 1942. Woolley became a national celebrity. Today the song is still a staple of Western Michigan University football games (Mack).
I'm Gonna Love You Tonight - Jack Murphy and Casey MacGill
1999
I'm Gonna Love You Tonight was originally written for Swing!
I'll Be Seeing You - Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain
1938
I'll Be Seeing You was originally written for the Broadway musical, Right This Way. This song has been covered by popular artists again and again over the years, most notably: Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Now it is a popular song at funerals.
In the Mood - Andy Razaf and Joe Garland
1938
In the Mood was first made famous by Edgar Hayes and his orchestra in 1938, but it really found its place in history in 1944 when it was rereleased in 1944 as a V-disc, a series of recordings sent overseas to military personel at no cost to them.
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree - Lew Brown, Sam H. Stept and Charlie Tobias
1942
Made popular by Glen Miller and the Andrews Sisters, Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree debuted in the 1939 musical Yokel Boy as a pledge of loyalty between a young couple while one of them goes off to fight in the war. When the US entered the war in 1941 the writers altered the lyrics to the form we see today ("Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree.").
Swing It, Brother, Swing - Walter Bishop, Lewis Raymond and Clarence Williams
1949
Swing It, Brother, Swing was made popular by Billie Holiday and Count Bassie. Swing Brother Swing is also the title of a detective novel by Ngaio March published in 1949.
Caravan - Irving Mills, Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington
1936
Caravan was first recorded by Duke Ellington and his orchestra. This song became famous for the Middle Eastern atmosphere it created. Caravan was one of the first songs from the swing era to incorperate the influences of other cultures (Caravan).
Dancers In Love - Duke Ellington
1944
Dancers In Love debuted as a piano solo by Duke Ellington in Carnegie Hall. This song was known for its Ragtime roots. Ellington continued to play this song in concert until the end of his career.
Cry Me A River - Arthur Hamilton
1953
Cry Me A River, one of the swing era's most famous torch songs, was made famous by Julie London in 1955. Hamilton actually invented the phrase "cry me a river" when he wrote this song.
Boogie Woogie Country - Jack Murphy and Jonathan Smith
1999
Boogie Woogie Country was originally written for Swing! to represent the western swing genre. Western swing music came out of American country music in the 1920s. Originating in Texas, it set the stage for rock and roll ("Western Swing").
All Of Me - Seymour Simons and Gerald Marks
1931
When Gerald Marks first tried to sell All of Me in New York City he was turned away because "why not take all of me" was "obscene" and "dirty." The song found it's way to fame when Belle Baker added it to her act in Detroit. Belle Baker found a personal connection to the song when Marks and Simons played it for her on the six-month anniversary of her husband's death. Billie Holiday revived the song in 1941. Frank Sinatra then picked it up in 1944 when he recorded the song on a V-disk for the troops (Steyn).
I Won't Dance - Dorothy Fields, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Jerome Kern
1935
I Won't Dance was originally written by Jerome Kern for the Broadway musical Three Sisters. The show quickly flopped, but not before Fred Astaire saw it and took interest in I Won't Dance. Working with Dorothy Fields and Fred Astaire, the lyrics were updated to be a little sexier. The new lyrics eventually caught the attention of Frank Sinatra and he recorded it in 1956 and again in 1962 (Steyn).
Blues In The Night - Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen
1941
Blues In The Night was written for the movie of the same title in 1941 and made famous by Ella Fitgerald in 1944. Blues In The Night showcased the sensuality that the swing era was becoming known for. Many singers, including Ella Fitgerald, were portrayed practically naked in cartoons (Pener). Pin-up models and drawings also became very popular in the 1940s (Frank).
Stompin' at the Savoy - Ann Hampton Callaway, Andy Razaf, Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, and Chick Webb
1934
Benny Goodman often gets credit for popularizing this song, but it was originally recorded by Chick Webb in 1943. Stompin' At the Savoy is named after the Savoy Ballroom ("Stompin' At the Savoy (1936)."). See "DANCE" for more information.
Sing Sing Sing - Louis Prima, Andy Razaf and Leon Berry
1936
Sing Sing Sing, one of the most popular songs from the swing era, was made famous by Louis Prima and the New Orleans Gang. Benny Goodman played this song as the closer for his Carnegie Hall performance to get the audience on their feet.
