Tom O'Brien
|
9/18/2024 1:32:45 AM
Swing Era Radio
Recently, I found this local radio station (KCEA.org) that play nothing but big band, swing, and popular songs from the 20s, 30s and 40s. And it's not just the hits and great songs that have lasted through the ages - it's a lot of corny songs, and not very intelligent songs that never became standards from bands no on has heard of anymore. I used to think that everyone of that era wrote better quality songs than writers of today, but I guess there have always been dumb songs.
They also play alternative versions of old standards that I've never heard. One thing that strikes me about this music is that these cats all sound like they're having fun - no giant egos to get in the way. Just the love of music. And, when you've got to pay a big band at the end of the night - nobody's making much money and few of them became famous. But, the arrangements often featured various soloists who all sound like virtuosos to me. Back then, you really had to have chops if you were at the stage of making records. These days, you don't even have to be that musical to make music. But, if you want to hear something different, this is fun music!
|
|
.jpg)
Bob Elliott
|
10/3/2024 7:08:33 PM
Yes, whenever we think of the music of any bygone era, we forget we are listening to lists where all the dull stuff has been taken out.
Nevertheless, you can't write any better than the standards.
|
|