Sure, war, post war mood and pre everything else, says this 50's kid who was trying to play the trombone in junior high band. As good as those cats were my ear was constantly glued to my transistor radio struggling against static and poor reception to listen to rock and roll.
As a kid, I associated Big Band with my grandparents, so it has always been hard to imagine young people being onto it. I've always like it, but it seemed like an adult music even though it surely must have been the young who made it popular at the time.
The melody for this song is so good it should be sampled by some other band today using a different arrangement. But it's the rhythm that intrigues me. That "swing beat" -- which is so highly danceable -- may be all but extinct. YMMV
New Years this year was a 1970's party. I wore this. with some minor adjustment-- Round glasses and purple hat.
anyway, I am now convinced that 70's disco is superior to 80's new wave. The Bee Gees and Leo Sayer - brilliant. Bell bottoms and disco beat are a sure fire way to boogie and wiggle on the dance floor. If the music entices you to dance, it's a winner.
A couple of years ago Mrs. Haz and I went to a performing arts center to see and hear the (remnants of and successors to) the Glen Miller Band in concert. The people in the row in front of us were all in their 70s and 80s; WW2 era folks.
They were frail and grey haired. But when the music started, they became 25 again. Their shoulders straighten, their heads bobbed, thy smiled and laughed. They snapped their fingers and moved to the beat of the music.
Watching a few members of the greatest generation re-live their long lost youth for a few minutes was the best part of the evening. And the music was exceptionally good. It was great to hear the audience all shout out "Pennsylvania Six Five Hundred" during that song.
My favorites have long been Rhapsody in Blue and Midnight Serenade.
@deborah: Regarding your first link: "Theme From A Summer Place" is my birthdate song (trigger warning:Althouse link) which explains why it is also on my blogger profile link.
As for your second choice, "Unchained Melody", I like that too, especially the Elvis version recorded shortly before he died.
15 comments:
Sure, war, post war mood and pre everything else, says this 50's kid who was trying to play the trombone in junior high band. As good as those cats were my ear was constantly glued to my transistor radio struggling against static and poor reception to listen to rock and roll.
Yes, back when AM radio was the only game in town.
Great Tune, Thanks.
As a kid, I associated Big Band with my grandparents, so it has always been hard to imagine young people being onto it. I've always like it, but it seemed like an adult music even though it surely must have been the young who made it popular at the time.
It sounds good. Smooth and sexy.
I'd guess it was very progressive and edgy for its day.
I grew up with utter crap for music. 1980's total garbage.
The melody for this song is so good it should be sampled by some other band today using a different arrangement. But it's the rhythm that intrigues me. That "swing beat" -- which is so highly danceable -- may be all but extinct. YMMV
The couples in the video are foxtrotting.
Just imagine how much pleasure Glenn Miller felt both orchestrating that music and watching the couples' restrained ritual eroticism.
New Years this year was a 1970's party. I wore this. with some minor adjustment-- Round glasses and purple hat.
anyway, I am now convinced that 70's disco is superior to 80's new wave. The Bee Gees and Leo Sayer - brilliant. Bell bottoms and disco beat are a sure fire way to boogie and wiggle on the dance floor. If the music entices you to dance, it's a winner.
Oh, behaave, April!
What bago said. Luscious tune, but more post-war if you consider mid-century as Forties, Fifties, and Sixties. I'd go more for this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt7SPm7N6D8
For me, this is the quintessential mid-century tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiiyq2xrSI0
A couple of years ago Mrs. Haz and I went to a performing arts center to see and hear the (remnants of and successors to) the Glen Miller Band in concert. The people in the row in front of us were all in their 70s and 80s; WW2 era folks.
They were frail and grey haired. But when the music started, they became 25 again. Their shoulders straighten, their heads bobbed, thy smiled and laughed. They snapped their fingers and moved to the beat of the music.
Watching a few members of the greatest generation re-live their long lost youth for a few minutes was the best part of the evening. And the music was exceptionally good. It was great to hear the audience all shout out "Pennsylvania Six Five Hundred" during that song.
My favorites have long been Rhapsody in Blue and Midnight Serenade.
@deborah: Regarding your first link: "Theme From A Summer Place" is my birthdate song (trigger warning:Althouse link) which explains why it is also on my blogger profile link.
As for your second choice, "Unchained Melody", I like that too, especially the Elvis version recorded shortly before he died.
Great story, Haz :)
Chick, coincidentally, after I listened to UM, I went to Presley's "I can't help falling in love with you." My favorite of his slow songs.
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