Quote from: SCFSue on December 29, 2017, 02:11:07 PM
Oldiesman, thank you for the two links to the solos by Don Estelle.  I was not familiar with his name, but what a fabulous voice.  Can you give us some background on him and his tall partner?

SCFSue

Wikipedia has more info on both of them. I don't know a whole lot about either one. Just stumbled across their version of "Whispering Grass" while watching videos of performances from Top Of The Pops years ago. Also, Windsor Davies isn't unusually tall. It's just that Don Estelle was a foot shorter than him.

Glad you found Don Estelle. Love his voice and the songs he sings. Puts me back into the 50s.  but the show. "it ain't Hot Mum" Awful. "Ill be seeing you" one of my favourites. Going to see if I can find the record. "Ultimate collections"

Here's a fun but rare example of an artist parodying their own song.

"The Purple People Eater #2" by Ben Colder: https://youtu.be/b4S-EXVbH-Y

Ben Colder was a drunken country singer portrayed by Sheb Wooley. Wooley recorded several albums under this name/persona in the 60s and early 70s, including many parodies of existing popular country songs (such as "Busted", "Ring of Fire", "Hello Walls" and more). I have no idea how popular this side of Wooley was, but it's a lot of fun to listen to.

Oldiesman, thank you for posting Purple People Eater #2. The original was the first, along with Monster Mash, record my parents let me buy with my allowance when I was a youngster.

Here's a fun tune from 1951 that I stumbled across earlier.

"I Love The Sunshine Of Your Smile" by The Four Knights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx9EJnlKp-g

This was apparently recorded by four different artists around 1951 (in addition to this, there were versions by The Radio Revellers, Nick Lucas and in the UK by Billy Cotton and His Band), but it seems to have been all but forgotten beyond that. This is my favorite version of the four, though I'm not sure which was released first.

I recall that one. Believe it was fairly popular around here.

Here's a clip that my son sent me looking for. He knows a son of this lady. (my)Son is off to his favorite jazz club tonight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4PLQPJ_vZ0

Rick - great recording of "Birth of the Blues"!  I don't remember ever hearing Kittie DeCarlo, but she has the perfect voice for a blues singer. 

Oldiesman - I remember "The Sunshine of Your Smile" . . . 1951 was a long time ago.  I don't think I've ever heard it since then, which would be about 67 years ago!

"The Sunshine Of Your Smile" is a completely different song that apparently dates back to 1916. That one is far more popular.

On a related note, here's another nifty tune from 1951

"I Wanna Say Hello" by Sir Hubert Pimm and Ellen Sutton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAgHV7mUzOk

I'm not sure who either one was. Depending on which site you look at, "Sir Hubert Pimm" was either American bandleader Bill Snyder or British pianist/songwriter Jimmy MacDonald. I can't find any info at all on Ellen Sutton.

Wow!  I don't remember Kitty DeCarlo, but what a powerful voice!  Thanks for posting the link.

Sue

       I think Kitty DeCarlo  was more of a local singer.  I know she did sing at one of the local night spots that I went to (as a much younger person). I have asked my son to find out more if he can.
       We always had a few local clubs/bars to give us a good choice of where to go on Friday or Saturday nights.  The entertainment or band was usually decent.

Found this one tonight. Really cool version of a great song. I'm not sure which version I like best - this one or Slim Whitman's (Slim Whitman also did a neat yodeling version).

"Mockin' Bird Hill" by Ronnie Ronalde: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDw78zAFC7o

Ronnie Ronalde was a British singer who was apparently quite well known in his day. This song was first recorded by a group called The Pinetoppers in early 1951, and several more versions followed that same year, including this one (though I have no idea if this was released in the US at all).

Here's an interesting one I found recently.

"Mocking Bird Yodel" by Carolina Cotton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeZ0kqBtPZQ

This was written and originally recorded by Harry Torrani back in 1937. Carolina Cotton's version was recorded in the 1940s (the video says 1946, but the record I've found with it was released in 1949). Apparently Cotton was quite well known for her yodeling skills at the time. The song has also been recorded by several others.

Don. Can you Yodel?Now my grandmother in England was really good. Don't know where she learned to. Not big over there.  I just watched the little 11year old girl on that site. Now she was good. I could do a little but that was years back

Here's a fun version of a classic.

"You Always Hurt The One You Love" by Somethin' Smith and The Redheads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bph8dFMZUzA

Somethin' Smith and The Redheads were popular in the mid-50s, doing upbeat catchy versions of classic songs. Their biggest hits were "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie" (#7, 1955) and "In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town" (#27, 1956). They're all but forgotten these days, but they're still a lot of fun to listen to.

I've had over an hour of fun listening to mostly Gracie Fields singing songs of my youth.  The WWII era was my era and I loved hearing about the biggest aspidastra in the world among others.  I must have listened to 20-25 of her songs today.  I also heard Rudy Vallee and the Whiffenpoof Song. 

It was a great start to my day.  Thanks a lot, Michael.

Mary Ann

A couple of humorous songs from the 40s by Arthur Godfrey... You'd never get away with these today.

"Too Fat Polka": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a31vY8YNTg
"Slap 'er Down, Agin, Paw": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtSmAzklhoc

"Too Fat Polka" was apparently a huge hit back in 1947. It was later recorded by The Andrews Sisters, Frankie Yankovic and even Bobby Vinton.

MaryAnn. I think I mentioned this before. But I knew Gracie Fields. She was raised in the shop next to my Aunts in Rochdale Lancashire. My aunt had a little shop that sold Baby clothing, Wool . stockings that kind of thing and Gracie parents ran the fish and Chip shop. Gracie was just a Mill Girl at the start. Some older man got her a job singing. Married her and was her Mgr. soon as she got bigger she left him. But they glorify her still in Rochdale. Very seldom came back. Got a Theatre and big Statue of her now .

JeanneP, I vaguely recall you mentioning that you knew Gracie Fields.  I think she had a very nice voice and it didn't seem to me that she had to strain for the highest notes as so many sopranos do today. 

Mary Ann

JeanneP & Mary Ann. I certainly remember Gracie Fields and enjoyed her fun songs long ago!!

Jack Hylton's Orchestra - The Varsity Drag, 1927...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=gh657EUoUGg

China Doll - Slim Whitman...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNL0BU29uis

Jackie - Slim Whitman had such a beautiful voice.  He was known mostly as a Country/Western star, but he had one hit that made it to the Pop Music charts, here in California.  It was the classic love song,  I Remember You,  with great lyrics written by Johnny Mercer.  It was sung and recorded my most Big Bands and vocalists in the 1940’s, but many years later, Slim Whitman, put his own special spin on the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlIK_W69H9c

Marilyne...
...that song was also made famous by Australian singer Frank Ifield ( 1962 ) known for his yodelling...then later by Slim Whitman also known for his yodelling...but agree, more in a country and western style..

Jackie- Johnny Mercer wrote I Remember You in 1942, for the movie, "The Fleet's In".  It was sung by Dorothy Lamour, in that movie.  After that, it was recorded by just about every vocalist and band in the 1940's, and on into the 50's.  Slim Whitman, Frank Infield and Glen Campbell, were the last to record it, with that C/W sound.

Whenever I hear it, a big wave of nostalgia washes over me! We all have someone from our distant past that we think of when we hear those lyrics.  A couple of other songs have the same effect on me.

I seem to remember a beautiful version of "I Remember You" by Peggy Lee.  It was on one of her albums, of which I have several.  One of my favorite singers from the 50's-60's era. 

Tome - Whenever I think about Miss Peggy Lee, the song Is That All There Is?, starts going through my head.  She did record some unusual ones.  I also have a number of vinyl albums of hers, along with many other vocalists and Big Bands from the 40's, 50's and 60's.

Peggy Lee ---  To me it brings back "Fever" and "Lover".  But it wouldn't surprise me that I've forgotten a few well liked songs.
I have a few CDs of what are called "Torch Singers".  Very hard to try to pick out favorites.

Rammel...
...you got me inquisitive with your mention of " Torch Singers " never heard of that term before so had to look it us and here  it is..." These (mainly female) singers are known for singing torch songs in a bluesy, jazzy, sultry way to bring out the sensual tones of the voice.." .....link...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Torch_singers

RAMMEL - Besides Peggy Lee, who else is featured on your Torch Singer CD's?  The only one's I could think of that might qualify are June Christy, and Julie London? 

After looking at the last two posts I started thinking. Result, -------- not much

Julie London is one that I thought of. I said Helen O'Connel here but my wife gave me a thumbs down.  Then I checked the link Jackie posted (thanks for that link).  More names than you can shake a stick at.
I just opened the drawer where I have most of my CD's.  One CD has the songs of many singers. The Title of the CD is "torch SONGS" and has singers including Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline,Julie London, Peggy Lee, Linda Ronstadt, Etta James, amd many more.  A second CD is also titled Torch Songs, but different artists.
Maybe I shouldn't have originally said "Torch Singers", but Torch Songs.

At any rate, I like most of that style, and most music.

Rammell...
...I thought I would give you a few more, to add to your " Torch " collection....


Jean Shepard - The Tips Of My Fingers...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ozTJcu-_BU