The Classic Music Archive

Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra - Big Fat Mama

Recorded September 5, 1941

We conclude today’s segment with one of the lesser-known bands of the 1940s. Lucky Millinder’s band was one of the finest African-American bands of that era and is considered by many to be instrumental in exposing the nation to the R&B sound. Enjoy!

Johnny Mercer feat. The Pied Pipers - Accentuate the Positive

Recorded Live on the Spotlight Bands Program, July 1945

Next up is a #1 tune from Johnny Mercer back in 1945. Enjoy!

Lyrics:

Muggsy Spanier & His Ragtime Band- More Than You Know

Recorded June 1, 1942

Here’s something to slow things down a bit. A pretty song by one of the greatest trumpet players in Jazz’s long history, Muggsy Spanier!

Lyrics:

More than you know, more than you know Girl of my heart, I love you so Lately I find you're on my mind More than you know

Whether you're right, whether you're wrong Girl of my heart, I'll string along You need me so Much more than you'll ever know (ever know)         Loving you the way that I do      

There's nothing I can do about it         Loving may be all you can give         But baby I can't live without it Oh, how I'd cry, oh, how I'd cry If you got tired and said "Good-bye"

Louis Prima & His Orchestra - Dance With A Dolly

Recorded Live on the Spotlight Band Program, Union College, NY, July 1945

Capt. Glenn Miller & The US Army Air Force Band - I Hear You Screamin’ (Instrumental)

Recorded Live at Barksdale Airfield, LA, January 1944

We’re finally back after a longer hiatus than I ever expected. Apologies for that. Anyway, I said a long time ago we’d drift into other genres and I’ve decided that this is probably the best time to do that. Don’t worry, we’ll still do the country/western stuff too! Anyway here’s a swingin’ track from Glenn Miller in his Army days. Enjoy!

Johnnie Lee Wills & All The Boys - Green Grow The Lilacs

Recorded April 19, 1947

To conclude this installment, I've decided to give Bob a break and put in a tune by his under appreciated younger brother Johnnie Lee. This is kind of a back-to-basics post for me. It's a transcript from one of my grandfather's records that I forgot to post when I first made this blog. I hope you enjoy and stick around for more in the near-future!

Band Members:

-Johnnie Lee Wills - Bandleader/Violin 1

-Leon Huff - Vocals

-Julian Lewis - Violin 2

-Henry Boatman - Violin 3

-Eb Gray - Elec. Guitar

-Dale Jenkins - Steel Guitar

-Bob Booth - Trumpet

-Claude McCray - Trombone

-Wayne Johnson - Saxophone 1

-Don Harlan - Saxophone 2

-Clarence Cagle - Piano

-Son Lansford - Bass

-Chuck Adams - Drums

Lyrics:

Green grow the lilacs, so wet with the dew,

I'm lonely my darling and thinking of you

Green grow the lilacs, I need you my love,

Like lilacs need sunshine and rain from above,

You said you'd be there to share them with me,

Have you forgotten each sweet memory?

Green grow the lilacs, but sad grows my heart,

Conway Twitty - Guess My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Heart

Recorded June 3, 1965

Despite the many jokes about him on Family Guy and the like, Conway Twitty was undoubtedly one of the great powerhouses of Country Music. But he didn't start out that way. Twitty was originally a rock and roll singer but switched to country after the British Invasion. This song is from his first country album.

Band Members:

-Conway Twitty - Vocals

-The Jordanaires - Backup Vocals

-Grady Martin - Guitar 1

-Harold Bradley - Guitar 2

-Pete Wade - Guitar 3

-Ray Edenton - Guitar 4

-Pete Drake - Steel Guitar

-Hargus Robbins - Piano

-Junior Huskey - Bass

-Buddy Harman - Drums

Lyrics:

Hank Williams & His Drifting Cowboys - Jambalaya (On The Bayou)

Recorded live on the Grand Ole Opry, July 15, 1952

Since Mardi Gras was this week, I had to post this Louisiana Cajun standard. Enjoy!

Band Members:

-Hank WIlliams- Vocals/Guitar

-Jerry Rivers - Violin

-Bob McNett - Elec. Guitar

-Don Helms - Steel Guitar

-Cedric Rainwater - Bass

Lyrics:

Goodbye Joe, me gotta go, me oh, my oh Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh, my oh Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya, and a-crawfish pie and a-fillet gumbo 'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez amio Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Thibodeaux to Fontainbleau, the place is buzzin' Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen Dress in style, and go hog wild, me oh, my oh Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya, and a-crawfish pie and a fillet gumbo 'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machez amio Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Skeeter Davis - Gonna Get Along Without You Now

Recorded March 9, 1964

Here's someone that hasn't been on the blog before! Ms. Skeeter Davis was truly a chart-topper in the early 60s and is regarded to be one of country music's first crossover artists. Expect to hear more from her in the near future!

Band Members:

- Skeeter Davis - Vocals

-Jerry Kennedy - Guitar 1

-Ray Edenton - Guitar 2

-Henry Strzelecki - Bass

-Buddy Harman - Drums

-Floyd Cramer - Piano

-Mary Hicks - Organ

Lyrics:

Uh huh hmm hmm gonna get along without you now Uh huh hmm hmm gonna get along without you now

You told me I was the dearest thing you even asked me to wear your ring You ran around with every girl in town you didn't even care if it got me down

Uh huh hmm hmm gonna get along without you now Mhm mhm hmm hmm gonna get along without you now

Got along without you before I met you gonna get along without you now Gonna find somebody who is twice as cute cause you didn't like me anyhow

You told everybody that we were friends but this is where our friendship ends Cause all that you said you change your tune

You haven't been around since way last June Uh huh hmm hmm gonna get along without you now

Got along without you before I met you gonna get along without you now So long my honey goodbye my friend gonna get along without you now

Jim Reeves - Could I Be Falling In Love?

Recorded September 3, 1963

Apologies for the long wait in between installments, but time slips away doesn't it? Anyway, I'll try to amp up the frequency as much as I can. For now, here's Jim Reeves!

Band Members:

- Wayne Moss &  Velma Smith (guitar)

-Junior Huskey (bass)

-William Ackerman (drums)

-Floyd Cramer (piano)

-Anita Kerr Singers (Backup Vocals)

Lyrics:

Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys - La Paloma [Instrumental]

Recorded April 25, 1941

We conclude this installment as we always do with Bob and the boys performing an old Cuban tune called La Paloma!

Band Members:

Bob Wills - Bandleader

Trumpets:

Tubby Lewis (soloist)

Jamie MacIntosh

Everett Stover

Trombone:

Earl Graves

Saxophones:

Wayne Johnson

Louis Tierney

Woodie Wood

Clarinet:

Don Harlan

Rhythm:

Eldon Shamblin - Elec. Guitar

Al Stricklin - Piano

Son Lansford - Bass

Eddy Arnold - Chained to a Memory

Recorded March 20, 1946

I would be remiss if I could play an Eddy Arnold tune without playing the man himself. Here's one of his early hits!

Band Members:

Eddy Arnold - Vocals

Speedy McNatt - Violin

John Sullivan - Guitar

Rollin Sullivan - Mandolin

Roy Wiggins - Steel Guitar

Owen Bradley - Piano

Lloyd George - Bass

Lyrics:

Connie Smith - Even Tho

Recorded May 7, 1965

Here's another newcomer to the blog. Ms. Connie Smith singing an old Eddy Arnold tune. Enjoy!

Band Members:

Connie Smith - Vocals

The Anita Kerr Singers - Backup Vocals

Ray Edenton - Guitar 1

Jerry Reed Guitar 2

Charlie McCoy - Ryth. Guitar

Hal Rugg - Stell Guitar

Hargus Robbins - Piano

Bobby Dyson - Bass

Ken Buttrey - Drums

Lyrics:

George Jones - The Color of the Blues

Recorded June 5, 1957

Here's one from an artist that hasn't been on the blog as of yet. The late, great George Jones who passed away a little over a year ago. Enjoy!

Lyrics:

Up above me are the skies like the twinkle in your eyes These things are the colors of the blues In the mail, your letter came the ink and paper looked the same Blue must be the color of the blues

Bluebird's singing in the trees seems to sympathize with me But he's not singing like he used to do The pretty waters in the sea feel as cold as you left me Yes, blue must be the color of the blues

There's a rainbow overhead with more blue than gold and red Blue must be the color angels choose A blue dress you proudly wore when you left to return no more Yes, blue must be the color of the blues

Johnny Horton - The Rest of Your Life

Recorded July 5, 1952

Here we are again in a brand new year! Happy belated 2015! We're gonna start off the new year with an early tune by Johnny Horton. Oh, and a quick disclaimer: because of Tumblr's changes in its copyright policy, the vast majority of the songs posted on here in the future will be from either the YouTube or the Spotify player. Still, that won't stop me from running the blog!

Band Members:

Johnny Horton - Guitar/Vocal

Jerry Rowley -Violin

Bobby Stegall - Steel Guitar

Evelyn Rowley - Piano

Vera Rowley - Bass

Lyrics:

It would take the rest of your life to tell you how much I love you,

If you'd spend the rest of your life just listening.

I would need the rest of my life to fulfill my dreams of you,

If you'd spend the rest of your life just listening.

Not a day, not an hour, not a minute goes past that I don't wish I was holding you,

Not a day, not an hour, not a lifetime would do to satisfy my love for you.

It would take the rest of your life to tell you all of those sweet things,

Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys - Santa’s On His Way

Recorded May 9, 1949

Unfortunately, my uploader is still not working. Thankfully, I was able to find a YouTube version of Bob’s best Christmas song. Hope you enjoyed this odd installment and have a Happy Holiday!

Listen

Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys - Santa’s On His Way

Recorded May 9, 1949

Unfortunately, my uploader is still not working. Thankfully, I was able to find a YouTube version of Bob’s best Christmas song. Hope you enjoyed this odd installment and have a Happy Holiday!

Band Members:

Bob Wills - Bandleader

Jack Loyd - Vocals

Johnny Gimble - Violin 1

Jesse Ashlock - Violin 2

Eldon Shamblin - Elect. Guitar

Tiny Moore - Mandolin

Herb Remington - Steel Guitar

Alex Brashear - Trumpet

Doc Lewis - Piano

Luke Wills - Bass

Monte Mountjoy - Drums

Lyrics:

Hooray hooray

Oh hear the merry sleigh Ding a ling ding a ling ding a ling ding a ling Santa’s on his way Be good be good The way you know you should He’s got some toys for girls and boys Who promise to be good Got a bike for Billy and a doll for Jane Got a dress for Mary and a sewing game   A plane for Johnny and cowboy gun He’s got something for everyone Hooray hooray Oh hear the merry sleigh Ding a ling ding a ling ding a ling ding a ling

Gene Autry & The Pinafores - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Recorded June 11, 1949

I know this is a bit of a cop-out, but this was my favorite Christmas song when I was little and it's probably the song that got me into this kind of music in the first place. Hopefully I'll redeem myself with the last track.

Lyrics: