Unforgetable Performance by Helen Morgan 1935

[baghend]

what an incredibly sophisticated song, and an elegant performance. Though i could have done without Rudy waving.

Thanks

[rogharm]

@baghend Disagree, love seeing rudy waving leading the orchestra. it reminds me of a recording session or radio show performance. you can visualize how he hold the orchestra back to correctly match helen's glorious voice. rudy lends charm and i agree the two top commenters above 100000%. rated highest 11+ ROGHARM

[baghend]

@rogharm Good points, and Rudy was certainly charming, and talented.

But Helen was better looking.

What an amazing time in the history of entertainment in America- the 1930's- despite the depression. Such talented classy people. Seems to be a relatively sad crop today in comparison,. Although there are certainly talented people today, so much of it all seems just hype to me, and technical music rather than- as Ms. Morgan epitomizes- music from the heart.

[TheHillman009]

Helen Morgan was the original torch singer. She was beautiful & talented but drank too much & died at age 40. Sad.  -- I love the era of "Cafe Society"... the music... the cars... the style and elegance. Too bad someone can't figure out how to recreate a classy meeting place like Sherman Billingsley's "Stork Club"... Billy Rose's "Backstage Club"... Helen Morgan's "Chez Morgan"... Texas Guinan's "300 Club"... Jack & Charlie's "21 Club" ... et cetera. --- I could do it if I had enough money.

[irishsetterarchie]

She was a real beauty.

[Bossmanrocks]

Helen Morgan had such a tragic life - a really sad, sad, life. Her biography is done beautifully in the movie The Helen Morgan Story, staring Ann Blythe as Helen Morgan and Paul Newman at his handsomeness best. Singing of Morgan was done by the incomparable Gogi Grant. Grant's singing is unbelievable - youtube it. Listen to her redition of the Morgan standard, The Man I love. It will make you swoon.

[Gaygarious]

Old-fashioned is new to a lot of kids today. I'm and old-fashioned singer and always get thumbs up when I sing...! I love most of everything by practically ALL of the old stuff!

[RICHARDDAVISMCLEOD]

Such a great talent that left us a bit too soon. There is a poignancy in her voice that is rarely heard in most singers. Old fashioned, what is old fashioned. Helen Morgan has a vocal quality that imparted the FULL meaning of what she sang. If that is old fashioned, then HURRAY for being old fashioned!

[bonfid]

She has a tear in her voice. so pretty.



[cajanwitch60]

@bonfid It's still around. Just so much other bombarding everyone. Concert halls. So many young people are discovering that there is music that truly fills your heart with joy & lifts you up. And they are discovering old rock & roll. My wonderful Mom who passed away on Mother's day this year used to buy different albums so I grew up listening to many different styles of music. But I love some Opera. She never did! Helen had such control of her voice. She was truly amazing!

[hooraycarolina]

Oh, what ever happened to good music like this? Where did it all go?

[Robertgrade]

Helen Morgan's style may be old fashioned today, but what a feeling. I love her.

[butchfoot]

I think its grand and the world would be better off and better adjusted if we listen to more of it. Thanks ever so much.

[edwardjames50]

What movie is this? I love Helen Morga AND Ann Dvorak. It looks like a Warners movie, and I'd like to see it if TCM shows it. What's the title, please?

[vidayverdad2]

I think it's "Sweet Music."

[Yates33333]

Rudy Vallee wasn't exactly chopped liver as a singer. Of course, here he is directing his orchestra.

[pop0it0rocket]

Great stuff. Thanks for posting it.

[Sciochick]

Oh, because I read it as Helen Morgan - must have been some else's mnistake! Thanks!

[waynebrasler]

This was one of her most famous songs and, as with all her music, she presents it gorgeously and with deepest following. The gown Polly Bergen wears on the cover of her Helen Morgan album is similar to the one seen here.

[dave62nick]

My Dad had a couple of albums with of Helen Morgan and always went on about how great she was. Seeing these clips I realize how great they both were.

Happy fathers day everybody.

[harrywarrenfan]

For the curious, this is a clip from "Sweet Music," a 1935 film released by WB.

[bigcity233]

Beautiful performance! Great song! Too bad there isn't more of Helen Morgan on film - she performed mostly on stage and in night clubs. Thanks for posting.

[FoPo4]

She did plenty of Showboat'n during her brief time

[merrihew]

I'm surprised that she doesn't get the same amount of attention as other great singers of the era. There's very little currently available of her.

[CountDisco1]

That's because there are no clarinets or saxophone and other annoying hot jazz or swing instruments in her recordings. Sweet romantic music with strings is looked down upon by the majority of conservative "hot jazz" collectors who think it is as "faggy" or "gay" as disco music of the 70's was to the "punk" and "rock" fans and still is by many.

[CountDisco1]

Apparently you have to be ashamed if you like beautiful popular music with strings. To me there is nothing more beautiful than popular music with strings, tenor voices, cellos, harps, violas, etc. :) Helen Morgan just happens to be one of the few romantic artists that is appreciated somewhat by modern audiences while the majority are sadly forgotten.

[spyroscc]

There are other singers of this era who were similarly accompanied who are better known. Your criticism of other styles of music does not in any way diminish the value of the music that you prefer.

[rogharm]

i love all that you wrote!!!******ROGHARM

[rogharm]

agree with you!!! love HELEN!!!! great arrangement. love violins call me what you will. but this is q u a l i t y!!!!!LOVE IT ROGHARM

[3investigators]

as if "faggy" or "gay" would be a bad thing...but I guess everyone has their tastes and quirks - including with music. Anyway, lovely song and performance. Thanks for posting.