Mamie Smith "Harlem Blues" 1935

[pbrgma1]

Because THE ALPHABETICAL 4 were a gospel quartet is the reason they did not get screen credit. Gospel artists are often frowned upon when they do secular music.This is the same reason THE SOUTHERNAIRES did not get screen credit in the 1934 film" Bubbling Over. JOHNNY SMITH later sang with a phony INKSPOTS quartet.In the 1970's he was on the Mike Douglas TV show claiming to be an original INKSPOTS but Mike Douglas wasn't fool.

[pbrgma1]

The quartet in this film is THE ALPHABETICAL FOUR a gospel quartet that recorded for Decca Records. Seen singing on lead here is JOHNNY SMITH.

[harryoakley]

@pbrgma1 Thank you for this information - I am sure you are right, but can you give some evidence; is there for instance something else on YouTube for comparison?

[TheVideostunad]

So Fabulous!What a fantastic clip! Sal

[justwanna007]

i like

[skyiscrying53]

ma rainey bessie smith and mami smith are the queens of blues but Ma RAiney is the Goddess of the Blues

[robibm2003]

The warmth in her voice here is a thing of beauty.

[9876543217303]

Beautiful. Warm singer, warm setting. Moving. Thanks for sharing.

[torsbyn]

Intriguing! of course it's the CRAZY BLUES all over again, only changed to "Harlem Blues" and interpreted by the originator in a newer fashion...

[youngz1990]

I like this

[johnnycchops]

Pianist looks like Luis Russell to me.

[hobojazz]

That's the Alphabetical Four singing the harmonies. Dont know where "Juanite Hall Singers" came from since the dvd of this says the Alphabetical Four & it sounds just like them!

[talfacprez]

Thank you SOOooo much for posting this I love these musical time capsules.

[KawhackitaRag]

This is one of the most wonderful things I've ever seen or heard on Youtube, and I've seen many wonderful things. I literally got chills from the Juanite Hall Singers. Yet more proof that Black people invented barbershop, as if more proof was needed.

So, Thanks!!!

Who's on piano?

[harryoakley]

The pianist is a familiar extra in music films - he is also the main character in the Louis Armstrong film in which he plays and sings clad in a leopard skin.

[rhassanroland]

Anybody know who the guy is singing lead in the quartet at the end? Or the name of the quartet (assuming it's no tmerely an assemblage for the purpose of the film)?

[GARYTEXAS]

now I don't know I'm going to guess the Juanite Hall Singers. google it lazy.

sorry-but most of the questions--are answered eather in the info lines or the comments come-on copy-paste-Google

[harryoakley]

Juanita Hall Singers - not such a difficult guess since I mention them in the info lines in the right hand upper corner.

[GARYTEXAS]

My only hope was that "rhassanroland" woud see my lines and read a little while the music plays.

[GARYTEXAS]

I dropped by your page - very nice - Harry

[knulla08]

Thanks for this wonderful footage of Smith.

[sirjuandabicho]

Maravilloso, muchas gracias.

[lobnico]

200 stars!

[harryoakley]

It is an excerpt of "Pradise In Harlem", released in 1939. I do not know if it is available on DVD. I rather doubt it - I digitalised and uploaded this from my 16mm film copy.

[epistrophy007]

Wonderful...

Is this an excerpt of Harlem Paradise?

Then it's from 1939...

[harryoakley]

This scene of Mamie Smith with the Juanita Hall Singers was filmed in 1935 and used in the movie "Paradise In Harlem", released in 1939. The other music scenes in the movie, with Mamie Smith and Lucky Millinder, were possibly filmed later then 1935.

[MahoganyArchives]

Thanks so much for this info. Has this film been re-released? I want this ASAP!

[Bente684]

@harryoakley Hi, thanks for posting this! but I think it's Crazy Blues, at least the beginning... it's in a different key I think, but it really sounds like Crazy blues... she's only singing Harlem in stead of crazy...

[harryoakley]

If you had taken the trouble of reading the text I put with this video you would have seen that I knew this.

[Bente684]

@harryoakley sorry, didn't mean to offend anyone.. but you're right!

[PianoPopular]

are these the lyrics to "crazy blues"?

[LyleYoung]

It's the same lyrics, as those in "Crazy Blues" :)

[KawhackitaRag]

@LyleYoung Same melody, too. "Harlem Blues" was the original title of this tune, anyway. It was also published (and recorded) as "Crazy Blues" and "Wicked Blues", the latter version a hot QRS piano roll by Pete Wendling. The composer, Perry Bradford, got in trouble for re-selling this song several times!