Rhapsody in Blue - Original 1924 Recording

[swinedance]

Until I heard this, I often wondered why they called Rhapsody in Blue jazz, Even the 1927 recording was refined compared to this version. By 1942 it had become a standard. I don't believe the raw energy captured here or the innovation allowed by Whiteman and Gershwin here have been reproduced.

[dlsofsetx]

Rhapsody in Blue is the greatest compositon ever,or that ever will be.I doubt if it gets outdone.

[babehuiy]

It feels like watching a very old cartoon. Rhapsody in Blue is one of my favourite pieces of music. Thanks for the upload!

[dlsofsetx]

@babehuiy It's my absolute favorite!IMHO,the greatset composition ever.

[mikemcgee]

Is this Gershwin with Paul Whiteman Orchestra?

[wiruserror]

nice.lovin it

[SatchmoSings]

@carliarago I'm just bustin' chops; I know it's the original, acoustic version and that you're playing it on a Victrola; it actually sounds pretty good, considering.

Sorry to that I gave you the opposite impression and also let's thank the poster for putting this up.

[Lockbar]

Music history! Thanks for posting this for our easy listening access.

[mediawest]

awesome.



[chev6art]

I like the original version because it has a very spontaneous quality about it; I have read that the origianal performance was indeed spontaneous and improvised, with the band trying to follow Gershwin's exquisite play. All other versions have sought to capture the same quality and have fallen short, in my humble opinion.

[reuben2011]

I just love the true clarinet gliss in the intro.

[larie2]

haha it sounds as if its a pack of ducks singing it! For 1924 it's not terrible I guess though...

[SatchmoSings]

This sounds as if it were played with a tin can; better check your record player!

[louswire]

The really neat part of the story about this song, was that Gershwin, didn't write the solos... he just named the soloist, and left the music up to the musician.

[TheMoviefan1996]

Good song even 86 years it still famous

[ASACurator]

Kudos to you for posting the Original 1924 Recording. I've always preferred it over the more polished 1927 Orthophonic Version. Thanks again!

[MrBazza86]

Yes, excellent . . . the very best - you can almost imagine you're in 20's New York . . .

[atyg1967]

This original version is so jazzy & sounds cutting edge.

[duckman531]

Is this a recording of the actual February 12, 1924 concert at Aeolian Hall in New York that was broadcast on the radio? If not, when was this recorded?

[Animainiac85]

@duckman531 No. It was recorded a few months later I believe.

[jwinansa]

of all performances this is the one I would liked to have witnessed. The genius, pure in the raw, not polished.

[clszm]

Thanks... Though I must say I like Leonard Bernstein's rendition better. This is the original, however, so nothing can put it down.

[ignaz1882]

@clszm There is so much that is great about this performance - and not just because it is the original. From Ross Gorman's laughing clarinet, to Gershwin's uncanny rhythm. Listen carefully to Gershwin's playing and you'll find it has more in common with the great pianists of the past such as Hofmann and Rachmaninoff than more modern pianists - including Bernstein. There is beautiful tone, a natural rubato, even distribution of the hands - and of course a wonderful sense of rhythm.

[retrogamerdave]

@ignaz1882 the most notable and impressive thing about Gershwin's pianism in this recording is his sparing use of the pedal. Gershwin in general is meant to be played pretty dry, and here you have it with Gershwin himself showing us exactly how to do it

[InkRaven]

Nice.