Tango: 'I kiss your Hand, Madame' - Jack Smith

[mildredchester]

I just love his voice.It's the chatty intimacy of it. And you have to listen to his lyrics. I FOUND HIM BY ACCIDENT- bought a 78 of "Me and my Shadow"- the B side is "You Won't See Me"- (If I See You With Anybody Else At All") =tres creepy!!

[1966Hillman]

Interesting version of this tango but I’m not sure about Mr. Smith’s interpretation, particularly the syncopation... The popular song to me is inextricably associated in my mind with Tauber who, IMHO, a year later recorded the definitive version. If the story is true about Jack Smith’s having been a victim of gassing in the Great War, he must be applauded for turning severe adversity to his advantage.

[kamilla1960]

My understanding is that Mr Smith was gassed in WW1. He had a unique and delicate style, listen esp. to his recording of "Whispering" -might have been written for him.

[paulkate72]

@kamilla1960 - If that's the case I sympathise - what a terrible experience. If what you say is true, it's amazing that Jack can sing at all, and my respect for him has grown then. That said, his singing is still not as good as Al Bowlly or the others I mentioned before on YT - sorry.

[paulkate72]

Can't really understand why Whispering Jack was as big as he was in the late 20s and 30s. Compared to Sam Browne, Jack Plant and especially Al Bowlly Whispering Jack was nowhere.

Some of you will disagree with me I know, but I stand by what I've said here.

[jurek46pink]

@paulkate72

And it is very simple and seams easy to be understood: he was WHISPERING !

Being first and revolutionary with that "whispering" novelty.

[paulkate72]

@jurek46pink - Thank you for your comments re this. Guess we'll have different tastes in music, even in singers of the same era in the same genre (modern word!). Best wishes...

[jurek46pink]

@jurek46pink

I think we have very similar tastes: I like Al Bowly much more ! I only wanted to say why

Jack S. started at that time to be SO popular (it was his.... whispering; noone did it before).

Best wishes to you !.

[candw87]

@paulkate72 They were all equal -but some were more equal than others

[kamilla1960]

@paulkate72 HIs rendition of "Whispering" is perhaps his signature recording. He had an intimate appeal.

[COLOMBANIPM]

superbe vidéo

merci pour le partage

[xrisxs]

I can hear the man behind the voice. as though even in the greatest of his moments were only second to the truth of the era.

[Dragonfly2444]

i love this so romantic not nasty like todays music

[67slowslow]

アドルノAdornoが『音楽・メディア論集』でこの曲を批判的­に論じている。

[RudySunseeker]

Just love the nostalgia and this voice with its phenomenal upper register for a baritone.

Amazing record quality, perfectly transferred, thanks!

[cosycleaner]

Delightful!

[UcidDinMers]

great song, can you send me the photo that you used for the video? tnx for uploading

[parlophonman]

For me is this the best version !

[WildCardsJazz]

And another gem! Better than the spike jones version...LOL. This was played by Dick Oxtot's band in the SF bay area at my Sisters wedding reception in the 60s, at my (late) Dads request...Love this and in general all your STUFF. great day - My moms anniversary

[jurek46pink]

Mom's anniversaries - with years - most important whiles...;)

[WildCardsJazz]

So very true....well put. :)

[kkkociak]

J'adore!

[123BubberMiley]

Nice Picture

[saltburner]

And Tauber made two recordings of this song: a 10" with the Bela Dajos Orchestra, and a 12" with a symphonic band conducted by Ernst Hauke.

[jurek46pink]

And a third one with piano - for the film...:-)

[saltburner]

So popular was this style of singing, introduced to Berlin by Jack Smith in 1928, that Richard Tauber, accompanying himself at the piano, made six 'Whispering Records' (Flusterplatte) in October/November 1928.

[kspm01]

This is the logical counterpart: the very best Anglosaxon interpretation of this wonderful tune. Smith is the ideal performer, his delicacy is unsurpassed.

[jurek46pink]

When preparing this clip I was trying to imagine that Summer-Autumn season of 1928 when all of that was created, I mean the "mixture" of styles.

Still, the most thrilling interpretation of a "Hand" is that of... Carlos Gardel: 'Yo beso vuestra mano, Seńora' - Disco Nacional, Buenos Aires, 1929, probably never re-edited.

Gracias.

[kspm01]

Now of course Gardel is great (interesting post - extremely passionate version), but - I explicitly limited my scope - of the Anglosaxon ones, in my opinion Smith is the best.