Jan Peerce's first recording (1932)

Click for higher quality audio/video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZFv_EKnww07&fmt=18

Posted in honor of the 105th anniversary of his birth, here is one of the first recordings Jan Peerce ever cut. In September 1932 Peerce recorded "Something in the Night" under the name Jack Pearl on the Crown label with Jack Berger and His Hotel Astor Dance Orchestra. I remember reading in his autobiography that the few dollars a singer might make from such a recording wouldn't make it worth their while to cheapen their real name (or stage name!) by putting it on such a budget record.

Something in the tune they're playing makes me hold you tight
Something in the words you're saying, something in the night
One thing I can't help from seeing something in your eyes
Oh I know no human being luckier than I

Everyrthing's taking taking the turn I wished it would take
Evertything's breaking breaking the way I hoped it would break
Something fills my heart with fire while I hold you tight
Something makes you my desire, something in the night

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jan
• Peerce
• Pearl
• Something
• in
• the
• Night
• Jack
• Berger
• and
• His
• Hotel
• Astor
• Dance
• Orchestra
• 1932

[InBoccaChiusa]

This is a gem. Peerce could sing anything with authority and authenticity. A great artist.

[halavey]

Wish less orchestra played less Peerce sang more! He sounded much the same in the late 30's also. Amazing his voice never changed much at all.

[rogharm]

@InBoccaChiusa Agree I want more songs like this minor key arrangement. too bad Jan sing more on this record. love this record i want M O R E!!!!! ROGHARM

[CALIMERO305]

Très surprenant!

[CALIMERO305]

Surprenant!

[RatPfink66]

@GermanOperaSinger Pop dance records almost always had a full chorus before the vocal - but yes, 32 bars is a looong time if you're expecting an intro. :)

[rogharm]

@InBoccaChiusa AGREEE JAN IS GREAT!!!!!!!******ROGHARM

[rogharm]

agree great record cannot he would such a great arrangement!!!!!!*********ROGH­ARM anymore songs like this available. fabulous recording and fab post!!!! thank you!!!!! I WANT MORE OF THIS KIND IF AVAILABLE!!!!

[jmccracken1963]

Nice recording: both the orchestra and the singer!!!!! Pretty typical of dance bands from the era in form and vocal. Some really GOOD playing by the brass and the woodwinds: now those players had CHARACTER as well as blend!!!!! Thank you VERY much for sharing this with us!!!!!

[GermanOperaSinger]

The orchestra intro was a bit too long but this is still a nice rarity. Very artistic singing. His voice got darker of course as he aged but the basic timbre never really changed; even in his 70s it was still essentially the same voice as it had been over 40 years earlier.