Paul Whiteman - Wistful and Blue (1926)

"Wistful and Blue"
Words by Ruth Etting
Music by Julian Davidson
Performance by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra
Recorded December 22, 1926, Chicago
Victor 20418-B

Personnel:
Paul Whiteman - director
Henry Busse, Ted Bartell - trumpet
Vincent Grande - trombone
Max Farley - alto sax, clarinet, flute
Hal McClean - alto sax, clarinet
Charles Strickfaden - alto sax, baritone sax
Matt Malneck - viola
Harry Perrella - piano
Mike Pingitore - banjo
Wilbur Hall - guitar
Al Armer - string bass
George Marsh - drums
Bing Crosby, Al Rinker - vocal

This performance of "Wistful and Blue" is noteworthy for several reasons. The orchestra had been touring in the Chicago area and Paul Whiteman leased Orchestra Hall, the home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, for recording sessions on December 21 and 22 of 1926. The usual practice of recording a dance band was to use a studio where every effort was made to control echo and reverberation. On this recording it is immediately apparent that the recording was made in a large auditorium. This recording also is the first recording made of the young Bing Crosby with the Whiteman orchestra. Bing and Al Rinker perform a lively scat chorus which was quite a new thing at the time. In a few months, Harry Barris would join the duo and the famous "Rhythm Boys" would begin their important association with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. This recording is also one of the earliest Whitman recordings to use a string bass (Al Armer) instead of a brass bass.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• paul Whiteman
• Wistful and Blue
• young
• Bing
• Crosby
• Al Rinker
• Rhythm Boys
• Chicago
• Orchestra Hall
• String Bass
• Al Armer
• 1926
• Fox
• Trot
• Jazz
• Dance
• 78rpm
• Victor
• 20418-B
• King of Jazz

[Ulysses61]

This is in the top 5 of my favorite Rhythm Boys songs. I would also include My Pet, That's My Weakness Now, My Suppressed Desire and the marvelous Wistful and Blue. Thank you for posting Bing's early stuff, it's great!

[bsgs98]

@Ulysses61 Thanks! This was Bing's first recording with Whiteman. Rinker was with him, but Barris had not yet joined the group.

[SatchmoSings]

@bsgs98 That "large auditorium" that you're referring to was, and still is Chicago's "Orchestra Hall," home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Johnny Marvin's "Me and My Shadow" was also done there.

[bsgs98]

@docmiba No, just one piano player. It's Harry Perrella. It was recorded in a large auditorium rather than a studio thus the reverberations may have an effect on the sound.