78s - Old Time Religion - Phil Harris & His Orchestra

This song was recorded for a friend. Thanks Jimm!
Phil Harris (First Name - Wonga) ( June 24, 1904 - August 11, 1995) was an American singer, songwriter, jazz musician, actor and comedian. Though successful as an orchestra leader, Harris is remembered today for his recordings as a vocalist, his voice work in animation and as a pioneer in radio situation comedy, first with Jack Benny, and then in a series in which he co-starred with his second wife, singer-actress Alice Faye, for eight years

Bandleader:
Harris was born in Linton, Indiana, but actually grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and identified himself as a Southerner (his hallmark song was "That's What I Like About the South"). His upbringing accounted for both his trace of a Southern accent and, in later years, the self-deprecating Southern jokes of his radio character. The son of two circus performers, Harris' first work as a drummer came when his father, as tent bandleader, hired him to play with the circus band. Harris began his music career as a drummer in San Francisco, forming an orchestra with Carol Lofner in the latter 1920s and starting a long engagement at the St. Francis Hotel. The partnership ended by 1932, and Harris led and sang with his own band, now based in Los Angeles. Phil Harris also played drums in Henry Halstead Big Band Orchestra in the mid 1920s.


He worked as a vocalist and voice actor for animated films, with performances in the Disney animated features The Jungle Book (1967) as Baloo, The Aristocats (1970) as Thomas O'Malley, and Robin Hood (1973) as Little John (who is similar to Baloo).

The Jungle Book was his greatest success in the years following the end of his radio career. As Baloo the Bear, he sings one of the film's showstoppers, "The Bare Necessities," a performance that introduced Harris to a new generation of young fans who had no awareness of his radio appearances. Harris also joins Louis Prima in "I Wanna Be Like You," delivering a memorable scat singing performance.

The Aristocats features Harris as alley cat Abraham de Lacey Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley, who joins in the film's showstopper, "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat," with Scatman Crothers. In Robin Hood, Harris's Little John sings the popular anti-Prince John tune "The Phony King of England."

In 1989, Harris briefly returned to Disney to once again voice Baloo, this time for the cartoon series TaleSpin. He was later replaced by actor Ed Gilbert. His last animated film project was the 1991 film Rock-a-Doodle, directed by Don Bluth, in which he played the friendly, laid-back farm dog Patou.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• guitar
• vintage
• classic
• oldies
• vinyl
• shellac
• wax
• record
• phonograph
• victrola
• old time songs
• old ballads
• tenor
• old time favorites
• 78
• 78 r.p.m.
• 78s
• blues
• swing
• big band
• Orchestra
• Big Band
• jazz
• boogie
• Doo Wop
• Gospel
• Quartet
• Religion
• God
• Jesus
• Old Time Religion
• Phil Harris
• Victor
• Spiritual
• Hymn

[musicmandon1]

This, and Tennessee Ernie Ford's version, are the two best versions of this terrific song, for my money. Auntie had this on a 78, and I'm sure I about played it to death, along with "The Thing," and "Bump on the Head Brown," which was the B side of one of those 2 records.

[althazarr]

@musicmandon1 I agree, and this is also one of my favorite gospel songs. We still sing it at my church occasionally. I think I have a copy of The Thing. I'll start looking through my collection to see if I can find it and get it posted. That's definitely another great song.

[sideshowtink]

what a BEAUTIFUL player! Makes me feel like I am in church :-)

[althazarr]

I really appreciate your compliment on the victrola, and I'm glad it gave you the feeling of being in church. It's one of my favorite places. :-)

Thanks Tink!

[fromthesidelines]

Actually, it was from 1946 through '54 {"THE FITCH BANDWAGON" from '46 through '48, then "THE PHIL HARRIS-ALICE FAYE SHOW" after 1948, first for sponsor Rexall Drugs ['48-'50], sustained ['50-'51], then RCA ['51-'54]}. Phil did appear on Jack's program before his own (usually leaving halfway through to dash to his own studio to prepare for the start of HIS show at 7:30pm(et) from '46 through '50, then both were "transcribed" [pre-recorded] in advance, and things went easier) until 1952.

[althazarr]

I knew I was kind of close. Thank you once again. Any extra info. is always appreciated. I think it was hard going back and forth to his and Benny's show. They were both at NBC starting out, and then Benny went to CBS in '49.

[bythebytheway]

WoW ! That is kind for a friend to send a reproducer for you, Nice to hear an ol' time record on a great ol' player.

Thanks !

[VTMCompany]

this is an AUDAK Ultra-Revelation...I should know...if I may say so...I sent it to him...

[moalaska]

hievery one;)

[moalaska]

its asome

:)



[willgonow]

tip top & that's a lovely record player

[fromthesidelines]

Before both series had the luxury of being "transcribed" in advance after 1950, Phil indeed had to literally race from CBS halfway through the Benny program to get to NBC in time for his own series.