Paul Whiteman - My Blue Heaven (1927)

"MY BLUE HEAVEN"
Music by Walter Donaldson
Lyrics by George Whiting
Performed by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra
Recorded July 6, 1927, New York
Victor 20828

Personnel:
Henry Busse, Red Nichols - trumpets
Wilbur Hall, trombone, Jack Fulton, Tommy Dorsey - Trombones
Max Farley, Chester Hazlett, Hal McLean, Jimmy Dorsey? - reeds
Charles Strickfaden - alto sax, baritone sax
Kurt Dieterle, Mischa Russell,Mario Perry, Matt Malneck - violins
Harry Perella - piano
Mike Pingitore - banjo
John Sperzel - tuba
Harold MacDonald - drums
Jack Fulton, Chester Gaylord, Austin Young, Bing Crosby, Al Rinker - vocals

Walter Donaldson wrote this song in 1925 at the Friars Club while waiting for a billiards game to begin. Donaldson played the tune for vaudeville star George Whitiing, who was so enthusiastic that he begged to write the lyric. Whiting performed the song but it would not catch on. Later in 1927, Tommy Lyman sang it on the radio and then Gene Austin recorded the song for Victor. That recording and Austin's covers of the song sold more than 5 million copies.
(notes from "The Amrican Songbook: the singers, the songwriters, and the songs" by Ken Bloom)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• My Blue heaven
• Paul Whiteman
• George Whiting
• Walter Donaldson
• Nostalgic
• Jazz
• standard
• Fox Trot
• twenties
• 1927
• 78rpm
• Rhythm
• Boys
• Bing Crosby
• King of Jazz

[pax41]

Can't believe I missed this one. I like Whiteman's arrangements a lot. I think the Columbia's are some of the best of his recordings.

[bsgs98]

@pax41 I think Columbia's Viva-Tonal process offered a slight improvement over the Victor recordings.

[Randidan]

@bsgs98 I agree -- however improved the Orthophonic system was, the Viva-tonal Columbias sound even better! I have complete (I think) run of the Columbia "Potato Head" Whiteman records in Near-mint to mint condition, which I play only on beautiful modern equipment, so I can really enjoy them, along with the Victors!! ...btw,I keep a few less-than perfect copies to demonstrate on old players...

[bsgs98]

@Randidan Victor and Columbia were nearly equal in quality in the early electrical era. I think the Columbia recording engineers had a better understanding of microphone placement and I think the discs had a more durable surface. I have dull looking Columbias that sound great and shiny Victors that are noisy.

[Randidan]

@bsgs98 ...can't figure out how to send you a private msg, so I'll put it here! You DO know how to tell if the (Victor) pressing is going to have the late-Ortho/Circular surfaces? ...the ones marked Z on classical discs? They will be marked with a small 'z' near the VE in the wax, or will have "RCA Manufacturing Co" instead of "Victor Talking Machine Co." at the bottom art of the Scroll design. A really practiced eye can usually spot the superior surfaces... usually!

[bsgs98]

@Randidan Would you say that the later RCA pressings (scroll) were superior to Victor Talking Machine? I'll be looking more closely now. thanks!

[Randidan]

@bsgs98 Most definitely! Keep tabs on the surfaces when you play the different style labels - you'll be surprised how soon you become expert at seeing the better wax... ...and the SOUND of an Orthophonic with the better surfaces is just superb. Good Luck!!

[donn409]

Lovely!

[Atticus70]

The very first Paul Whiteman record I have ever listened to... In a chalet in the Alps in Switzerland... Love it! Thx

[louvepyramides]

I like it very much . The music is happy ant the orchestration witty .