"Blue Skies" - George Olsen and his Music (1927)

Описание: Be sure to listen to Johnny Marvin and Ed Smalle's version of "Blue Skies" and read the early history of the tune I posted there.

"Blue Skies" - Johnny Marvin & Ed Smalle (1927)
   • "Blue Skies" - Johnny Marvin & Ed Smalle (...  

To continue the story of "Blue Skies" from that post: after the deluge of recorded versions of the tune in early 1927, the decision was made to include it in the new Al Jolson film, "The Jazz Singer", which was the very first "talkie" film with synchronized music and dialogue. The Jazz Singer went on to be one of the biggest films of 1928, grossing $2.6 million worldwide.

Jazz bands continued to perform and record the tune throughout the 1930s with recordings by:

Benny Goodman (1935)
Bob Pope (1937)
Artie Shaw (1937)
Earl Hines (1937)
Edgar Hayes (1937)
Dixieland Swingsters (1937)
Mario Lorenzi and his Rhythmics (1937)
Maxine Sullivan (1937)
Royal Rhythm Boys (1939)
John Kirby (1939)
Paul Whiteman's Sax Soctette (1939)
Phillipe Brun (1940)
Sonny Dunham (1940)
Cyril Blake and his Jig's Club Band (1941)
Tommy Dorsey (1941)
Jimmy Dorsey (1942)
Mel Powell (1942)

After WWII, both Benny Goodman and Count Basie recorded versions of the song which both cracked the top ten list and became popular hits of 1946.

Jazz artists continued to perform the song, with notable versions appearing in the 1950s by Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson.

Oscar Peterson's version of Blue Skies:
   • "Blue Skies" - Oscar Peterson Trio (1952)  

Surprisingly, the most popular version of "Blue Skies" was not performed by a jazz artist at all - but by country singer Willie Nelson, who recorded it in 1978 on his triple platinum album "Stardust". His version of "Blue Skies" went to #1 on the Billboard Country singles chart.

Back to 1927, here we have a peppy version of "Blue Skies" by George Olsen and his Music. The finely crafted arrangement clips along at a faster tempo, verging on hot, and features a beautiful vocal harmony by tenor Bob Borger and baritones Bob Rice and Fran Frey.

Recorded in New York, New York on January 19, 1927.
Released as Victor 20455 in April of 1927.

Credits:
George Olsen - Director
Floyd Rice, Bob Borger - trumpet
Jack Fulton - trombone
Edward Joyce - clarinet, alto sax
Fran Frey - clarinet, alto sax
Milton Neul - clarinet, tenor sax
Larry Murphy - piano
Bob Rice - banjo, guitar
Jack Hansen - tuba
Eddie Kilfeather - arrangement
Unknown artist - violin
Unknown artist - drums