The 1920s evoke an era of gangsters, flappers, bootleg gin, and a nation gone jazz crazy. This second entry in RCA's Nipper's Greatest Hits series evokes that era in a big way. While there were jazz recordings by the carload from the '20s, it's the pop tunes that drove the decade, and kicking off with the triple punch of Irving Aaronson & His Commanders' "Let's Misbehave," Gene Austin's "My Blue Heaven," and Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians' "Collegiate" sets both the mood and ambience for this set. Other highlights in this excellent collection include Maurice Chevalier's "Louise," Eddie Cantor's "Makin' Whoopee," Paul Whiteman's "Whispering" and "Charleston," Fanny Brice's "My Man," George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," and Duke Ellington's "Black and Tan Fantasy." But ultimately it's the one-off novelties, like the Coon-Sanders Nighthawks' "Little Orphan Annie," Nat Shilkret's "Lucky Lindy," and George Olsen's "The Varsity Drag" that make this compilation such a wonderful listening experience. While the transfers are moderately clean (given that few real masters of any kind exist), everything on here is 70 years old or older, so don't expect modern recording miracles -- just a nice ride back in time. ~ Cub Koda
Tracks:
1. Let's Misbehave Irving Aaronson
2. My Blue Heaven Gene Austin
3. Collegiate 3:00 Fred Waring
4. Alice Blue Gown Edith Day
5. Little Orphan Annie Coon-Sanders Nighthawks
6. Lucky Lindy Nat Shilkret
7. The Varsity Drag George Olsen
8. Do Do Do Gertrude Lawrence
9. Whispering Paul Whiteman
10. I Wanna Be Loved by You Helen Kane
11. Black Bottom Johnny Hamp
12. Makin' Whoopee Eddie Cantor
13. Charleston Paul Whiteman
14. The Prisoner's Song Vernon Dalhart
15. My Pretty Girl Jean Goldkette
16. My Man Fanny Brice
17. Black and Tan Fantasy Duke Ellington
18. Louise Maurice Chevalier
19. If I Had a Talking Picture of You Johnny Hamp
20. Rhapsody in Blue George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman
