Customer Reviews

Those Were Our Songs: Music of World War II

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, if you're enjoying this collection -- I hope you'll continue to enjoy it.

But those who are thinking about purchasing this set should know that some of these recordings are not the original versions, but were recorded well after World War II. For example, the Andrews Sisters and Harry James, among the artists represented on this compilation issued by Capitol, were not on that label until after the war. The reason that the sound quality here is so good, at least on some songs, is that those recordings were made in stereo during the 1950s.

Even the usually reliable All Music Guide mistakenly assumed that Capitol created this good-sounding collection through cross-label licensing and 24-bit mastering. In reality, the label simply used its own later versions of some of the songs, rather than licensing the originals from other labels.

None of this is a reason not to enjoy this collection unless you're looking for recordings that were actually around during World War II -- if so, you'll need to keep searching. I give this collection only 2 stars because I think that Capitol may be trying to convince consumers that these are the original versions of the recordings, when they're not. (If Capitol had actually obtained those originals, this collection would deserve 5 stars easily.)

Those Were Our Songs: Music of World War II is an excellent two CD set that really showcases so many hits from the era of the Second World War. The sound quality is truly rather good and the artwork reflects good judgment.

The Andrews Sisters make a beautiful start to this CD set with a stunning rendition of "I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time." The Andrews Sisters sing this just right and they harmonize so well that number by them always charms me. Helen O'Connell sings "Green Eyes" with all her might; and "Green Eyes" gets the royal treatment from Helen O'Connell--she sure doesn't ever miss a beat! There's also Ella Mae Morse & Freddie Slack on "Cow-Cow Boogie;" "Cow-Cow Boogie" has a great `40s country flavor to it and Ella Mae Morse & Freddie Slack make this a highlight of this two CD set.

Helen Forrest sings "I Had The Craziest Dream" with all her heart and soul; she delves into this ballad to make this all the more beautiful; the overall effect is a very pretty melody. Tex Beneke & The Modernaires also pick up the pace very well with their swingin' "Jukebox Saturday Night;" "Jukebox Saturday Night" is one of my favorites from the `40s and Tex Beneke & The Modernaires do this one up right! In addition, The Andrews Sisters return to do a smash-up job with their "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" really swings and The Andrews Sisters were born to sing songs like this! Nat King Cole sings "Straighten Up And Fly Right" with an excellent piano arrangement; and Johnny Mercer's "G. I. Jive"

The second CD continues the hits. "Rum And Coca-Cola" by The Andrews Sisters has a great `40s era Latin beat that is absolutely perfect; and listen for "Dream" by The Pied Pipers. The Pied Pipers could really score a hit; and "Dream" is certainly no exception! Similarly "On The Atchison, Topeka & The Santa Fe" gets a smooth, jazzy arrangement by Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers. There's also "Waiting For The Train To Come In" by Peggy Lee; this number was so popular at the end of the Second World War when so many ladies were waiting for their men to return home from war. Kay Kyser also does a great rendition of a famous tune from the time called "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle." I love how they use handclapping as a type of percussion to help the melody along and even mark the beat!

Nat King Cole delivers "It's Only A Paper Moon" with panache and the music that accompanies him fits perfectly; and "It Might As Well Be Spring" by Dick Haymes sounds new and fresh every time I hear it. The second CD ends strong with Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers doing one last tune called "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive;" this is yet another swinging song so many people loved.

Overall, this two CD set gives us quite a few excellent tunes from the era of World War II. I highly recommend this for people who like music from those days; and people who appreciate classic pop vocals will love this two CD set as well.

Of all the CDs of songs of the 1940s that I have heard, this one really touched both me and my wife a lot. We play the songs whenever we are in the car and we find ourselves waking up in the morning singing these wonderful songs.

The remastering has produced terrific sounds of these songs we grew up with. This would be a wonderful gift for someone who was alive in during Worl War II. Or, a wonderful gift if you want to know what music was like in the 1940s (which we refer to as the good old days).

So many of the big bands of those days like Les Brown, Kay Kyser, Harry James, Stan Kenton. And vocalists like The Andrew Sisters, Helen O'Connell, Peggy Lee, and Jo Stafford singing these songs just as they sounded back then.

This music brings back those wonderful days when a typical date was to go dancing to one of these bands. You'll have such good memories when you hear them.

My wife and I couldn't be any happier or more enthused by any other CDs (yes there are two CDs, a total of 40 songs).

Do you remember Mairzy Doats, Tampico, the Pied Pipers singing Dream, Drinkin Rum and Coca Cola, Long Ago and Far Away, Johnny Mercer singing Strip Polka, and Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition. So many great songs popular during World War II.

i did not arrive on the planet until 1961, so these were not my songs, but i am loving them all the same. a devoted audiophile, i have been acquiring a taste for popular music from the forties only recently. this is a stellar collection if you are looking for pop music from that era. if you get this double cd compilation, rhino records 2 cd's titled "songs that got us through WWII volumes 1 & 2," and "G.I. jukebox," from hip-o records, you will have 5 discs (with some, but not much overlap in songs) of music to transport you back in time for an entire evening. highly enjoyable stuff.

I love this type of music, I always have. This is great to listen to while you are making dinner, or socializing with friends. It is fun, and classic. My parents loved this music, and it is nice to know that great music like this is still around for another generation to enjoy. Treat yourself, get this...

I work with elderly people and purchased this CD to play for them at their New Year's Eve party. They loved it.... Nostalgia was definitely in the air. There are a lot of songs on this CD for a great price. Highly recommended.

Can I use the word "awesome" to describe a compilation of music from the 40's? Well, I must say, I'm impressed. I'm 25, I work in a nursing facility, I know nothing about music from this time, and I purchased this CD for my residents with them in mind. The first time I put it on, I had a gentleman literally dancing in his seat. He was singing every word to every song. He called out each artist and each song - he remembered them all. I felt like I had just given him a gift.
I've had other residents and their family members ask for the name of the album, so they could find it. It's truly a hit with the generation that grew up on these songs! Highly recommended. And best of all, I enjoy the music too...it has me singing the Strip Polka all day.

All the products I bought from Amazon.com. are very good and the company is very fair in their dealings, Bill Orlin

This CD would have been perfection except for the inclusion of two songs by Betty Hutton (listening to her mangled version of IT HAD TO BE YOU is too painful for words) and the exclusion of Glenn Miller. Perhaps whoever put this collection together experienced a brief psychotic break. I can't think of any other reason why the off-key, over-the-top vocals of Betty Hutton would have been selected over Glenn Miller.

I purchased this as a gift for my neighbor who is 79 and was a young girl during WWII. When she opened it up and looked at the list of songs, she started saying "I remember that song, oh I love that song, I used to listen to that during high school, etc.!" Watching her face light up as she thought back to that time really made me feel good. It is a great CD set and an excellent compilation of all the wonderful songs that were famous during WWII. Definitely recommend it to anyone who likes music from that era!