College Rhythm: Hot Dance Band Classics, 1927-1934

Various Artists - Jazz - Swing/Big Band

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 1996)
• Original Release Date: November 12, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Memphis Archives
• ASIN: B000003UEM
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #342,680 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Raccon coats, bootleg liquor, frat pins, fast cars, and rebellious youth...College Life in the 1920s and 1930s meant wild parties and a period of carefree nonsense between the two world wars that was not equalled for another forty years. An elite group of white American youth reflected the changing musical tastes that also paralled the economic times. The hotter, upbeat tunes and whimsial lyrics pre-date the depression years to follow. The snapshot of popular music represented here covers a brief eight years aimed at a group of young, white music fans lucky enough to be in college at the time. Interestingly enough, the African-Americans made up a growing percentage of the college population, there are no black dance bands represented here. Those recordings (if any exist) are very uncommon at best, and most are not part of the college mainstream. This CD does, however, offer a diverse sampling of some of America's best white dance bands of the day, whose peppiest ! and most spirited sides prevail on these 18 tracks. Beginning with 1928's "Doin' The Raccoon" by George Olsen's band, this collection bounces around in the 1927-1934 period with two other popular sides by Olsen, two tracks by Ted Weems (another top notch band of the twenties), and two performances by Hal Kemp, an popular band leader of this period. Fans of the World War II era Kay Kyser band will be amused to hear 1929's obscure "Collegiate Fannie" and "Hark The Sound Of Tar-Heel Voices."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What is with the Amazon editor's review??, July 5, 2004

By	Jmark2001 (Florida) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Take a look at the review of this cd by Amazon. I quote:

"An elite group of WHITE American youth reflected the changing musical tastes that also paralled the economic times...The snapshot of popular music represented here covers a brief eight years aimed at a group of young, WHITE music fans lucky enough to be in college at the time. Interestingly enough, the African-Americans made up a growing percentage of the college population, there are no black dance bands represented here."

Capitalization added for emphasis.

Huh??!!

Is this a cd review? Or is it politicizing of non-political music?? If we are going to start this nonsense, the reviewer should have added that there are no female bands on this album, either, or that we don't know if any of the performers were gay or not or that there are no Native-American performers either so that we can't be sure if this album is truly diverse.

This is total, mindless B.S.!

The editor doesn't review the music here. He/she does nothing but use this as an opportunity to drag some irrelevant poltical resentment into a cd review. The operative word of that last statement of mine is IRRELEVANT. What's next? reviewing gangsta rap records and moaning that there are few middle class, suburban white kids in gangsta rap?? Or how about complaining that there are no black surfing music groups?? Or that there are few easy listening lounge crooners that are African-American? This is how absurd this is getting.

Here is what this review SHOULD have said:

This is a fun-filled collection of rarities from the twenties. Fans of this music will be delighted that those old 78's have been cleaned up and released in this great collection. College life in the roaring twenties must have been as fun and frivolous as the sixties were if this album is any indication. This is danceable but it is also great for a long drive. A musical peek into a more innocent era. Rah! Rah! Be true to your school!!!

Ok? Get the idea??

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great CD!, July 31, 2007

By	Randall C. Woltz - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD has some recordings I have never heard and a few I have. Worth noting are the two cuts by Harry Reser's band which sound like hot traditional jazz and some obscure cuts by Kay Kyser before he became famous. Mostly hot selections. Well worth it!