Podcast: Collection of Favorites (2023)

The Big Band and Swing Podcast - Collection of Favorites (2023) - 

Listen to some of Ronnaldo's favorite songs he played this year!  This special show features vintage Big Band recordings by The Andrews Sisters, Alvino Rey, Raymond Scott and many more.

* All music in this podcast are Creative Commons.  Artists are credited within the podcast.

Listen to: Collection of Favorites (2023)

Listen to more episodes of The Big Band and Swing Podcast at: BigBandPodcast.com

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Added To Playlist Dec 2024 - Ella Fitzgerald

I've recently added some great instrumental tracks by Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra to the Swing City Radio playlist.  They include songs from various 1939 performances broadcasted from the Savoy Ballroom, located in Harlem, as well as gigs from The Grand Terrace in Chicago and The Roseland in New York City. The Roseland performances took place in early 1940.

The spotlight on these tracks shines more on the band, and not on Fitzgerald.  In 1939, bandleader Chick Webb sadly passed away and left the control of his top shelf band in the hands of Ella Fitzgerald.  She led this incredible band until 1942 when she left to pursue her solo career and became the vocal icon we remember her as today.

Listen to: Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra – "The Harlem Stride"

This great band included names like Taft Jordan, Dick Vance, George Matthews and Sandy Williams.  These tracks were all broadcasted within a year of Chick Webb's passing and you can still hear the influence he had on the orchestra.  In my humble opinion, Webb led one of the most rockin' bands of the 1930's and you can hear it in the recordings.

Listen to: Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra – "Everybody Rock"

Enjoy!

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Holiday Programming - 2023

On Christmas Eve, starting at 6pm EST, Swing City Radio will be playing Big Band Christmas Songs until Midnight.  I will also be sprinkling in the Christmas Episodes of The Big Band and Swing Podcast during the night as well.

On Christmas Day, I will be decking the halls and stuffing your stockings with V-Discs.  "A V-Disc Christmas" will feature a full 24 hours of just V-Disc Recordings.  I'm really looking forward to that.  It should be a lot of fun to listen to, so be sure to tune in at some point.

On December 26th, Swing City Radio will go back to it's normal programming.  Happy Holidays everyone.

~ Ronnaldo

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Podcast: Show 192 - Hepcats, Hep Cats, Hep Kats

The Big Band and Swing Podcast - Hepcats, Hep Cats, Hep Kats - Show 192 - 

Features music by Dinah Shore, Woody Herman, Harry James and more.  So take a seat in that big comfortable chair and have a listen.

* All music in this podcast are Creative Commons.  Artists are credited within the podcast.

Listen to: Hepcats, Hep Cats, Hep Kats (Show 192)

Listen to more episodes of The Big Band and Swing Podcast at: BigBandPodcast.com

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Podcast: Show 191 - Bidin' My Time in a Boyd's Nest

The Big Band and Swing Podcast - Bidin' My Time in a Boyd's Nest - Show 191 - 

Features vintage recordings by Boyd Raeburn, Vaughn Monroe and Lucky Millinder.  We also listen to a Soundie by Gene Krupa.

* All music in this podcast are Creative Commons.  Artists are credited within the podcast.

Listen to: Bidin' My Time in a Boyd's Nest (Show 191)

Listen to more episodes of The Big Band and Swing Podcast at: BigBandPodcast.com

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78's Posted on YouTube Channel - Dec 2023

Hey everyone!  I posted a new batch of 78's on YouTube today.  Songs by Bunny Berigan, Harry James, Nellie Lutcher, The Pied Pipers and Gene Krupa.  Very good stuff and most of them cleaned up nicely.

Included is a song called "Russian Lullaby" by Bunny Berigan And His Orchestra.  It was a part of a 4 disc set that was originally released in 1942.  Also, have a listen to Gene Krupa And His Orchestra's song called "I Know That You Know"  This was released on the Brunswick Label in 1938.

Listen to: "Russian Lullaby" by Bunny Berigan And His Orchestra from 1942

Listen to: "I Know That You Know" by Gene Krupa And His Orchestra from 1938

If you'd like to listen to more 78's, here is the direct link to the YouTube playlist: Ronnaldo's 78rpm Collection.

Enjoy!

~ Ronnaldo 

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Podcast: Show 190 - Sock Hops and Refreshments

The Big Band and Swing Podcast - Sock Hops and Refreshments - Show 190 - 

Features music by Glenn Miller, Freddy Martin, Frank Sinatra and more.  We also learn about an old radio show called The Refreshment Club.

* All music in this podcast are Creative Commons.  Artists are credited within the podcast.

Listen to: Sock Hops and Refreshments (Show 190)

Listen to more episodes of The Big Band and Swing Podcast at: BigBandPodcast.com

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Soundie: Watcha Know Joe? - Larry Clinton

Today's Soundie is "Watcha Know Joe?" (notice the spelling of the title) by Larry Clinton.  This is a simple, straight-forward Soundie that features the band playing on a studio stage.  The vocals are handled by Butch Stone.

The footage was originally filmed in 1941 but was released as a Soundie in August of 1943.  By the time of it's release, Larry Clinton was already serving in the armed forces in World War II.

Take notice that the Phonovue prints (the credit overlay at the beginning) cite the title of the song as "Watcha Know Joe?." I know the budgets on the production of these Soundies were quite tight, but you think they could have afforded that extra "H" they left out of the word "Whatcha".  :)

All jokes aside, Clinton and the boys perform a unique and entertaining version of this song.  Enjoy!

Watch: "Watcha Know Joe?" by Larry Clinton and his Orchestra.

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Podcast: Celebrating - Christmas Music

The Big Band and Swing Podcast - Celebrating: Christmas Music - 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everyone!  This special show features vintage Big Band Christmas recordings by Jimmy Dorsey, Johnny Mercer, Henry Hall, Horace Heidt and many more.

* All music in this podcast are Creative Commons.  Artists are credited within the podcast.

Listen to: Celebrating - Christmas Music

Listen to more episodes of The Big Band and Swing Podcast at: BigBandPodcast.com

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