Hit That Jive Jack with Joe Carroll

Hit that jive, Jack is one of the classic swing songs. The song is written by Johnny Alston and Skeets Tolbert. Just like Route 66, it was a big hit by the Nat King Cole Trio but here is another version by jive talking Joe Caroll on vocals from a soundie.

According to the post on Youtube the band is called "The Tramp Band". The post continues:

This is from 1943; personnel should be identical or similar to their scene in Stormy Weather: Carroll and Pinky Johnson up front, Nick Aldrich piano, Johnny Cousin guitar, Ebenezer Paul bass, Willie Jones drums, Alvis Cowans washboard. Female dancer Nicky O'Daniel played Caldonia in Louis Jordan's film Caldonia a couple years later.

Anyone who can confirm this?

Also, it seems to be hard to find information about the composers Johnny Alston and Skeets Tolbert. Do you know where to find more info about them?

What do you think of the video clip with Joe Carroll singing Hit That Jive Jack? Please comment.

Peggy Lee - Why Don't You Do Right?

"Why Don't You Do Right?" is a classic swing song that is a favorite of mine. The most classic recording of that song was done by Benny Goodman's orchestra featuring singer Peggy Lee. Enjoy Peggy Lee's version of "Why Don't You Do Right?".

According to the YouTube poster, this scene comes from a film called Stage Door Canteen from 1943.

What do you think of the video clip with Peggy Lee singing Why Don't You Do Right? Tell me.

Swing Fever: Swing dancing

Here is a scene from the movie Swing Fever from 1943. Kay Kyser and his orchestra plays the song "One Girl and Two Boys".

According to the Internet Movie Database it's Jeanne Phelps-Veloz who dances swing together with Don Gallaher and Lennie Smith in a Hollywood style.

If you like the song you can hear a modern version by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra on the album Live at the Hollywood Palladium. Bill Elliott has btw also another album called Swing Fever.

What do you think about the dancing in the film Swing Fever? Tell me.

Duke Ellington: It Don't Mean A Thing

A classic swing tune: It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) performed by Duke Ellington.



Do you have more information about this video clip, like where it's from and who the the soloists are? Let me know.

What do you think of the video clip with Duke Ellington playing It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)? Tell me.

Wingy Manone - Vine Street blues

Often you just hear about the really big names in the jazz world like Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald but the are other musicians from that era that also should be discovered. One of those musicians is trumpet player Wingy Manone.

Here is a video clip from a soundie from 1943 where Wingy Manone plays Vine Street blues together with singer Ann Lee.



Wingy Manones moment of jazz fame is that he came up with a great riff in the melody Tar Paper Stomp. While you may not have heard about Tar Paper Stomp, the riff is used as the main riff in "In the Mood" that was made famous by Glenn Miller.

Check out the discussion thread on swingdjs.com about Wingy Manone.

What do you think about this video clip with Wingy Manone playing Vine Street blues? Tell me.