Casa Loma Orch. - Talk Of The Town, 1942 video free download


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Duration: 03:04
Uploaded: 2007/11/09

The Casa Loma Orchestra was an American swing band active from 1927 to 1963. It did not tour after 1950 but continued to record as a studio group.

The band was organized in 1927, in Detroit, by Jean Goldkette, a French born pianist, who had over 20 bands under his name by the mid-'20s . The one which is remembered today was his main unit which recorded for Victor during 1924-29; that is the one who included Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and Joe Venuti and the legendary cornetist Bix Beiderbecke . In 1927 Paul Whiteman hired away most of Goldkette's top jazz players (including Bix and Trumbauer) and -- from the remaining musicians plus a few new ones (including the saxophonist, Glen Gray) Jean Goldkette organized the Orange Blossoms. However, in 1928 during their stay in Toronto, Canada, Glen Gray took over the leadership and the band had adopted the Casa Loma name, by the time of its first recordings in 1929, when it was the house band at Casa Loma in Toronto, which was then operating as a hotel.

From 1929 until the rapid multiplication in the number of swing bands from 1935 on, the Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the top North American dance bands, featuring trombonist Pee Wee Hunt, trumpeter Frank L. Ryerson, trumpeter Sonny Dunham, clarinetist Clarence Hutchenrider, drummer Tony Briglia and singer Kenny Sargent. Arrangements were by Gene Gifford, who also composed much of the band's book, Salvador "Tutti" Camarata and Horace Henderson. Their mid-1930s appearances on the long run radio comedy-variety program,The Camel Caravan (introduced with their theme, "Smoke Rings") increased their popularity.

Hits included "Casa Loma Stomp," "No Name Jive" and "Maniac's Ball". Part of the reason for the band's decline is that other big bands included in their books hard-swinging numbers emulating the hot Casa Loma style. In the 1940s the band featured guitarist Herb Ellis, trumpeter Bobby Hackett and cornetist Red Nichols. Jazz historians are currently researching and writing articles and books about the orchestra.

Recording: Glen Gray's Casa Loma Orchestra & Vocal Trio- Talk Of The Town (Jerry Livingston, Al J. Neiburg and Marty Symes), Decca 1942

Thanks to YT friend: fromthesidelines, I can add this important detail about the recording. It's what he writes:

The "Casa Lomans" originally recorded this for Columbia in 1933- this was the "remake", recorded for Decca on January 15, 1942, with Kenny Sargent (again) delivering the vocal, with chorus.....

Comments

11 years ago

gladys cucinotta

another of the songs jackie richards used to play on friday nights at st francis lyceum in brooklyn new york. he married my sorority sister caroline and eventually we all lost track of each other, what great memories from over 50 years ago,

12 years ago

john oconnor

Great tune Tks

12 years ago

suzannegrits

@kpasa111 Is there anything you can tell me about your conversations? He was my grandfather, and he died when I was 7..thanks..

12 years ago

venimo

Beautiful, indeed. Songs of this era seemed to convey the pathetic so well. It's hard to believe this was recorded in '42, it sounds like an arrangement from the '20s. This make me think of my mom and dad at a dance (it was their era). They don't make like this anymore.

13 years ago

Al Lee

In the mid 1960's Kenny Sargent worked as a disk jockey in Dallas at radio station WRR. I used to call in, request songs and chat with him. Each of his shows included at least one tune by the Casa Loma Orchestra. Mr. Sargent was a man of infinite good will and cheerfulness.

13 years ago

Pierre Richard

very nice tune here

13 years ago

suzannegrits

@19wurlitzer41 thank you so much for that comment..he had a beautiful voice..i only saw him once in my life. he was very quiet. i have lots of pictures though and his saxophone mouthpiece...

14 years ago

19wurlitzer41

Thats really great! Kenny's voice is one of my favorites of that era!

14 years ago

jenzeppelin

I am trying to find a clear copy of C Minor Sharp performed by the Casa Loma Orchestra... I have a fuzzy, distorted copy. I am looking for the one that was featured on the disc Live at Meadowbrook Ballroom. Anyone have it? Please post it! :)

14 years ago

suzannegrits

kenny sargent was my grandfather. he had such a wonderful.voice. i have a box of pictures i looked at yesterday.great pictures!

15 years ago

warplan

The Casa Loma's 'Rock Island Flag Stop', made in 1940, was the first record that captured me to the charms of swing music.

15 years ago

3investigators

This recording is indeed from 1933 by the way. It's beautiful.

15 years ago

3investigators

I love this song and this is one of of all time favorite recordings. Beautiful arrangement the guys singing in the background. Heartfelt.

15 years ago

genia106

Thank you G for posting this song and thank you Sam for sharing this ultra romantic song and the wonderful cheek to cheek dance. I love it! You are an Absolute Darling! :-)

15 years ago

19wurlitzer41

I'd never call Vocalion a "budget" label. They were noted for the quality sound of their recordings of there day.Vocalion was bought by Brunswick in 1925, Brunswick was bought by Warner Brothers in 1930 and both Vocalion and Brunswick were liscensed to American Record Corp. for sales. Vocalion was mostly used for blues and racial recordings in their later years but were never looked at as a budget record, as far as quality as they were cut on the same lathes as the Brunswicks.

15 years ago

19wurlitzer41

Yes the later Decca 18800 side A recording is different although listed on the record as being sung by Kenny Sargent as well. The same 8-7-33 NYC recording was released on Brunswick and also on Vocalion 4713. Both are listed as the same recording date. Listening to both, in like new condition they are the same recording although the Vocalion seems to be a better sounding record.

15 years ago

fuzzbear6240

240252, Great disc! Always love Casa Loma. Thanks. YF, J.

15 years ago

Corrie121

This is a really first class rendition of this great song. Thanks for posting.

15 years ago

KnockelII

Wouldn't you love to take your sweetheart dancing to that band at that place? Please somebody, come up with a time travelling device, please!

15 years ago

phredl

Actually it was Brunswick not Columbia that they were recording with at this time. This is one of the few times I prefer the remake over the original. Fred

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