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[tt_deeb]

Procrastinating? Just go to GAF for help! Right?

I need 3 songs from the 1930s. Each has to be a different genre and artist. I need one's that ACCURATELY PORTRAY THE TIME PERIOD (no 1930 indie crap). According to my teacher, this would mean sad music because of the Great Depression and all. But I think she might be wrong. I can only find happy music! And I thought this was fine because people were trying to escape the reality of the Great Depression. Mother fuck!

Yesterday, I went to the library to find some CDs. Duke Ellington, Woody Guthrie and Charlie Christian were the main ones I found. All pretty upbeat and joyous. Duke Ellington and Charlie Christian are too close to similar genres (Jazz) even though Christian supposedly was very influential with the guitar (I can barely hear it, it sounds like an electric piano or something). And Woody Guthrie is just fucking scary - I think I'd be embarrased if I had to play this in front of the class. But if he's a popular artist during the period I'll deal with it. But then again, I need depressing music?

Any peeps know anything?

 

[Jason]

(no 1930 indie crap)

:lol :lol

 

[speedpop]

:lol :lol

I thought so too.

Not that huge into pre-1960 music sorry. My opinionated belief is that music was the rags before then.

 

[Ill Saint]

Billie Holiday.

 

[Ford Prefect]

I know there's a song called "They Used to Tell Me I Was Living a Dream," or something like that, and I think the campaign song for FDR was "Happy Times are Here Again" (or something like that).

 

[RedDwarf]

Send me a PM reminder and I'll look at a collection I have at home of music from the 1930's.

 

[nitewulf]

swing was pretty popular in the 30's...which wasn't depressing. i think people used upbeat music in order to escape the harsh reality of that era. i'm sure you could find some depressing blues and gospel from that period though.

 

[Jill Sandwich]

Al Jolson
Cole Porter
Noel Coward

 

[darlyn]

I actually listen to a lot of music from this period. If you want a few sad ones, here are a few suggestions-(I'm sure you can get more info if you google them.)

"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Gorney Harburg (1931)

They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,
Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?

"Stormy Weather," lyrics by Ted Koehler, music by Harold Arlen, written in 1933 for Cab Calloway.

Don't know why
There's no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my gal and I ain't together
Keeps raining all the time

Life is bare
Gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather
Just can't get my poor self together
I'm weary all the time... the time...
So weary all the time

Stormy Weather was also done by Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday.
I think Judy Garland also remade "Look for the Silver Lining" and recorded "Somewhere over the Rainbow" in the early 30's.

That should give you places to start. PM me if you need more help.

Cheers,
d

 

[AntoneM]

And Woody Guthrie is just fucking scary - I think I'd be embarrased if I had to play this in front of the class. But if he's a popular artist during the period I'll deal with it. But then again, I need depressing music?

Oh, you son of a bitch!

Anyway, he was one of the biggest names in music during the great depression.

 

[tt_deeb]

Okay, I took one more trip to the library (since I need to find songs to show off). I only need to have to present three performers so I'm probably going to go with Billie Holidays (Blues/Pop singer, right - haven't listened to the CD yet), Duke Ellington (Jazz), and Woody Guthrie (Folk). I have some Cole Porter available so I'll check that out although I don't think I'll need another Jazz artist.

At this point I don't care that the songs won't be all sad. I've read it on numerous sites that they had happy and cheerful music most of the time to escape reality (as the one poster said).

Thanks for all the help!

EDIT: Dude I can't fucking stand Guthrie. "This Land Is Your Land" was the first track of the album and it was boring (no biggie, I understand folk isn't my thing) but then it sort of cuts horribly (understandbly bad technology of the time) to the women singing. It's just so awkward. This music was used in some Disney stuff though, right? They started during the 30s if I'm not mistaken. Not to mention this type of "folk" or "bluegrass" has such annoying sounding instruments that always sound the same. But then again I'm not a fan of the genre and I'm sure any foreign genre for someone "every song sounds the same." I'm sure if I gave it more of a chance I could like it. But the songs I've heard in particular are just painful.

 

[MaverickX9]

Robert Johnson - Blues. See: Crossroads, Terraplane Blues, Hellhound on My Trail, 32-20 Blues, Ramblin' On My Mind

 

[etiolate]

Benny Goodman?

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

Ah, Django Reinhardt, the thinkin' man's Jazz.

 

[MaverickX9]

I think Bing Crosby had a few records in the 30s.

Not positive, though.

 

[AntoneM]

tt, don't worry about it I was just giving you shit.

 

[NLB2]

I thought so too.

Not that huge into pre-1960 music sorry. My opinionated belief is that music was the rags before then.

Oh yeah, music sucked before major/minor tonality was completely simplified into I/IV/V/I progressions.

 

[TheQueen'sOwn]

"It don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing"

Ah, Django Reinhardt, the thinkin' man's Jazz.

Indeed good sir.. thumbs up to you.

 

[Dragmire]

There was that Aerosmith song.

 

[swoon]

i mean. that first post makes me very angry. but i would suggest my pre-war blues blog which is mostly blues from the 30's and 40s. but my server is down til the 1st. but safe to say there is a ton of really amazing music from the 30s.

blind lemon jefferson - matchbox blues
blind alfred reed - how can a poor man stand such times as these.

those are my picks.

 

[Substance]

Irving Berlin and George Gershwin not hip enough or something?

 

[mrklaw]

'titine' which is played in Modern times (Charlie Chaplin) - its the song where he loses the words and makes it up. Nice bouncy tune (a guy in the office has it as his ringtone), and might stir some memories.

1936 BTW.

 

[mrkapawutzis]

http://prewarblues.blogspot.com/

 

[Tedesco!]

Louis Jordan