This video is a good introduction to "Soundies" and other films featuring African-American recording artists.It was the first collection of "Soundies" that I acquired. While Louis Jordan is the "star" artist of this compilation, several other performers, some at least equally well-known are featured. The package is introduced by Cab Calloway and is made up of four separate segments, the first three of which are "Soundie" compilations originally put together by Official Films and Sack Attractions, firms that specialized in producing movies for home viewing in 8 mm. and 16 mm. formats:
1. Blues And Boogie (1941-1944) - Official Films,
2. Ration Blues (1943-1944) - Sack Attractions, and
3. Fuzzy Wuzzy (1942-1944) - Sack Attractions
The fourth segment is the 1945 Astor Pictures short subject Caldonia starring Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five.
Performances and artists are:
Blues and Boogie:
Some Of These Days - Maxine Sullivan
Beat Me Daddy Eight to The Bar - Maurice Rocco
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby - Nat King Cole Trio & Ida James
Ration Blues - Louis Jordan, Master of Ceremonies:
Everyday Is Saturday In Harlem - Hilda Rogers
I'm A Good Good Woman - Una Mae Carlisle
Tap Happy - tap dancing by Slim and Sweets
Ration Blues - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
Fuzzy Wuzzy - Maurice Rocco, Master of Ceremonies:
Low Down Dog - Meade Lux Lewis (piano) Joe Turner's vocal lip-synched by Dudley Dickerson
I Like It 'Cause I Love It - Una Mae Carlisle
Fuzzy Wuzzy - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
Rhumboogie - Maurice Rocco
Finally, Caldonia is a featurette that was shown in theatres as an "added attraction," running about 15 minutes. The plot is rather thin, having to do with Louis Jordan and the band being offered the opportunity to go to California to make a movie, which would mean that Louis had to leave his girl friend, Caldonia, played by Nicki O' Daniel, in New York. Richard Huey, in the role of entrepreneur Felix, tells Louis that he will produce Louis and the band in a movie "right here in Harlem." Then the fun begins - props and instruments are threatened with repossession, enabling a comedy bit by the team of Sam "Spo-De-O-De" Pheard and George "Teacho" Wiltshire. Of course, there's an (almost) happy ending.
Songs featured are:
Caldonia,
Honey Chile,
Tillie, and
Buzz Me.
This package was my introduction to the work of Una Mae Carlisle, who was, at one time, the proteg�e of "Fats" Waller. Ms. Carlisle is an artist whom I believe to have been much underrated, and reviews of her CDs The Complete Una Mae Carlisle and John Kirby (1940-1942) and Una Mae Carlisle, Maxine Sullivan & Savannah Churchill 1942-1944 also appear on this Web site.
