Artist: Nick Langdon Rating: Release Date: 2001Genre: Jazz
Review After putting this CD in the player, it isn't long before visions of those great Hollywood musicals of the 1920s and 1930s created by film musicals' first great choreographic genius, Busby Berkeley, appear. But most of these songs will not bring immediate recognition to most people's minds, even those who attended films during that era. "Sing You Sinners," sung by Lillian Roth in the 1930 picture Honey, is about the only one that has survived and is played today, albeit rarely. While perhaps they didn't survive the sternest test, time, these songs are of more than mere historical interest. They have a
savoir faire entertainment value, especially when put in the hands of a true devotee of the film musical, Nick Langdon, who even includes a voo-voo-dee-oo or two, as he assumes that singing style prevalent during those days of flapper fantasy when people sought out musicals as temporary refuge from the troubles of the Depression. Singing in that light voice that was in vogue at that time (e.g.,
Rudy Vallée , Russ Colombo, and
Al Bowlly ), he has fun with such
joie de vie pieces as "Singin' in the Bathtub" and "Dancing the Devil Away." Many of these tunes were written by major contributors to the Great American Songbook, such as
Al Dubin ,
Harry Warren ,
Nacio Herb Brown , and
Sam Coslow . Not everything these guys wrote was memorable. Restoring the atmosphere of that time is helped along considerably by a 14-piece band and choir which plays and sings in that syncopated style that helped to shape the serenading of that time.
Quiet on the Set is a pleasant return to days when the Hollywood musical was just coming into its own, laying the foundation for the definitive
MGM musicals of a few later. ~ Dave Nathan, All Music Guide
Tracks
Sing You Sinners
W. Frank Harling , Sam Coslow Nick Langdon (4:15)
We'll Make Hay While the Sun Shines
Arthur Freed , Nacio Herb Brown Nick Langdon (3:24)
Hoosier Hop
Dave Dreyer , Ballard MacDonald Nick Langdon (3:39)
The Monkey Doodle Doo
Irving Berlin Nick Langdon (3:36)
Singin' in the Bathtub
Herbert Magidson , Ned Washington Nick Langdon (2:47)
Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight
Al Sherman Nick Langdon (3:04)
Dancing the Devil Away
Bert Kalmar , Harry Ruby , Otto Harbach Nick Langdon (3:42)
Yes, Yes
Cliff Friend , Con Conrad Nick Langdon (2:22)
I Want You - I Need You
Ben Ellison , Harry Brooks , Alain DuBois Nick Langdon (3:18)
Turn on the Heat
Lew Brown , Ray Henderson Nick Langdon (3:35)
Pettin' in the Park
Harry Warren , Al Dubin Nick Langdon (3:34)
Dancing to Save Your Sole
Abel Baer , L. Wolfe Gilbert Nick Langdon (3:25)
Credits Nick Langdon (Producer), Dave Frey (Guitar) , Alan Hall (Arranger) , Peter Clark (Editing) , Peter Clark (Mixing) , Jimmy Brennan (Tuba) , Ray Landsberg (Violin) , Patrick Lindley (Vocals) , Peter Clark (Engineer) , Alan Hall (Musical Direction) , Nick Langdon (Vocals) , Alan Hall (Piano) , Hugh O'Donnell (Percussion) , Gloria Isaeff (Violin) , Hugh O'Donnell (Xylophone) , Walter Yost (Trumpet) , Dave Frey (Banjo) , Peter Clark (Recording Coordinator) , Tom Thompson (Photography) , Gene Isaeff (Trombone) , Mike Melton (Choir Director) , Everett Farey (Trumpet)
