On This Day in Music (1942): The American Federation of Musicians’ Strike

August 1, 1942 The American Federation of Musicians Strike

On August 1, 1942, the American Federation of Musicians went on strike against the major American recording companies over disagreements regarding royalty payments. This meant no union musician could record for any record company, WK but it did not prohibit performances on live radio shows or in concert. WK While the move was seen as advantageous for musicians who wanted payment each time their songs were played in jukeboxes or on radio, PBS FCC chair James Fly suggested the 60% of the country’s radio stations could go out of business. DB As the ban approached, numerous artists rushed to get in last-minute recordings in July 1942. Among them were Count Basie, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Judy Garland, Benny Goodman, Guy Lombardo, and Glenn Miller. WK When this stockpile was exhausted, record companies turned to older recordings – some as far back as the dawn of the recording era in the mid-1920s. One of the most successful releases was Harry James’ “All Or Nothing at All”, which featured Frank Sinatra before he became famous. WK After October 27, 1943, special recordings known as V-Discs were exempt as they were intended for the armed forces and not the general public. WK In addition, some record companies, including Decca and Capitol, caved that 1943 while Victor and Columbia, the two largest companies, held out until November 11, 1944. WK One unintended consequence of the strike was the hastening of the swing era’s decline and the rise of the “sing era” as the music industry shifted from a focus on big bands to singers. WK The ban only applied to musicians; singers were not union members. Therefore, they could still record a cappella songs consisting of vocal quartets or soloists backed by choruses. PBS As historian Peter Soderbergh put it, “Until the war most singers were props. After the war they became the stars and the role of the bands was gradually subordinated.” WK For more important days in music history, check out the Dave’s Music Database history page. Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “History Index” DB Down Beat All Recording Stops Today by Mike Levin (8/1/1942). As posted on SwingMusic.net. PBS PBS.org Recording Ban (exerpted from Jazz: A History of America’s Music SM SwingMusic.net Big Band Era Jazz History: The 1942 Recording Band WK Wikipedia.org 1942-44 musicians’ strike First posted 8/1/2011; updated 8/24/2023.

 

Benny Goodman: Top 100 Songs

First posted 5/30/2012; updated 5/31/2019.

image from lessignnets.com

Jazz clarinetist and bandleader known as “The King of Swing” for ushering in more dance-oriented jazz, fueled by Fletcher Henderson’s arrangements, which appealed to teens. Born Benjamin David Goodman on 5/30/1909 in Chicago, Illinois. Died 6/13/1986. Was in a band by age 14. Worked with Isham Jones, Ted Lewis, Red Nichols, Ben Pollack (25-29), and Ben Selvin. Formed his own band in 1934. He launched the careers of many other jazz musicians including guitarist Charlie Christian and drummer Gene Krupa and was one of the first to lead integrated jazz groups. His 1/16/1938 Carnegie Hall concert in New York is, as All Music Guide’s Bruce Eder called it, “the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history.”

For a complete list of this act’s songs and albums honored by the DMDB, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

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Top 100 Songs

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Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards.

MB = Mildred Bailey, HF = Helen Forrest, DH = Dick Haymes, PL = Peggy Lee, MT = Martha Tilton, LT = Louise Tobin, HW = Helen Ward. Songs which peaked at #1 on the U.S. pop charts are noted (#1).

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing) (1938)
2. These Foolish Things Remind Me of You (w/ HW, 1936) #1
3. Taking a Chance on Love (w/ HF, 1943) #1
4. There’ll Be Some Changes Made (w/ LT, 1941) #1
5. Goody Goody (w/ HW, 1936) #1
6. And the Angels Sing (w/ MF, 1939) #1

DMDB Top 5%:

7. Moonglow (1934) #1
8. Darn That Dream (w/ MB, 1940) #1
9. Don’t Be That Way (1938) #1
10. Jersey Bounce (w/ PL, 1942) #1

11. Goodnight My Love (w/ Ella Fitzgerald, 1937) #1
12. The Glory of Love (w/ HW, 1936) #1
13. This Can’t Be Love (w/ MF, 1938)
14. Somebody Else Is Taking My Place (1942) #1
15. Why Don’t You Do Right? (w/ PL, 1943)
16. Stardust (1936)
17. Stompin’ at the Savoy (1936)
18. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (w/ LT, 1939)
19. Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (w/ Peggy Mann, 1945)
20. You Turned the Tables on Me (w/ HW, 1936) #1

21. St. Louis Blues (1936)
22. Gotta Be This Or That (w/ Dottie Reid, 1945)
23. Blue Moon (w/ HW, 1935)
24. Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me) (w/ PL, 1942)
25. Body and Soul (1935)
26. It’s Been So Long (w/ HW, 1936) #1
27. Blue Skies (w/ Art Lund, 1946)

DMDB Top 10%:

28. Give Me the Simple Life (w/ Liza Morrow, 1946)
29. How High the Moon (w/ HF, 1940)
30. Symphony (w/ Liza Morrow, 1945)

31. This Year’s Kisses (w/ Margaret McRae, 1937) #1
32. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (w/ MF, 1938) #1
33. Goodbye (1936)
34. The Way You Look Tonight (w/ PL, 1942)
35. On a Slow Boat to China (1948) 36. Cabin in the Sky (w/ HF, 1943)
37. The Man I Love (1937)
38. After You’ve Gone (1935)
39. Exactly Like You (w/ Lionel Hampton, 1936)
40. How Deep Is the Ocean? (w/ PL, 1941)

41. Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (Means That You’r-e Grand) (w/ MF, 1938)
42. What’s New? (w/ LT, 1939)
43. Idaho (w/ DH, 1942)
44. The Japanese Sandman (1935)
45. As Long As I Live (1941)
46. Love Me or Leave Me (original, 1934)
47. Love Me or Leave Me (new recording, 1936)
48. Scatter-Brain (w/ LT, 1939)
49. You Can’t Pull the Wool Over My Eyes (w/ HW, 1936)
50. Blue Orchids (w/ LT, 1939)

DMDB Top 20%:

51. I Thought about You (w/ MB, 1939)
52. Sometimes I’m Happy (1935)
53. Flying Home (1939)
54. King Porter Stomp (1935)
55. Intermezzo (Souvenir De Vienne) (w/ HF, 1941)
56. A Gal in Calico (w/ Eve Young, 1947)
57. I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good (w/ PL, 1941)
58. It’s Only a Paper Moon (1945)
59. For Every Man There’s a Woman (w/ PL, 1948)
60. Please Be Kind (w/ MF, 1938)

61. I Know That You Know (1936)
62. You’re a Heavenly Thing (w/ HW, 1935)
63. Oh Babe! (1950)
64. China Boy (1936)
65. Afraid to Dream (w/ Betty Van, 1937)
66. The Dixieland Band (w/ HW, 1935)
67. We’ll Meet Again (w/ PL, 1942)
68. Serenade in Blue (w/ DH, 1942)
69. Yours (Quiereme Mucho) (w/ HF, 1941)
70. Basin Street Blues (1934)

71. Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?) (w/ MF, 1937)
72. Rose of Washington Square (1939)
73. I Want to Be Happy (1937)
74. I Don’t Know Enough About You (w/ Art Lund, 1946)
75. My Sister and I (1941)
76. Basin Street Blues (1934)
77. Air Mail Special (w/ HF, 1941)
78. In a Sentimental Mood (1936)
79. Solo Flight (w/ Charlie Christian, 1941)
80. I’m Gonna Love That Guy (w/ Dottie Reid, 1945)

81. It Isn’t Fair (w/ Buddy Greco, 1950)
82. Can’t Teach My Old Heart New Tricks (w/ MF, 1937)
83. Jingle Bells (1935)
84. Wang Wang Blues (1941)
85. Close As Pages in a Book (w/ Jane Harvey, 1945)
86. Bugle Call Rag (1934)
87. The Flat Foot Floogee (1938)
88. Perfidia (Tonight) (w/ HF, 1941)
89. Clouds (w/ Ray Hendricks, 1935)
90. A String of Pearls (w/ PL, 1942)

91. Lullaby in Rhythm (1938)
92. Stompin’ at the Savoy (new recording, 1937)
93. Organ Grinder’s Swing (1936)
94. Eenie Meenie Miney Mo (w/ HW, 1935)
95. My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms (w/ MF, 1939)
96. Swingtime in the Rockies (1936)
97. No Other One (w/ HW, 1935)
98. I Was Lucky (w/ HW, 1935)
99. I Have Eyes (w/ MT, 1938)
100. I Ain’t Lazy, I’m Just Dreamin’ (w/ Jack Teagarden, 1934)

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Awards:

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On This Day (1940): Frank Sinatra hit #1 for the first time with "I'll Never Smile Again"

I’ll Never Smile Again Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra & the Pied Pipers

Writer(s): Ruth Lowe (see lyrics here) Recorded: April 23, 1940 First Charted: June 29, 1940 Peak: 112 US, 17 HP, 12 GA (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 3.0 US (includes 1.0 in sheet music) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 5.07 video, 40.68 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Ruth Lowe was a pianist with Ina Ray Hutton’s all-girl orchestra when she composed this song about the death of her husband, just a few months after their marriage. TY1 Believing in the song’s potential, she staked out Tommy Dorsey’s several-night engagement at Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition in September 1939. She finally got Carmen Mastren, the band’s guitarist, to give her demo a listen. SS Dorsey wasn’t initially swayed and passed the song on to Glenn Miller, who recorded a medium-tempo version, but it got overlooked. However, when Frank Sinatra came on board with Dorsey, they took another stab at recording it. SS Sinatra had recorded with Harry James and His Orchestra in 1939, including the eventual #1 song “All Or Nothing at All.” However, those recordings didn’t chart until 1943 and 1944. When vocalist Jack Leonard parted ways with Dorsey in 1939, Dorsey was looking for a replacement. When Dorsey and James ended up at nearby gigs in Chicago, Dorsey sent someone to talk to Sinatra. James knew Sinatra, whose wife Nancy was pregnant, needed the money and agreed to let Sinatra work with Dorsey. SS Sinatra’s first recording session with Dorsey in February 1940 led to Dorsey’s 100th chart entry, “Polka Dots and Moonbeams,” and the first taste of the charts for Sinatra. They charted a couple of more times before they struck gold with the “unabashedly sentimental ballad” SS “I’ll Never Smile Again.” Down Beat magazine called it “the most sensational Tin Pan Alley hit of the year.” SS It was Dorsey’s fourteenth trip to the top and the biggest hit of his career. PM- As Sinatra’s maiden voyage to the pinnacle, it “made him a national heartthrob virtually overnight.” SS He would hit #1 eleven times total, but this was his most successful song. It also bore the distinction of being the first #1 on Billboard’s best-selling chart. TY1 It also marked a shift from the “swing era” to the “sing era” when “the vocalists, not the bands and their leaders, were kings”. TY1 Previously, vocalists were generally limited to one chorus. TY1 Resources: DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 85. SS Steve Sullivan (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings (Volumes I & II). Scarecrow Press: Lanham, Maryland. Page 373. TY1 Don Tyler (1985). Hit Parade 1920-1955. Quill: New York, NY. Page 98. PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 136 and 521. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 7/20/2011; last updated 9/5/2023.