Today we will travel back to 1962 to hear the tune Blue And Broken Hearted by some people who were there when jazz was starting to hit its stride. This performance is of the Eddie Condon All-Stars featuring Eddie Condon (1905-1973), Wild Bill Davison (1906-1989), Cutty Cutshall (1911-1968), Peanuts Hucko (1918-2003), Johnny Varro, Joe Williams, and native Bostonian by way of Kiev Buzzy Drootin (1920-2000)!
This 1960s performance was filmed in color on 35mm film and recorded professionally on stereo sound equipment. We have the Goodyear Co. to thank for it as it was part of a promotional campaign. Louis Armstrong's and Bobby Hackett's bands were also filmed during the same campaign.
This film showcases quite a line-up. The music was composed by Lou Handman (1894-1956) and lyrics for the tune, although not heard here, were written by Grant Clarke (1891-1931) and Edgar Leslie (1885-1976). The tune was recorded as early as 1922 and became a hit for singer Marion Harris (1896-1944) with her 1923 recording of the song.
The pianist from this performance Johnny Varro who was born in 1930 is still alive!
Wild Bill Davison (c), Cutty Cutshall (tb), Peanuts Hucko (cl), Johnny
Varro (p),
Eddie Condon (g), Joe Williams (b), Buzzy Drootin (d). Recorded in New York City,
1962.
Here is a 1922 recording of the same tune by Eddie Elkins and His Orchestra. Notice how different this version sounds compared to the one forty years later.
Performed by Eddie Elkins and His Orchestra, October 27, 1922.
While we're at it, why not listen to Marion Harris' version from 1923?
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