Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians
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For six decades, Fred Waring and his group, the Pennsylvanians, spread their smooth sound through-out the world. He sold millions of records and won the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor the U.S. government can bestow on a civilian. Often dubbed "The Man Who Taught America To Sing," Waring was most famous for his love of choral music. He started innocently enough with a troupe known as Waring's Banjazztra in early '20s. The collision of theater with radio and phonographic records opened possibilities for entertainers. It was not long before Fred Waring became involved with show business using these forms of media. As the '20s progressed, the troupe became known as Waring's Pennsylvanians. His adaptation of chorus with the smart rhythms of the day, gave the vocal refrain a fresh face. Odd sounds, the rasp of Poley McClintock, the sweet hummingbird-like sounds the three Waring girls, and great musicians made up this unique show unit. He made numerous records until the inevitable clash of radio and recorded music caused copyright problems in the smaller market radio stations. Since Waring's livelihood depended heavily on both media, he lobbied hard for broadcasting reforms so the authors of recorded music would received fair compensation for their work. Just as the situation was being resolved, Waring went on a European tour. It was a well managed show. They had lighting effects, dazzling theatrics, and of course, great music. His fame increased. In the '40s, the Waring Glee Club superceded the Pennsylvanians, and became an act unto its own. It's interesting to note Waring's own Alma Mater Penn State turned away his bid for the president of its own Glee Club. Today, Waring is one of Penn State's distinguished alumni. He continued to be the showman extraordinare, and a successful entrepreneur. He was the host of several radio shows and "The Fred Waring Show," which ran from 1949 to 1954. In addition to performances by his orchestra and large chorus, the show included dancing, sketches, and interpretations of fairy tales. He also showcased a line of appliances, most notably the Waring Blender. Fred Waring died in 1984. |
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I Hear Music I Feel A Song Comin' On Sentimental Journey Here I'll Stay Country Style Someone to Watch Over Me I Can't Give You Anything but Love Japanese Sandman Moonlight and Roses Runnin' Wild April Showers The Continental Somebody Loves Me Ballynure Ballad Temptation Ain't Misbehavin It's Only A Paper Moon I Only Have Eyes for You Riders in the Sky Hit the Road to Dreamland Roumanian Rhapsody What Makes the Sunset Sleep |
Called "the man who taught America how to sing" Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians were a fixture on radio in the '40's and '50's and these 23 songs were recorded in 1949 and 1950 when at the height of their popularity. The group, including the instrumentalists, was over 50 members strong and sing beautifully some of the classic songs from the era. The arrangements were from some of the top choral arrangers in the country such as Roy Ringwold and Harry Simeone. A great trip down memory lane.
Listen to "I Hear Music" in Real Audio.
| 4444 CD $14.98 |
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Sleep Down Home Blues Memory Lane Collegiate I Love My Baby Thanks For The Buggy Ride Where Do You Work-A, John? I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream Laugh, Clown, Laugh Lila Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life Button Up Your Overcoat I'll Always Be In Love With You Cryin' For The Carolines So Beats My Heart For You Little White Lies Love For Sale Oh, Donna Clara! Elizabeth I Found A Million-Dollar Baby Dancing In The Dark Let's Have Another Cup O' Coffee How'm I Doin'? Fit As A Fiddle |
Best known as conductor of his massive orchestral and choral group in the 1940s that kept the Decca/Brunswick and Capital catalogs going for decades, Fred Waring got his start in music much earlier, forming a more-than-merely-competent dance band called the "Banjazztra" with his younger brother Tom in 1921, with Waring on banjo. Graduating from Pennsylvania State U he found his music much more in demand, so he and Tom enlarged the Banjazztra and changed the name to the Collegians, which became the Pennsylvanians. Recording in the 1920s in a pastiche of styles aimed at pleasing the largest possible public, the versatile Pennsylvanians launched into show business with Broadway appearances in "Hello Yourself" (1928) and Cole Porter's "New Yorkers" (1932). For ten years after that Waring refused to make any more records until the radio stations paid to play them on the air. He first formed the Glee Club at the 1939 NY World's Fair, which led to the popular Chesterfield radio show and the Pennsylvanians becoming the first band with their own TV show, for General Electric. Waring then got seriously into the business of recording, training choral directors and publishing his own compositions, choral and band arrangements, music magazines, etc. He also created and marketed the famous Waring Blender at this time. But "Memory Lane" focuses on his early stuff, 24 of Fred and the Pennsylvanians' most popular hits from 1923-1932, all band-accompanied. From their theme song "Sleep," "Collegiate," "I Scream, You Scream," We All Scream for Ice Cream," "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" and "Button Up Your Overcoat" to "Little White Lies," "Love for Sale" (from the "New Yorkers"), "I Found A Million Dollar Baby," "Dancing In The Dark," "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee" and "How'm I Doin'?," this is classic pop/jazz, "flapper" music from the Roaring 20's—sexy, silly, romantic, energetic, and danceable. Fun stuff from a giant of popular music!
| 4624 CD $13.98 |
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The Very Thought of You (Noble) Easy To Love (Cole Porter) You Do Something To Me (Cole Porter) The Nearness of You (Carmichael, Washington) You and the Night and the Music (Schwartz, Dietz) Embraceable You (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin) You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to (Cole Porter) You're Driving Me Crazy (Donaldson) There Will Never Be Another You (Warren, Gordon) All of You (Cole Porter) All The Things You Are (Kern, Hammerstein II) I Hear Music and Sleep, Sleep, Sleep (Waring, Doph/Waring, Geibel) Mr. Frog A Courtin' He Did Ride (Traditional) Hello Mudduh, Hello Faddah (Bush, Sherman) The Swingin' Shepherd Blues (Koffman, Roberts, Jacobson) Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho (Traditional) On Top of Old Smokey (Traditional) 12th Street Rag (Bauman) Sweet Sue - Just You (Harris, Young) Vilia (Lehor) Cecilia (Dreyer, Ruby) Nola (Amdt, Skylar) Hello, Dolly (Herman) Dance of the Hours (Ponchielli) Nutcracker Suite Overture and Anitra's Dance and Fugue in C Minor and Our Love (Tchaikovsky) Jada a la Dixieland (Carleton) Jada (Carleton) Ritual Fire Dance (Defalla) Chim Chim Cher-ee (Sherman, Sherman) Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious (Sherman, Sherman) Battle Hymn of the Republic (Howe, Steffe) Sleep, Sleep, Sleep (Waring, Geibel) |
From the cherished Christmas carol, the sincere warmth of the spiritual, the cheer of the drinking song, to the tenderness of the love song, Fred Waring was the delineator, the innovator, the voice and interpreter of the language of 1960s youth in song. This all-accompanied, 2 CD, 2-lp compilation, originally released on Reprise in 1964, tours the world’s greatest popular love songs. Composers and authors of course include Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, the Gershwins, Hammerstein and Jerome Kern, and we have the contrast of the studio-recorded lp, "To You Forever," and the live "In Concert" lp. The 11 songs on "Forever," smooth and sweet as you please: "You Do Something to Me," "Embraceable You," "All of You" and "All the Things You Are"–are listed in the dictionary under "Romantic." "In Concert" features an intro to the audience by Fred, and is a lively collection, from folk tunes like "Mr. Frog A Courtin’" and "On Top Of Old Smokey," spirituals like "Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic," and show tunes like "Hello, Dolly" to movie tunes like "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious" from "Mary Poppins." This is entertainment!
Listen to "Embraceable You" in Real Audio.
| 4573 CD $15.98 |
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Collegiate Does My Sweetie Do - And How! I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream Who's Blue Now? Collegiana Navy Blues Let Me Sing and I'm Happy H'lo Baby Good for You, Bad for Me Red Hot Chicago So Beats My Heart for You Little White Lies Love for Sale Sing A Little Jingle Dancing in the Dark Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee I Say It's Spinach How'm I Doin'? Rhymes A Picnic for Two You'll Get By Fit As A Fiddle Young and Healthy Sleep |
It's hard to imagine having a career in music more sheer fun than Fred Waring's.
Starting a banjo orchestra with his brother and friends while a student at Penn
State University, the band did so well he had to choose between that and architecture,
and chose music. By 1922 the 9-member band toured locally, growing to 11 members
on their tour through Canada, playing snappy, fast-paced numbers. Success in
the Detroit-Chicago area led to a Victor recording contract and "Sleep," their
first smash hit. Movies (Harold Lloyd's "The Freshman," RKO's "Syncopation,"
the Broadway musical "Hello, Yourself," and Fred and the Pennsylvanians were
a top box office draw on a level with Paul Whiteman's orchestra. Fred's own
1930 musical comedy "Rah Rah Daze" became a smash on Broadway called "The New
Yorkers." Millions tuned into his regular radio programs with the band and Waring's
"Glee Club," from 1933 through the war years, finally ending in 1957. During
this time he had a regular TV slot from 1947 to 1954 and a daytime show in 1957.
Concert tours continued through the 1970s, finally playing at Reagan's inaugural
in 1981. Finding time to invent the famous Waring blender, Waring died at Penn
State, where it had all begun, in 1984. Included here are 24 upbeat, funny,
fun tunes, all orchestrally accompanied, songs like "Collegiate," "Does My Sweetie
Do‹And How!," the title tune, "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy," H'lo Baby," "Red
Hot Chicago," "Dancing in The Dark," Irving Berlin's "Let's Have Another Cup
of Coffee" and "I Say It's Spinach," "Fit as a Fiddle" and ending with their
first hit, "Sleep." This is great stuff from a more innocent time, and plenty
of it. Highly recommended.
| 4521 CD $14.98 |
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Now Is the Caroling Season We Three Kings Winter Wonderland Here We Come Awassailing O Christmas Tree Silver Bells Angels We Have Heard on High In Sweetest Jubilee The Twelve Days of Christmas Master in this Hall White Christmas Now is the Caroling Season / Sleigh Ride Christmas Was Meant For Children Heigh Ho The Holly O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Angels, From the Realms of Glory The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) It Was A Night of Wonder March of the Kings |
For millions of Americans, Fred Waring's second Capitol LP release was the album of recorded Christmas Carols which defined the season musically in their households. Now you don't have to pull that old scratchy record out of the closet for this is the re-release of that recording. Fred Waring was born in Pennsylvania in 1900. He worked his way through college by singing and playing banjo in the group he and his brother Tom formed and called Banjazztra because they were a banjo jazz orchestra. After college they became a national touring success which led Fred into a radio presentation of his music, both instrumental and choral which had roots in collegiate glee club singing and their banjo jazz group. His radio popularity propelled him into being a Sunday Night Television visitor in millions of households In the fifties. Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians added dance and other visual embellishments to captivate the early TV audience but it was the popularity of his music which is his most lasting legacy. So here is one of the most listened-to Christmas recordings ever made. Half of the songs are accompanied while the others are the "pure" choral work of this important group under Fred's direction. Merry Christmas!
Listen to Now Is the Caroling Season in Real Audio.
| 2712 CD $15.98 |
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Opening: I Hear Music Jingle Bells Christmas Was Meant For Children Santa Claus is Comin' To Town Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer One For The Little Bitty Baby Medley (Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, The Sleigh, Winter Wonderland) White Christmas The Christmas Song 'Twas The Night Before Christmas Medley (Adeste Fidelis, The First Noel, Carol Of The Bells) Beautiful Savior God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman The Twelve Days Of Christmas Rise Up Shepard And Foller Oh Gathering Clouds Behold That Star Medley Of English Carols (Suzzani, Coventry Carol, Gloucestershire Wassail) Away In A Manger Cantique De Noel (Oh Holy Night) Silent Night/Come Unto Him v |
For many years Waring and his Pennsylvanians entertained America with radio and tv broadcasts, as well as stage shows and a multitude of recordings. Culled from the Waring archives, the spontaneity and energy of these live recordings comes through from the first cut. Featured are famous Pennsylvanian soloists and the incomparable Waring Glee Club on these 21 wonderful (all big band accompanied) songs of Christmas. We can't really pick favorites here. The jazzy "Jingle Bells" perhaps, or the Teen Trio's solo on "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer" that segues into manic sound-effect silliness." Certainly the "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow Medley," Frank Davis' soulful solo on "One for the Little Bitty Baby," and Jack Best and Gordon Goodman on "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Oh, and we have to include Jane Wilson's solos on "Away In A Manger" and "Cantique De Noel" (Oh Holy Night). The bottom line is, this is great, classic entertainment by, in our opinion, the premier choral organization of all time. Christmas music just doesn't get any better than this!
Listen to "Behold That Star" in Real Audio.
| 7883 CD $14.98 |
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Caroling, Caroling I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day White Christmas O Holy Night Here We Come Awassailing The Twelve Days of Christmas The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) Ring Those Christmas Bells Angels, From the Realms of Glory Winter Wonderland |
Fred Waring and the Pennsylvannians are at it again,this time giving Christmas their one-of-a-kind flavor. The smooth choral textures they present on this album could warm the soul of any who love the christmas season. The album starts out with a powerful fade in of voices in "Caroling, Caroling," followed by a great arrangement of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." They continue with some more beautifuly performed traditional carols including "White Christmas," "Oh Holy Night," "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and a few others, then end with a warm and cozy arrangement of "Winter Wonderland." This CD is a great pick for those looking for something they can relax to in front of a fire on a cold winter's night.
Listen to " The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) in Real Audio.
| 4589 CD $11.98 |
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Collegiate Syncopation Sal Mighty Blue Freshie I Love My Baby Collegiate Blues Any Ice Today, Lady? Bolshevik Don't Sing Aloha When I Go I Love the College Girls My Regular Girl Hello, Swannee, Helllo Wob-A-Ly Walk ICE CREAM Keep Sweeping the Cobwebs Off the Moon If I Can't Have You The Yale Blues Who's Blue Now? What Do You Say? Lila Farewell Blues Hello! Montreal How About Me? Glorianna |
In the early 1920s Fred Waring was a student at Penn State, where he formed
Waring's Pennsylvanians (which featured a trademark glee club) who entered radio
on pioneer station WWJ in Detroit. This generous, fascinating compendium of
24 (all accompanied) songs is from 1925 to 1928, a boom time of heady first
success for the Pennsylvanians. Fred's amazing career as a bandleader stretched
from the 1920s to the 1970s, enjoying his greatest success in the 1930s, appearing
in many movies. These songs have the "jazz age" manic optimism that fit so well
in the backgrounds of early cartoons. This is feel-good, funny, tongue-in-cheek
dance music with titles like "Keep Sweeping The Cobwebs Off The Moon," "Don't
Sing Aloha When I Go," "Syncopation Sal," "How About Me?," "What Do You Say?"
and "Any Ice Today, Lady?" (with a bit that sounds like Popeye singing to Olive).
It's not possible to be in a bad mood while listening to a Fred do the vocals
on a truly silly song like "Bolshevik." Great stuff, digitally restored and
remastered!
| 4551 CD $14.98 |
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Button Up Your Overcoat Then You've Never Been Blue Navy Blues Alma Mammy With You Crying for the Carolines W Iwant to Be Happy Tea for Two Let Me Sing and I'm Happy Thank Your Father Love for Sale Where Have You Been? Elizabeth Oh Donna Clara! Sing A Little Jingle Dancing in the Dark Let's Have Another Cup O' Coffee I Say It's Spinach On A Room in Manhattan How'm I Doin'? Rhymes Old Yazoo The Old Man of the Mountain Well! Well! Well! |
Volume 2 of the Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians legend compendium features
cuts from early 1929, the last months of the Flapper Era, through 1932, the
first years of the Depression, but the time of some of Waring's greatest fame
and success. The very soul of optimism, fun and silliness, the group was a hit
performing in movie theatres, on the radio, on records and ultimately in the
movies themselves later in the 30s. "Broadway Years" features 24 (all accompanied)
digitally restored and remastered songs from the Pennsylvanians in their prime:
"Button Up Your Overcoat," "Alma Mammy," "I Want To Be Happy," "Tea For Two,"
"Let Me Sing And I'm Happy," "Elizabeth," "Sing A Little Jingle," "Dancing In
The Dark," "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee," "I Say It's Spinach (And To Hell
With It!)" and "Well! Well! Well! Beautifully produced, funny, hip, smooth,
always with a catchy "hook" to sing along with‹this is top-40 pop before there
was such a thing. This series is fascinating on many levels and a joy to listen
to!
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4552 CD $14.98 |
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Farewell Blues Bolshevik Hello Montreal! Stack O'Lee Blues What a Night for Spooning Glorianna Navy Blues Hello Baby Good for You, Bad for Me Red Hot Chicago How'm I Doin'? I Heard Old Yazoo Holding My Honey's Hand The Old Man of the Mountain You'll Get By Fit As A Fiddle Young and Healthy Dance Selections Flying Colors |
"20 Hot Hits" is a very good attempt at an early Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians
"Best-Of" compendium from their early heyday, 1928 to 1932. An early "Control
Freak," Fred was very careful about every aspect of his band and its shows,
and that's why we haven't ever heard a bad cut. "Farewell Blues" and "Hello
Montreal" (with vocals by Fred), "What A Night For Spooning," "Gloriana," "Hello,
Baby," "Good For You, Bad For Me," "Red Hot Chicago" (from the musical comedy
"Flying High"), "How'm I Doin'?," "Old Yazoo," "The Old Man Of The Mountain,"
"Fit As A Fiddle" and "Flying Colors"‹it's all fun stuff you can dance to, or
sing along with, or use as background music for your first animated cartoon
mouse film. We love this stuff!
| 4553 CD $13.98 |
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The Overture Dance of the Sugar Plums Trepak Dance of the Toy Flutes Waltz of the Flowers |
Tchaikovsky's beloved Nutcracker Suite is given a twist as performed by Fred Waring and the Pennslyvanians. Conceived by arranger Harry Simeone he combines the charming lyrics written by Jay Johnson, Frank Cunkle, Daisy Bernier and Fred Waring. The arrangement was debuted on October 27, 1947 on Waring's radio program for General Electric and recorded for Decca Records later that year. It has been delighting audiences ever since. The performance heard here was originally broadcast August 19, 1948.
| 4576 CD $9.98 |
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Pledge of Allegiance Stars and Stripes Forever America the Beautiful God Bless America This Is My Country No Man Is An Island America, Where Are You? America Our Heritage You're A Grand Old Flag Stars of Glory Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor My America Battle Hymn of the Republic Star Spangled Banner |
Songs of patriotism and inspiration were always part of Fred Waring's broadcasts and stage shows. By popular request, Songs of Freedom was compiled from recordings in their collection. Selections include John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever," "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor" from Miss Liberty by Irving Berlin and "Battle Hymn Republic," which was made popular by Roy Ringwald's arrangement and won a gold record. Also included is Fred Waring's "love song for America," "My America." Waring wrote the song for his bicentennial shows in 1975.
| 4574 CD $14.98 |
Fred Waring's preface in this book:- "The sound of people singing well together is the most beautiful sound in the world. And, some of the best singing can result from the informal music-making that takes place when people who enjoy one another's company get together with a good song. And what is a good song? Any song that has stood the test of time. Any song that has lived long enough in the minds and hearts of people to become a pleasantly familiar song. And that's what we have gathered into this songbook: patriotic songs, folk songs, spirituals, hymns, Christmas songs, love songs, and fun songs... From the first song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" - which we helped to restore to its deserved place of honor in American singing-to the last, "Sleep, Sleep, Sleep"- which we have used as a theme since the Pennsylvanians first began-these are the songs that over forty years of singing have taught us are among the most loved by people everywhere."
| 9110 SONGBOOK $9.95 |
This excellent Christmas carol collection supplements Hawley Ades' best-selling general collection, the Fred Waring Songbook. Hawley Ades, long regarded as one of America's most skillful arrangers of music for singing, has been associated with the Fred Waring organization since 1937. This long and fruitful relationship is reflected in the imaginative treatment of the music in this book and in the many other published settings by Mr. Ades. Over 30 a cappella carols for either SATB, SSA or TTBB.
| 9109 SONGBOOK $7.95 |
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