The Boswell Sisters

One of the all-time greatest jazz vocal groups, the Boswell Sisters, Martha, Vet and Connee, began their career in the vaudeville houses of New Orleans. Connee, paralyzed from the waist down by a childhood accident (though her disability was often attributed to polio), always performed sitting down. Gifted musicians as well as singers, the sisters also worked at a local radio station, performing classical and semi-classical instrumentals. (Martha played piano, Vet played violin, banjo and guitar, and Connee played cello, saxophone and guitar.) Their careers took off when the radio station gave them a daily singing program.

The sisters' harmonic vocals, dotted with scatting and numerous tempo and key changes, quickly made them popular in New Orleans and beyond. They recorded several songs during the twenties, but it wasn't until 1930, when they recorded four songs for the Okeh label, that they finally achieved popular recognition. They later signed with Brunswick, and between 1930 and 1936 they were the hottest vocal group in the country. They appeared in several movies and were regulars on Bing Crosby's radio program. Many of their hit recordings were made with the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. Both Vet and Martha retired from show business in 1936. Connee went on enjoy a mildly-successful solo career.

Discography

Shout, Sister, Shout!

Connee (1907-1976), Martha (1908-1958) and Helvetia ("Vet") Boswell (1909-1988) constituted the most popular female vocal group before The Andrews Sisters, and created some of the most exciting recordings of the early 30s - still sounding amazing today. They enjoyed 20 hits before breaking up, when the remarkable, wheelchair-bound Connee continued a great solo career, influencing a generation of singers such as Ella Fitzgerald. But as a trio, the Sisters were never matched. Shout, Sister, Shout! was their signature tune, and now the title of a 25-track selection of their very best recordings. 11 of them were major hits, including their first success, the incredible "When I Take My Sugar To Tea", and "Dinah", "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter", "Roll On Mississippi Roll On", "Rock And Roll", "It's The Girl" and the chart-topping "The Object Of My Affection" - each one a tour de force. The Sisters' jazz flair was invariably enhanced by the accompaniment of some of the top musicians in jazz, and fine solos by such as Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Bunny Berigan, Benny Goodman, Manny Klein, Artie Shaw and Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang all add to the enjoyment.

4523 CD $12.98

Shout, Sister, Shout! 1925-1934

There were many "sister" groups in the 20th century, but none compared to the three Boswell Sisters, who, unlike the other groups, including the more famous Andrews Sisters, were very jazz-oriented, not afraid to take chances and they could out-swing anyone. Precisely in-tune, with surprising tempo, key and mood changes in their own arrangements the New Orleans-born Sisters began their recording career in 1925, sounding like little kids on "Nights When I Am Lonely ." "Shout" chronicles the best of the Boswells' brief but amazing recording career, largely from 1930 to 1935An all-star group of top studio players including trombonist Tommy Dorsey and his brother Jimmy (on alto and clarinet), trumpeter Bunny Berigan and violinist Joe Venuti loved recording with the Sisters, who were on their level musically. Reaching their height of fame in 1932, the sisters appeared in several movies, most notably 1932's "The Big Broadcast," where they sang "Crazy People" in company with Cab Calloway, Bing Crosby and the Mills Bros. Now popular enough to introduce their own hits, like "Was That The Human Thing To Do" and "We've Got To Put That Sun Back In The Sky" rather than just cover standards and other people's hits. "There'll Be Some Changes Made" is redone by the Boswells with a surprise blues solo for Connie in the middle, and the obscure Fats Waller tune "If It Ain't Love" is remembered for this highly appealing version, as is Waller's "Old Yazoo," made immortal by the Boswells. Just as the Swing Era began in 1936 the Boswells broke up in favor of married life for Vet and Martha and a solo career for Connie that lasted until her death in 1976. 21 songs: "Forty-Second Street," "Shuffle Off To Buffalo," "If I Had A Million Dollars," "Dinah"… these are classic jazz swing tunes that ushered in one of our favorite musical eras, and remain some of the best American music ever recorded. All accompanied by the best jazzmen o f the time.

Never-Issued Tunes & Takes (1930-1935)

We've been transported back into 1930, and turning on one of those beautiful old radios, we hear a live Boswell Sisters' program, sometimes with actual static, and a hopelessly straight-laced announcer. These are 1930-35 original broadcast transcriptions, tracks that have never been released in any form, of popular Southern girl group the Boswells, the most original trio of their time. This is pretty racy stuff, especially for its time ("If you see me necking somebody new, I'm in training for you!"from "I'm in Training For You." 25 live, authentic gems, all at least lightly piano-accompanied, some with full orchestra, (Glenn Miller's and Tommy Dorsey's): "Does My Baby Love?," "Gee, But I'd Love to Make You Happy," "Rarin' To Go," "There's Wah-Wah Girl in Agua Caliente," "My Mad Moment," "I Thank You, Mr. Moon," "Me Minus You," "Puttin' It On"ŠThis was the jazz age, time of the scandalous, liberated flapper, and the harmonizing Boswells celebrated this new freedom to the max. This CD is a recommended joy!

Watch the Videos

Boswell Sisters:
Heebie Jeebies

Connie, Martha and Vet in a movie version (filmed for "The Big Broadcast"). (1.37)

Boswell Sisters:
Sleepy Time Down South

One of Fleischers Screen Songs - Sleepy Time Down South made in 1932. (3.59)

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