THAT'S HOW RHYTHM WAS BORN - The Boswell Sisters

YEAR: 1995

LABEL: Legacy/Columbia

TRACK LISTING: Rock and Roll, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Louisiana Hayride, Shuffle Off To Buffalo, Sophisticated Lady, Song of Surrender, Sleep Come On and Take Me, That's How Rhythm Was Born, The Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia, Coffee in the Morning and Kisses in the Night, Forty-Second Street, Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day, The Darktown Strutters' Ball, If I Had A Million Dollars, It's Written All Over Your Face, Charlie Two-Step, Trav'lin' All Alone, St. Louis Blues, Dinah, The Object of My Affection

IMPRESSIONS: I first saw and heard the Boswell Sisters in the odd little 1932 film "THE BIG BROADCAST" around 1979 on my local PBS TV station and I fell in love with their early-30's girl group sound which obviously had a huge influence on the later Andrews Sisters and countless other female trios. No less a personage than Ella Fitzgerald loved the Boswell Sisters and particularly idolized Connee Boswell; Ella patterned her singing style after her. Born in Louisiana, the Boswells not only had an authenticity but also didn't take themselves too seriously resulting in an easy, relaxed singing style. This cd compilation, which I believe I picked up unsuspecting in a "Nobody Beats the Wiz" store is a solid representation of the Boswells at the peak of their career. And the art deco design of the cover puts you immediately in the proper frame of mind.

MY FAVOURITE TRACKS: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Louisiana Hayride, Shuffle Off To Buffalo, Sophisticated Lady, Sleep Come On and Take Me, The Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia, Coffee in the Morning and Kisses in the Night, Forty-Second Street, Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day, The Darktown Strutters Ball, If I Had A Million Dollars, Trav'lin' All Alone, St. Louis Blues, Dinah, The Object of My Affection

GUEST ARTISTS: The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

FACT SHEET: The Boswell Sisters were Martha (who played piano), Helvetia or "Vet" (violin, banjo & guitar) and Connee (cello, saxophone & guitar) who were renowned for their intricate vocal harmonies and rhythmic experimentation. They recorded for Victor and Okeh Records before cutting sides for Brunswick Records between 1931-1935 which are generally considered milestones in vocal jazz. Connee reworked the melodies and rhythms of popular songs; melodies were slowed down or rearranged, major keys were changed to minor and rhythmic changes were experimented with. The Boswells were one of the few artists allowed to alter popular songs for their recordings as music publishers and record companies pressured performers at the time not to change the arrangements of popular songs. Connee Boswell's legs were paralyzed from a childhood accident and she changed the spelling of her name from "Connie" in the 1940s because it made it easier to sign autographs. The Boswell Sisters signed to Decca Records in 1936 but only recorded three records before ending the group. Connee went on to have a successful solo recording career at Decca. All the recordings on this album derive from the period between the years 1932-1935.