Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video compilation of ten "soundies" of vintage African American music.
"Soundies" are short films that were produced in the United States between 1940-1947.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these soundies. Thanks also to the publisher of this compilation of 1940s soundies.
Some of the artists and/or some of the songs that are featured in this soundie are also showcased on separate pancocojams posts such as this one: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/the-jubailaires-noah-1940s-gospel-rap.html The Jubailaire's Noah - 1940s Gospel Rap.
To identify those posts use Google search or enter the artist name or the title of the song in pancoocjams's internal search engine.
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INFORMATION ABOUT "SOUNDIES"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundies
"Soundies were three-minute American musical 16mm films, produced in New York City, Chicago, and Hollywood, between 1940 and 1946, each containing a song, dance and/or band or orchestral number. The completed Soundies were generally made available for rental within a few weeks of their filming, in film collections of eight to a reel, primarily by the Soundies Distributing Corporation of America, from which the name "Soundies" was generalized to any similar film, including later, single pieces shot as "filler" for early television. The last true Soundies group was released in March 1947. The films were displayed on the Panoram, a coin-operated film jukebox or machine music, in nightclubs, bars, restaurants, factory lounges, and amusement centers.
Musical genres
Soundies covered all genres of music, from classical to big-band swing, and from hillbilly novelties to patriotic songs."...
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Soundies: Black Music from the 1940s
The Riverbends Channel, Published on Oct 22, 2012
From Internet Archives:
0:12:13 Delta Rhythm Boys in "Take the 'A' Train" (1941).
0:14:46 Fats Waller in "Your Feet's Too Big (1941).
0:17:45 Count Basie Orchestra in "Take Me Back, Baby" (with vocal by Jimmy Rushing) (1941).
0:20:19 "Preacher and the Bear" featuring The Jubalaires (vocal quartet)
0:23:23 "Ring Those Bells" (Black children vocal quintet, unidentified; Possibly The Cabin Kids.)
0:24:22 The Ali Baba Trio in "Patience and Fortitude" (1946) (featuring Valaida Snow singing and playing jazz trumpet - with trio of guitar, bass and accordion!)
0:27:06 "Rocco Blues" featuring Maurice Rocco (piano and vocal)
0:30:00 Gloria Grey sings "Oh By Jingo" (looks later, circa 1950 or so)
0:32:42 "I Want A Man", sung by Annisteen Allen and accompanied by Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra (huge big band)(1943).
0:35:36 Woman jazz harpist (LaVilla Tulos) playing "Swanee River" (a title list of Soundies has this entry as "Swanee Swing").
-snip-
Selected comments from this video compilation's discussion thread:
Neil Soulman Hagan, 2013
"Classic. From hollywoods golden era. Very rare! Impeccable talent. Thanks for posting, I have much respect for these artists who shined even in the face of all the burdens and predjudace that prevailed in that day. Love the cabin kids. Thanks so much for posting."
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pbrgma1, 2013
"The Cabin Kids clip is not from a Soundie. It is actually from their very first film appearance from a 20 minute comedy short from Educational Pictures titled "She my Lilly (I'm Her Willie)" from 1934.At the time of this film they were originally called THE 5 SPIRITS OF HARMONY and this was the way they were billed in this film.From their 2nd film on they were known as The Cabin Kids.The other songs they sang in this film were:"This Train" and 'Honey."
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George Sperry, 2014
"great music and a super entertaining snippet of music of the past!"
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Brandon Lee Kirby, 2024
"I think it's more that that's what the white people in charge wanted and allowed. The novel Invisible Man touches up on the idea well.
The guy who wrote it was a huge fan of this music, Ralph Ellison."
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Zillous Grom, 2014
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NO ink spots!!??!
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