Songs That Got Us Through WW2

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
They may have rationed meat, milk, canned goods, and gasoline, but there was no limit to the musical talent during World War II. Morale-boosting sounds on the home front and "over there" were one of the Allies' most potent weapons. WWII gave birth to many of the 1940s' most popular artists and songs, as well as many of the most important independent record labels. Songs That Got Us Through WWII is the first of a two-volume series collecting the hits that kept the home fires burning and brought a little bit of America to the G.I.s overseas. Compiled and developed by singer/songwriter/music historian Billy Vera, Vol. 1 features many of the era's biggest artists, including The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, The Mills Brothers, The Ink Spots, Harry James, and many more. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Juke Box Saturday Night - Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
Ration Blues - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
There! I've Said It Again - Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra
Perdido - Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra
Mr. Five By Five - Freddie Slack & His Orchestra
Lili Marlene (German Version) - Marlene Dietrich
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
Caldonia - Woody Herman & His Orchestra
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To - Dinah Shore
On The Atchison, Topeka And Santa Fe - Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers
Idaho - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
Sweet Slumbe - Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra
When My Man Comes Home - Buddy Johnson & His Band
Mairzy Doats - The Pied Pipers
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) - Billie Holiday
San Fernando Valley - Roy rogers (King Of The Cowboys)
It Could Happen To You - Jo Stafford
Flying Home - Lionel hampton & His Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Track titles mixed-up.......2007-06-13

This isn't really a review of the songs (I like them.) I just wanted to say that when I put my CD in my PC and opened the player the track titles did not match the songs. They were all mixed-up. For example, when I double-clicked on "Lil Marlene" I got "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe'. Very strange. I have no idea how this happened. The songs all sound great, though. It's just odd that the titles didn't match the actual songs.

Revies WW@ Vol 2.......2007-03-18

I am in mt mid-sixties (1941). I enjoyed Volume 2 better than the original CD. Both were good and if you are from my generation, you should enjoy either one.

great 40's compilation........2007-03-18

i was born in 1961, but like the geeky audiophile that i am, i have eagerly dug into all the decades that have produced recorded music. i always thought that the forties were one of the weaker decades out there when it comes to sonic delights. so why do i love the two volumes of "songs that got us through wwii" so much? rhino records has a lot to do with it. as all audiophiles of the cd age now, rhino is one of the best outfits around when it comes to compilations of music. on these 2 wonderful discs from the forties, they have done it again. pure pleasure is to be had here. one drifts back to another time, across decades, to experience the popular songs of another american culture. this is a perfect introduction to that decade for anyone. having heard these two volumes, i can't wait to give the forties another chance. i am being won over, i think. thanks rhino.

Great Nostalgia.......2007-01-04

I purchased this CD collection for my residents in a dementia/Alzheimers care unit. They enjoy singing along with the songs from their youth, and some can even name the band/artist performing. The CD is a fun collection of lively and sentimental popular hits from the 40s. It would make a great gift for a person who grew up during this era.

Remembering more great songs from WW2.......2006-12-16

Hide your heart from sight,
Lock your dreams at night,
It could happen to you.

Don't count stars,
Or you might stumble.
Someone drops a sigh,
And down you'll tumble.

Keep an eye on spring,
Run when church bells ring.
It could happen to you.

All I did was wonder how your arms could be,
Then it happened to me.

You had better keep an eye on spring,
Run when church bells ring,
'Cause, it could happen to you, to you, to you.

All I did was wonder how your arms could be,
Then it happened, then it happened,
Then it happened to me.

Songs That Got Us Through WW2, Volume Two boasts an excellent collection of songs that remain wonderful to this day even though they didn't always make it to the number one spot on the charts. Mainstream white audiences loved these songs; but many a black soldier and his woman also cherished songs and ballads by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, Billie Holiday and Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra. This CD offers songs that appealed to both whites and blacks and that's excellent.

The CD starts off with the infectiously upbeat, happy-go-lucky "Jukebox Saturday Night" by the incomparable Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. The CD then takes a turn with the much more melancholy "Ration Blues" sung to perfection by Louis Jordan. Both black and white people could easily identify this song as rationing was very strict for everyone during wartime.

You won't find a single loser on this album. Other great songs include "There! I've Said It Again" by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra; "Lili Marlene" sung in German by Marlene Dietrich; "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby);" "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To;" the Oscar winning "On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe;" "Mairzy Doats" and "It Could Happen To You."

The CD presents an excellent assortment of songs especially because there are various genres of music on this CD that were all very popular during WW2. "Mairzy Doats" and "Jukebox Saturday Night" were infectiously happy tunes and people could forget their wartime cares listening to these very well done songs. There's the universally shared lament of rationing in Louis Jordan's "Ration Blues;" and there's the human angst that accompanies a romance put on hold in songs like "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" and "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be)." Excellent!

The liner notes contain an excellent essay about these songs and American wartime experiences by Billy Vera; and there are crisp black and white photos of legendary performers including Billie Holiday, Johnny Mercer, Dinah Shore and Woody Herman. The quality of the sound is very strong even on my portable CD player--terrific! Bob Fisher at Digital Domain worked wonders when he remastered these songs for CD.

Songs That Got Us Through WW2 provides us with a wonderful listening experience and will certainly bring back memories for those of us who lived through WW2. The selection of songs is excellent; and the remastering is flawless. I highly recommend this CD for fans of big band vocals and classic pop vocals.

Average customer rating:

Songs That Got Us Through WW2
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004U020
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Tracks:

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - The Andrews Sisters, Vic Schoen
I'll Be Seeing You - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
Till Then - The Mills Brothers
G.I. Jive - Johnny Mercer
I'll Walk Alone - Martha Tilton
When the Lights Go on Again (All over the World) - Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra
Yours - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive - Johnny Mercer, Paul Weston & His Orchestra
I Don't Want to Walk Without You - Harry James & His Orchestra
I Wonder - Jo Stafford, Paul Weston & His Orchestra
Long Ago (And Far Away) - Jo Stafford, Paul Weston & His Orchestra
I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) - The Ink Spots
(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer - Song Spinners
Sentimental Journey - Les Brown & His Orchestra
Waiting for the Train to Come In - Peggy Lee
It's Been a Long, Long Time - Harry James & His Orchestra

Music:

Music

Music