"Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" (March 3, 2006)

(Week 31)

I decided to go metaphysical this week, with a musical tour of Heaven, Hell, and None of the Above. This mini-course in Comparative Religion begins Friday at 8 PM ET, on WHCL 88.7 FM so bring your notebooks, your number two pencils, and an open mind. (No fair gazing into the navel of the person next to you.)

Waring’s Pennsylvanians – Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life! (1928) – Victor 78 RPM
Harold Leonard’s Red Jackets – Fate (1922) – Gennett 78 RPM
Ocarina Soloist – William Tell Overture – Columbia 78 RPM
George Olsen and his Music – Someone to Watch Over Me (1926) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5388
Cab Calloway and his Orch. – Is That Religion (1930) – Masters of Jazz MJCD 182
Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orch. (Elmo Tanner, vo.) – On Revival Day (1930) – Classics 641
Louis Armstrong & his Orch. – Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (1932) – JSP CD 3401
Mills Blue Rhythm Band – Red Devil (1931) – Hep CD 1008
Bob Causer and his Cornelians (Dick Robertson, vo.) – Hell’s Bells (1932) –Pro Arte CDD 440
Frank Trumbauer and his Orch – In the Merry Month of Maybe (1931) – Old Masters mb109
Dorsey Brothers’ Orch. – Maybe–Who Knows? (1929) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8005
Tommy Dorsey – Maybe (1933) – Jazz Oracle BDW 8006
Bing Crosby – Pennies From Heaven (1936) – Charly CDCD1071
Charlie Palloy – You’ll Never Get to Heaven That Way (1933) – The Old Masters mb118
Cliff Edwards – Half-Way To Heaven (1928) – Sony Music Special Products A 26475
The Lion – Death (1939) – Rounder CD 1141
Wilmoth Houdini – The Devil Behind Me (1935) – Arhoolie Folklyric CD 7010
Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hell (1996) – Mammoth MR0137-2
Bessie Smith – Devil’s Gonna Get You (1928) – Excelsior EXL-2-5317
Lonnie Johnson – She’s Making Whoopee in Hell Tonight (1930) – Columbia CK 46221
Henry Burr – Stay Down Here Where You Belong (1915) – Victor 78 RPM
Frank Crumit (w/Nat Shilkret) – Just a Night for Meditation (1928) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5002
Paul Mares and his Friars Society Orch. – Reincarnation (1935) – Acrobat ACRCD 157
Coleman Hawkins – When Buddha Smiles (1938) – Excelsior EXL-2-5319
Mildred Bailey (w/Paul Whiteman) – ‘Leven Pounds of Heaven (1931) – Old Masters mb103
Fred Astaire – Cheek to Cheek (1935) – Naxos Nostalgia 8.120718
West End Jazz Band – Gotta Dance My Way to Heaven (2005) – Legacy 2K 106
Ethel Waters – Trav’lin’ All Alone (1929) – Classics 721
Ben Selvin and his Orch. (vo?) – Dancing in the Dark (1931) – ASV Living Era CD AJA 5318
Coon Sanders’ Nighthawks – That’s All There Is (There Ain’t No More) (1925)– Old Masters mb111
Fletcher Henderson – Sing You Sinners (1936) – Columbia/Legacy C3K 57596
Paul Whiteman and his Orch. – Sweet Sue (1928) – Joker LP Box Set
Ray Starita and his Ambassadors’ Club Orch. – Wake Up Chill’un Wake Up (1929) –Avid AVC539