By James Wright
“It Don’t Mean a Thing, if it Ain’t Got That Swing.” — Duke Ellington
“They just don’t make things like they used to.” — my dad
We’ve all heard old sayings and you may or may not agree with them. I know there are always two sides to every opinion, and I can usually see at least the reasoning for both sides of most opinions. But when it comes to music, I’ve got a strong opinion, and I can only see one side. They just don’t make music like they used to. Sure, we have some great singers, musicians, and performers around today, but I can’t think of any band or individual performer who can compare to those greats of the 30’s who blended brass, strings, and woodwinds into the great harmonies and rhythms known as Swing. Those musicians were true pioneers!
I’m a music lover. I love most of the real music out there. I say “real” because I don’t consider such categories as rap, punk, and heavy metal to even be in the “music family”. I’ve played guitar since I was a teenager back in the 60s, so I especially like all the songs of the 50’s and 60’s, and a lot of the music from the 70’s—I played a lot of those songs in bands over the years. As a kid, I didn’t think much about any music other than what I heard on popular radio stations, but I do remember liking some of the “old” songs I would hear my mom and dad sing. In high school, I tried out for and was accepted into the school jazz band, where I was introduced to the music of the 30’s. That’s when I really started to love these great songs, and I found out that the simple rock and roll I had been playing up until then was just that: simple. In jazz band I began playing complex chord progressions and melodies; I heard beautiful harmonies played by the different instruments in the band. That started a whole new appreciation of not only my guitar, but of music from my parents’ generation.
When I listen to the tunes of the 30’s with the clever lyrics and harmonic use of chords and melodies, I realize how great and important the music was, especially when I think about the status of the world and the U.S. at the time. Look at what was happening: Wall Street had crashed, the Great Depression was in full progress in the U.S., and the world witnessed the rise of a powerful leader in Germany who was looking to expand his hold. Think about some of the other depressing events, like the Hindenburg crash, the Lindberg baby kidnapping, dust storms in the heart of America, wheat and cotton prices falling so low that the crops were left to rot in the fields…just to name a few. This was the era of soup kitchens, breadlines and bank failures. In Europe, the world was seeing the most devastating conflict in history with the onset of World Warr II. Americans were experiencing hardships like never before, but there was one thing that people could enjoy, and which seemed to raise the American spirit and help the hardships become more bearable: music. Swing (formerly know as jazz).
In spite of everything that was going wrong, the 1930’s was the decade of big bands—with the creation of great orchestras, each having a distinctive sound and style. Clarinet greats like Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, and trombonists Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller stood out among the great musicians of that era and made huge contributions to the music of the times. Benny Goodman soon became the undisputed King of Swing. Introduced a promising young vocalist—Frank Sinatra—who went on to become one of the world’s best know, respected, and loved singers. Duke Ellington was performing new hits like “Caravan” and “Mood Indigo”, captivating audiences across the country with his big band sound.
At the same time these great musicians were achieving fame, another phenomenon was taking place, making these musicians even more popular: movies. Songs, of course, quickly became a major attraction on the screen. For every great movie, there were always great songs and musical performances that served to heighten the popularity of both movies and bands. The most popular singing idol of the screen was Bing Crosby, who sang in 24 movies during the 30’s alone.
Radio became the major source of home entertainment in the 1930’s, further propelling singers, musicians, and band leaders into enormous popularity and fame. Thanks to radio and recordings, these new American stars moved right into the nation’s parlors and bedrooms, generating a musical excitement that did much to help people escape from the seemingly unmanageable conditions of the world. Listening and dancing to Swing was a way to overcome anxiety and frustration. Young people looked for ways to free themselves from the worry and sacrifice their elders suffered. Like the kids of today, they just wanted to have a good time an dance. Swing grew up in the dancehalls of Harlem and became the defining music for an entire generation of Americans. It rescued the recording industry. In 1932, just 10 million records had been sold in the U.S. By 1939, that number had grown to 50 million. The Swing era was on its glorious way, and the big band sound was the driving force that helped turn bad times into good times for many Americans.
Just listen to the titles of some of the songs of the 30’s that give such a clear indication of the hard times some people felt during those times: “Brother Can You Spare A Dime?”, “Working Girl Blues”, “We Sure Got Hard Times”, “Are You Making Any Money?”, and “Gloomy Sunday”. Now listen to some of the titles which show the optimism that still existed during the same time: “I Won’t Give Up”, “Headin’ For Better Times”, “Whistle While You Work”, “There’s a New Day Comin’”, “We’re In the Money”, and “Happy Days Are Here Again”. Think about songs like “Pennies from Heaven” or “On the Sunny Side of the Street”, and how they urged audiences to accept bad times in order to later enjoy the good times to come. Pretty cool, huh?
I’m just a youngster and I may not be an expert on music of the 30’s (I wasn’t around back then), but I can tell you this: I love it all. As a musician, I know that those songs were written (both lyrics and melodies) and performed unbelievably well. I can clearly see how music played such an important role in the lives of all Americans. Music meant so much to our American troops overseas; it meant the world to their loved ones waiting back home. It often evoked some of ht strongest emotions people felt during those tough times, allowing them to express their pain, their happiness, and it provided joy and hope for the future. I hope you take the time to pick up some of the old songs of the 30’s and give them a listen. I think you’ll agree “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.”
Jim Wright graduated from high school in the mid 60s. He formed his own rock band during his high school years and played for dances and parties, earning a few dollars to help pay for some of his musical equipment. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. During these years, Jim formed and played in many bands, performing not only on Air Force and Army bases, but also in the local communities. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Jim and his family moved to Wasilla, Alaska where he manages the guitar/amp department at the local music store. He occasionally performs with other musicians (including his drummer/bass player wife) at local events.
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