I want to cut right to the chase and write about the musical style of Glenn Miller, who still has the feeling of being in the second world war in “40”. Two things I love about early music:
Jazz and military march-jazz infused themes like Glenn Miller’s in one of my personal favorites, St. Louis Blues. A song that had been sung many years before by an unknown artist, Al Bernard. I’m not saying that Al Bernard wrote the song per se, but he has a way of singing lyrics that is on par with Billy Murray. Edison were both artists from the Roaring Twenties. One thing always remains in the older style of music, in which the artists themselves lived, and what they sang.
Glenn Miller, I found his music while in search of another footy great leader I had been missing since I was thirteen. Big band drummer, Gene Krupa. As it turned out, my search would take me years since I didn’t know what the artists he mentioned in 33 1/3, 45 and what not.
Since my impressionable young mind didn’t know that I could buy 78 records for a dime in 1990, I really didn’t know who or what to ask for. You’re lying, because at one time I couldn’t pronounce the name of Krupa’s neighbor Gene Krupa. And I don’t know what I even saw like that. Ah, yes… the pre-internet days when a man from local music had to hand out a memory. (remember those places?) or similar junk store, antique store.
So back then my walls were not decorated with every clean cut. Had I a bookshelf, not have been packed full with books on early Jazz, dance of the roaring Twenties, Vernon and Irene Castle, or even likes of any back issues of Mid-Week Pictorial to satisfy my curiosity about the silent films of the 1920s.
Glenn Miller, when I got back home about this man a few times in 2011, I had to find out more about him. It falls into the category that appeals to me now as an adult.
Will the real Glenn Miller ever be found in the script? I’ve been recreated by countless artists who, on the other hand, modulated the songs too quickly with short characters. Sometimes and other versions just sounded like washed-up lizards who signed a ninety-nine-year contract for the likes of the MGM Grand In Vegas strip.
It was very difficult for me to find the original material that Glenn Miller is known for. I took help of the internet and just read about what was in the record label, at which time the records I could find Glenn. A miller from Armed with shopping, I board several thrift stores in one day.
99 cents, 75 cents, and sometimes $2 for one Bluebird 78 is the going rate for any of these 78’s. A few years ago the 78’s didn’t have much re-sale power in the used market. Oh, they could “melt and dip in a bowl”. But who wants to pick a crustacean? I do not thank you very much.
Glenn Miller’s music is emotional. I love this and can’t say enough about it. I loved the movie, The Glenn Miller Story when I caught it playing at my local theater a while ago. It was an emotional love story with a tearjerker ending.
Glenn Miller adds a musical twist to the big band era sound. Upbeat, never dull, and easily irritated for lack of a better phrase. I will not say that it is easy to dance, because I never learned to dance all those great things, not even in my younger days. I would have been disappointed if I had shown up in those dances with Glenn Miller in 78, if I had known about him then.
Roof of Pearls, Little Brown Jug, In the Mood, St. Louis Blues March are just a few good songs. I always thought Glenn Miller was taken away too soon. He had the talent and talent to restore the old music that was “Morning Jazz” before the big hands came. through
