Louis Prima, Sing, Sing, Sing - A Classical Musician’s First Listen And Reaction

Here is my First Listen number 2, for Episode 1, of The History of Rock Music With Amy and Karl.
Coming out of the Blues, but a bit more bombastic and lively, Big Band Swing was the next step! It was during this phase that the drums literally took center stage for the first time.
Here’s the link to the original song by Louis Prima:
• Louis Prima - Sing,Sin...
_________________________
If you want me to do a First Listen and In-depth Analysis of YOUR song of choice, or if you want an exclusive 1:1 session where I can answer your questions, dig deeper into a topic, or even coach you in your musical experience, such as a music theory, piano, or harp lesson, singing, music reading, etc, follow this link: ko-fi.com/amys...
If you want more, join my Patreon: / virginrock
Twitter: / virginrockmusic
Instagram: / virginrockchannel
Facebook: / virginrockchannel
Special thanks to those who are keeping my ko-fi cup supplied:
I’ve formed the habit of publishing all the names of my supporters simply because I appreciate your appreciation of my work, and I want to recognize each one of you personally. But, unfortunately, KZbin allows a limited number of characters for the description, and I cannot fit all names anymore. So, this is my message to each one of my supporters personally:
THANK YOU!
_________________________
Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
_________________________
Credits: Music written and performed by Louis Prima
This video may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. VirginRock is using this material for educational, critical, research, and commentary purposes in our effort to promote musical literacy and understanding. We believe that this constitutes a “fair use” of the copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, which provides allowance for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond “fair use”, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
If your copyrighted material appears on this channel and you disagree with our assessment that it constitutes “fair use”, please contact us.

[@gwengoodwin3992]

Gene Krupa on the drums. This is holy ground. This was the highlight of Goodman's famous 1938 Carnegie Hall concert, which brought the world of jazz to an audience of symphony lovers. The world changed that night. Before then, Goodman and Dorsey and Basie and the rest played to audiences who were on their feet dancing. This song, as much as any other, brought jazz to the concert hall. that's Benny Goodman on the clarinet, by the way. And yes, the quasi-contrapuntal passage you called out does sound like a stretto to me.

[@icetech6]

The king of swing! No one makes you wanna move your body like Gene :)

[@stevehutnikoff5964]

The 1938 concert version is one of the greatest music recordings of all time.

[@Mikewatchestube]

Yes, you should definitely listen to the Carnegie Hall recording. For me it’s one of the greatest live performances ever and a much much better version. Also, my understanding is that it was recorded in L.A. using a phone line. Crazy. It’s scratchy, but it’s brilliance comes through. Pure jazz. Anyhow, it’s phenomenal. Please check that version out 😊

[@MrDslacker]

Yep, but this is very structured. As all big band music it is written down on notes and only soloinstruments are allowed to improvise a little. Also it should be noted that Benny Goodman was classically trained and performed at the highest level as a solo-clarinetist in several classical works as well as the more famous jazz works. The thing that really makes this groundbreaking and along with the early blues paved the way for Rock etc. is the drums, the tempo and precisely those moments of improvisations...

[@Sonny_Eclipse]

Also at the Carnegie hall performance Benny Goodman hit a high “E” on the clarinet thats amazing

[@zredband]

This is timeless music that should last forever, right along with classical. It's music that can be enjoyed by every generation.

[@robertpearson8798]

It’s quite a bit before my time but I certainly do.

[@steeleye2112]

Agreed, ageless music that speaks across generations.

[@michaelgaurnier3108]

Swing jazz is soooo amazing!!!!! The clarinet was the most expressive instrument in those years.

[@ryansoprovich2258]

Couldn't help but notice that your body was moving to the music while your mind was trying to decide if you were enjoying it!

[@jons3808]

This song is pure joy to the ears. It puts a smile on my face every time I hear it. Krupa was the first rock star and such a musical drummer… and his drums sound so good. Simply amazing!!

[@TheGsjoberg]

They do sound great, might even be real skins for heads, not plastic.

[@wonderputz]

We can debate for months on the definition of "rock star," but I might give the distinction of first to Beethoven. While Napoleon and a fledgling United States were each shedding blood to take their places in the world, Ludwig was basically touring and flooring the biggest music halls on earth.

[@gregoryeatroff8608]

@@wonderputz but before that Mozart had been the David Bowie of classical music -- too much of the coked-up "thin white duke" Bowie for his own good, in the end.

[@TheCocoaDaddy]

For me, the horns put the smile on my face. Still, fun song that I love to listen to!!!!

[@jnagarya519]

Until his career was ruined by being found out to be a "weed" smoker.

[@isaacc7]

I’m pretty sure this is the first music you’ve done that can be considered dance music. Many historians consider the performance of this song at Carnegie Hall as the first rock and roll moment if not actual rock and roll. People were dancing at Carnegie Hall! Good Heavens! It would be great if you could hear a live version with improvised solos. Big band came out of the jazz world after all. Interested to see what’s next in your history lesson.

[@jamesparson]

I can understand why they would think that.

[@Xaelrik]

Just can't get enough of this song for years. It's so good and positive

[@billboth6572]

I grew up with this. I played this in my high school band in Logan, Utah, my wife played this in her school band just outside of Glasgow. Scotland, in the UK, and our daughter played it in her band back here in Utah as well. My younger sister played this in her band in California. This music (BIG BAND, SWING, and DIXIELAND JAZZ) are the basis and beginning of Rock and Roll.

[@robertpetre9378]

Bill Ward the drummer from Black Sabbath was very inspired by big-band swing jazz music because his father used to listen to it so he tried to imitate what they were doing on his drums that’s why I think Black Sabbath’s music often speeds up and slows down a lot

[@EvinrudeDude]

Gene Krupa was also an inspiration to John Densmore, the drummer for The Doors.

[@trappenweisseguy27]

I always liked John Densmore and often wondered why he wasn’t talked about more often.

[@pallhe]

So much precise swagger in this music, which is sort of rock n' roll. There's definitely a similar swing feel in much of early rock n' roll, such as Bill Haley & His Comets.

[@auapplemac2441]

Early rock and roll like Bill Haley was more rock-a-billy. It's a mix of early rock beat and hill-billy (40s/50s country western) music. Goodman was pure jazz and swing. Totally different animal from R&R.

[@pallhe]

@@auapplemac2441 Well, my point is pretty much the opposite of what you're saying, that sometimes we're looking at labels rather than actual musical elements. There are recordings dating back to the 30s that sound a lot like R&R, like Pete Johnson's "Roll 'Em, Pete", recorded in 1938. It's not that far off from Jerry Lee Lewis. And in some ways, Benny Goodman has more in common with 50s rock than 60s jazz. "Sing, Sing, Sing" is a case in point here. Genres are often gross simplifications of the actual technical reality of the music.

[@zimnizzle]

My great aunt grew up on Benny Goodman and big band music. She was a teen/college student at the time and this was cutting edge! The kids loved it and it was obviously very popular, but like all music that youngsters like, the older generation had a collective eyebrow raised. I just loved hearing her talk about it. She became a classical music teacher. I loved imagining her as a rebellious young woman dancing to this music when she was younger.

[@lupcokotevski2907]

What a fantastic recording. I felt the 'rock' almost immediately.

[@richpeltier9519]

When my father first started dating my mom, he bought her Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall on vinyl. I still own that copy. As a rock drummer, my primary solo is built around the drums to this song. When I play drums, in the back of mind always I hear Gene's 111BPM roll at the end of the live version of this song. It's one of the most influential pieces of drum music for a trap kit ever recorded. No Bomham, no Moon, no Paice, no Peart... without this. Also, the clarinet holds a different place in this band as the band leader played clarinet. At that point, he's conducting the band with his instrument. Hence, the change in how the band responds as a whole and not individually. 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast

[@mojorider8455]

While I'm now a classic rock, blues, guitar guy, I grew up exposed to lots of different music, to include big band stuff. I started off as a woodwind player---clarinet and sax. I still have a fondness for this music and this song was a classic Benny Goodman tune that I found in my parents record collection. Fun stuff!

[@SimpleTruth1309]

Fusion of jazz, blues, & swing with performance art when done ‘live’. Kudos to the ‘music arrangers’ of that era, who prevented intertwining themes from ‘stepping’ on one another within the song.

[@davedem4107]

Swing baby swing! Just one of the fine ingredients that makes up rock and roll!

[@melissatuel862]

One of my father's - and my - favorites 😊

[@kovie9162]

A while back I commented on another music reaction channel's Patreon in an extended discussion on popular music history that this recording may well have been the first rock song. It has most of the elements and certainly was no less rock-ish than say Rock Around the Clock, and of course Prima was a pioneer of the Jump Blues subgenre that led directly to rock. Good choice!

[@Milewskige]

This is a newer recording, not the original Goodman recording. THIS is the original Goodman: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fISTe4KKos6cm9E

[@DavidLindes]

Hmm, I now wonder if Dave Brubeck's [edit (with thanks to a correcting comment): composed by Paul Desmond, merely performed by Brubeck] Take Five will be on Karl's list for you. :) Also, fun to just listen more carefully to this song, thanks to your commentary. I've long loved it, and now I do even more. Thanks, Amy! (And thanks, Karl!)

[@DavidLindes]

Oh, P.S. Are you still planning to return to The Wall? I don't mind if it takes a while, but I would appreciate more of your analysis on that one, if/when you're down for it! (I know it's heavy... especially up against some Big Band Swing. :) ... so, ok if you're bailing, too, or just need to take more time.)

[@karlsloman5320]

No it is not, which makes me sad. Joe Morello the drummer for Dave was my teacher. I would love to play it, but it would not fit. HOWEVER, I have told Amy I would like to a lesson on Time Signatures, she has agreed, and when I get to Odd Time Signatures, that song would have to be on the list.

[@DavidLindes]

@@karlsloman5320 Wait, so... it's not, but it is?!?? Like, not in this sequence, but in another? That'd be cool. I hope you'll have some Floyd represented for Time Signatures, too. :)

[@DefenestrateYourself]

Take Five is by Paul Desmond. Just fyi

[@DavidLindes]

@@DefenestrateYourself Mmm, good point. «composed by Paul Desmond... first recorded in 1959 and is the third track on Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet.»... I suppose my «'s» implies authorship, rather than performanceship... I'll edit the original.

[@jnagarya519]

Nice to see you actually loosen up and move with the music. It is, ultimately, dance music.

[@Gizzlefitz]

This reminds me of my childhood. My parents weren't big fans of music when I was younger. One of the few records they had was Glen Miller's Orchestra. It was one of the only records they had that I liked. My favorite was Walk Don't Run by The Ventures.

[@thomastimlin1724]

And the parents who were teenager's in those days complained about the rowdy rock and roll of the 2nd half of the 1950's, lol. Music students, like my marching bands and jazz bands I had, NEVER tire of performing this, they had so much fun doing a halftime show with this piece. we even had a boy and girl doing the jitterbug on the field. I met a guest college professor in 1998 giving a music seminar class during summer who had played upright bass in drummer Gene Krupa's band as a young man in the 1950's.. He told us Krupa never thought in small musical phrases, he thought in terms that a song or many songs in a row were all one long phrase. Hearing Krupa play this yet again on the recording is seriously amazing...nobody but handful were drumming like that in the 1930's. He thought musically when playing the drum set, using different dynamics, not just pounding and you can hear loud and soft in this that proves it. Amateurs only pound one volume on this, totally wrong. The pros play it musically.

[@LeeKennison]

I have always loved the big band music. I grew up listening to this music, since my parents were huge big band fans and played it a lot. They were part of the WWII generation. I have always really liked this piece and it is part of my personal music library (on CD). You heard a bit of this big band type of music before from the Neil Peart drum solo video you did. He incorporated some during the multimedia video presentation part that was at the very end of his solo. So you can see how it influenced him (and Karl).

[@steveh7108]

I can't help but think of Jim Carrey and The Mask every time I hear this song now😄 I was familiar with the song long before the movie but still, it's imprinted in the brain now😎

[@richardj9016]

So it’s WW2 My 18 year old mum works from 6 in the morning in the bakery till 6 pm then to home and off to the Swing Dancing each evening.

[@LeeKennison]

@@steveh7108 Goes to show you how bad my memory is, I don't remember this, although I am pretty sure I saw The Mask back in the day, but I know I haven't seen it in many years.

[@LeeKennison]

@@richardj9016 Was that in the UK? If so I hope her swing dancing hall was close to a bomb shelter. My dad was 18 in the US Army during the last year of the war. He was state side as a guard in a pow camp, so he didn't have to face the worse of it.

[@richardj9016]

@@LeeKennison Hi Lee, it was in Accrington, a small northern town. It had a large engineering factory that was disguised with a lake on its roof, but the Germans only managed to kill one family father, mother and daughter. The important thing about swing and dance was the sense of freedom that it gave to people who were dealing with hardship. Same with rock music which developed in areas of hardship including post war Britain with its bomb damage and rationing. The British bands identified with the struggling blacks in America. The spirit was there and was expressed through the music. I wonder if Amy gets what the spirit of blues (which she said was depressing) and rock is freedom. “To dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free” as Dylan sang.

[@edelcorrallira]

I'd like to add that this is the first drum solo on record, played on the first contemporary drum set. Swing is certainly dance music, especially with such a stickman behind it :)

[@siroswaldfortitude5346]

spot on

[@Aloha-zp7fc]

Thank you so much for your interpretation. It makes sense without being boring, honestly.

[@mikkis668]

Great choice of music.

[@joebikeguy6669]

Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five were definitely one of the musical stepping stones in the development of R&R.

[@somedude6161]

All I can say is... sssssssssmoking!

[@koomaj]

Amazing performance, and sound quality is just next level.

[@ArturdeSousaRocha]

The sound quality is spectacular. How it got preserved so well is a whole story. What I couldn't find was how come this is in stereo.

[@tgchism]

High energy music to say the least! Watching people dance to this piece is proof!

[@fad23]

Oh, wow! I never imagined you'd be looking at Louis Prima in this series. I can't wait to have a moment to watch!

[@fad23]

So I thought we'd be listening to Prima's recording of the song. This one is the more iconic recording in any case.

[@wendywoodruff2871]

KZbin has a video of them in action. Gene Krupa on drums is wild. And Mr. Goodman wailing on that horn. 🎉

[@dennisheape971]

Big Band Music. Love it. Some of it was even improvised on the spot as they played.

[@rk41gator]

Classic. Love the swing the band gets along with those 'tribal' tom-toms. Yes, dance music. I can see a movie clip also. Joyous chaos. A great arrangement highlighting the complicated sounds of this era. After the history or Rock, a jazz series would be a wonderful educational journey.

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

This is actually two compositions. At 4:07 the band transitions into Christopher Columbus, which was written by Chu Berry and Andy Razaf. Blues is a musical form that's been used in many styles of music. Most people associate it with country blues (like Robert Johnson) and electric Chicago blues (like Muddy Waters), but it's also used quite a bit in jazz, country, and rock. A blues number doesn't have to be slow. For instance, neither Dust My Blues by Elmore James nor Messin' with the Kid by Junior Wells is slow. Big band swing is a type of jazz that came after traditional jazz (the type of jazz performed by King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong early in his career). I wouldn't say that swing is a successor to blues, because blues is a form that went in many directions.

[@karlsloman5320]

Good Ear. It aint Jazz if it aint got Jelly!

[@peterblood50]

By far my favorite song from the big band era. If you can sit still while listening to this piece, and I noticed you couldn't 😉, you don't have a heartbeat. I believe this to be the point of the song you were looking for. It forces you to enjoy yourself whether you realize it or not, while making you "jump and jive" to the beat whether you want to or not. A huge 👍 on this one.

[@richardevans2871]

Thank you for the energy. I have tap danced to this for many years. Thank you

[@kdmathesen]

This piece is just pure fun!

[@glarthir2213]

It's really cool to see these history of rock videos, I recognise the sound of this but don't think I've ever heard the full song and loved the swing. It would have been nice if the blues to compare it with was from a similar time, like some Leadbelly, rather than SRV, but I can't complain too much!

[@Tinderchaff]

That's what I was thinking! Here's hoping we have some Sister Rosetta to look forward to.

[@EddieReischl]

Enjoyed this too, and what I was paying attention to was how much similarity there was between this music and some of the music of Van Halen. "Mean Street" wasn't necessarily an example of it, but quite a few of their songs have this "swing" feel to it, put to guitar, bass, and drums, which makes them sound a little different than other hard rock bands, and makes them not metal. Their dad Jan was a big influence on them from being a clarinet player in bands similar to this.

[@dennisdavis2362]

I didn’t know the name but certainly knew it the moment the song started. Love it.

[@pillsareyummy]

I love Big Band Jazz. I was in a band (one of many) for a few years, my drummer and I would drive to rehearsal, we always listened to a Jazz radio station called Jazz 91fm (out of Toronto, Canada) I still listen to this station. One the days we rehearsed they always played Big Band Jazz. When we got to rehearsal we always warmed up to War Ensemble by Slayer. I hope Karl includes Ozzy's Dairy of a madman.

[@asquare9316]

NIce!! Big band swing! This is a great tune, Used to play this stuff in school jazz band at dances that our parents would attend. Great memories. The rest of the time we were playing more modern jazz. My band teacher, Clem DeRosa RIP, played drums with the Glenn Miller Band and later led the Dorsey Bros. band IIRC. Next genre after this: bebop - Donald Byrd/Pepper Adams Quintet

[@drummmmerfish]

as a drummer i of course know of the classic goodman version with gene krupa and love louis prima, but i never knew that louis wrote it. crazy.

[@matthewhight3904]

I loved your reaction to Benny Goodman's clarinet sound. Check out his sextet with Charlie Christian on electric guitar for more rock foundation. Much was made of the "generation gap" in the 1960s, the influence of music was a connection across that gap.

[@manlioyllades]

That's one of my favorite pieces of the Big Band Era, but I would say 'In The Mood' by Glenn Miller could have made a better example of the influence of swing in rock

[@gregoryeatroff8608]

Both are among my all-time favorite pieces.

[@mournblade1066]

No way. "In the Mood" is great, but "Sing Sing Sing" is on a whole other level.

[@manlioyllades]

@@mournblade1066 It's my favorite piece of the swing era. My comment was about influence, not greatness.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

This is perhaps the ground zero for drumming. Virtually all the fifties and sixties rock drummers refer to Krupa. Like electric guitarists refer to Charlie Christian. Both Krupa and Christian came out of the Benny Goodman Orch.

[@LeeKennison]

I'm glad you brought up Krupa. I can't believe I forgot to mention him in my comment, since he as such a huge influence on all the drummers who followed. Those drums really help define this Benny version of the piece. I guess I indirectly referenced Krupa when I mentioned the influence on Neil Peart. I know, I'm reaching in trying to absolve myself from missing the obvious by failing to mention Krupa. 🙃

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@LeeKennison I have to deduct ten points from your final score.

[@LeeKennison]

@@Hartlor_Tayley Thanks. You are letting me off easy. It could have been much worse. It is a 100 point system right? If it is a 10 point system then I guess I'm screwed.

[@katsboy22]

Great song choice in the proper decade for a History of Rock project even

[@DannyD714]

there was a sort of big band revival in the early 1990s,and i would go to disneyland on saturdays to watch bands perform this wonderful type of music. there were older folks and young people all on the dance floor together. some jitterbugging,others doing more slow dance. the highlight of every evening was when the band would play "sing sing sing". people would gather in a circle,and take turns with a couple in the middle doing some of their fanciest moves. the drum solos were extended to give more people a chance to dance in the center. it was a great time. i wish it wasn't so short lived. it seemed by the early 2000s interest in big bands had begun to dissipate. maybe it's time for yet another revival!

[@aleksandralekhin8231]

more than development, this kind of music longs for repetition, rhythm, volume. being played by an orchestra you can find several different voices having fun making noise (a well organized one). later jazz players would state a theme and develop It; these bands needed to stick people to the dance floor or to the radio (mozart also needed that kind of attention. but times - and methods - have changed, i guess).

[@andrewrobinson1479]

I think you should take a few minutes and listen to the Louis Prima version of this. There are lyrics and it is a bit shorter, but I actually prefer it to the Benny Goodman. Plus, Sam Butera. Both are awesome tracks!

[@calebclunie4001]

I don't think, Sam Butera was in that ensemble, as it was 1936. He performed with Prima, later, and was outstanding, though.

[@Screamifyoumeanit]

That is lovely that is... I love that... Absolutely tickled me silly! I don't really get 'trad jazz?' (I get that it is intellectual & musically clever) But this type of 'Jazz' just hits the spot. I've never heard this before, thanks for enlightening me.

[@GoCeltics734]

ah, the staple of high school jazz bands everywhere

[@ChrisRamsbottom]

The longer version of this would have been better. What is missing from here is the other section of the orchestra: Lionel Hampton on vibraphone and there's also a piano section (pianist escapes me!). Another Benny Goodman solo, much more virtuosic, and the final section features Gene Krupa in drumming which puts 99% of modern rock drummers to shame.

[@tordkarl]

Pianist was Jess Stacy.

[@connorwilkinson2196]

I've friends who are dancers, it's fun to stick this on when they're just chilling and then watch their feet/bodies start to move 🙂

[@c128stuff]

First time I heard this was actually during a performance of a highschool big band (half of the people of that band ended up making a living in music, they were very good) performing this. It is just a really enjoyable piece of music, and the percussion in this version is just so much fun!

[@charlieeckert4321]

4:07 - the melody changes to a tune called Christopher Columbus, composed by Chu Berry with lyrics by Andy Razaf.

[@michlkwitz]

So I think you've hit the nail on the head regarding the major differences between blues and jazz -- one is less formal, the other more formal. I've always considered jazz and blues as sibling musical styles since they both developed from a lot of the same early influences.

[@njt2347]

Verry good point. In general, blues tends be improvisation based on simplicity - simple chords progressions often consisting of only three chords and scales. Jazz is improvisation which is based on a nearly unlimited lexicon of chord progressions and scales. You can play blues songs in a jazzy way by substituting chords for the three basic chords of the blues and thereby making the chord progression more complex (Ray Charles and Charles Brown for example). You can also play a simple blues melody and insert it into a jazz song with incredibly complicated chords and it can sound amazing - guys like Kenny Burrell and Lou Donaldson did this all the time.

[@elysium619]

When asked if he could read [music], Louis Prima said, "A little bit, but not enough to hurt me!"

[@SailorAllan]

Hello ! Unfortunately the whole film is no longer available here, if you search " Swing Girls" you will find the last scene of the movie where a group of teenage Japanese girls start a swing band and in a concert setting play Moonlight Serenade/Mexican Hayride/SingSingSing . It's fantastic just watching the ending. try it !

[@FloraWest]

I haven't been swing dancing in a long time-this makes me miss it! Great insights on this, thank you.

[@marcelnz]

in the Movie "Power", Richard Geere is a wealthy spin doctor and he plays air-drums on his private plane or when ever he sees a need for playing air drums to sing sing sing, lasting 1,24 min. during one flight session ; for TV it was cut out ffs. but right through he plays the drums to this music...I grew up with Bennie Goodman's version.

[@johnthompson6374]

I found myself knowing this song better than I ever should as I've never actually purposely listened to it but I have watched a lot of TV and movies. From Chips Ahoy commercials, Casino, The Mask and what seams like countless productions it has wiggled it's way into my brain. I had no idea it was from so far back in time nor did I ever realize it was such a break from the norm like Elvis moving his hips. Peace/JT

[@shadowdog500]

The cowbell at around 6:15 is the signal to transition to the end of the song. This song varies in length depending on what Benny Goodman recording you listen to.

[@marksanders8028]

How could any one not love this peace?

[@jfziemba]

She was hanging on for dear life--she can fake it, but she was a hairsbreadth away from getting up, waving one finger in the air and doing the boogie woogie.

[@Beatles4Sale.]

This is a classic! I was born in 1959 and I consider this a classic!

[@lynnmartin906]

I used to listen to the milkman’s cafe on nyc radio when I was young. Loved it

[@XE1GXG]

My uncle, RIP, would alternate this song with his love of opera . A percussionist, he was. Tremendous rhythm. And yes, a contrapuntal section in a diatonic/modal settlng. African-derived musics often have these cool elements.

[@marvingoodman7381]

THIS song was the big hit for the Benny Goodman 1938 Concert at Carnagie Hall!! I think Benny Goodman had the best version of this classic jazz piece. The arrangement was fantastic and the reaction of the crowd during the 12 minute version was something to be remembered.... Lady if you will take the time to listen to the 1938 concert I believe you'd listen to the whole thing without getting turned off. There were a few ballads, songs by the Goodman Quartet, etc. A really great concert...

[@alanp7539]

No other version even comes close.

[@mikeconway9849]

I've enjoyed all of your reaction videos to date , but I must say that this and the last by SRV are my favorites. Great comments comparing these styles of music to conversations.

[@thecyclepath-blogger1953]

Hahaha, I love the expressions on your face as you react to all this wonderful music! keep the vids coming.

[@brossjackson]

One thing I love about the swing era is the combination of african music through new orleans jazz/blues with the klezmer tradition that Benny Goodman (clarinet) comes from. Pure New York City, really. The most Rock and Roll thing is Gene Krupa on drums, I think. Meanwhile, Benny Goodman himself had a presitigous classical music career, recording pieces like the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and Clarinet Quintet, and premiering pieces like the Copland clarinet concerto and Bartok's Contrasts.

[@csongorszendrey2180]

This is like the Tom & Jerry condescending Liszt's 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody into 7 minutes.

[@davidlittle9010]

Gene Krupa - the drummer - used the cowbell to signal to the band that they were to enter on the next stanza. 😀. They told one another that there were plenty of chances for improvisation, but it doesn’t seem to me to be true unless someone is doing a solo.

[@auapplemac2441]

That's jazz - every instrument has its say and interpretation of the music.

[@cowbaby]

If you are interested in the history of R&R maybe you should hear the original by Louis Prima. That recording was early R&R, not a highly produced big band jazz arrangement. The most similar part of the recordings was the basic drum part which was borrowed from the original. Louis Prima is a natural bridge into rock. To me it would make more sense to include a R&R pioneer instead of a jazzy pop song.

[@Sonny_Eclipse]

Many good comments, also The movie “the Benny Goodman Story” 1956 starring Steve Allen ends with the performance at Carnegie Hall. The cast includes Gene Krupa, Harry James, Lionel Hampton, and other great musicians.

[@mournblade1066]

I always say that Rock & Roll started with "Sing, Sing, Sing" and Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher."

[@auapplemac2441]

Can't agree. Early rock was a definite simple beat - dum-dum-dum...dum-dum-dum. Check out "The Great Pretender" by the Platters. Swing and jazz have a much wider array of beats and integrates a greater array of musical styles - even Klezmer (based on Yiddish music and Middle Eastern sounds). Goodman uses this in some riffs.

[@tmusic99]

Benny Goodman, George Gershwin et.al. studied "the Schillinger system of musical composition" in the twenties and thirties, so classical music elements should be present in this piece.

[@nathanfugate8210]

Krupa. Goodman. MAGIC.

[@calebclunie4001]

I just recommended, the Louis Prima & His New Orleans Gang version, to folks heading to New Orleans, a day ago. Wild! Goodman, on Clarinet, is great, as is this track (love the iconic drums), but Prima's got the scat singing going, and phenomenal, and inventive trumpet solos, and, the singing adds that much needed spice. The lyrics don't tell you, anything much, other than making one open to participating, and it's kind of a tribal initiation. If you're not singing, your ignoring the title, and why this exists. It was The Great Depression, and everything must have seemed, like an upward spiral, from that vantage point.

[@ChicagoPadre]

Ahhh...I don't know why that is listed as "Louis Prima"--whom I DO adore...but that is Benny Goodman and his Orchestra cooking BIG time on that legendary tune! Yes, Louie composed it...buuuuut, that is the Benny recording! They should most DEF be giving credit in the title of the video. Just Sayin' !!

[@peterhughes8699]

Ok nice one Amy/Karl. Always enjoy some Benny Goodman :)

[@steveh7108]

" Somebody, stop me,,, " 👺🕺💃🕺💃🥁🎺🥁🎺🕺💃

[@robertadcox8419]

Interesting point of view but Karl might be on to something here. To me "Big Band" as they called it was a bit of fusion of blues and what became to be known as jazz. When I listen to this piece which I have heard for years, a person could make the argument that the structure of this song is very similiar to the structure of some of the work of Led Zeppelin. Simple beginnings that become layered as the song progresses. I see elements of that style in musical compostions from hard rock bands like Stone Sour and Avenged Sevenfold. Its interesting because I think it begins to echo what a person likes in music and begins to explain why a person may not be stuck in a genre of music but styles within genres. Good selection Karl and great analysis Amy. 👍👍

[@WiserInTime]

I freaking love those drums!

[@karlsloman5320]

How can you not? LOL

[@BloggerMusicMan]

I really liked your comment about it not being particularly highly intellectual. Your comment grasps the complete range of human experience possible in music. Sing, Sing, Sing is not intellectual in effect. It doesn't pretend to be profound. But it is very well designed swing music, immensely fun, and it does reward repeat listens.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

I think the origins of Swing is the waltz like “Blue Danube” blended with syncopated ragtime piano music, Jugband/blues, gospel and military marching band music like John Phillip Sousa. Louis Armstrong is the genius that fused all these influences into what would be known as Dixieland Swing and that evolved into what we call Jazz as more classical and European elements are brought in. IMHO. Sing Sing Sing is a great example of Big Band Jazz and it’s influence on Rock. Jazz is huge melting pot of styles, I guess I consider Rock as a sub genre of Jazz with a similar melting pot pedigree. Great video thanks!

[@rudolfbrowne8754]

This is swing at it's best

[@rupturedduck6981]

The Benny Goodman version is just pure swing music and man these cats send me just send me

[@DB-zo5ng]

“It isn't Beethoven, Mama, but it sure bounces!” - Berlioz from The Aristocats

[@Rob_Kates]

I am glad you are delving into the world of big band jazz, which is fantastic, energetic music. It was the popular music of the day, before the advent of rock from Elvis, The Beatles and the like. The improvisational talent of jazz musicians crossed over into the world of rock. I would recommend the music of Count Basie, Buddy Rich and his big band, and Doc Severinsen with the Tonight Show band.

[@michaelm6948]

I'm a huge fan of Gene Krupa's big band when he recorded with Anita O'Day and Roy Eldridge in the 40s. The lyrics of the songs they recorded definitely were based in an urban type blues. Songs like "Let me off Uptown", "Harlem on Parade", "Barrelhouse Bessie"..

[@Milewskige]

06:38 is actually the end of "Sing, Sing, Sing" the next section is "Christopher Columbus" HOWEVER, in this particular recording they only used PART of CC and tacked on the ending WAY early. CC is characterized by lots of solo improv interspersed with instrumental sections. If you want to hear more "development" 09:35 you should listen to entire original, or Carnegie Hall version. There are modulations & different style instrumental sections.

[@dangaiser4729]

Love Louis Prims! You should hear his band do the song Night Train. Fantastic Sax

[@zenclover8468]

Keep in mind that this music wasnt just intended to be listened to but it was to motivate people to dance so dont just hear it with your ears experience it with your body and see how you would move and express yourself physically. This is part of music culture.

[@kentl7228]

For great "conversational playing". Red Hot Band by Duke Ellington, with James Bubber Miley on trumpet is amazing. It is quite old but awesome.

[@carcarjinks1430]

the guitar solo at the 3:42 mark in black sabbath's "children of the grave" (studio version) is contrapuntal. listen close and you'll hear 2 solos overdubbed in the same 16-bar section