Lee Morse 1930, "A Millon Me's"

Released April 26, 1930. I recorded this off CFMT's "The All Night Show" with my Sony AV-8600 (Open-Reel) in 1980, and so far I've never found another copy. This post is taken off a 3/4" dub of that tape made 15 years ago, the original having since crumbled to dust (though I can stll play EIAJ1) It is a VHS dub of my original tape, sent to a collector in Texas in the 80s, that has made the rounds amongst collectors and onto the other KZbin posting. Note that the picture is fuzzy because CFMT's ground-glass film chain was out of focus, NOT because of tape generation loss.
It's a shame that this and Miss Morse's other two shorts (One being a Vitaphone) have so far been overlooked, though so many of the other shorts produced by Paramount during the same period HAVE been released to DVD. Lee Morse is being rediscovered, she was the most modern and unique of all "Torch" singers and would be a success today if new to the scene.

[@trevin1770]

Watching Lee sing reminds of a songbird singing. Songbirds deliver complex notes so effortlessly that just sound incredible. Plus she’s got a cuteness about her much like songbirds do.

[@Berta6742]

Such talent is often overlooked but Lee will shine long into the ages with a voice range that must be heard to be truly appreciated - her candle was not extinguished for it lingers through her recordings hugs Lee ❤❤

[@randyjimmiejamesbowles]

I've had a crush on her for oh, twenty years.... I haven't seen that many women accompany themselves on guitar in this genre. Pretty cool.

[@SoWeirdBoy]

Oh my goodness, her talent is so incredible. Her versatility and her enigmatic performances are insanely euphoric. What beauty. What a voice. #RIP Lee Morse.

[@scotnick59]

Yes: she was delightfully UNIQUE

[@alanoneill3065]

Wah....my first viewing,,,and thats me hooked...FUTURISTIC

[@ilprofessore10012]

Lee Morse [1897-1954] had all the makings of a real star--her remarkable vocal range and her unusual and likeable on-camera personality. She was cast in Zigfield's 1930 stage show "Simple Simon," but had drunk so much before opening night that she was unable to perform. Her rival Ruth Etting stepped in at the last hour to sing what has become the Rodgers and Hart classic, "Ten Cents a Dance." ironically, that song would have been a perfect showcase for Lee's signing and acting talents, but today it is forever associated with Etting. Lee had a sad life but, as this film shows, an enormous talent.

[@timmcinnes2594]

Thank God you saved this! I'm a big fan of Lee Morse. I first heard of her through Leon Redbone at one of his concerts in London Ontario.

[@joyonpaper]

Love it! Thanks so much -- makes me so happy,,,,

[@homzymusic]

She's a great musician with a wonderful, personal. feel for the blues. Her up-tempo tune was charming.

[@misterjive273]

What a rare gem. Thank you for sharing!

[@lastrada52]

Sexy, well-dressed and Lee sings with an engaging spirit. The film has the imbedded notation of MTV way back in 1930. Coincidence? I'm not big on yodeling (though she does it in staccato which is not how country singers did it) -- and this was before Jimmie Rodgers. Lee uses it in a blues song in that acoustic guitar tune & Morse is excellent. She was a solo female singer who played the piano and guitar and dressed as few girls did back in that era. The little effects in this "video" are quite good. Especially stepping out of the picture frame. Morse had a great figure also. She is considered in some circles as the first (earliest) female jazz/torch singer. Louis Armstrong was an instrumentalist who did not start to sing until late 1924. She has an interesting biography worth reading. She had a 3-octave range and started singing in 1914. She was also one of the first to scat sing. Lee Morse also was a natural with “rhythmic subtlety.” She could sing offbeat, ahead or behind it, change the tempo, or employ double-time, as well as, stop-time. She did record for a major label early in her career -- Columbia, Pathe, and Decca. Benny Goodman backed Lee 24 times, as did the Dorsey Brothers. The way she's dressed at that piano -- she could step out of this film and go right to college and none of today's girls would know she was born in 1897.

[@Tadfafty]

I hate yodeling, except hers, she does it right I guess.

[@jayraskin]

I can't believe that the studios in Hollywood were so stupid that they didn't sign her up and star her in features after this. Thanks for recording this.

[@genemorris329]

Make me wish I was in Lees time ... She had some great range ,,and personality to boot,

[@HarmonyHeartOne]

Wow! I love the music of the '20s and '30s and perform it regularly in my entertainment business (primarily for seniors in care facilities) but I just discovered Lee Morse today- thanks to you. She is terrific, smart, bold, sultry, and sexy. What more could a gentleman wish for? Made my day.

[@jamesklima771]

Her voice and her beauty captivate. What a shame that another great talent was felled by substance abuse!

[@bruisescarr]

Substance abuse?

[@jamesklima771]

@@bruisescarr alcoholism

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

I’ve only recently found a record by this young lady, I’d never heard of her before. Great vid, thanks

[@Tadfafty]

I only have 1 of her records (Me Neenyah) I just bought it, but I've know about her for about 8 months.

[@renwalda]

I love that song "Don't Get Collegiate," great lyrics!

[@barbaraeffros3009]

Wowza 🎶🌹🎶

[@davidnoble8020]

Best singer of the 20th century.

[@TransVangal]

What a Talent and what a career #Leemorse had.

[@BrunermanVideo]

She was Great!

[@EscargotVonKaninchen]

this is magnificient. What is the name of the last song ? and the first one ?

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally released theatrically by Paramount [they sold their pre-1950 live-action and animated shorts to U.M. & M. TV- later reorganized as National Telefilm Associates- in 1955].

[@amberleesunshine]

I sure wish there was a place to watch all of these. I'm always searching the internet for all the pre-1950 Paramount shorts.

[@jenniferduncanstitt5407]

I have a friend that’s convinced I’m her reincarnation.

[@oneman1812]

0'Riley?.

[@oneman1812]

Then ewe must Bee a Cutie too.

[@RR-ti5mz]

I bet a lot of y'all didn't know how long MTV has been around for!

[@Tadfafty]

This is UM&MTV, not the same thing.

[@bruisescarr]

And I bet double times that you didn’t either

[@Toranaboy634]

Film says 1930 not 1929

[@TransVangal]

Geniuses usually have substance abuse. Sadly

[@j.w.2391]

I like it...but wish there was more acknowledgment of the Afro American Blues Queens ---like Trixie Smith and Ida Cox that originally sang these tunes. Lee Morse, Ruth Etting and Libby Holman as quaint and popular as they were-----are not the originators of this music.

[@gregorypalmer5403]

No , Jewish cantorial singing properly gets most of the credit now. True. See what Lil Hardin, Louis Armstrong's wife, says about it, among other people who were actually part of the scene then.

[@paulluchter137]

She wrote some of her songs, an early singer-songwriter

[@krasnykavkaz]

Unfortunately, she had a drinking problem that caused her to go downhill right about this time

[@oneman1812]

MaeBee, She's inn HEAVEN.

[@gordonsax6983]

BEAUTIFUL!!! , TALENT !!!

[@gordonsax6983]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@MrRedOfSinope]

I love the way people talked back then

[@gordonsax6983]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟